Cong, JD(S) struggle over Min berths

After proving his majority on the floor of the House on Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy of the Congress-JD(S) coalition is still struggling to wriggle out  differences over Ministry formation. Even though Karnataka Chief Minister who is in Delhi on Monday has indicated that Ministry formation will be over in a day or two after he held talks with Congress leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad and others without Congress president Rahul Gandhi being there , confusion over birth allocation between two parties still needs to be sorted out.

The conflict over sharing important portfolios like Finance, Home, PWD, Revenue, irrigation and others have been so far not sorted out by the coalition partners and the Congress ordination committee has not succeeded so far to sort out the issues. This made Kumaraswamy to knock the doors of the Congress leaders in Delhi giving  more speculations before it is taking shape. Congress leaders including former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held discussion with Rahul Gandhi about cabinet formation. A Congress Leader on condition of anonymity said that “exercise is on and will continue till we get the posts we want.”

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Sunday, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah, who was part of the discussions, had said the Cabinet would be expanded and portfolios allocated between the coalition partners only after Rahul Gandhi’s return.

“We could not discuss allocation of portfolios with Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Once he returns, we will discuss with him again. It will not take a week... Maybe, three-four days will be required,” he said.

According to congress sources the  Cabinet expansion has been delayed over differences in the distribution of portfolios between the coalition partners, with a tussle for key Ministries including Finance, Public Works, Water Resources and Energy.

The Finance portfolio has assumed significance for both parties, given the crop loan waiver issue. The JD(S) had promised in its poll manifesto to waive crop loans within 24 hours of coming to power.

Chief Minister Kumaraswamy on Sunday admitted that “there are some issues on portfolio allocation, particularly the Finance portfolio...” “However, all issues would be sorted out amicably,” he said.

As part of the agreement between two partners the Congress with 78 seats will have 22 births and 12 for the JDs which include Chief Minister in the 34 member fixed Ministry. Many Lingayat organisations who are part of the agitation are demanding plum portfolios to the Lingayats.

Meanwhile furthering confusion JDs supremo  HD Devgowda has revealed  he had offered support for the congress led Government in Karnataka after Karnataka gave a  fractured mandate. In a press conference on Monday in Bengaluru  he said Congress insisted that Kumaraswamy becoming the Chief Minister.

He said “There was discussion between me, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ashok Gehlot. I told them, you form (the Government), I have no problem. They insisted that Kumaraswamy become the Chief Minister and that it was their high-command’s decision.”

Amid reports of continued differences in the newly- formed JD(S)-Congress coalition over portfolio allocation and farm loan waiver, which has delayed the expansion of the Kumaraswamy Ministry, Gowda indicated it would be difficult to keep the promise of relief to farmers. “How? With 37 members (MLAs of the JDS), we have to run the Government with the support of another party. We will also have to continue with their programmes. Without their support it is difficult.That is why he (Kumaraswamy) said I will give resignation, if need be. He was under Congress’ will and not under the will of 6.5 crore people. He has called himself child of circumstances,” he said.

Kumaraswamy had promised to write of farm loans totalling Rs 53,000 crore within 24 hours of coming to power, but has now sought time citing coalition compulsions and the need to assess the financial condition of the State.