NEW DELHI: Amid continuing dissatisfaction among ministerial aspirants in Congress and JD(S) in
Karnataka, the coalition partners are likely to apportion government corporations and boards among themselves on Thursday.
These government bodies, headed by political appointees, are the power perch often used to placate restive MLAs who are left out of state ministries.
Danish Ali, convenor of the Congress-JD(S) coordination committee, has summoned the meeting of the fivemember panel on Thursday. Sources said the meeting is likely to discuss drafting a ‘common minimum programme’ for the fledgling coalition government. The panel may form a sub-committee to thrash out the document which is planned as the joint manifesto for five years.
The ‘coordination committee’ is chaired by former CM
Siddaramaiah, and comprises CM H D Kumaraswamy, deputy CM G Parameshwara and Congress general secretary in-charge of state affairs K C Venugopal.
JD(S) secretary general Danish Ali is its convenor. Sources said besides the joint manifesto, the panel is likely to distribute government corporations and bodies among the allies. Around 14 of them are considered “plum” and eyed by
Congress is eager to placate some of its disgruntled MLAs through appointment as chairpersons. Otherwise, the party has kept vacant six berths from its quota of 22 ministries and will use them to accommodate senior leaders who are flexing their muscles. An AICC manager expressed confidence that the angry MLAs would be brought around.