The Karnataka Congress has been hit by fresh internal turmoil ahead of the expansion of the D K Shivakumar-led cabinet. Just hours before the swearing-in ceremony, senior party leader Yashwantraya Patil resigned after he was denied a place in the new cabinet. Belur MLA Gopalakrishna is also expected to step down, adding to the growing unrest within the party. The developments have exposed dissatisfaction among several Congress legislators over the cabinet formation.

Speaking after his resignation, Yashwantraya Patil expressed disappointment with the party leadership and its functioning. He said, “The party leadership has deeply hurt me. That is why I took this decision. It is not just about the cabinet; this is how the party has been functioning for some time now. That is why I decided to resign.” His statement highlighted that his decision was not limited to missing out on a ministerial position. He also raised concerns over the way the party has been operating for some time.

The dissatisfaction became more visible after more than a dozen Congress MLAs held a closed-door meeting at the residence of senior MLA P V Jayachandra in Bengaluru’s Dollars Colony on Monday. According to sources, the legislators discussed the political situation and considered their next steps after several leaders failed to secure a place in the expanded cabinet. The meeting reflected the growing frustration among those who had expected to be inducted into the ministry.

Sources said senior Congress leaders H K Patil and Dinesh Gundu Rao also attended the meeting. Several MLAs reportedly shared their disappointment after being left out of the cabinet despite expecting ministerial responsibilities. The discussions indicated that resentment is spreading among a section of the party's legislators, raising concerns for the Congress leadership at a crucial time.

The unease within the party is not limited to those who missed out on cabinet positions. Senior Congress leader K H Muniyappa is also reportedly unhappy with the portfolio assigned to him. According to sources, he has requested a change in his department. Dissatisfaction is growing among the leaders who are already part of the cabinet as well.

Sources also told CNN-News18 that Muniyappa had earlier raised the issue of his portfolio with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the Bengaluru airport earlier this year. This suggests that concerns over ministerial responsibilities had surfaced well before the latest cabinet expansion.

The latest developments have intensified internal challenges for the Karnataka Congress. The resignation of Yashwantraya Patil, the possibility of another MLA stepping down, the meeting of dissatisfied legislators, and concerns over portfolio allocation have all added pressure on the party leadership. With discontent emerging from both excluded leaders and sitting ministers, the Congress faces the task of managing growing divisions while trying to maintain unity within its Karnataka unit.