Challenges far from over for H D Kumaraswamy's regime in Karnataka

The biggest challenge for the coalition government and especially for Kumaraswamy, who has kept the finance portfolio, is expected to be farm loan waiver

Amid intense political drama in Karnataka over cabinet expansion and portfolio allocations earlier this month, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy quietly visited IT czar N R Narayana Murthy at his Jayanagar residence.

Although the Infosys co-founder maintains an apolitical stance, he has a cordial relationship with the Gowdas. The new chief minister sought Murthy’s suggestions on improving Bengaluru's infrastructure, which has crumbled under successive governments despite the erstwhile Congress government creating a separate portfolio of Bengaluru Development Minister.

Murthy advised Kumaraswamy, popularly known as HDK, to keep the Bengaluru Development portfolio either with him or with his deputy and solicit