Cong, JD(S) meet to resolve portfolio sharing arrangement

New Delhi/Bengaluru: Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara met the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad here today.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel and AICC incharge of party affairs in Karnataka K C Venugopal were also present during the meeting.

“We held discussions with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and other leaders of our ally in Karnataka. We are likely to finalise the portfolio-sharing issue within a day or two. We will be meeting again this evening and hold further discussions,” senior party leader Venugopal told.

JD-S leader Danish Ali, who was also part of the discussions, said that the talks were “constructive” and would yield a positive outcome.

After the meeting, Kumaraswamy said, “I am at mercy of Congress, but I am responsible for the development of the state. I can’t do much without the permission of the Congress party.

Sources said the two partners want key portfolios of Finance and Home, besides other departments like Public Works Department (PWD), Power, Mining, Water Resources, Irrigation and Urban Development.