'No hassles with JD(S) over transfer of power'

Chennai, Aug 4: Senior BJP leader and the party's Vice President Venkaiah Naidu today ruled out any hassles with its coalition partner Janata Dal (S) over transfer of power to the BJP on October 3 as per the agreement made between the two parties. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters 'Kamalalayam' here, Mr Naidu said, ''It's a solemn agreement between the two parties and not a private agreement between two leaders.''

Criticising the Congress party of scheming to sabotage the relations between the two parties, Mr Naidu reiterated, ''We have no doubt that the charge would be handed over to us as agreed upon. Our coalition will go on to complete a full term and face the polls after 20 months.'' He said, whatever the machinations by the Congress, the ''transfer of power would be smooth'', and he added ''the Congress is trying to play dirty politics as reflected by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement yesterday that the JDS-BJP coalition was not in good shape, as if the UPA was intact.

''I am sure the JD(S) will handover the power to BJP'' , he asserted.

He also pointed out that the BJP had asked the JD(S) to rule inspite of having 80 seats vis-a-vis 46 for JD(S) because it did not wish to have another election there after the people were ''fed up'' of Congress rule and wanted a change.

UNI