Kalaburagi: The Congress high command on Monday approved 20 names for induction into the Karnataka Cabinet, giving strong representation to North Karnataka with eight berths, while Coastal Karnataka got one ahead of the Cabinet expansion scheduled later in the day. The expansion, approved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, includes Mankala Vaidya (Uttara Kannada district) from Coastal Karnataka. Tangadagi, Nagendra, Santosh Lad and Mankala Vaidya are familiar faces in the Congress government, having previously served as ministers under Siddaramaiah. The prominence given to the northern districts is seen as a political balancing exercise by the Congress leadership, with nearly half of the new ministers coming from the North Karnataka regions. The Ballari leader, who belongs to the influential Valmiki community, had resigned as minister following allegations in the Maharshi Valmiki Development Corporation case.