After days of political tug of war between the Congress and JD(S) in Karnataka regarding cabinet berths, the two parties have finally come to a decision on the most contested portfolios - the Finance and Home Ministries.
Highly placed sources in the Congress said that the JD(S) will retain the Finance portfolio, while the Congress would bag the Home Ministry.
“As the Chief Minister oversees the Intelligence wing and also the personnel department, hence, these two departments will be with the JD(S). The Home Minister will be able to issue transfers only for those police officers who hold the post equivalent to that of DySP. The remaining powers will remain with the CM,” the source said.
Congress leader Danish Ali, who spoke to the media in New Delhi, said he would be flying to Bengaluru on Thursday afternoon to hold talks with Congress leaders regarding portfolio sharing. He also confirmed that the JD(S) would retain the Finance portfolio.
After five rounds of talks held between senior leaders of both parties regarding the power-sharing agreement, the other cabinet posts will be finalised by Saturday, the source added.
“We are waiting for Rahul Gandhi to give his opinion on what has been decided. Only then will the cabinet expansion happen,” the source added.
Sources in the JD(S) said that the Congress is likely to get the IT-BT, Energy and Education portfolios, while the JD(S) wants to retain the Revenue portfolio.
“Both sides want to keep Bengaluru Development, PWD (Public Works Department) and Urban Development Departments. The other cabinet berths have not yet been decided but discussions are going on,” the JD(S) source said.
The Congress and JD(S) formed a post-poll alliance on May 15 after the BJP had staked claim for forming the government, considering that it had emerged as the single largest party. However, after several days of high drama, the Congress-JD(S) combine managed to retain their MLAs and proved majority on the floor of the House.