HDK ignores BJP's ultimatum on transfer of power

Bangalore, Oct 2: Rejecting the Bharatiya Janata Party's ultimatum seeking his resignation by this evening, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said that 'ultimatums' will not serve any purpose for the smooth transfer of power between Janata Dal(S) and the BJP.

Speaking to newsmen before unveiling of the statue of Babu Jagajivan Ram in the Vidhana Soudha premises here today he criticised the 'deadline' set by BJP leaders yesterday on the issue of transfer of power and said that it showed their 'hunger for power'.

Referring transfer of power between People's Democratic Party and the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Kumaraswamy said in the similar circumstances the Congress waited for more than three months despite a pre-government formation agreement reached between leaders of the two parties to share power in that state.

"Except two ministers belonging to BJP, no other leaders have formally approached me and sought for transfer of power. 20-months ago an agreement was reached between myself and Mr B S Yediyurappa on the formation of coalition government and sharing of power. There was no party understanding as such", he recalled.

The Chief Minister said that he had convened a meeting of party legislators this evening where the issue of transfer of power would be discussed. "There is a need to elicit the opinions of legislators on whose desire I became Chief Minister," he said.

UNI