IANS/Bangalore
Revamping 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 yesterday.
“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 appointed him as the state’s 28th chief minister and invited him to form the government.
The Congress comfortably returned to power in Karnataka after seven years, crushing the Bharatiya Janata Party in an election that grabbed national attention as it was fought over the corruption issue.
Clarifying that he would spell out his action plan to tone up the administration and minimise red tape, 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 said.
The CLP leader will take oath at a grand swearing-in ceremony at Sree Kanteerva stadium in the city centre tomorrow at 11.15am as the day and time are 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 hometown (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 said.
Siddaramaiah left for Varuna, about 200km from here late yesterday, to thank the electorate in his assembly constituency and meet his relatives.
He will leave for New Delhi late tomorrow or early Tuesday to meet party president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi and the 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 the names for cabinet berths and other posts,” Siddaramaiah said.
Meanwhile, elaborate arrangements are being made and security beefed up across the city for tomorrow’s swearing-in ceremony.
Siddaramaiah also expressed gratitude to the electorate for reposing faith in the party and giving him an opportunity to serve the people again.