LIVE: “Not true,” says Kumaraswamy on reports of resentment in Congress over alliance with JD(S)

Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy will meet UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday even as both parties have started bargaining behind the scenes on portfolios in the new Karnataka assembly.

On Sunday, Kumaraswamy, who will take oath as Karnataka’s 25th chief minister on Wednesday, dismissed reports that JD(S) is working out a power-sharing formula with the Congress to head the government for 30 months each.

After the May 12 elections delivered a fractured mandate, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa had formed the government, but resigned on Saturday as chief minister without facing a trust vote as he fell short of the required number of seats.

Here are the live updates:

12.03pm: “Who told you? This is all bogus and fake news. This is not true,” says Kumaraswamy, on reports of resentment within Congress over alliance with JD(S).

11.34am: All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha writes to Kumaraswamy, demanding Shamanuru Shivashankarappa of Congress, a Veerashaiva leader, be made home minister in the new government and five other leaders from the community be made ministers in the cabinet, reports ANI.

11.21am: When asked if Congress-JD(S) government will complete its full term, DK Shivakumar says, “Time will answer. I don’t want to answer it now. We have various issues, options before us, I can’t tell right now.”

#WATCH Congress leader DK Shivakumar says, 'Time will answer. I don't want to answer it now. We have various issues, options before us, I can't tell right now', when asked if Congress-JD(S) government will complete full term #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/wnDiKqg2Yj

— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2018

11.17am: Congress leader DK Shivakumar tells ANI, “Rahul Gandhi has taken decision that there should be secular government here. That’s what the entire country needs and that’s why we have taken this stand (alliance with JDS). I had to swallow all this bitterness, this is my duty.”

10.35am: HD Kumaraswamy says he has invited Rajinikanth to come to Karnataka and look at the condition of the reservoirs. “Water is not sufficient. I am sure he will understand,” says the CM-designate on Rajinikanth asking new Karnataka government to release Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery river water.

9.45am: Kumaraswamy offers prayers at Lakshmi Narasimha Temple in Hassan.

The chief minister-designate will offer prayers at four temples in Karnataka before heading to Delhi. (ANI/Twitter)

9.35am: Karnataka Congress leaders Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar and G Parameshwara will also arrive in Delhi today to discuss modalities related to government formation with the party high command.

9.29am: Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu have suggested that he attend the ceremony given his closeness to HD Deve Gowda, a statement from the party said.

“The ministers told Naidu that he should take part in the swearing-in ceremony as it will send the right signals... and he has responded positively,” the TDP statement said.

*Kumaraswamy is expected to arrive in Holenarasipura on Monday morning and visit the Lakshmi narasimha Temple, the Haradanahalli Shiva Temple, the Ranganatha Temple and the Yalimalaka Temple.

*The JD(S) leader will depart for Delhi from HAL Airport in Bengaluru at 11.30am. Kumaraswamy is expected to meet Rahul Gandhi at 3.30pm, followed by a meeting with Sonia Gandhi at 4.30 pm.

*He will leave for Bengaluru in the evening.