Even as the stage is set for the BJP to install its first government in a southern state with BS Yeddyurappa as the chief minister, there is a hitch whether he will be taking oath office with his deputy, as coalition partner JD(S) is yet to announce the name of its nominee and also claiming that its set of ministers and deputy chief minister will join the government at one go.
The JD(S) has, however, chosen former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy as the leader of the legislature party and as per the convention, he should be the deputy chief minister. But by dragging the issue for some more time, the party appears to trying to buy some time to settle issues within the party.
Informing about his election as the leader of the legislature party at a meeting held in Bangalore, which was attended by party?s national president HD Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy said, ?My father, party?s state unit president Merajuddin Patel and senior leader M P Prakash would hold discussions to finalise the name for the post of deputy chief minister and would be later announced.?
At the meeting of the senior party leaders, its was also decided that ministers belonging to the JDS?18 in all, including deputy chief minister?would take oath at one go. Thus, if the coalition partner insists with its decision, it would mean that only chief minister-designate Yeddyurappa of the BJP would be sworn in. Kumaraswamy also informed that nominees from JDS for ministerial berths were expected to be finalised in two-three days. Sources in the JD(S) however, confirmed that the party MLAs at the meeting were in favour of Kumaraswamy being nominated for the post of deputy chief minister. On what post Kumaraswamy?s elder brother HD Revanna would get, Merajuddin Patel said he would join the Yeddyurappa Cabinet.
Meanwhile, criticising sections of the media, Kumaraswamy said reports that Revanna was in the race for the post of deputy chief minister were ?unfounded? and just a figment of imagination.