CM wants to keep finance, Cong says ‘no’

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, on Sunday, hinted that there was a tug-of-war between the Congress and the JD(S) with regard to portfolio allocation.

The two parties have already come to an understanding that the Congress will have 22 ministerial berths (including chief minister) and the JD(S) will have 12 (including the CM) in the council of ministers.

Kumaraswamy is keen on keeping the finance portfolio with himself as he would be in a better position to control the state’s finances. The Congress, however, is not willing to let go.

In addition to finance, the JD(S) has also conveyed to the Congress that it wants key portfolios like PWD, irrigation and Bengaluru
development.

Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, Kumaraswamy conceded that the Congress had sought the finance portfolio. He, however, maintained that there were no differences between the two parties.