Cong, JD(S) say they will have common minimum programme
BENGALURU: The coordination committee of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance government conducted its first meeting in the city on Thursday and decided to come up with a common minimum programme that would ensure the smooth functioning of the government.
The committee is headed by former chief minister Siddaramaiah with deputy chief minister G Parameshwara and All-India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of the state KC Venugopal as its members from Congress while chief minister HD Kumaraswamy as well as JD(S)’s secretary general Danish Ali represent the regional party.
At the first meeting the committee decided to name a panel to draft the common minimum programme of the alliance to ensure smooth coordination among the two parties in running the government.
Addressing the mediapersons after the meeting, Siddaramaiah said, “As this is a coalition government, it will be difficult to implement all the assurances made in the respective manifestos of the two parties, but these will be met over the course of the next 5 years.”
Siddaramaiah said the drafting committee would have three Congress and two JD(S) members and the names of the members would be announced on Friday.
“Keeping in mind the manifestos of both the parties a draft programme will be chalked up within 10 days and will be placed before the coordination committee, which will have to approve it,” he said.
The committee also decided to continue the flagship schemes of the previous Siddaramaiah government, including the Anna Bhagya scheme for providing free rice to below the poverty line families.
However, the leaders refused to reveal the discussions on the issue of disgruntled MLAs on both sides.
On Thursday, former minister HK Patil met Venugopal to convey the dissension within the state unit of the party to the high command.
Ever since the cabinet of the coalition government was expanded last week, senior leaders of both the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) have publicly aired their grievances at having lost out on ministerial berths.
After meeting Venugopal, Patil told media persons that he had been advised to meet party president Rahul Gandhi.
“Whenever he calls me for a meeting I will tell him about the minor problems that some of us have, as our intention is to strengthen the party,” he said.