The Hindu : New Delhi News : Kumaraswamy: talks about change of guard premature

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Thursday, Jul 26, 2007
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Kumaraswamy: talks about change of guard premature

Special Correspondent

The correct picture will emerge on October 3, says Chief Minister

There are moves in JD(S) to once again align with Congress
Venkaiah Naidu has said JD(S) should honour pact

NEW DELHI: Even as the BJP, his coalition partner stepped up pressure on the transfer of power, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday dubbed talks about change of guard in the State as “premature.”

“You will get a proper answer on that day. It is premature to discuss all these things now,” he said, when reporters asked him about his views on the issue of transfer of power.

As per a formula agreed to by BJP and Janata Dal (S) at the time of the formation of the coalition Government in the State on February 3, 2006, the Janata Dal (S) was to head the Government for the first 20 months and then hand over power to BJP. Consequently, there has to be a transfer of power on October 3.

However, there have been moves on the part of some JD (S) leaders to try and forge once again an alliance with the Congress, resulting in mounting pressure from the BJP on the JD (S) to stick to the agreement.

In a statement in Bangalore recently, BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu stressed that the JD (S) must honour the “solemn” understanding reached between the two parties.

When presspersons brought the attention of the Chief Minister to the statement, he would only say, “it is not necessary to react to all these things” and added “you will get the correct picture on October 3.”

Mr. Kumaraswamy, who was here to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President Pratibha Patil, called on Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, leading to speculations that they discussed the current political situation in Karnataka and the coming election to the post of Vice-President. (JD-S had abstained from voting in the presidential poll on the ground that it wanted to maintain equidistance from the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance).

Describing the meeting with Mr. Amar Singh as a courtesy call, Mr. Kumaraswamy said it was to extend an invitation to film star Amitabh Bachchan for the launch of his television channel next month. Asked about the continued detention of Mohammed Haneef in Australia on charges of supporting a terrorist organisation, he said it was for the Centre to follow up on the issue and added that he had not received any representation from Mr. Haneef’s family.

Replying to a question on the investigation on Mr. Haneef’s distant cousin, Kafeel Ahmed, who was involved in the failed terrorist attack on Glasgow airport in United Kingdom, the Chief Minister said the investigation was continuing. But, nothing serious had emerged yet.

Kumaraswamy should continue: Jayakumar

Bangalore Special Correspondent reports:

In a move to embarrass the BJP members on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, Minister for Housing D.T. Jayakumar, who belongs to the Janata Dal (S) on Wednesday favoured Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy continuing in office even after October 3 when the Janata Dal (S) is expected to transfer power to the BJP.

Mr. Jayakumar, a loyalist of the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and his family, told the House that “Mr. Kumaraswamy should continue as Chief Minister even after the completion of the Janata Dal (S) tenure in October. My personal opinion is that Mr. Kumaraswamy should continue since he is doing good work.”

Under the power-sharing agreement between the BJP and Janata Dal (S) at the time of government formation in February 2006, each partner is to head the coalition for 20 months. The Janata Dal (S) tenure ends on October 3.

Mr. Jayakumar made the remarks when Vatal Nagaraj (Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha) urged him to come out clearly on his stand on transfer of power. Mr. Jayakumar has been publicly opposing transfer of power to the BJP and favouring continuance of Mr. Kumaraswamy. The Minister said the party high command would take a final decision on transfer of power to the BJP.

When Mr. Nagaraj sought Minister for Kannada and Culture Mahadeva Prasad’s view on the issue, he declined to comment. Mr. Nagaraj said he would support B.S. Yediyurappa becoming Chief Minister. “With only 27 Janata Dal (S) MLAs, Mr. Kumaraswamy became Chief Minister,” Mr. Nagaraj said.

Mr. Yediyurappa maintained silence throughout.

M.P. Venkatesh (JD-S) too opposed transfer of power to the BJP. Mr. Kumaraswamy has been maintaining that he has an open mind on handing over power to Mr. Yediyurappa.

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