Karnataka CM indicates smooth transfer of power in state

New Delhi, May 25 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today asserted that the tranfer of power in the state would go about ''smoothly'' when he relinquishes office in favour of the BJP nominee on the completion of 20 months in office.

Answering queries here if he would step down to enable the alliance partner to take over the reins, he said ''definitely'.

''The J D (S)-BJP alliance is working very well and I must confess that they (the BJP) have given me a free hand to run the administration,'' he said.

Asked if he had made up with his father and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Mr Kumaraswamy said he (Mr Gowda) was ''unhappy in the initial days, but was now convinced that the steps taken by the rebel J D (S) were in the best interest of the party.'' Asked about his status in the party, he said he continued to be suspended and the disciplinary committee was considering the rebels' point of view. ''As far as I am concerned, I am a sincere party worker,'' he said.

Responding to a query whether he had met senior BJP leaders, Mr Kumaraswamy said that he would meet them at an ''appropriate time.'' The Karnataka Chief Minister who met several Union ministers yesterday said he had urged Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee to release compensation to the people affected in the Karwar project, and also requested him to ask the Navy to allow its Karwar airport for civil use. ''The response from the Defence Minister was positive,'' he added.

He said he had invited Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy to be present during the signing of the MOU between the Central and the Karnataka governments for starting the Bangalore Metro next month.

During the meeting with Tourism and Culture Minister Ambika Soni, he said she had told him that the issue of according classical language status for Kannada was in 'final stages'. ''She also advised the state government to send more proposals for tourism development and showed her keen interest in developing Hampi as a World Heritage Site,'' Mr Kumaraswamy said.

In his meeting with Energy Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, he said he had sought early clearance for Tadadi and Nagarjuna thermal power projects.

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