Dharam to meet Gowda

Karnataka chief minister N Dharam Singh will meet Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Monday for a final discussion on Cabinet expansion as well as announce the dates for the same.

The announcement came after the chief minister met JD-S legislative party leader and deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday.

Both leaders maintained that they had reached a "perfect understanding". The meeting was a result of an ultimatum from the upset JD-S MLAs to their leader to either expedite the Cabinet expansion or quit.

"There are no major hurdles in undertaking the expansion. We will complete the task at the earliest. There is some issue on the portfolios. But, I have agreed that the Maharashtra model will be followed," Singh told reporters.

Gowda's son and MLA H D Kumarswamy, who also attended the meeting, said he had conveyed the feelings of JD-S MLAs to the chief minister.

He said that the legislators were keen on implementing development schemes in their localities and that they could go ahead only after the Cabinet expansion.

After Monday's meeting with the JD-S supremo, chief minister Dharam Singh will hold a final consultation with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. The Cabinet expansion will take place only then.

Earlier, Singh refuted the JD-S allegation that the Congress had violated the terms and conditions of the agreement to form the coalition government.

Reiterating that his party was committed to all agreements, Singh said, "We never violated the agreement signed with the JD-S and we will continue to abide by it."

Singh also said that the Cabinet expansion and appointment of chairmen to boards and corporations will happen simultaneously.