Kumaraswamy to expand state cabinet

New Delhi, Mar 12: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy yesterday (Mar 11, 2006) said he planned to expand the state cabinet and fill about 60 odd state-owned Boards and Corporations vacancies after the completion of the legislative session.

Talking to newspersons here, he said the Janata Dal (Secular) and the BJP coalition Government in the state is running well and anticipated no problems in providing good administration to the people of the state.

Asked if the JD(S) had decided upon its candidate for Rajya Sabha, Mr Kumaraswamy who has been ''suspended'' by the party for aligning with the BJP, however said it will be announced soon.

Former Union Minister M Rajasekhara Murthy is widely believed to be the J D (S) candidate in the bienniel elections.

Asked if there was any discussion on the fourth seat with the BJP, he said there had been no such discussions so far.

He said if the party would contest in the forthcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, he said the party had very little base in the state but did not rule out contesting some seats.

Asked if the party will be contesting alongwith the BJP, he said the understanding was limited to running the administration in Karnataka. The party will decide on such matters, he added.

Asked whether the PM had given time for inaugurating the ONGC projects in the state he said it will be after the conclusion of Parliament Session.

The Chief Minister said he had ordered the government to purchase tomato at Rs two a kg. Since yesterday, 400 tonnes had been purchased.

He said a system will be put in place to protect farmers from being exploited by middlemen. The state had an excellent computerised land record system in place and these records will help the government to intervene and purchase and market it to consumers.

Earlier addressing, the Conference of CMs and Chief Justices, Mr Kumaraswamy said Karnataka's experience in setting up fast track courts had been very good and the government was doing its best to fill up the vacancies of judicial officers and improve accomodation, infrastructure for the subordinate courts.

Courts in the state were computerised and networked to the High Court, he added.

UNI