Gandhis, HDK discuss power-sharing modalities
BY Team MP21 May 2018 11:50 PM IST
Team MP22 May 2018 5:21 AM IST
NEW DELHI: Ahead of his swearing-in as the Karnataka's new chief minister, JD(S) chief H D Kumaraswamy on Monday met Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to finalise the modalities of government formation and ministerial berth sharing between the two post-poll allies.
The Congress later on Monday hinted at a broader alliance with the JD(S) ahead of next year's General Elections.
According to sources, Congress has mooted two deputy chief ministers for the numerically strong party to strike a balance with the JD(S) but the regional party is believed to be not in favour of this proposal. KPCC chief G Parameshwara is among the frontrunners for the deputy chief minister's post.
Kumaraswamy, who will be sworn in as chief minister on Wednesday for the second time in 12 years, flew into the capital on Monday afternoon and began his engagements with a meeting with pre-poll ally BSP chief Mayawati. BSP bagged one seat.
During his 20-minute meeting with Sonia and Rahul, the Congress President, Kumaraswamy is understood to have discussed the modalities of Cabinet formation on the number of ministerial berths the Congress and the JD(S) would get. The meeting took place at Rahul's Tughlak Lane residence.
"There is no bargain. We will cordially work out things. We must work together. I am here to take their(Congress leaders) advice," said Kumaraswamy when asked by newsmen ahead of the meeting how the Congress and the JD(S) will address the issue of ministry formation.
"We are going to give a stable government. All these issues are not yet discussed. We have not discussed any future course of action".
Kumaraswamy is expected to take the floor test within 24 hours after being sworn in. Till the trust vote, the Congress and the JD(S) lawmakers will be confined to their hotels. The Congress legislators are at Bengaluru's Hilton and Embassy Golf Links under the care of senior party leader DK Shivakumar. The lawmakers of the JD(S) are at the Prestige Resorts in Devanahalli in the outskirts of Bengaluru.
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