Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)
Bengaluru, May 21: H D Kumaraswamy is all set to take oath as the next chief minister of Karnataka on Wednesday May 23. But the rest of his cabinet will be sworn-in after trust vote.
The decision to finalize the ministry will be delayed since the Congress-JD(S) combine still fears poaching by the BJP. If the portfolios are distributed to the leaders on the CM’s swearing-in day, there are chances of ministerial post aspirants cross-voting for the BJP during trust vote.
Hence both the parties have decided to finalize the cabinet after the trust vote.
After swearing-in as the chief minister on Wednesday, Kumaraswamy will prove the majority in the House on Thursday May 24. On Friday the cabinet will be formed.
Though initially the chief minister and the new ministers were supposed to take oath, since the number of aspirants of ministerial berths is more than 60, they have decided to delay the cabinet formation. Dalit, Lingayat and Muslim community leaders have demanded the deputy chief minister's post. It is feared that the aspirants who missed ministerial posts might cross vote while proving majority and the BJP too will not leave any stone unturned and resort to 'Operation Kamala.'
H D Kumaraswamy said, "The Governor has given us 15 days time to prove the majority. But within 24-hours after my oath taking, I will prove the majority and our alliance is strong with required numbers to form the government.”
Congress Karnataka in-charge K C Venugopal, said, "H D Kumaraswamy will swear-in as the chief minister on Wednesday. After the election of Speaker on Thursday, he will prove the majority in the House. The new ministers will take oath on Friday."
BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa had on Saturday stepped down as the chief minister without facing the floor test in the state assembly as the BJP fell short of numbers, following which Kumaraswamy met Governor Vajubhai Vala, and said he had been invited to form the government.
The Karnataka assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 104 seats. Congress and JD(S), who stood second and third respectively by number of seats won, are forming the government now.