The Hindu : Karnataka News : Congress `sacrifices' key portfolios

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 09, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Congress `sacrifices' key portfolios

By S. Rajendran

BANGALORE, JUNE 8. The simmering differences between the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress over the allocation of portfolios have been sorted out following the "magnanimity" shown by the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh.

Sources in the Janata Dal (S) told The Hindu that the Chief Minister had agreed to part with some more portfolios.

Apparently, he was perturbed with some developments in the Janata Dal (S) late last night with at least one senior leader threatening to quit the Ministry.

The Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, who has been given the Finance portfolio, will also be given Excise. P.G.R. Sindhia, Minister for Industries and Infrastructure Development, will now have control over the international airport project.

The Revenue Minister, M.P. Prakash, will hold additional charge of the Muzrai Department and H.D. Revanna, Minister for Public Works and Energy, will now have charge of K-SHIP, a World Bank-assisted project.

It was said that the effort was largely aimed at sorting out differences between the coalition partners, particularly the senior Janata Dal (S) Ministers.

H.D. Kumaraswamy, son of the former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, participated in the discussions where the decisions were taken.

The meeting decided to constitute a high-level coordination committee to handle specific matters to ensure that differences, if any, were nipped in the bud.

Over the past two days, several Ministers had expressed dissatisfaction over the allocation of the portfolios.

The unhappiness was more pronounced among senior leaders of the Janata Dal (S). This led the Chief Minister to hold a high-level meeting this evening. The outcome of this meeting was that some of the Janata Dal (S) leaders would be given additional portfolios.

Some of them had been assured that their interests would be taken care of during the course of the next round of Cabinet expansion scheduled to take place after the legislature session.

Mr. Deve Gowda told The Hindu that the interests of Mr. Sindhia, who had initially sought the Home portfolio, would be taken care of during the next Cabinet expansion.

Mr. Sindhia had agreed to his party conceding the Home portfolio to the Congress and sacrificed the Revenue portfolio in favour of Mr. Prakash.

It is said that the demand for "weighty" portfolios was not restricted to the Janata Dal (S) leaders but had spread to the Congress as well.

Such demands had never been made in the open in the Congress.

It was stated that Mr. Kharge, who was beaten to the post by Mr. Dharam Singh in the race for the chief ministership, had been given the Transport portfolio apart from Major, Medium and Minor Irrigation to keep him happy. A few days ago, Mr. Kharge was reportedly told that he could not retain the Home portfolio as the Janata Dal (S) wanted the Chief Minister to retain it.

Several Janata Dal (S) legislators have already began lobbying for a berth in the Dharam Singh Ministry in view of the Cabinet expansion.

The party top brass is ready with the next list of 11 legislators and is urging the Chief Minister to go ahead with the expansion at the earliest.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kumaraswamy, who had been playing a pivotal role in the discussions with the Chief Minister on portfolio allocations, today held a meeting with Mr. Siddaramaiah.

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