BENGALURU: Even as the Congress rank and file in many districts are expressing their reservations about extending the alliance with JD(S) to the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Chairman of Congress-JD(S) Coalition Coordination Committee Siddaramaiah has reasserted the need for such a tie-up.
“Congress will face the Lok Sabha election in alliance with JD(S). Talks are on in this regard,” Siddaramaiah said after meeting Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday. “There is no objection from anyone within the party,” he said when asked about opposition from grassroot level party workers.
The issue figured prominently at his meeting with Rahul and Siddaramaiah reportedly cited the resistance from some of the district units of the party including Hassan and Mandya to extending the alliance with JD(S) for Lok Sabha and the forthcoming urban local body polls. However, Rahul is firm on the pact which has already been announced by the party.As for the appointment of district in-charge ministers, Siddaramaiah said that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will finalise it soon.
Ministry expansion only after ‘Ashada’
The ministerial aspirants in Congress and JD(S) will have to wait a little longer. Siddaramaiah has said that the ministry expansion could take place only after the Hindu month of ‘Ashada’, considered inauspicious to start any new venture or initiative.
Board & Corporations only for MLAs
With the number of ministerial aspirants being too long and many disgruntled MLAs showing signs of raising a banner of revolt, the party is keen to mollify them with posts of Chairman of Boards and Corporations. “Only sitting MLAs will be considered for the posts in Boards and Corporations. Appointments will be made to 30 Boards and Corporations in the first round with Congress getting 20 and JD(S) 10,” Siddaramaiah said.