Karnataka Portfolios: JD(S) to Get Finance, Congress to Get Home

Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy 

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

After days of hectic negotiations, the JD(S) will get the Finance portfolio in Karnataka and the Congress the Home department, highly placed sources in the parties said in New Delhi on Thursday, 31 May.

The power-sharing arrangement between the two alliance partners is being finalised and is in the final stages, the sources added.

The leaders of the two parties have held five rounds of talks in New Delhi since Wednesday, 30 May, to finalise the portfolio sharing arrangement between the two alliance partners.

Sources said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is on board on the issue, and has spoken to leaders on phone from the United States, where he is travelling with his mother, who has gone for a medical check-up.

“We have held five rounds of talks with each other and have decided that the JD(S) will get the Finance portfolio. I will be now travelling to Bengaluru to hold further talks within our party,” JD(S) leader Danish Ali told PTI.

He said he would meet both Chief Minister HD Kumarswamy and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda.

The coordination committee will announce the decision on the cabinet formation and portfolio allocations on Friday, said Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. Talking to the media on the Thursday night he said: “There are no issues, after several rounds of diiscussions, a decision agreeable to all parties has been taken. It will be announced tomorrow (Friday),” he said.