The Hindu Business Line : Kumaraswamy moots meeting with farmers next month

Mangalore May 27 The Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy, has said that he will convene a meeting of farmers in Bangalore next month to discuss their problems.

Addressing presspersons here on Sunday, Mr Kumaraswamy said that farmers from all districts would be invited to Bangalore next month for a meeting.

"I will take suggestions from farmers, and will try to find out reasons for farmers' suicides. The path to be adopted by the Government to solve their problem will also be discussed," he said.

Mr Kumaraswamy was in Mangalore to campaign for the JD(S) candidate for by-election to Ullal Assembly constituency.

Village stay

Stating that he will be staying in a village in Chamarajanagar district on Sunday night, he said works to the tune of Rs 300 crore will be started in Chamarajanagar district. Mr Kumaraswamy's village stay in Chamarajanagar district assumes significance as he will be the first Chief Minister to visit Chamarajanagar after a gap of 17 years.

Power-sharing pact

To a query on the reported statement of the Karnataka Labour Minister, Mr Iqbal Ansari, that Mr Kumaraswamy would continue as the Chief Minister of the State for the next 20 months after the completion of his tenure, the Chief Minister said he has given clarification several times that he will transfer power to the BJP after his tenure.

According to a power-sharing agreement between the coalition partners JD(S) and BJP, both the partners will share the Chief Minister's post for 20 months each. According to the agreement, Mr Kumaraswamy should hand over the post to the BJP in October.