Kumaraswamy non-commital on transfer of power

Bangalore, Aug 30: While remaining non-committal over the issue of transfer of Chief Minister's post to the BJP as per the pre-government formation understanding, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has asserted that it would be done as per the wishes of the people of the state.

Participating at the "Hello CM" programme on Chandana, the Kannada channel of Doordarshan here last night, said that he would go by the wishes of the people.

"Lot of discussion is being done on the issue of transfer of power, whether to BJP or Congress in Karnataka. Even heavy betting on the issue cannot be ruled out on the issue," he said.

The CM said that he had toured across the state and interacted with the people. "As for as transfer of power is concerned, it would be in accordance with their (people's) wishes," he said without elaborating what the common people of the state wished.

Strongly defending his decision to go along with BJP in 2006, Mr Kumaraswamy stressed that there was no other way left for him to save the party from destruction. "However while joining hands with saffron party we had taken care that the principles and ideals of our party was not compromised" he said.

Maintaining that managing the coalition government, which was supported by a party with divergent ideologies and principles was tough, the Chief Minister appealed the people of the state to chose single-party to govern the state in the coming elections.

"During the last 40 months the people have seen the administration of Congress and JD(S) led governments and also have chance to see that of BJP do the same. They will get an excellent opportunity in the next election to make their best choice," he added.

UNI