Friday, January 13 2006 20:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Congress and Janata Dal (JD) Secular (S), sharing power in Karnataka, today (Jan 13,2006)sought to play down the strains in their ties in the wake of JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda's reported to threat to pull out of the coalition in the state and said the crisis would blow over.

Claiming there is a 'perfect understanding' between the two parties, Karnataka Chief Minsiter N Dharam Singh told reporters here that though there is some 'hiccup', the crisis would be blown over in the state.

"Some political problems are there. I have already had a talk with Deve Gowda", he said when asked about Gowda issuing a veiled threat to pull out of the coalition arrangement at JD(S) National Executive on February eight.

Talking in the same vein, JD(S) leader and Finance Minister P G R Sindhia said, "I have no doubt about it (about continuance of the coalition Government). Whatever the Chief Minister said is the correct position."

"When aspirations are growing, there is going to be problems", Sindhia said adding Gowda had never said there was any threat or withdrawal of support to the coalition.

"If there are any misunderstanding, it is going to be cleared", Sindhia said.

Asked if Congress sought the support of expelled JD(S) leader Siddaramaiah, a bette noir of Gowda, in the post-local body elections, to sew up majority in zilla panchayats marked by fractured verdict, Sindhia said all these things would be discussed at the February eight meeting.

The Chief Minister stuck to the decision taken by the Congress High Command to give full freedom to the local unit to decide on the post-local body elections scenario.