As the Congress prepares to form a new government in Karnataka under Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar, the party's headquarters in New Delhi has become the centre of intense political activity. Scores of Congress MLAs from Karnataka have arrived in the national capital in a strong push to secure ministerial positions in the upcoming cabinet.

The Congress headquarters and the residences of senior party leaders have turned into busy lobbying hubs. The competition for cabinet berths has become fierce despite the fact that the ministers will get only around 23 months in office before the next Assembly elections draw closer. According to party sources, former ministers from the outgoing Siddaramaiah government and nearly all Congress MLAs, except those who are unwell, have travelled to Delhi over the past week.

Many legislators have come prepared with detailed CVs, recommendation letters, bouquets, garlands, shawls, Mysuru petas and other documents to strengthen their claims. They are meeting senior Congress leaders and presenting reasons why they should be included in the new ministry.

MLAs have been lining up at the AICC headquarters to meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC General Secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala. However, the Gandhis remain inaccessible to most of the aspirants. During these meetings, legislators are putting forward arguments about why they “deserve” a place in the cabinet and how their inclusion would benefit the party.

For many MLAs, this is viewed as the last major opportunity to hold a ministerial position before the 2028 Assembly elections. Several former ministers are trying to make a political comeback through cabinet inclusion. At the same time, first-time legislators and influential regional leaders are demanding representation for their communities and districts.

The rush for ministerial positions has been driven by the belief that Shivakumar's cabinet will play a major role in shaping future power dynamics within the Karnataka Congress. The composition of the ministry is expected to determine which leaders gain influence within the party in the coming years. Several members of the outgoing council of ministers have openly acknowledged that they are in Delhi seeking another chance to be part of the government.

Party Chief Whip in the Assembly Saleem Ahmed indicated that the cabinet formation could take place in stages. He said that 10 to 12 ministers are likely to be sworn in during the first phase. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also suggested that the process may take some time. He said on Sunday that the entire 34-member ministry could take nearly a month to be fully constituted.

The race for cabinet berths has also taken on a strong regional and caste dimension. MLAs from districts that did not receive representation in previous governments are pressing their demands more aggressively. Leaders are arguing that their regions and communities deserve a place in the new cabinet.

Among them, MLA Srinivas from Tarikere openly expressed his ambition for a ministerial role. He stated that they are “fully cent percent aspirants and demanded proper representation for all communities”.

Political observers believe the large-scale lobbying in Delhi reflects both the strengths and challenges within the Congress party. On one hand, it shows that party leaders are eager to remain politically active and strengthen their position before the next Assembly elections. On the other hand, it highlights growing personal ambitions, factional competition and underlying dissatisfaction among leaders.

With the cabinet formation process still underway, the coming weeks are expected to be crucial for the Karnataka Congress. The final list of ministers will not only decide who gets a place in the government but could also influence the party's internal balance of power for years to come.