BJP-JD(S) coalition unveils CMP

Six weeks after assuming office, the BJP-JDS coalition government on Wednesday unveiled its common minimum programme (CMP), pledging to remove poverty, initiate steps to better the lives of farmers and build on the 'Bangalore brand' to make the city a 'good global city'.

Packed with schemes that seek to please all sections, the cmp promised the people that it would work towards all-round development of Karnataka and provide a "clean, efficient and pro-people" rule under the coalition, christening it the "Karnataka development front" government.

For the agricultural sector, the CMP said the government will continue with the six per cent interest rate on cooperative loans, set up commodities exchanges to help farmers get "scientific support price", provide quality power for irrigation pumpsets and initiate steps that would prevent suicides by farmers.

The CMP also promised steps to make crop insurance more comprehensive to cover more crops, better roads, drinking water, sewage, street lights, toilets, primary education and primary health care for rural areas and to make a concerted attack on poverty through a series of steps, including building three lakh houses for the poor every year.

Affirming that the state will make all efforts to retain its supremacy in the IT and BT sectors, it said that besides improving infrastructure in Bangalore, the cities of Mysore, Hassan and Hubli, Mangalore and Gulbarga will be developed as 'alternative IT cities' and a 'technology park' set up in each district. Releasing the CMP along with deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa and BJP general secretary Ananthkumar, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy announced a coordination committee of JDS and BJP, which had joined hands to dislodge the JDS-Congress government headed by N Dharam Singh and formed a new coalition to rule the state for the next 40 months.

The committee comprises the chief minister, JDS president (yet to be appointed) and minister Iqbal Ansari from JDS. BJP will be represented by Yediyurappa, Ananthkumar and state unit president (Revenue minister Jagadish Shettar who is expected to be replaced). Apparently keeping in mind the constant attacks from IT and BT sectors on the poor infrastructure in Bangalore, the CMP said that in keeping with the 'Bangalore brand' as India's IT capital, it will be developed as a 'good global city in Asia'.

Committing the coalition to the principles of secularism and treating all religions with equal respect, the CMP promised the minorities of security and said the government will take all steps for their educational and economic upliftment.

The CMP also said the government land of less than five acres encroached by poor agricultural labourers would be regularised in their favour.

On the industrial sector, the government would pay special attention to creating facilities for large and medium industries to come up, take steps to rejuvenate the small scale sector and to adopt a "transparent policy" while deciding on winding up state-owned units and on disinvestment.

Generation of an additional 3,000 mw in three years, reforms in power distribution have also been promised. Asked about the new coalition being called the 'Karnataka Development Front', Kumaraswamy said it was in recognition of the "feelings of the people" of the state.