Bengaluru: Congress General Secretary and Karnataka In-charge K.C. Venugopal, on Sunday expressed the hope that the JD(S)-Congress coalition would continue for the crucial 2019 parliament polls too.
When posed the question during an interview with Deccan Chronicle, Mr Venugopal replied, "Why not? There is no harm in having an alliance with the JD(S) since it is a party identified with the anti-BJP front created to prevent the BJP-led NDA from coming back to power in 2019. I am sure that our ghatbandhan will continue even in Karnataka to oust the Modi government.”
However, the Congress is yet to decide on fighting the coming Assembly bypolls in Jayanagar and Rajarajeshwari Nagar jointly with the JD(S) to foil the BJP. "I am hopeful that a positive decision will be taken," was all Mr Venugopal would say. He was also confident that issues pertaining to cabinet formation would be trashed out soon.
On whether the coalition would have two Deputy CMs with the Veerashiava-Lingayat community upping the ante to make veteran Congressman Shamanur Shivashankarappa one of them, the Congress leader replied that this was a policy decision which would be taken by Congress president Rahul Gandhi in consultation with CM-elect H.D. Kumaraswamy and Mr Deve Gowda.
