From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Sep 25: With Bengaluru and surrounding districts, as well as some parts of Karnataka, getting copious rains in the last two days, the State Government is seriously considering the option of resorting to cloud seeding, indicated Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday.

Shivakumar, who is also handling the Water Resources portfolio, told reporters near his residence in Bengaluru that a decision on cloud seeding will be taken in the next two or three days.

"We will discuss the distress situation due to the shortage of rainfall in the Cauvery basin and the situation arising out of the need to release water to Tamil Nadu in the Cabinet meeting and also the option of cloud seeding," he said.

The deputy chief minister hoped that the situation might improve with the rains in the last two to three days.

Answering questions from reporters on the issue of disgruntled leaders from both BJP and JD(S) joining the Congress party over the alliance of BJP-JD(S), he said the matter will be discussed with the Chief Minister and other ministers.

The party has already asked the district units to decide on the party workers from other parties wishing to join Congress at the local level. A decision on senior leaders and sitting MLAs joining the party, all issues, including the anti-defection law, must be taken into account, he said.

Shivakumar, who is also functioning as KPCC chief, said there is no problem with regard to appointing the Cabinet ministers as observers for the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies.

He pointed out that Industries Minister M B Patil was abroad on official duty, and Energy Minister K J George is part of the Congress Working Committee and Election Committee, and they could not be appointed.

First list of LS candidates by Jan

However, the party expects the observers to submit their reports in the next 10 days. They have been asked to submit 2 or 3 names for each Lok Sabha constituency.

The KPCC chief said the first list of Congress candidates was likely to be announced ahead of January.

He made it clear that the government will not come in the way of any agitation to protect the interest of the State. "All support will be extended to the protests for agitations to fight for protecting the interests of the State. No hurdles will be created to the protests. But peace and law and order must be protected," he said answering questions on the Bengaluru Bandh on Tuesday.

The deputy chief minister refused to answer questions on the subject of creating more posts of Deputy Chief Ministers. "It is left to the party high command and the Chief Minister," he said.