Karnataka: Will Congress not allow Kumaraswamy to be CM for full 5-year term?

Parameshwara's statement that "no decision" has been made on the issue of a rotational CM in Karnataka came just a day ahead of the crucial floor test to be faced by the Congress-JD(S) government.

Bengaluru, May 25: New chief minister of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy is confident of completing his full term as the head of the state. On Wednesday, Kumaraswamy was sworn in as the new CM in a grand function of the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) alliance government at Vidhana Soudha (Assembly building) in Bengaluru.

Kumaraswamy was named as the CM-designate immediately after the Congress and the JD(S) stitched a quick post-poll alliance after the Assembly election results gave a fractured mandate.

Kumaraswamy, on several occasions, told reporters that there won't be any rotational CM, as was the case in previous alliance governments in the southern state. Now, it seems the Congress has a different 'game plan' if the statement made by deputy CM and senior Congress leader G Parameshwara on Thursday has to be taken into consideration.

Parameshwara's statement that "no decision" has been made on the issue of a rotational CM in Karnataka came just a day ahead of the crucial floor test to be faced by the Congress-JD(S) alliance government on Friday.

According to a report by The Indian Express, when reporters in Bengaluru on Thursday raised the question about whether Kumaraswamy will be the CM for a full five-year term to Parameshwara, he candidly said, "No decision yet".

"We have not yet discussed those modalities," the deputy CM was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. He added, "We are also yet to decide on what portfolios have to go to them and what should be with us, then five years term- whether they should be or we should also...all those modalities we have still not discussed."

While both the alliance partners are maintaining that there is no conflict between them over the sharing of ministerial berths, the latest 'revelation' by the deputy CM clearly indicates that a lot has to be ironed out between them before they formally start running the government in Karnataka.

The Congress which won 78 seats in the Assembly elections held in 222 constituencies got the "lion's share" in the new Karnataka cabinet. Of the state's 34 ministries, 22 went to the Congress and 12 -- including the post of CM--were awarded to the JD(S).

Congress' Ramesh Kumar will be the new speaker. The JD(S) has won 38 seats with its alliance partner Bahujan Sanaj Party in the elections held on May 12.