Barely a day after Bharatiya Janata Party’s BS Yeddyurappa tendered his resignation as the Chief Minister of Karnataka before yesterday’s crucial floor test in the assembly, negotiations have begun between Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) on the power-sharing agreement for their alliance.
JD(S)’s chief minister-designate HD Kumaraswamy revealed to media reporters after a meeting with Congress leaders in Bengaluru that he will be traveling to Delhi on Monday to meet Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi to discuss ministries that the two parties will share in their government.
Kumaraswamy said, “Tomorrow morning I am going to Delhi. I’ll meet Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Just 24 hours after my oath, I’ll prove the majority.” He also explained that Congress and JD(S) will be forming a “coordination committee” for preparing a common minimum programme that the two alliance partners will use to implement promises they made before elections.
Expressing his views on this issue, senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha leader of opposition Mallikarjun Kharge also said that his party’s high command will take a decision on cabinet formation. He said there must be some “give and take” between the two sides while sharing power.
Media reports state that 20 JD(S) MLAs and 13 Congress MLAs are likely to become ministers in Kumaraswamy’s cabinet, while the chief minister will keep the finance ministry with himself. Congress leader G. Parameshwara is possibly going to be given the deputy chief minister’s position.
Kumaraswamy is expected to take oath as chief minister of Karnataka on Wednesday. The ceremony is going to be a grand show of strength of opposition unity as senior leaders of other parties like Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati are also expected to attend this event.