Bengaluru:The cabinet expansion in Karnataka took place on Monday, nearly two months after DK Shivakumar was sworn in as the chief minister. The swearing in of the new ministers was held at the Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru and the oath was administered by Thaawarchand Gehlot. Karnataka can have a sanctioned strength of 34 ministers, including the chief minister. The cabinet expansion was crucial for Congress in Karnataka, as it tries to maintain a balance between loyalists of Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, with the latter recently declaring that he won't be contesting the 2028 assembly elections in Karnataka. Shivakumar was sworn-in as the chief minister along with 13 ministers on June 3, following Siddaramaiah's resignation as CM on May 28.