Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar

New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister is facing criticism over the absence of women in his newly formed cabinet. DK Shivakumar Assured on Thursday that more ministers will be inducted and women will get representation in the government at the appropriate time.Shivkumar took oath as Chief Minister along with 13 ministers on Wednesday. Since the Karnataka Council of Ministers has a maximum of 34 members, including the Chief Minister, many posts are vacant.Responding to BJP’s criticism over the lack of women ministers, Shivakumar said, “Let them (BJP) wait; there are too many vacancies. Last time also there were no women in the first round.” We are all there,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.Emphasizing her party’s record on women’s welfare, she said, “We have set a model in the country.”This issue has drawn criticism not only from the opposition but also from within the Congress. Leader of Opposition R Ashok questioned the government’s decision to exclude women from the first round of cabinet expansion.Senior Congress leader Margaret Alva also expressed concern over the composition of the ministry. In a post on X, she said, “Congratulations to DK Shivakumar on being sworn in as CM of Karnataka. I wish him and his team every success. I would have liked to see at least one Congresswoman sworn in today in the new Karnataka Cabinet. I am very disappointed that there is not even one.”Of the 13 ministers who took oath, 11 had served in the previous government led by Siddaramaiah. MLC Yatindra Siddaramaiah, son of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and UT Khadar, who recently quit the post of Assembly Speaker, were the only new members to join the cabinet.Senior Dalit leader G Parameshwara was appointed Deputy Chief Minister.Despite expectations of wider representation, no women MLAs found a place in the first phase of cabinet formation. Lakshmi Hebbalkar was the only woman minister in the previous Siddaramaiah government.