Congress-JD(S) alliance stretched again as Deve Gowda demands better representation in the coordination committee, even as Siddaramaiah eyes CM seat

Amid former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sending mixed signals with his "Chief Minister again" comment, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and newly-elected JD(S) president H Vishwanath have demanded better representation for ir party in JD(S)-Congress coordination committee. Committee was constituted to ensure smooth functioning of coalition government which is led by JD(S) despite Congress being larger partner. Currently, re are only two members from JD(S) as compared to three from Congress in panel.

In accordance with this demand,  JD(S) leers have also raised point that  committee is heed by former CM Siddaramaiah which purportedly gives an ditional upper hand to Congress. This comes even as re is talk of inducting Karnataka Presh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Dinesh Gundu Rao in panel. 

JD(S) is seeking its new party president and ors leers to be inducted in panel as well. As per sources, HD Deve Gowda will also raise matter with senior Congress leers in Delhi. 

dressing media, former Prime Minister said,"We haven't taken a call yet. re are five members in panel w, three from ir party and two from ours. Our question is if y are inducting ir party president into committee y must also induct our party chief as well. We've t discussed matter yet"

ding to Deve Gowda's statement, H Vishwanath said, "y should induct me and Dinesh Gundu Rao into coordination committee, only n committee becomes complete. Presidents of both parties must be in panel".

Re: Siddaramaiah Clarifies On 'CM Again' Comment, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy Hits Back

Earlier, creating ripples within state's political circles, Congress leer and former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah h expressed desire to occupy top post again, saying so in as many words. This h led to senior Congress leers attempting to issue a clarification, saying that "Siddaramaiah only meant his party coming back to power in next assembly elections". Interestingly, Siddaramaiah h earlier said that he would t contest next Lok Sabha polls.

Meanwhile, Karnataka agriculture minister Shivashankara Reddy has indirectly supported Siddaramaiah. minister, when asked about Siddaramaiah's ambitions to become CM, indicated that if coordination committee agrees n re would be change.

"In future, if members coordination committee comes toger and take a call n perhaps we can see some change, Congress and JDS can take a call on it", he said.

Congress h emerged second-biggest party in recent Karnataka Assembly elections, with BJP falling sufficient seats short of a majority for Siddaramaiah's party to issue an unconditional offer of support to third-biggest party, JD(S). However, it was BJP's Yeddyurappa who took oath as Chief Minister first, only to step down before having to undertake a floor test, presumably because he didn't have numbers. Following this, Deve Gowda's son HD Kumaraswamy took oath as Chief Minister, with oath-taking ceremony serving as a show-of-strength for Opposition parties.

However, re have been numerous indications of things t entirely running smoothly under alliance, with Kumaraswamy issuing a number of statements, and even breaking into tears on one occasion, on account of 'swallowing poison of coalition.'