NEW DELHI, JUNE 01,
After days of talks, the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka on Friday decided on sharing of portfolios, with the latter getting Finance and the former Home, among key portfolios. The two parties also announced their decision to have a pre-poll alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress will get 22 ministerial berths and the JD(S) 12.
Coordination committee
At a press conference, Karnataka in charge of Congress K.C. Venugopal said a coordination committee would be set up, with Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister H.D. Kumarswamy, and JD(S) Secretary Danish Ali on board, beside himself.
The committee would be chaired by Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Ali, the convenor. It would meet at least once a month, if not earlier.
“A common agenda for governance, based on the manifestos of both the parties, will be prepared and presented to people at the earliest. There will be two designated spokespersons, one from each party,” said Mr. Venugopal.
On a pre-poll alliance, he said the “exact nature of the understanding will be worked out later.”
Swearing-in ceremony
Earlier in the day, representatives of both the parties met Governor Vajubhai Vala and sought a time for the swearing-in of the new ministers. The ceremony is likely to be in held next week, since Mr. Vala is travelling out of the State from Saturday.
Portfolio allocation:
(Congress)
Home, Irrigation, Bengaluru City Development, Industry and Sugar Industry, Health, Revenue/Muzrai, Rural Development, Urban Development, Agriculture, Housing, Medical Education, Social Welfare, Forest and Environment, Labour, Mines and Geology, Women and Child Welfare, Food and Civil Supply, Haj and Wakf and Minority Affairs, Law and Parliamentary Affairs, S&T and ITBT, Youth & Sports and Kannada Culture, Ports and Inland Transport development.
JD(S)
Information, GAD, Intelligence, Planning and Statistics; Finance and Excise; PWD; Power; Cooperation; Tourism; Education (minus Medical Education); Animal Husbandry and Fisheries; Horticulture and Sericulture; small scale industries; Transport; Minor Irrigation
