Coalition govt to release CMP on July 17

The state government has set July 17 as the new date for releasing the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

The ruling coalition of the Congress- Janata Dal-Secular has set up a six-member drafting committee to finalise the issues to be incorporated in the CMP.

On the completion of the second joint meeting to finalise the CMP at the chief minister's home office, the Congress and Janata Dal-Secular leaders have arrived at a consensus to place top priority to generate employment opportunities for youth, improve literacy rate, and lay thrust on tourism by developing ports and airports through private sector participation.

"We have constituted a six-member committee to draft the CMP, which will form the basis of the state Budget for the current fiscal (2004-05) that will be presented by deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah on July 19 in the state Assembly," chief minister N Dharam Singh said.

The committee will submit the drafted CMP for consideration by the Cabinet on July 15-16 and its subsequent incorporation in the Budget proposals.

The committee includes senior ministers M P Prakashand, P G R Sindhia, JDS vice-president C Narayanaswamy, former minister B K Chandrashekar, H K Patil and Kagodu Thimmappa.