Bangalore: Keeping alive the suspense over the date by which he would expand his six-month-old ministry, Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh today (Nov 15, 2004) declared that "it would happen as soon as possible" as all "hurdles" have been cleared.

Addressing a press conference after two-hour-long confabulations with former Prime Minister and JDS (Janata Dal-Secular) president H D Devegowda at an undisclosed place in Bangalore, he said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and discussions centred around various issues concerning the administration and the much delayed ministry expansion.

When persisted for a deadline to complete the ministry expansion exercise, which has created restlessness among JDS and Congress camps, Singh refused to indicate any deadline, but went on insisting that "it will happen in the very near future."

Responding to a query whether the ministry would be expanded at least by this month end, Singh, asserted that "it will be done much before that."

He said he would soon visit New Delhi to seek approval by the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and declined to indicate the date of his visit.

Singh said Gowda and he have agreed that it was necessary to expand the ministry from the administrative point of view and even decided on a date, which cannot be disclosed.

Singh however, said the ministry expansion exercise would be done "in one go" this time and added his Government coalition partner JDS has not set any conditions.

Singh defended the JDS demand that the Congress honour the agreements reached between the parties while forming the coalition Government during this May after the Assembly polls threw up a fractured verdict, saying "they are justified in asking for it."

He said new chiefs would be appointed to boards and corporations as per the power sharing agreement between the two parties after the ministry expansion.

Singh said had not the constitution amendment restricted the size of the ministry to 34, he would have "done it" long ago.

"Both parties are facing political difficulties" as there were lot of politically ambitious persons to join the ministry," he said.

Meanwhile, Devegowda said he would brief the outcome of his talks with Singh to the Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah who is away in Tumkur attending a function was not present at the meeting Singh and Gowda had.

Gowda, after his partymen vented their displeasure over the delay in ministry expansion, had taken a stand that Siddaramaiah would hold talks with Singh over the issue and he would not interfere.

Meanwhile a prominent JDS leader, close to Gowda said, Singh has agreed to complete ministry expansion exercise by November 24.

Under the power sharing pact between Congress and JDS, Singh and Siddaramaiah were sworn-in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister on May 28 and ten persons, five each from both side, were inducted into the ministry a week later.

Since then, several time frames have been indicated for the ministry expansion but it has not materialised.