Rahul Gandhi hopeful of Karnataka farm loan waiver on budget eve

Rahul Gandhi expressed the hope that the Congress-JD-S coalition government in Karnataka will come out with the promised farm loan waiver during the budget session starting Thursday.

"On the eve of the Karnataka Budget, I'm confident our Congress-JD-S coalition government will act on our commitment to waive farmer loans and to make farming more profitable. This budget is an opportunity for our government to make Karnataka a beacon of hope for farmers all across India," Rahul tweeted.

After chief minister HD Kumaraswamy was sworn in the two parties were locked in negotiations for days over the key finance ministry which ultimately went to the JD-S. In turn, the Congress got home ministry. BJP state chief BS Yeddyurappa too had said if the government does not announce a farm loan waiver he would launch an agitation.

Sources said the Congress was trying to keep an upper hand trying to remind the partner that was in no mood to lose sight of the promise made during the campaign. "Our government in Punjab has fulfilled the promised farm loan waiver. Earlier UPA also gave a Rs 70,000 cr waiver in 2008. We hope the Karnataka government does the same," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.

Interestingly, Kumaraswamy had met PM Modi seeking central funds to help the state farmers. Rahul's tweet came on a day the party appointed Dinesh Gundurao as the new state unit chief as former PCC president G Parameshwara was made the deputy chief minister after heading the Karnataka Congress for eight years. Sources both the partners were trying to address the teething troubles in the ruling coalition as the two parties learnt how to share power and responsibility.