India, June 2 -- Karnataka Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar and outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a high-level meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi to finalise the structure of the new state cabinet ahead of the swearing-in ceremony. The discussions focused on ministerial appointments, regional representation and balancing key factions within the party.

Sources indicated that the Congress leadership is planning a phased cabinet expansion, with around 10 to 20 ministers likely to be inducted in the first phase alongside Shivakumar's oath-taking ceremony. The talks also covered appointments to party posts, including the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee leadership, ...