BJP hopes for smooth power transfer in Karnataka

Bangalore, Jun 25 (UNI) Karnataka Higher Education Minister D H Shankarmurthy today hoped for a smooth transfer of power from Janata Dal(Secular) to Bharatiya Janata Party at the end of 20 months term.

Replying to questions from the media, he said there was no problem in this regard and said it was an agreement between Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa at the time of formation of the coalition government in February 2006. "We are happy about our Chief Minister in this regard and there should not be any problem," he said.

Asked to comment on JD(S) National President H D Deve Gowda's conditions to hand over power, Mr Shankarmurthy said it was between the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister based on an unwritten agreement.

Mr Shankarmurthy denied that there was any dissidence in the party and said differences, if any, would be sorted out. He firmly denied that senior party leader Yeshwant Sinha had visited the city recently to sort out dissident activities.

UNI