JD(S)-Congress coordination panel in Karnataka to discuss farm loan waiver, board appointments

BENGALURU: Formulation of a common minimum programme for the JD(S)-Congress coalition government is a major issue on the agenda for the first meeting of the Coalition Coordination Committee — headed by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah — to be held in the city on Thursday evening.  Appointments to boards and corporations and an assurance on farm loan waiver too are likely to come up for discussion.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, Deputy CM G Parameshwara and AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, K C Venugopal, are members of the committee formed to ensure smooth functioning of the coalition government. JD (S) secretary general Danish Ali is its convener. Sources said farm loan waiver and outline of the budget to be presented by Kumarswamy are also likely to come up for discussion during Thursday’s meeting.  JD(S), in its election manifesto, had promised complete waiver of farm loans availed from from nationlised banks and cooperative societies. On several occasions, the CM had stated that he is working out modalities for waiver of farm loans. He had recently held a meeting with farmers from across the state and reassured them of the government’s commitment on loan waiver.

Appointments to boards and corporations is the other major issue that will be discussed in the meeting. According to the power-sharing agreement between the two parties, Congress will get two-thirds of boards and corporations and one-third will go to JD(S). They, however, are yet to take a decision on the crucial subject of who will get which board or corporation.  Any major decision to be taken by the government has to be discussed in the coordination committee.

After the coordination committee meeting, senior Congress leaders are also likely to discuss the appointment of a new KPCC president. KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao is the frontrunner for the job. Names of AICC general secretary B K Hariprasad, K H Muniyappa and former CM Siddaramaiah are being floated as possible choices to succeed Parameshwara, who has remained KPCC president for a record eight years now.