The expansion of the Karnataka Cabinet on Monday triggered discontent within the ruling Congress, with several ministerial aspirants expressing disappointment, supporters staging protests, and some legislators even offering to resign after being left out.

Amid the growing unrest, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar appealed to party leaders to remain patient, saying that perseverance had helped him reach his current position.

“There are many legislators, and many of them deserve to be ministers. I’m not denying that. But the party has to take decisions based on the circumstances,” Shivakumar told reporters.

Recalling his own political journey, he said he was overlooked for a ministerial berth in 2004 and was also not included in the Cabinet when Siddaramaiah first became Chief Minister in 2013.

“I remained patient, and today I’m in this position because of that patience. I request everyone to remain patient. We will create opportunities for everyone,” he said.

The cabinet expansion has, however, intensified resentment among some Congress leaders.

Sagara MLA Belur Gopalakrishna said he was deeply disappointed and announced his intention to resign as an MLA.

“It appears that only influential leaders and the children of former chief ministers and senior politicians get preference, not ordinary legislators. I am hurt and will resign from the MLA post tomorrow,” he said.

In Mysuru, supporters of senior Congress MLA Tanveer Sait staged a road blockade on the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway after he was denied a cabinet berth. The protesters demanded justice, disrupting traffic before police detained them.

Sait alleged that the party had failed loyal workers while rewarding those who had openly engaged in anti-party activities.

“There seems to be no value for loyalty and honesty,” he said.

In Bengaluru, supporters of Govindarajanagar MLA Priya Krishna also took to the streets, raising slogans and demanding a ministerial berth for their leader.

Just two months after taking office as Karnataka Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar expanded his Cabinet on Monday by inducting 19 ministers, a move that has exposed simmering dissatisfaction within the Congress ranks.