JOIN USChief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said he will present a full budget next month, having got a go-ahead for it from Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who has also approved his farm loan waiver plan.
During the half-hour meeting, Rahul also reportedly assured Kumaraswamy that he would remain chief minister for five years.
Kumaraswamy, who was here to attend the Niti Aayog meeting, met Rahul at the latter’s residence on Tughlaq Lane and sought the full cooperation from the Congress for the smooth functioning of the coalition government.
At the meeting, which was also attended by JD(S) general secretary Danish Ali and Congress general secretary (Karnataka in-charge) K C Venugopal, the chief minister is learnt to have requested Rahul to advise Karnataka Congress leaders not to go to the media on their opposition to any programme of the government but instead discuss it with the co-ordination committee.
Kumaraswamy’s meeting with Rahul gains significance with former chief minister and co-ordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah opposing a fresh budget and the loan-waiver scheme.
The chief minister also reportedly told Rahul to immediately address the heartburn within the Congress on Cabinet expansion in the interest of the government’s stability. While assuring full cooperation from the Congress, Rahul is also learnt to have assured the Congress’ backing for his five-year term, saying there was no uncertainty about it, sources said.
Emerging out of the meeting, Kumaraswamy told reporters, “It was a courtesy call and I have sought his suggestions for the development of the state. I have also sought his cooperation for providing a stable government and to implement pro-people schemes. After hearing my views, he promised full cooperation.”
When asked about Rahul’s reaction on presenting a full budget, the chief minister said Rahul has no problem with it and has given his green signal.
Rahul also approved the government’s plan to waive farm loans, Kumaraswamy said.
However, the chief minister denied rumours that he had complained to Rahul about Siddaramaiah.
“We did not discuss any particular individual issue. Sidaramaiah is a senior leader and because of his long experience as finance minister, he might have suggested presenting a supplementary budget. I have no differences with him,” the chief minister
said.
Asked whether he discussed the Cabinet expansion with Rahul, he said no such discussion was held. It is up to the Congress to decide on
filling the vacant berths, he said.
“I had also earlier requested the Congress leaders to resolve some issues and they will resolve them after discussing it with their party MLAs,” he said.