The cabinet expansion took place after Shivakumar completed two-months as Chief Minister. Sources in the Congress party attributed the replacement of Mankal Vaidya by S.S. Mallikarjun was a “typo error.” Mankal Vaidya arrived at the residence of Chief Minister D.K. He stated the Chief Minister invited him for the swearing-in ceremony and directed me to be present at 4 pm. All of them served under previous Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who was the Chief Minister from May, 2023 to May, 2026.