Cracks in Congress-JD(S) alliance: Disagreements over fresh budget, farm loan waiver create further tensions
As the Congress-JD(S) government completes one month in office, several unresolved issues are plaguing the ruling alliance in Karnataka. And the coalition partners have begun openly sparring ahead of the presentation of the state Budget, with issues like farm loan waiver and the second phase of a Cabinet expansion also rising to the fore.
The differences are not new, and had emerged even before the MLAs were sworn in. But now that over four weeks have passed, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has shifted his view from being at Congress' mercy to not being at "anyone's mercy" at all. With both parties still appearing confident of pulling through for the next five years, here's a detailed look at the issues that are currently keeping the tussle alive:
Divide over fresh budget
The coalition partners are struggling to make a decision on whether or not Kumaraswamy, who also holds the finance portfolio, should present a full budget on 5 July.
Chairman of the Congress-JDS coordination committee Siddaramaiah has expressed his strong reservations over presenting a new full-fledged budget, saying there was no need for such an exercise since he had already tabled the budget as chief minister a few months ago. Kumaraswamy has, however, strongly pushed for a new budget and taken up the issue with Congress president Rahul Gandhi during his meeting with him in New Delhi, and later said he had got his approval as well.
Kumaraswamy said, "They (new MLAs) don't know (about the old budget). If I continue with the vote on account that was approved by the then MLAs, who have now lost, we will have to see whether it will lead to breach of privilege of new MLAs."
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Chairman of the Congress-JDS coordination committee Siddaramaiah
"If someone brings in a privilege motion, what should I do? There are issues," he said.
On Sunday, a video clip purportedly showing Siddaramaiah, who held the finance portfolio in the previous government, expressing his displeasure over presentation of fresh budget to few Congress MLAs had surfaced.
Kumaraswamy, without taking any names, said, "Some have suggested that let the budget be presented after the parliament election, so there are issues."
A few days ago, Siddaramaiah had asserted that he had already tabled the budget as chief minister a few months ago. "The budget has already been tabled. It was a full-fledged budget. That's why we had taken vote on accounts for four months. It will be there till July end. All the ongoing programmes and new programmes announced in the budget will continue," he said. Kumaraswamy had responded to this by saying, "Whenever a new government comes to power, it needs to demonstrate what its goals are."
As the Congress-JD(S) government completes one month in office, several unresolved issues are plaguing the ruling alliance in Karnataka. And the coalition partners have begun openly sparring ahead of the presentation of the state Budget, with issues like farm loan waiver and the second phase of a Cabinet expansion also rising to the fore.
The differences are not new, and had emerged even before the MLAs were sworn in. But now that over four weeks have passed, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has shifted his view from being at Congress' mercy to not being at "anyone's mercy" at all. With both parties still appearing confident of pulling through for the next five years, here's a detailed look at the issues that are currently keeping the tussle alive:
Divide over fresh budget
The coalition partners are struggling to make a decision on whether or not Kumaraswamy, who also holds the finance portfolio, should present a full budget on 5 July.
Chairman of the Congress-JDS coordination committee Siddaramaiah has expressed his strong reservations over presenting a new full-fledged budget, saying there was no need for such an exercise since he had already tabled the budget as chief minister a few months ago. Kumaraswamy has, however, strongly pushed for a new budget and taken up the issue with Congress president Rahul Gandhi during his meeting with him in New Delhi, and later said he had got his approval as well.
Kumaraswamy said, "They (new MLAs) don't know (about the old budget). If I continue with the vote on account that was approved by the then MLAs, who have now lost, we will have to see whether it will lead to breach of privilege of new MLAs."
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Chairman of the Congress-JDS coordination committee Siddaramaiah
"If someone brings in a privilege motion, what should I do? There are issues," he said.
On Sunday, a video clip purportedly showing Siddaramaiah, who held the finance portfolio in the previous government, expressing his displeasure over presentation of fresh budget to few Congress MLAs had surfaced.
Kumaraswamy, without taking any names, said, "Some have suggested that let the budget be presented after the parliament election, so there are issues."
A few days ago, Siddaramaiah had asserted that he had already tabled the budget as chief minister a few months ago. "The budget has already been tabled. It was a full-fledged budget. That's why we had taken vote on accounts for four months. It will be there till July end. All the ongoing programmes and new programmes announced in the budget will continue," he said. Kumaraswamy had responded to this by saying, "Whenever a new government comes to power, it needs to demonstrate what its goals are."
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