Bengaluru: Irked over negative reports in media that the JD(S)-Congress coalition government had hit the pause button as the coalition partners squabbled over portfolios, Chief Minister Mr H D Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar strongly defended their government saying that delay or not, the administration was on track.
Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday after the new cabinet ministers took oath, Mr Kumaraswamy said that despite media claims that the administration had collapsed, he and Dr Parameshwar were overseeing day to day matters.
“Whenever a new government is formed, there is always a breathing period of a week or two. When it is a coalition, it may take a little longer,'' Mr Kumaraswamy said. Taking a swipe at the media, he said in lighter vein: "For the last few days, I have been watching media induct so many people into our cabinet and even allocate portfolios to them. Now that the cabinet is in place, all the ministers have been asked to get to work straight away."
“Even today, the media says that all hell has broken loose in the State after cabinet expansion, as aspirants are protesting," the CM said, adding that getting a ministerial post was " an emotional issue" and he had expected there would be reactions. "I still remember what happened in 2008, when the BJP formed a government independently. The supporters of ministerial aspirants burnt buses and damaged government vehicles. The situation is not as bad as it was then, and it is under control now,'' he said.
Dr Parameshwar said that he was aware of some discontent among party leaders for not getting a cabinet berth. “All the 80 legislators are eligible to become ministers. We have to take everyone into confidence. From my level to that of the high command,
we are talking to everyone. Besides, there are six berths from Congress and one from JD(S) that are still vacant,'' he said.
Dr Parameshwar promised a Common Minimum Program soon and to begin implementing the new programmes. The government was committed to farm loan waiver and the action was being taken. Even the meeting and negotiations with banks have begun, he said.
When asked about populist programs initiated by the previous Congress government, Mr Kumaraswamy said that no pro-people programs would be stopped. “All the programs would be placed before coordination committee and after getting clearance from coordination committee, it would be implemented,'' he added.
