A crucial meeting of the Congress's top leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, is scheduled for Tuesday in New Delhi to address key organizational matters and the national political landscape. The agenda is expected to include proposed organizational restructuring, reviewing strategies for current political developments, and finalizing the long-delayed Karnataka cabinet expansion, with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar aiming to fill the remaining 20 vacant ministerial berths following intensive lobbying. The party leadership is also anticipated to discuss internal dissent within the Punjab unit over recent appointments and to assess the political situation in Uttar Pradesh, where negotiations are ongoing with the Samajwadi Party for seat-sharing in the 2027 Assembly elections.

A crucial meeting of the Congress's top leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, is scheduled for Tuesday in New Delhi to address key organizational matters and the national political landscape. The agenda is expected to include proposed organizational restructuring, reviewing strategies for current political developments, and finalizing the long-delayed Karnataka cabinet expansion, with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar aiming to fill the remaining 20 vacant ministerial berths following intensive lobbying. The party leadership is also anticipated to discuss internal dissent within the Punjab unit over recent appointments and to assess the political situation in Uttar Pradesh, where negotiations are ongoing with the Samajwadi Party for seat-sharing in the 2027 Assembly elections.

A crucial meeting of the Congress's top leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, is scheduled for Tuesday in New Delhi to address key organizational matters and the national political landscape. The agenda is expected to include proposed organizational restructuring, reviewing strategies for current political developments, and finalizing the long-delayed Karnataka cabinet expansion, with Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar aiming to fill the remaining 20 vacant ministerial berths following intensive lobbying. The party leadership is also anticipated to discuss internal dissent within the Punjab unit over recent appointments and to assess the political situation in Uttar Pradesh, where negotiations are ongoing with the Samajwadi Party for seat-sharing in the 2027 Assembly elections.

The Congress's top leadership will hold a crucial meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday to deliberate on key organisational issues and the prevailing political situation in the country. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal are expected to attend the meeting.

According to reports, the meeting is likely to be held in the first half of the day.

The leaders are expected to discuss proposed organisational restructuring, review the party's strategy on current political developments, and take up the long-awaited Karnataka cabinet expansion.

On Monday, Kharge said the cabinet expansion would take place at the earliest. "It will happen at the earliest; it will be done... once Rahul Gandhi comes back (from abroad)," he told reporters in Bengaluru, amid intense lobbying by ministerial aspirants seeking a place in the state cabinet.

D.K. Shivakumar was sworn in as Karnataka Chief Minister along with 13 ministers on June 3, following Siddaramaiah's resignation on May 28. The Karnataka Council of Ministers has a sanctioned strength of 34, including the chief minister. With only 14 members currently in office, 20 ministerial berths remain vacant, increasing pressure on Shivakumar to complete the cabinet expansion.

Several ministerial hopefuls, including MLAs Ashok Pattan, Shivalinge Gowda, and T.D. Rajegowda, met Kharge at his Bengaluru residence over the weekend. Shivakumar said on Monday that he would travel to New Delhi once the Congress high command gave him an appointment, adding that there had been no delay from his side in the expansion process.

"There is no delay from my side (for cabinet expansion). Whenever they (party high command) give me time, I will go. They will give me a date in another three or four days. Once they do, I will go and come back," he told reporters.

The high command has reportedly advised MLAs and their supporters against exerting pressure through public protests, religious mutts, or community organisations. The leadership has urged them to maintain party discipline, warning that such campaigns could damage the party's image and fuel unnecessary factionalism.

Meanwhile, the Congress leadership is also expected to discuss the growing discontent within the Punjab unit following recent organisational appointments. Reports suggest internal differences have surfaced after Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring retained his post, while former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi was appointed chairperson of the Punjab Campaign Committee.

The meeting is also likely to review the political situation in Uttar Pradesh, where the Congress is reportedly engaged in tough negotiations with the Samajwadi Party over seat-sharing for the 2027 Assembly elections. The two parties had contested the 2022 state polls separately.