Cong, JD(S) finalise contours of coalition
Allies to set up coordination committee, frame common minimum programme; call on deputy CM likely today
NEW DELHI: The Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) on Monday decided to set up a joint coordination committee and formulate a common minimum programme for the smooth functioning of their coalition government in Karnataka over the next five years, said a Congress leader who was part of the deliberations.
This was decided at a 20-minute meeting between JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday evening.
According to the leader quoted above, the JD(S) has also agreed to leave the speaker’s post for the Congress. Seventy-one-year-old leader RV Deshpande, a Brahmin, is among the front runners for the post. On the deputy chief minister’s post, Kumaraswamy told reporters after the meeting that Rahul Gandhi has autho- rised Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka KC Venugopal to discuss all the modalities related to government formation with the JD(S) leadership and the party’s local leaders.
A combined meeting of the Congress and JD(S) legislators has been called in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
After those meetings, the two sides will announce decisions regarding the swearing-in and other formalities.
“There is no bargain. We will cordially work things out. We must work together. I am here to take the advice of Congress leaders,” Kumaraswamy said when asked how the two sides are going to address the sticking points related to government formation.