Cong. not keen to topple JD(S)-BJP Coalition in Karnataka : Kharge

Bangalore, Sep 5 (UNI) The Congress today declared that it had no intention to topple the Janata Dal (Secular)-and Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government in Karnataka.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Mallikarjuna Kharge, talking to newsperson here, said the Kumaraswamy-led government would fall on its own accord once its ''pot of sins was full to the brim.

He said once the government falls, the party would naturally take advantage of the situation and attempt to come back to power.

Denying JD(S) allegation the party had spent a huge sum of Rs 40 crore for a 40 minute programme of Congress Supremo Sonia Gandhi, Mr Kharge said that except for some portion of fund spent by KPCC, partymen from across the country had spent on their own to attend the rally. Party could not keep a tab on such accounts he said adding that any expenditure on the meeting would be automatically reflected in the party's balance sheet for the year.

The JD(S) has in the past conducted similar rallies the party should no how such rallies are funded, Mr Kharge added.

He denied the JD(S) allegation that the meeting yesterday was a wasteful expenditure, Mr Kharge said that Ms Gandhi had come to spread the message and policies of the party and also assured a package for the state farmers who reeled under both flood and drought conditions.

He said that Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil without wasting anytime announced a Rs 250 crore assistance to the state immediately after his aerial tour of the affected regions recently. ''Did the Centre take 250 days to announce the assistance,'' he asked.

Referring to the rally yetserday, he said the unprecedented gathering had further strengthened the party in the state. He tendered his apology to the Bangaloreans for the inconvenience caused to them. He said such a huge meeting passed off peacefully without any incident.

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