Congress, JD(S) differ over Cabinet formation
JD(S) disagrees with Congress’ demand for two Dy CMs
Karnataka’s Chief Minister-designate H.D. Kumaraswamy of the JD(S), who came here Monday for consultations with top Congress leaders ahead of his swearing-in, promised a stable government in Karnataka and a “long-term relationship” with the Congress, as he invited Sonia and Rahul Gandhi to his oath-taking in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
During his 20-minute meeting with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Mr Kumaraswamy is learnt to have discussed the nittygritty of Cabinet formation and the number of ministerial berths the Congress and the JD(S) would get.
Sources confirmed that the Congress-JD(S) combine will have a coordination committee to ensure the smooth functioning of the coalition government, and the Assembly Speaker will be from the Congress.
Sources also said while the Congress has mooted two deputy chief ministers, the JD(S) is believed to be not in favour.
Karnataka’s Chief Minister-designate H.D. Kumaraswamy of the JD(S), who came here on Monday for consultations with top Congress leaders ahead of his swearing-in, promised a stable government in Karnataka and a “long-term relationship” with the Congress, as he invited Sonia and Rahul Gandhi to his oath-taking in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
There were unconfirmed reports that the coalition government would have 20 ministers from the Congress and 13 from the JD(S), the Congress being the larger party of the two. But not all these ministers would be sworn in initially, many would take the oath later.
KPCC chief G. Parameshwara is among the frontrunners for the deputy chief minister’s post.
The coordination committee will have five to six members.
The top leadership of the two parties decided to make a new beginning, leaving behind the past, when they had come together and fallen apart, and vowed to ensure “a long-term relationship”.