Gowda Doesn't Have Any Issue with Congress MLA Becoming Deputy CM: Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar On Tuesday claimed JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda does not have any problem with a Congress MLA becoming deputy chief minister in the coalition government of the two parties.

"I have been given to understand in the media that he (Deve Gowda) has no issues with a Congress MLA becoming the deputy chief minister. He has left the decision to us (Congress) and his son H D Kumaraswamy," Shivakumar told PTI in an interview.

The names of G Parameshwara, Shivakumar and S R Patil are doing the rounds for the deputy chief minister's post.

Shivakumar has emerged as a key man in the political drama that preceded the formation of Congress-JD(S) alliance as he was entrusted with the task of keeping his party flock together from 'poaching' attempts by the BJP before the floor test on May 20.

The MLAs were camped at a resort on Bengaluru city outskirts and shifted to Hyderabad under the supervision of Shivakumar, whose hostility to the Gowda family is well known but has now buried the hatchet.

To a query, Shivakumar said senior party leaders including AICC General Secretary in Karnataka K C Venugopal will soon sit with chief minister-designate H D Kumaraswamy to finalise issues regarding cabinet formation and contentious deputy chief minister's post.

"Venugopalji has just returned from Delhi. The senior party leaders will soon sit with Kumaraswamy and his leaders to deliberate on cabinet formation and deputy chief minister's post," he said.

Shivakumar said he is unsure of what position he is going to get, whether KPCC president or a minister's post, but would be patient to hear from the high command.

Asked why should the Congress not press for proving majority soon after Kumaraswamy takes oath as chief minister, he said there are no fears of cross-voting.

In fact, party MLAs are keen on participating in the floor test as soon as possible so that they start their work in their constituencies, he said.

On doubts being raised on Congress-JDS coalition completing its five-year term, he said it is going to be tough, but things have to be sorted out in the name of secularism and the nation.

"If Kumaraswamy and I do not work amicably, then it will be hard to run the government smoothly," he noted.

Meanwhile, JD(S) leader and former minister Basavaraj Horatti said the party does not have any issues with the Congress holding one or two deputy chief ministers posts.

"The Congress can have one or two deputy chief ministers. We do not want to interfere in their affairs. We do not have any issues. Even Deve Gowda is not opposed to it. He has already made the statement," he said.

The BJP is creating confusion as it was "desperate" to grab power after failing to muster support to prove its majority in the state assembly, Horatti alleged.

It is the 'handiwork' of the BJP to 'spread lies and plant stories' about Deve Gowda opposing the idea of a Congress MLA becoming the deputy chief minister, he said.

Kumaraswamy was invited by Governor Vajubhai Vala to form the government after former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa resigned ahead of facing floor test in the House on May 19.