Karnataka cabinet to be expanded on Feb 17

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February 13, 2006 22:01 IST

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said the state cabinet will be expanded on February 17 and the alliance between his party Janata Dal (Secular) and Bharatiya Janata Party will run for long.

Visiting the national capital for the first since he assumed power dislodging Congress-JD(S) government, he told reporters that the relationship between JD(S) and BJP will run for long and that he was one hundred per cent  sure that the coalition would complete its tenure.

He said his inexperience in politics will be an asset in taking important decisions unlike the previous regime, which had come under attack for lack of infrastructure in the state. The joint session of the assembly will start from February 24. The chief minister said his main challenge was development of the state and that he did not want to mix politics at this juncture.

On whether he was in agreement with his predecessor Dharam Singh's decision to change the name of Bangalore into 'Bengalooru', he said the problem of the city people will not be solved by changing its name.

"I am not bothered about changing the name. My government's aim is to give whatever the people of Bangalore city want. Change of name is not my priority," he said, adding, "If people wanted to change the name, he would."  

On how he would deal with issues like Hindutva, Kumaraswamy said the government was formed on some understanding and not on some personal agenda.

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