<p>Former chief minister Siddaramaiah’s disagreement over a new full-budget for 2018-19 has not only upset Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, it has also discomfited his own party colleagues, forcing them to take sides.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and cabinet colleague D K Shivakumar indirectly batted for Kumaraswamy, by saying they were uncertain about the intent behind Siddaramaiah’s remarks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Siddaramaiah had, on Saturday, had taken exception to Kumaraswamy’s budget plan by stating there was no need for a new budget and that the chief minister could announce his new programmes through a supplementary budget.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kumaraswamy had countered it, saying it had been a practice for a new government to present a full budget.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Parameshwara seconded Kumaraswamy’s opinion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“It’s a common practice for new governments to evolve their own programmes and announce the same in the budget. I’m not sure in what context Siddaramaiah made such a statement,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Reiterating that the coordination committee had decided to continue all programmes/welfare schemes of the previous Congress regime, Parameshwara said, “Efforts are on to combine the old and new proposals. A drafting committee for preparing the common minimum programme has been set up. The committee will submit its report to the co-ordination committee in the next 10 days. Until then, no decision will be taken.”</p>
<p>Former chief minister Siddaramaiah’s disagreement over a new full-budget for 2018-19 has not only upset Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, it has also discomfited his own party colleagues, forcing them to take sides.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and cabinet colleague D K Shivakumar indirectly batted for Kumaraswamy, by saying they were uncertain about the intent behind Siddaramaiah’s remarks.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Siddaramaiah had, on Saturday, had taken exception to Kumaraswamy’s budget plan by stating there was no need for a new budget and that the chief minister could announce his new programmes through a supplementary budget.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kumaraswamy had countered it, saying it had been a practice for a new government to present a full budget.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Parameshwara seconded Kumaraswamy’s opinion.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“It’s a common practice for new governments to evolve their own programmes and announce the same in the budget. I’m not sure in what context Siddaramaiah made such a statement,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Reiterating that the coordination committee had decided to continue all programmes/welfare schemes of the previous Congress regime, Parameshwara said, “Efforts are on to combine the old and new proposals. A drafting committee for preparing the common minimum programme has been set up. The committee will submit its report to the co-ordination committee in the next 10 days. Until then, no decision will be taken.”</p>
