Updated On: 08 Aug 2026
BENGALURU: Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday assured that women would have representation in the Karnataka Cabinet, saying the government was committed to empowering women.
“Our Cabinet will certainly have a woman. We will give more strength to women,” Shivakumar said while responding to questions from the media after paying floral tributes to former Chief Minister S Nijalingappa on his death anniversary at Vidhana Soudha.
Asked about Union Minister Kiren Rijiju’s remarks on the absence of women in the Karnataka Cabinet following Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s comments on the Women’s Reservation Bill, Shivakumar said the Congress was responsible for drafting and passing the legislation in the Lok Sabha.
“The Women’s Reservation Bill was drafted and passed in the Lok Sabha by the Congress. During the Lok Sabha elections, we also gave more seats to women in Karnataka. The issue of Cabinet expansion will be resolved soon. Rijiju need not worry about the Congress; he should think about his own party and government,” he said.
Asked whether he would be travelling to Delhi, Shivakumar said, “I have to go, don’t I? We will inform you before we leave.”
CM Remembers Nijalingappa
Recalling his association with S Nijalingappa, Shivakumar said he had discussed several matters with the former Chief Minister on many occasions. He said he and former Chief Minister S M Krishna had visited Nijalingappa several times. He also recalled that Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi had travelled to Chitradurga to meet Nijalingappa.
“I met him at Karnataka Bhavan even when I became an MLA for the second time,” Shivakumar recalled.
Describing Nijalingappa as a distinguished leader who brought honour to Karnataka, Shivakumar said he had played a major role in the movement for the unification of Karnataka and was a leader who followed Mahatma Gandhi’s principles.
“Nijalingappa was a distinguished leader who brought honour to Karnataka. He fought strongly for the unification of Karnataka and was a leader who adopted Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals. He was one of the leaders from Karnataka who served as president of the Congress. After him, Mallikarjun Kharge has become the Congress president,” he said.
Shivakumar also recalled Nijalingappa’s role in raising Karnataka’s voice at the Centre and in matters concerning the state’s interests.
‘Simplicity Was Nijalingappa’s Greatest Asset’
Shivakumar said simplicity was one of Nijalingappa’s defining qualities and praised his contribution to public life.
“Simplicity was Nijalingappa’s greatest asset. The property associated with him should not go into the hands of others, and the government led by Siddaramaiah has taken the property into its custody,” he said.
He described Nijalingappa as a statesman whose administration reflected secular values and the ideals of Basavanna.
“He was a distinguished leader whose administration reflected secular principles and the thoughts of Basavanna. We should all follow his path,” Shivakumar said.
Role in Irrigation and Congress
Shivakumar said Nijalingappa’s contributions as AICC president and as a national Congress leader were documented in history.
“When the Congress government was in power at the Centre, the guidance he provided as AICC president is recorded in history. His role during the 1924 Belagavi Congress session was significant,” he said.
He also highlighted Nijalingappa’s contribution to irrigation projects in Karnataka, particularly the Bhadra and Upper Krishna projects.
“Nijalingappa played an important role in implementing the Bhadra and Upper Krishna irrigation projects. I hope his family continues to receive support and goodwill,” Shivakumar said.
Recalling Nijalingappa’s simple lifestyle, he said that even while Nijalingappa was serving as Chief Minister, his daughter worked as a lecturer at the college where Shivakumar had studied.
“Even when Nijalingappa was the Chief Minister, his daughter worked as a lecturer at the college where I studied. They lived a simple life. We will always need the guidance of leaders like Nijalingappa,” he said.
