Nineteen Congress MLAs were sworn in as ministers in the DK Shivakumar-led Karnataka government on Monday, while the lone woman pick, Gayathri Shanthegowda, was absent from the swearing-in ceremony. Gayathri Shanthegowda’s name had figured in the Congress high command’s approved list of 20 ministers, but she was not sworn in today. Gayathri was recently declared elected to the Karnataka Legislative Council from the Chikkamagaluru Local Authorities’ Constituency after the Supreme Court set aside BJP leader MK Pranesh’s election to the House in December 2021. She is yet to formally become a member of the Karnataka Legislative Council. With the induction of 19 ministers, the Karnataka Cabinet remains one short of its sanctioned strength of 34, including the Chief Minister.