Talks on modalities of govt formation will begin tomorrow, says Kumaraswamy

The Congress feels that it should get the lion's share in the ministry as it has 78 MLAs in compared to the 38 held by the JD(S).

Karnataka Chief Minister designate HD Kumaraswamy on Monday met Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in Delhi and invited both of them for his swearing-in ceremony on May 23. After the meeting, Kumaraswamy said that Congress' Karnataka general secretary KC Venugopal and local leaders will begin discussions tomorrow on modalities of the new coalition government.

HD Kumaraswamy with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi

This development comes amid speculations that there are some differences between two parties over the sharing of cabinet berths. There were reports that the Congress may get the bigger share in the ministry. The Congress feels that it should get the lion's share in the ministry as it has 78 MLAs in compared to the 38 held by the JD(S). The two parties are also yet to decide on what role the two independent MLAs should play in the government.

Kumaraswamy presents a bouquet to Sonia Gandhi

"Rahul Ji cleared the modalities to be done, he has given permission to Karnataka General Secretary KC Venugopal to discuss all those matters and finalise everything. Local leaders and he will sit together tomorrow to finalise things," Kumaraswamy told the media after meeting Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.

Kumaraswamy meeting Rahul Gandhi

"I wanted to show my respect and regards to Gandhi family. That's why I came here. I requested them to bepresent in oath taking ceremony. Both of them agreed to be present at the oath-taking ceremony," the CM designate added.

Kumaraswamy, who will take over as chief minister of Karnataka on May 23, is in the national capital to meet the Congress leadership and work out modalities of government formation in the southern state. He earlier met BSP chief Mayawati here and discussed plans of putting in place a Congress-JD(S) government. The JD(S) contested the Karnataka election in a pre-poll alliance and later had a post-poll tie-up with the Congress.