Kumaraswamy invites Kejriwal, Mamata, P Vijayan and other non-BJP CMs for swearing-in

The JDS and Congress have reached the final stage of government formation in Karnataka, likely to take place on Wednesday. JDS legislature party leader HD Kumaraswamy today reached Delhi and is set to meet AICC president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to invite them for his swearing-in ceremony and to discuss the nitty-gritty of cabinet-sharing.

According to sources, the Congress is likely to stake claim on the deputy chief minister’s office and 20 cabinet posts, while the JDS could get 13 to 14 berths in the state cabinet. However, the final decision on allocation of posts will be public only after HDK’s meeting with Rahul and Sonia.

Speaking to the media, the JDS state chief said he was in Delhi to discuss matters for a “stable [government] and good governance in Karnataka”.

Both the JDS and Congress aim to use the anointment ceremony of Kumaraswamy to project the larger opposition alliance. Kumaraswamy himself confirmed in Delhi that he has invited West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu for the swearing-in.

He added that BSP chief Mayawati, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, communist parties’ leaders D Raja and Sitaram Yechury have been invited as well. He, however, said the date will be decided after the meeting with the Gandhis.

Responding to BJP chief Amit Shah’s recent attack, in which he termed the JDS-Congress alliance as “unholy”, Kumaraswamy asked: “How is it an unholy coalition?” He added that “I don’t want to react [to such statements]. It is not necessary for me.”