Bengaluru: Although expansion of the cabinet has been delayed, chief minister DK Shivakumar and Congress face a complex exercise in striking the right balance between caste and regional representation.Sources say the selection process remains wide open, and almost all Congress’ 136 MLAs can make the cut if they fit the required combination of caste, region, age and gender.But the biggest challenge before Shivakumar is expected to be accommodating two key constituencies — Scheduled Castes (Left) and women.Of seniors from the SC (Left) community, KH Muniyappa and RB Thimmapur are seen as prominent contenders for berths. While Muniyappa is understood to be well placed, Thimmapur’s prospects remain uncertain.“The high command appears to be wary of inducting Thimmapur, considering the allegations of scam and misappropriation during his stint as excise minister in Siddaramaiah’s cabinet,” said an aspirant. “However, the party has little choice.”With the issue of internal reservation among Scheduled Castes still unresolved, functionaries believe that failing to provide adequate representation to the SC (Left) community — compared with other SC categories — could send the wrong political message.Women’s representation has also emerged as a delicate issue. Former women and child development minister Laxmi Hebbalkar is regarded as a strong contender because of her administrative experience and her Panchamasali Lingayat background. But her chances are complicated by regional considerations.Hebbalkar, who is from Belagavi, faces competition from former BJP deputy chief minister and now Congress MLA Laxman Savadi, with public works minister Satish Jarkiholi already representing the district.Functionaries believe Savadi’s inclusion could help Congress manage perceptions among turncoats ahead of the 2028 assembly elections, especially if more BJP members switch sides. In such a scenario, the party may look elsewhere to fulfil women’s representation.The names of Nayana Motamma from Chikkamagaluru and Khaneez Fatima from Kalaburagi are being discussed, although both have limited administrative experience.Representation for Lingayats and Muslims is also expected to be a key consideration, with both communities seeking four berths each. They argue that the Lingayat claim is strengthened by the sizeable Panchamasali community, while Muslims believe the cabinet should reflect the staunch support from the minority community.Shivakumar is also under pressure to meet the expectations of his own Vokkaliga community by ensuring broader representation. Sources say seven legislators are in contention for Vokkaliga berths, with aspirants primarily coming from Bengaluru Rural, Mandya and Mysuru districts.
