Cong national, state aims clash in K’taka

ALTHOUGH TALKS BETWEEN CONG AND JD(S) WENT ON UNTIL MIDNIGHT ON MONDAY, AN AGREEMENT REMAINED ELUSIVE

NEW DELHI: An internal tussle in the Congress over the party’s approach in dealing with the Janata Dal (Secular) at the national level and in Karnataka is delaying the state Cabinet’s expansion, a senior party leader familiar with the development said on Tuesday.

The central leaders of the Congress are willing to concede the finance portfolio — a bone of contention between the two parties — to the JD(S), keeping in mind the need for broader Opposition unity ahead of the 2019 elections.

But Karnataka Congress leaders are adamant on their demand for the key ministry, arguing that yielding to the alliance partner at the beginning of the coalition government’s term will hurt the party in the long run in the southern state.

“They (central leaders) don’t want the portfolio issue to jeopardise larger Opposition unity in 2019. Their stand is the Congress should be seen as walking an extra mile to keep the unity intact ahead of the Lok Sabha elections,” the leader cited above said on condition of anonymity.

Senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ahmed Patel and Ashok Gehlot are holding internal discussions with deputy chief minister and Karnataka Congress chief G Parameshwara, former chief minister Siddaramaiah and senior party leader in Karnataka, DK Shivakumar.

“The state leaders are of the view that the finance portfolio in Karnataka is very important since the chief minister’s post is with the JD(S). All development projects are cleared by the ministry. Instead of convincing the alliance partners, they feel the Delhi leaders concede too much,” the leader cited above said.

He said Congress president Rahul Gandhi was keen on having a “functional government” in place in Karnataka and has told the central and state leaders to negotiate with the JD(S) .