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Congress and JD(S) are likely to announce a power-sharing deal for their coalition government in Karnataka on Friday, with unambiguous reiteration that H D Kumaraswamy will be chief minister for the full term and the two parties will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls together.
Contrary to speculation, the protracted negotiations were focussed not just on ministerial portfolios to be apportioned between the two partners but also on other dimensions — setting up a coordination committee, common minimum programme and stability of the government, as reported by TOI in an interview with Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot on Thursday.
Among key portfolios, finance will go to JD(S) while the home department will be run by Congress.
JD(S) secretary general Danish Ali told That, “The announcement will be a written agreement resolving all issues to run a stable coalition for five years. That is why it has taken so long. We wanted everything to be on paper so that the government could run smoothly for its full term under the chief ministership of H D Kumaraswamy.”

A mixed response was witnessed to the Madhya Pradesh farmers’ call for the 10-day shutdown in the state beginning Friday amid heavy police presence, coinciding with the first anniversary of the death of seven persons in police firing on farmers.

In state capital Bhopal, Mandsaur and other places, milk, and vegetables supply were affected, due to which prices of vegetables recorded an uptick.

Security personnel, including those from the paramilitary forces, were deployed in strength.

Though the shutdown had limited effect in big cities and towns, it was widespread in small towns and suburbs.

Aam Kisan Union Kedar Sirohi told IANS: “Farmers are united and continuing with their protest. The state government is trying to make their protest a failure but they are not ready to bow before the government at any cost.”

Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Mahasangh leader Shivkumar Sharma accused the government of spreading lies and rumors on the agitation by farmers.

“The question is not who is supporting the agitation. The question is if the demands of the farmers are valid,” he said.

Retired IPS officer, Kempaiah, who has been functioning as adviser to home minister since 2014, will have to let go of the post, as chief minister H D Kumaraswamy commented that the home ministry is not in need of an adviser and that the department has enough efficient officers who are willing to work with total commitment.

He was speaking to media persons at Vidhana Soudha after holding a meeting with senior police officials including director general of police Karnataka Neelamani Raju on Thursday, May 31. He said that discussions were held about the need for the home department to function strictly including maintaining law and order situation in the state. “We will also take certain tough decisions,” he clarified.
Addressing the police officers, he asked them to work in a way that people get to know that the government in the state has undergone a change. “Police need to work honestly. We will not allow political interference in the working of the department. They need not bend under any kind of pressure. They should take effective steps to handle illegal activities including rowdyism. I will hold another meeting shortly where detailed discussions will be held,” he said.

When he was questioned about the continuance of the services of the adviser to home minister appointed in the past, Kumaraswamy squarely dismissed the need for such a post. He said that if a need for an adviser is felt by any other department, both JD(S) and Congress will take a joint decision.

The chief minister also held meetings with officials of water resources and education department on this occasion.

The much awaited portfolio sharing between alliance partners in the JD(S)-Congress coalition government may finally be announced on Friday with senior leaders of both parties holding two rounds of talks in the city on Thursday and overnight Wednesday, to pave the way for a smooth Cabinet expansion, possibly this weekend. The all important finance portfolio as well as power and PWD, insiders said will go to the JD(S) as per the consensus arrived at during the talks.

After Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy took over as CM on May 23 along with his deputy, Dr G. Parameshwar of the Congress, the two partners have been wrangling over portfolio sharing with the prized finance portfolio proving to be the major bone of contention. Reason: Any party which gets finance, controls fund allocation for various ministries and will oversee populist programmes that better its poll prospects in the 2019 parliament polls that are just 11 months away.

Sources in the Congress confided that problems in portfolio allocation were sorted out during talks which took place at Kumara Krupa guest house and later at Taj West End. Janata Dal(S) patriarch and former PM Mr H.D. Deve Gowda will go over the final decision on the portfolios Friday morning.