Mysuru: The exclusion of several senior leaders from Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts in the first list of 13 ministers sworn in alongside Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has reportedly caused disappointment among party workers and local leaders in the region.

Among those whose names were absent from the first Cabinet list was senior Congress leader Dr H.C. Mahadevappa, considered a close associate of former chief minister Siddaramaiah. Mahadevappa had earlier handled key portfolios such as Public Works and Social Welfare and had also served as the district in-charge minister of Mysuru.

His omission from the initial list has reportedly led to concern and unease among local leaders and supporters.

Another senior Mysuru leader, K. Venkatesh, was also not included in the first round of ministerial appointments. Venkatesh, regarded as a senior party leader from the district, has previously held portfolios including Sericulture and Animal Husbandry. He had also been entrusted with an additional portfolio three days ago. Party workers are now awaiting clarity on whether he will be considered in the next phase of Cabinet expansion.

Supporters of Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait had expected him to be sworn in as a minister on Wednesday. Sait, who has been elected continuously from the Narasimharaja Assembly constituency since 2002, is considered a senior Congress leader. Party workers had anticipated his inclusion, citing his role as a Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working president and his proximity to the party leadership.

In Chamarajanagar district, the names of MLAs A.R. Krishnamurthy and C. Puttarangashetty also did not figure in the first list of ministers.