Bengaluru: The coalition’s co-ordination committee meeting scheduled for August 31 could well see a clash of egos between leaders of the JD(S) and Congress with former CM Siddaramaiah making no secret of his ambition to become CM again (displacing Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy) and his reluctance to accommodate newly chosen state JD(S) president A.H. Vishwanath, who has been one of his vocal critics, in the coordination panel.
The inclusion of party presidents of the Congress (Dinesh Gundurao) and JD-S(Mr Vishwanath in the coordination committee may help in the smooth functioning of the coalition government but it remains to be seen if this will happen. It is an open secret that committee chairman Mr Siddaramaiah's ties with Mr Vishwanath are none too cordial after the latter openly criticised the previous government before quitting the Congress.
Sources said both leaders are not even on talking terms let alone exchanging pleasantries. So though Mr Vishwanath is the state JD(S) President now replacing Mr Kumaraswamy, Siddaramaiah is reportedly not keen to have him in the coordination panel. Mr Vishwanath told Deccan Chronicle that Mr Siddaramaiah had to use his rich political experience spanning three to four decades to give proper direction to the coalition government.
Mr Siddaramaiah had enjoyed power-starting from a board member to CM and he should extend his full co-operation to ensure that the Kumaraswamy government completes its full term of five years, he felt. As chairman of the coordination committee, Mr Siddaramaiah has to write to the high commands of both parties for inclusion of presidents of the Congress and JD(S) in the coordination committee so that they would be able to convey the feelings of party workers. The current committee is incomplete without KPCC President Dinesh Gundurao and himself, felt the veteran Kuruba leader.
State presidents of both parties could also play a role in chalking out the CMP to deliver the goods as promised at the time of formation of coalition government. This issue was discussed with Mr Kumaraswamy, who felt the proposal for inclusion of party presidents should come from Mr Siddaramaiah. Unfortunately, he was not taking this issue seriously despite indirect hints from JD(S) president H.D. Deve Gowda to act fast on this issue, Mr Vishwanath said.
He said he did not have any idea if this subject has been listed in the agenda of the meeting to be held on August 31 since it would be decided by the panel chairman. This issue has to be sorted out as Mr Siddaramaiah will be abroad from September 2, he added. Meanwhile, sources close to Mr Siddaramaiah said the agenda for the August 31 meeting was likely to be prepared in a day or two.
