Bangalore: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy announced here on Tuesday that the Cabinet expansion will be a "New Year gift" to the people for 2007. Four berths are vacant in the Council of Ministers.

Mr. Kumaraswamy told presspersons after attending a review meeting by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that the local body elections would be taken up as soon as ward-wise reservation was fixed.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said he would start reviewing the progress of development works taken by various government departments from Wednesday.

Sources in the Chief Minister's Secretariat told The Hindu that the departmental review was being undertaken as a prelude to the first anniversary of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government scheduled in the first week of February 2007.

During the review, the Chief Minister would look into various aspects, including whether the targeted physical progress had been achieved by the departments.

The utilisation of budgetary allocation would be looked into.

He would look into the problems, if any, like paucity of funds if there was any delay in the implementation of development works, sources said.

The Deputy Chief Minister, ministers concerned, Chief Secretary and Finance Department officials would be present during the review, which was being undertaken for the first time after Mr. Kumaraswamy became the Chief Minister.

Giving details about the Janata Dal (Secular) National Council meeting in Delhi, Mr. Kumaraswamy said he had convinced the leaders of his intention behind joining hands with the BJP to form the Government in the State. He had met senior BJP leader L.K. Advani during his visit to Delhi, who had appreciated his governance, he added.

On the statements made by P.G.R. Sindhia, Mr. Kumaraswamy said Mr. Sindhia was "confused" and his opinions were "not to be taken seriously".

"He sometimes speaks of joining hands with the Congress and at other times speaks of forming an alterative to both the Congress and the BJP," he said. About the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramiah's demand that the Chief Minister should resign, he said in lighter vein: "That he has said ever since I took over."

Reacting to the Opposition's accusations about the ruling coalition not holding sessions for the stipulated minimum period of 60 days, he said the same people who were accusing him now (the Congress) had not met the stipulation when they were in power.

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