The expansion of Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy’s Cabinet is a work in progress, as the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress are yet to agree on the distribution of portfolios.
In Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara claimed that “the confusion will be cleared soon and the two parties will come to a decision.”
Sources told The Hindu that Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is out of the country for his mother Sonia Gandhi’s annual health check-up, may return earlier than expected to iron out the differences.
Before leaving, sources claimed, Mr. Gandhi had fully empowered the trio of Ghulam Nabi Azad, Ahmed Patel and Ashok Gehlot. But key portfolios like Finance and the Ministry for Development of Bengaluru are turning out to be sticking points.
Sources said Mr. Kumaraswamy, in his meeting with the Congress leaders on Monday, made it clear that he wanted the Finance Ministry in JD(S) quota, as that would be crucial to honour the pre-poll promise of a complete loan waiver to the farmers.
