BJP hopes for smooth power transfer in K'taka

Bangalore, June 25 (UNI) Karnataka Higher Education Minister and BJP leader D H Shankarmurthy today hoped for a smooth transfer of power from Janata Dal (Secular) to Bharatiya Janata Party at the end of the 20 months term, as decided by the allies earlier.

Replying to questions from the media, he said there was no problem in this regard and 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) President H D Deve Gowda's pre-conditions to hand over power, Mr Shankaramurthy said it was between the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister based on an unwritten agreement.

He 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