The Congress-led government in Karnataka under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is facing intense criticism following a recent wave of appointments that has ballooned the number of individuals enjoying ministerial status to 149, sparking debates over fiscal responsibility and governance priorities.
According to reports from CNN-News18 and other sources, the Siddaramaiah administration has granted the rank of Minister of State (MoS) to an additional 54 individuals, many of whom are Congress workers, board or corporation heads, and non-legislators. This move has elevated the total count of people holding either full Cabinet rank or MoS status to 149, a sharp increase that has drawn accusations of extravagant perks amid the state's financial pressures.
While the Indian Constitution limits the official Council of Ministers to no more than 15% of the legislative assembly's strength—capping Karnataka's at around 34 (with the current cabinet standing at 32 or 34 depending on vacancies)—these additional designations do not expand the formal ministry. Instead, they confer equivalent privileges, including salaries, allowances, official staff, vehicles, security, and protocol benefits typically reserved for ministers.
Critics, including opposition parties like the BJP, argue that this "generous distribution" of ranks places an unnecessary strain on the public exchequer. Beneficiaries are entitled to significant perks, which come at a time when Karnataka is funding ambitious welfare guarantee schemes, managing debt levels, and facing challenges from central fiscal policies such as reduced tax devolution and withheld funds. Fiscal watchdogs and analysts have highlighted the potential burden, questioning the priorities when the state grapples with revenue constraints and borrowing needs.
The appointments have been described in some media as a strategy to accommodate party loyalists, placate internal dissent, or reward workers by extending influential titles and associated benefits without violating constitutional limits on the cabinet size.
Government sources have not yet issued a detailed public defense of the move, but the development aligns with past patterns in Karnataka politics where cabinet-rank statuses have been used to manage coalitions and party factions. Earlier instances under the same administration saw dozens of MLAs and others receive similar elevations, drawing parallel criticism.
This latest expansion has intensified the "fiscal firestorm," with calls for greater transparency on the costs involved and scrutiny over whether such measures align with prudent financial management in a state that contributes significantly to national revenues but often cites central inequities in fund sharing.
The controversy underscores ongoing tensions in Karnataka's political landscape, where welfare commitments and administrative expansions compete amid broader economic challenges.
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