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The Congress high command today failed to break the deadlock over Karnataka cabinet expansion despite high level consultations with the state’s top leadership on Delhi, signaling that a consensus on the long-awaited ministerial reshuffle has yet to emerge, according to top sources in the party.

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC President BK Hariprasad met Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to discuss the proposed Cabinet expansion, party organization and the political situation in Karnataka. AICC General Secretray incharge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala also participated in the discussions.

Despite expectations that the meeting would pave the way for the induction of new ministers, the Congress leadership stopped short of clearing the expansion, leaving more than 50 ministerial aspirants in suspense.

Sources said Shivakumar had taken a proposed list of legislators for induction into the cabinet. However, competing claims from aspirants and the need to balance regional representation. caste equations. Factional interests and performance prevented the leadership from arriving at a final consensus.

The exercise was further delayed after AICC President Mallikharjun Kharge returned to Bangalore unexpectedly for personal reasons before the consultations could be concluded, sources said.

The cabinet expansion has assumed political significance as around 20 ministerial berths remain vacant, with intense lobbying by Congress MLAs over the past several weeks. Several aspirants had traveled to Delhi anticipating that the high command would finalize the list after Thursday’ meeting.