Lobbying for minister berths intensifies in Congress

Bengaluru: The common aim of defeating the BJP seems to be the only reason keeping together the hastily formed Congress-JD(S) alliance. Both the parties want to form a united Opposition front for the BJP and try to undermine it in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. But it might not be a good enough reason for past enemies to work together as allies now. Senior Congress and JD(S) leaders are convincing their MLAs to be ready for some sacrifices with regard to the ministership that will be administered in a few days. They feel that the larger interest of the Opposition is the 2019 elections and want the unity to continue until then.

 A senior Congress leader has said that the reliability of the Congress as a coalition partner will be put to test in the run-up to the 2019 elections. He said that given the larger aim of the coalition, small adjustments will have to be made in the Ministries. The party is also expecting that the success of the Karnataka government would bring regional parties under the helm of the Congress. The JD(S) camp also has the same notion and wants the united Opposition to succeed. Senior leader Basavaraj Horatti said that if a good administration is implemented in the State by the coalition government, the Opposition can expect to defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. Both the parties have made it their shared aim and priority.

However, amidst all of this, the lobbying for ministerial berths continues. Though most Congress leaders had planned of going to Delhi and lobby for the ministership in their favour, they had to cancel it due to an order from the high command that no discussions on the matter should be taken up until Chief Minister designate H.D. Kumaraswamy faces the floor test. They have also been told not to urge for ministerial berths or any other posts and to be ready to make a few sacrifices for the achievement of the larger aim. Therefore, in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Monday, senior leaders Siddaramaiah, G. Parameshwara, Mallikarjun Kharge and D.K. Shivakumar only sought opinion from the legislators on the ministerial berths. The party is also planning to induct two MLCs in the Cabinet.

It has also been learnt that the formation of the Coordination Committee has been put off for the moment. The committee was touted to be headed by Siddaramaiah, but has now been postponed until the floor test and the formation of the Cabinet. Also, certain Lingayat MLAs had expressed their displeasure in the meeting about Babaleshwar MLA M.B. Patil’s name being suggested for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. They opined that Patil had divided the Lingayats by seeking a separate religion tag and threatened to resign if he is considered even for a Minister’s post.