Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday met Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi and urged him to take an early decision on the State Cabinet expansion.
The Chief Minister said the JD(S)-Congress coalition government was secure under the leadership of senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
In a brief meeting with the Mr. Gandhi at his residence, Mr. Kumaraswamy also apprised the former about the 100-day performance of the coalition government.
“In the meeting, I requested the Congress president to take an early decision on the expansion of the Cabinet and appointment of corporation boards chairmen,” Mr. Kumaraswamy told reporters after the meeting.
At present, the Cabinet comprises 16 Congress and 10 JD(S) members, including the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, and as per rule, four more can be added, one from the JD(S) and three from the Congress.
‘Govt is secure’
Mr. Kumaraswamy’s discussions with Mr. Gandhi come on the eve of the JD(S)-Congress Coordination Committee meeting on Friday to iron out differences in the alliance that has arisen after Mr. Siddaramaiah’s remarks about becoming the Chief Minister.
Asked about the remarks, Mr. Kumaraswamy said, “He [Siddaramaiah] is a leader. If he expresses desire to become the chief minister, what’s wrong in that. The coalition government is secure under the leadership of Siddarmaiah. Siddaramaiah is necessary for the coalition government to run safely.”
Mr. Siddarmaiah had come out with a clarification that he would become the chief minister if people desired so in the next election, the Chief Minister said.
“Deshpande [senior Congress leader and Revenue Minister] too may have a desire to become the chief minister. There is no no need to interpret and understand it in a different way,” he added.
‘Honeymoon period is over’
Asserting that the coalition government was successful in completing 100 days in the State, the Chief Minister said, “People in the State have various expectations. My first goal is to fulfill their expectations in the coming days.”
The 100 days of honeymoon period was over and the government would start implementing the blueprint in the coming days. The government was successful in taking officers into confidence. They have to work considering the wavelength of the coalition government, he said.
Already, the government has announced farm loan waiver and given certain directions to officials to implement the budget proposals, he pointed out.
