Cabinet expansion will be ''foundation stone'' for collapse of govt, says Union Minister DVS
Bengaluru, June 9: Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda Sunday said the much awaited expansion of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy led cabinet in Karnataka, aimed at saving the coalition government, would be the "foundation stone" for its collapse.
"I feel this expansion will be the foundation stone for the collapse of the government. Everyone knows about disgruntlement (in the coalition). I don't want to get involved in their internal fighting or issues," he told reporters in response to a question.
"But I feel that this adventure to save (the government), will be the last adventure. The attempt to save itself in a way will affect them this time," he said.
Kumaraswamy on Saturday had announced that Governor Vajubhai Vala has fixed 11.30 AM on June 12 for administering the oath of office for the new ministers.
Routed in the Lok Sabha polls and facing growing disgruntlement within, leaders of the Congress-JD(S) coalition had decided to go for cabinet expansion by filling in three vacant posts.
According to sources, a cabinet rejig is also on the cards after some time, during which a few ministers will be asked to step down and make way for others, mainly those who are dissatisfied.
Of the total 34 ministerial positions in Karnataka, Congress and JD(S) have shared 22 and 12 respectively according to the coalition arrangement.
Currently, three posts are vacant, two from JD(S) and one from Congress.
There are talks within the coalition about inducting Independent MLA Nagesh and KPJP MLA R Shankar into the cabinet and thereby ensuring that they don't side with the BJP,sources said,adding that a disgruntled Congress leader or JD(S) MLC B M Farooq are being considered for the third vacant post.
The coalition leaders fear an onslaught by the BJP to destabilise the government, after the saffron party won 25 of the total of 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state, reducing Congress and JD(S) to one seat each.
A BJP supported independent candidate had won in Mandya.
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Had a very good conversation with friend Modi: Trump
Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump on Friday said he had a "very good conversation" with his "friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He was referring to the talks the two leaders had on Tuesday.
"I had a very good talk with him, and he's a friend of mine from India, and he's doing great. We had a very good conversation," Trump told reporters here as he headed to Las Vegas to address a roundtable on tax cuts.
Trump had called Modi on Tuesday to discuss the bilateral relationship and share perspectives on the situation in West Asia, where the US and Israel have launched a war on Iran.
The US and Iran declared a two-week ceasefire on April 7. They engaged in peace talks with Washington, insisting that Tehran give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons and uranium enrichment.
The war with Iran has sent gas prices soaring as Tehran blocked the sea lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow gateway for a fifth of global oil supplies.
During the Trump-Modi phone call on Tuesday, the two leaders stressed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure.
According to the US Ambassador to India Sergei Gor, the 40-minute conversation ended with Trump telling Modi, "we all love you".
Tuesday's phone call was the second between the two leaders since the US-Israel war with Iran began on February 28.
