HDK foresees smooth transfer of power in Karnataka

New Delhi, Sep 12: As D-day for transfer of power in Karnataka nears, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today said it would be a 'smooth' affair between the coalition partners.

Talking to newspersons after a 40 minute meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Mr Kumaraswamy expressed the hope that the coalition would be 'stable'. "If you have any doubts wait till October three", he remarked.

In a related development former Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh met Congress President Sonia Gandhi last evening to apprise her of his view about the 'fluid' political situation in the state and sought her guidance for the state Congress.

The purpose of his visit to the capital was to attend the unveiling of Rani Chennamma statue in the Parliament House and nothing else, he said.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa who is projected by the BJP to take over the Chief Ministership from the Janata Dal (S) too skirted the issue yesterday saying that the immediate concern of the BJP was to win maximum number of seats in the local body elections the process of which was already set into motion.

Mr Kumarswamy accompanied by his elder brother and Karnataka Public Works Minister H D Revanna also discussed the issue of Centre's formal clearances for the Hassan airport. Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel was present in Mr Pawar's chambers when the brothers came to meet him. Mr Kumaraswamy said that he had set up a Crisis Management Group headed by the Chief Minister in the wake of subversive activities taking place in Hyderabad and neighbouring areas. "We have to ensure that no such events take place in Karnataka", he said.

Asked for his comments on newspaper reports claiming that the Standing Committee of the State Legislature indicting the brother of a senior BJP minister in the land grabbing case, the Chief Minister said he could not comment merely on media reports.

''No one is beyond law. Appropriate action will be in place after due verification of truth,'' he said.

UNI