Congress MLA Ajay Singh expressed happiness and gratitude to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for telling him that he would have to go to Raj Bhavan for induction into the state cabinet as soon as possible.
As he spoke in Bengaluru on the day of the swearing-in ceremony, Singh said he was “very overwhelmed” at the decision, saying he and his supporters have been waiting for such an opportunity for a long time.
VIDEO | Bengaluru, Karnataka: As he will be inducted into the cabinet, Congress MLA Ajay Singh says, "A couple of minutes back, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar called me on the phone and told me that I have to come to Raj Bhavan at 4 o'clock. I am very overwhelmed… pic.twitter.com/HheHo1uSap
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 3, 2026
"A couple of minutes back, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar called me on the phone and told me that I have to come to Raj Bhavan at 4 o’clock,” Singh said.
The call is an important moment in his political journey, and the party has placed its faith in him and his family, he said.
"I am very overwhelmed by the news because we have been waiting for this call for a very long time," he said.
Singh also recalled that he had missed the opportunity to enter the Karnataka Cabinet before. He had been unable to secure a ministerial position after the 2018 and 2023 elections for different reasons.
“In 2018 as well as 2023, I had missed it for one reason or the other. The party has kept faith in our family, in me, and given me an opportunity,” Singh said.
He says he will work hard and try to fulfil the job that he is given.
"So I’ll do my best,” the Congress leader said.
Ajay Singh’s induction will be considered a major step in Karnataka Cabinet building. The swearing-in ceremony will bring in new people to the state government and fill ministerial vacancies.
Cabinet expansion has attracted great political interest with various Congress legislators waiting to know if it will include them. Ministers were selected with respect to regional representation, political experience, seniority and balancing among different groups in the ruling party.
For Ajay Singh, the call from the Deputy Chief Minister is the end of a long wait. His remarks indicate that the opportunity has a personal and political meaning.
The decision by the party reflected confidence in him and his family’s role in public life, said the Congress MLA.
Ajay Singh belongs to a prominent political family in Karnataka. His father, Dharam Singh, who served as Chief Minister of Karnataka from 2004 to 2006, was also a state government representative.
The Cabinet position is therefore likely to be viewed as an important moment for the Singh family as well as for Congress leaders and supporters in his constituency.
When asked if he was seeking a ministerial portfolio, Singh said he had no specific preference and would leave the decision to the Congress leadership.
"No, I think the party high command will decide on that," he said.
He answered that he was prepared to accept any responsibility assigned by the party and was not pursuing a public demand for a particular department.
The allocation of portfolios will be closely watched after the Cabinet induction. The Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Congress high command are expected to decide the distribution of departments among the newly inducted ministers.
The cabinet size will also put the government in a better administrative position, and transfer responsibilities to a larger number of ministers. It may also help the Congress leadership comply with party legislators’ wishes and make sure that the state government has broader representation.
Ajay Singh’s entry into the Cabinet could bring to his region and constituency even more political attention. His supporters would probably view it as recognition of his experience and the long history of the family with the Congress.
The final confirmation of his ministerial role will come after the oath-taking ceremony at Raj Bhavan. After the swearing-in, the state government will announce the portfolios assigned to the new ministers.
For now, Singh has said he's grateful for the chance for this opportunity and intends to perform to the best of his ability.
The Congress MLA’s comments also underline the party leadership’s role in determining Cabinet representation and departmental responsibilities. By saying the high command would determine his portfolio, Singh has indicated that he is willing to accept the party’s decision.
According to political observers and Congress workers in Karnataka, the inclusion of Ajay Singh is expected to be one of the most crucial developments to be closely watched by political observers and Congress workers in the state.
