Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy said, 'Can't do anything without Congress permission'

Reiterating that he is at the 'mercy of Congress', Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Monday once again seemed to rue the fact that he has to take the permission of the grand old party for taking decisions.

Even on Sunday (May 27), Kumaraswamy had said that he is at the 'mercy of Congress' and lashed out at those questioning his decision to ally with the Rahul Gandhi-led party, saying "there are some compulsions in politics". "I am at mercy of Congress. I am responsible for development of state, that is different. I have to do my job as CM, I have to take permission from Congress leaders, without their permission I cannot do anything, they have given me support," he said on Monday. Kumaraswamy had on Saturday said there were some "issues" on portfolio allocation with his party's coalition partner Congress. He also said the expansion of his Cabinet would take place once state Congress leaders get an approval from their high command.

The Congress and the JD(S) are at loggerheads over the allocation of key portfolios such as Finance, Home, Public Works Department (PWD) and Power, Irrigation and Urban Development. "I asked people for clear mandate to do their bidding. But now, I am here indebted to Congress. Some people say that I had said that I wouldn't take anyone's support to form govt. Who are they to tell me? There are some compulsions in politics," Kumaraswamy told reporters on Sunday. Allocation of portfolios for the newly sworn-in JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka will be delayed further as UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is travelling abroad with her son and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.