Date:24/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/24/stories/2007032407390400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

JD(S), BJP legislators meet

Special Correspondent

COALITION CONCLAVE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy (second from right) and Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa (centre) with Cabinet colleagues (from left) K.S. Eshwarappa, N. Cheluvarayaswamy and M.P. Prakash at the joint legislature party meeti ng of the JD(S) and the BJP in Bangalore on Friday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan

Bangalore: A joint legislature party meeting of the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party was held here on Friday. It was presided over by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister, B.S. Yediyurappa. In all, 149 legislators attended the meeting, which was held before the day's legislature session began.

It was mentioned that the farm loan waiver scheme figured prominently in the meeting, and the legislators expressed resentment over the waiver being pegged to loans up to Rs. 50,000. They demanded that the Government extend this benefit to all farmers who had taken cooperative farm loans, of which Rs. 25,000 of the principal should be waived.

The Deputy Chief Minister assured the legislators that the Government would consider the demand, and a decision would be taken based on the financial position.

"I will discuss the matter with the Chief Minister. No assurance can be given at the outset."

The legislature party meeting also discussed nominations to various government boards and corporations. The legislators also made routine complaints about one coalition partner attempting to ride roughshod on the other in the matter of appointments and transfers and postings of senior officials.

A joint legislature party meeting of the coalition partners was first held in March last year, followed by another in July.

It was stated that joint legislature party meetings would be held at regular intervals in an effort to iron out differences between the legislators and leaders of the coalition partners.