BENGALURU, June 11 -- Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar met top Congress leaders in New Delhi on Wednesday and discussed issues related to dissatisfaction over cabinet portfolios and the filling of 20 vacant ministerial positions. Shivakumar reached the capital from Bengaluru on Wednesday and met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge along with senior party leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and KC Venugopal. According to party leaders, the talks focused on easing discontent over portfolio assignments and preparing for a cabinet expansion that is expected after elections to the Legislative Council conclude on June 18. He also met Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi at 10 Janpath. The consultations come as several ministers have privately voiced unhappiness over the departments allotted to them. Among them is Krishna Byre Gowda, who has been in Delhi pressing his case before senior party leaders. People familiar with the discussions said he has sought a revision of his portfolio and argued that authority over Bengaluru's key civic institutions should be placed under his department. Leaders involved in the consultations said Byre Gowda had conveyed the same position to Shivakumar, Surjewala and other senior Congress figures, including Rahul Gandhi. Minister MB Patil, talking reporters in Bengaluru, said that there is no rift within the party. "Did Byre Gowda say there is an issue. Whatever matters that are being discussed will be resolved by the party," he said. At the same time, pressure is building within the party over cabinet expansion. Senior legislators, former ministers and first time MLAs are all seeking inclusion in the ministry, and many aspirants have travelled to Delhi to lobby the party leadership. Discussions with the high command have included the possibility of filling all 20 remaining ministerial vacancies in a single exercise. Party leaders said considerations such as regional representation, caste balance and seniority are expected to influence the final composition. While preliminary consultations have been completed, the final list of ministers is expected to be settled only after another round of meetings. According to people familiar with the talks, the Congress leadership has advised Shivakumar to proceed cautiously to avoid reigniting tensions already visible in the debate over portfolio allocation....