It’s beginning of a beautiful friendship: Kumaraswamy after meeting Rahul, Sonia Gandhi

NEW DELHI | BENGALURU: Karnataka CM-elect HD Kumaraswamy met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his predecessor Sonia Gandhi on Monday evening and resolved to “begin a new and long JDS-Congress relationship”.

Both parties were set to finalise contours of ministry formation during talks in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Kumaraswamy will take oath as the CM outside the Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday but if others would also take oath on the same day would depend on how early powersharing negotiations are completed.

After Kumaraswamy and his colleague Danish Ali met the Gandhis and AICC general secretary in-charge KC Venugopal at Rahul’s residence, the CM-elect, Venugopal and some Congress-JDS leaders travelled back to Bengaluru on a special flight to resume talks on Tuesday.


While nitty-gritty of the power-sharing formula were not discussed between Gandhis and Kumaraswamy, insiders in both parties said negotiators from both sides have reached a broad agreement on some of the main points. Congress will have one or two deputy CMs and at least 19 out of 33 portfolios. JDS would have some plum portfolios. Congress is also seeking Speaker’s post.

Earlier in the day, the Congress chief held talks with senior party colleagues Ashok Gehlot, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Venugopal. Kumaraswamy is learnt to have told the Gandhis, “let us forget the past (Congress-JDS bitterness) and begin a new relationship.” Rahul is learnt to have responded: “Let us have a new and long-term relationship.” Sonia Gandhi gave her blessings and added: “It’s for the younger generation to work together now.” The Gandhis may attend the swearing-in function.

Congress is bargaining for two deputy CMs post. Dalit leader Parameshwara is likely to be a nominee, while MB Patil from the Lingayat community and DK Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, the CM’s community, are also in the race for the second post. Kumaraswamy and Shivakumar are known for their political rivalry.