'Smooth transition of power in Karnataka'

Bangalore, Aug 18: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party Leader Venkaiah Naidu today exuded confidence that there will be a smooth transition of power from coalition partner Janata Dal (S) to his party on October three in Karnataka. Referring to a statement that the BJP would not come to power and the state would witness either a Congress-JD(S) coalition government or the President's rule made by Leader of the Opposition N Dharam Singh he told newsmen here that ''it spoke of height of arrogance and hunger of power'' of the Congress.

He said ''they will be greatly disappointed'' and added that let him (Mr Dharam Singh) take care of his own MLAs who were ''grumbling in the gullies and campaigning in Delhi''. He was referring to differences within the party on having truck with the Janata Dal (Secular) again.

He was confident that the Janata Dal (S) will follow the political dharma and abide by the agreement to transfer of power. He said there was no need for the Central leadership of the party to intervene in the State as the local leaders themselves were handling the partnership effectively.

When asked about the difference within the coalition partners in the state, he dismissed them as '' it's all only media reports'' He said Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa was not in panic and was doing his job seriously.

Mr Naidu was here in connection with the BJP National programme to form booth level BJP teams in preparation for the next Lok Sabha elections. Booth level meetings were scheduled for tomorrow all over the state.

UNI