Kumaraswamy to meet Sonia, Rahul today

Karnataka Chief Minister-designate H D Kumaraswamy will be giving final touches to the power-sharing agreement for the JD(S)-Congress coalition government during his meeting with Congress President Rahul Gandhi here on Monday.

Kumaraswamy is also scheduled to meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi before flying back to Bengaluru.

The JD(S) leader is also expected to extend a formal invitation to the Gandhis to attend his swearing-in ceremony at the Vidhan Soudha lawns on Wednesday.

The JD(S)-Congress coalition is expected to have two Deputy Chief Ministers – both from the Congress. The grand old party is also expected to get a larger share in power owing to its superior numbers in the coalition.

In the May 12 Assembly elections, the Congress won 78 seats against the 38 won by the JD(S). The Congress and JD(S) announced a surprise post-poll alliance to keep the BJP away from power. BJP emerged as a single largest party winning 104 seats but well short of the magic number of 113.

According to AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal, Kumaraswamy would be the only person to be administered the oath of office and secrecy on Wednesday. The other ministers are expected to be sworn in on Friday, a day after the coalition faces the floor test.

There is also a race for key portfolios in the coalition government with both Congress and the JD(S) having set their eyes on Finance, Home, Revenue, Rural Development, Water Resources, Urban Development ministries.

The issue on which party should get the coveted Speaker’s post is also undecided.

Chief Ministers of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and West Bengal are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

It was not immediately clear whether Kumaraswamy would also meet CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury before flying out to Bengaluru at 6:30 pm. Yechury is busy with the first meeting of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau after his re-election as General Secretary.