Will revamp administration for people's benefit: Siddaramaiah

Revamping of the state administration for efficient delivery of services to the people would be the focus of the Congress government, Karnataka Chief Minister-designate Siddaramaiah said here Saturday.

"My priority is to make the administration efficient and accountable to the people as governance suffered during the BJP regime for five years," Siddaramaiah told reporters, a day after Governor H.R. Bhardwaj late Friday appointed him as the state's 28th chief minister and invited him to form the government at the earliest.

Clarifying that he would spell out his action plan to tone up the administration and minimise red-tapeism, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader said providing a stable, clean and transparent government to the people would be the hallmark of his functioning.

"It will not be proper for me to talk in detail as I am yet to take oath. We will come out with an action plan soon after forming the government and inducting the council of ministers. Our party manifesto will be the guiding force for the action plan," Siddaramaiah asserted.

The CLP leader is scheduled to take oath alone Monday at a grand swearing-in ceremony at Sree Kanteerva stadium in the city centre at 11.15 a.m. as the day and time is considered to be auspicious because of Akshaya Tritya, which falls on the third day of the Hindu lunar calendar and is assumed to bring fortune.

"As thousands of Siddaramaiah's supporters from his home town (Varuna) and Mysore will flock to Bangalore to witness the oath-taking ceremony, we have decided to hold the function at the sprawling stadium keeping in view the space, traffic and convenience of the people," a party official told IANS.

Siddaramaiah left late Saturday for Varuna, about 200km from here, to thank the electorate in his assembly constituency and meet his relatives.

Siddaramaiah will leave for New Delhi late Monday or early Tuesday to meet party president Sonia Gandhi, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and party's central leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"Our party's state unit president G. Parameshawara will accompany me to discuss with our party high command (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi) names for cabinet berths and other posts," Siddaramaiah said.

Meanwhile, elaborate arrangements are being made and security beefed up across the city for the swearing-in ceremony Monday.

Siddaramaiah also expressed gratitude to the electorate for reposing faith in the party and giving him an opportunity to serve the people again.