If rumblings of discontent in the Congress have proved a thorn in the side of the three-and-a-half-month-old government in the state, things are not exactly hunky dory between the coalition partners either with the JD(S) reportedly sidelining the Congress in decision-making. Going by sources in both parties, although former Chief Minister and co-ordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah had suggested in its first few meetings that the Chief Minister should discuss major issues with his deputy G. Parameshwar, Mr Kumaraswamy did not consult either him or any of other senior Congress ministers R.V. Deshpande, D.K. Shivakumar and K.J. George on any issue, including the recent one on rolling back the prices of petroleum products in the state.
In fact, with Mr Kumaraswamy’s family being directly involved in running the government , senior Congress Ministers are finding it hard to get their way, say sources. For instance, it’s claimed that his brother and Minister, H D Revanna not only transferred an engineer of his choice to the BDA , but also got his father and JD(S) supremo, H D Deve Gowda to call Dr Parameshwar twice to give him a plum post.
And like his predecessor, Siddaramaiah, who virtually handed over the police department to his security advisor, Kempaiah, Mr Kumaraswamy too is reportedly attempting to run the police department, which is part of Dr Parameshwar’s Home Ministry. It’s claimed that the Chief Minister transferred a few IPS officers recently on the advice of two senior Vokkaliga officers without consulting the DCM.
A couple of months ago, Water Resources Minister, D.K. Shivakumar too had protested engineers of his department being transferred by Mr Revanna. The other factor troubling the Congress is Mr Kumaraswamy’s unilateral decision to waive crop loans of farmers. A senior minister claims the move has left the exchequer with little money for other departments. “After meeting its regular expenses on salaries and allowances, the government will be left with only 30 per cent of the total budget outlay for new schemes. By committing Rs 49,000 for the crore loan waiver, Mr Kumaraswamy has deprived other departments of funds,” he says.
Worse, he claims, ministries headed by Congress leaders are deprived of funds while the programmes of Mr Kumaraswamy, Mr Revanna and those suggested by Mr. Deve Gowda receive all the money they need. “Nearly quarter of the projects discussed at every cabinet meeting pertain to Ramanagara and Ballari districts.. We get nothing for our constituencies. So we have stopped trusting the CM,” says a disgruntled Congress MLA.
This is not all. The Congress was also reportedly not consulted in the appointment of JD(S) minority welfare chief as Karnataka’s representative in Delhi. The other looming battle between the two parties is over the post of Council chairman. While the JD (S) wants the post to go to its senior member, Basavaraj Horatti, the Congress feels it should get the post considering that it has a majority in the Upper House. If it gives in again, it is bound to cause more heartburn among Congressmen in the state. Interestingly, Mr Kumaraswamy who had criticised the Siddaramaiah government on various issues, has not wound up the Anti- Corruption Bureau it set up.
