Kumaraswamy holds meet on ULB pacts

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday held a meeting of the JD(S) legislature party to discuss among others things forging an alliance with the Congress in urban local bodies (ULBs) which have witnessed a hung verdict in the recent elections.

The JD(S) and the Congress have announced they will forge an alliance in order to keep the BJP away from power.

However, local JD(S) leaders in some of the ULBs - especially in places where there has been age-old rivalry between the Congress and the regional party - are insisting that they will form an alliance with the BJP.

Sources said Kumaraswamy wanted to hold one-to-one discussions with his MLAs and MLCs ahead of the Cabinet expansion. All of them (except for the ones inducted in the Cabinet) are vying for positions in various boards and corporations. Kumaraswamy is also yet to induct one other MLA from his party into the Cabinet.

Amid reports that efforts were being made to destabilise the coalition government by the BJP, Kumaraswamy is learnt to have appealed to the party legislators to remain united and not fall prey to any coercion tactic by the saffron party.

Sources said that the meeting was convened following complaints by legislators that they were not getting an opportunity to meet Kumaraswamy.