Correct option is C
The correct substitution of the highlighted segment is (c) "is expected shortly." The verb in the sentence should agree with the main subject "politician," which is singular.
The phrase "along with the newsmen" does not affect the verb form, thus "is expected" is correct. Grammatical rule used: The verb must agree with the main subject, not with the nouns in prepositional phrases. Example: The CEO, along with her assistants, is expected to arrive at noon.