Appointments in boards soon to quell dissidence

Bengaluru: In a bid to quell dissidence in the Congress and JD(S) which broke out following the denial of Cabinet berths to some MLAs and may spoil the image of the just-formed coalition government if not resolved, the coordination committee of the coalition has recommended that legislators be nominated to the powerful state-run boards and corporations within the next one week.

During the first meeting of the committee here on Thursday, it was decided to make nominations to at least 30 important boards and corporations in the first phase. As per the agreement struck between the coalition partners, the ratio of sharing board and corporation posts between the JD(S) and Congress would be 1:3. While the JD(S) can nominate candidates to 10 boards and corporations, the Congress can nominate to 20 of them.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, committee chairman and former CM Siddaramaiah said that it was also resolved to form a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) Committee, to draft the CMP based on assurances made by both parties during the recent elections. The committee will have three representatives from the Congress and two from the JD(S) and will be asked to submit the CMP in 10 days.

Meanwhile, the coordination committee also resolved to continue all populist measures initiated by the previous Congress government, which were announced in the Budgets presented by former CM Siddaramaiah, who held the finance portfolio then. After the CMP committee submits its report, new programmes would be incorporated, Mr Siddaramaiah said.

When asked if farm loan waiver was also discussed in the meeting, Mr Siddaramaiah said it would be part of the CMP.