Tuesday, March 14 2006 16:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: In his first comments on the working of the BJP-JDS coalition Government,former Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh took a dig at it, remarking that it was on an 'assurance giving spree' rather than addressing the problems of people including drinking water supply.

Several villages in the state, especially those in North Karnataka, have been reeling under acute shortage of drinking water and the government was yet to focus attention on the problem, Singh, also the leader of the Congress Opposition in the state assembly, charged at a press conference here.

He demanded that the government formulate an action plan to mitigate the drinking water scarcity faced by people.

Singh, whose Government was toppled by rebel JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy, who later took over as Chief Minister, alleged that the new regime was yet to 'take off.'

Questioning the delay in finalising the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) by the new coalition partners, he asked "How will they tailor the budget in the absence of it (CMP)."

On the March 28 Rajya Sabha elections, he said the Congress President Sonia Gandhi would finalise the party's candidate on March 16.

The party has no plans to contest two seats, "As it does not have the numbers," he said.

Singh and Karnataka PCC president Mallikarjun Kharge met Sonia Gandhi and other leaders in Delhi early this week for consultations on selection of a candidate.