Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 28: H D Kumaraswamy on Monday May 28 met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
This was Kumaraswamy's first meeting with the PM after he was sworn-in as the chief minister of Karnataka last week after forming government in alliance with the Congress.
Kumaraswamy honoured Modi with a shawl and a traditional 'peta'.
"It is customary for the new Chief Minister of any state to call on the Prime Minister, soon after assuming office, in our federal set up," Kumaraswamy had told reporters on Sunday May 27.
During the meeting with the PM on Monday evening, Kumaraswamy flagged the issue of shortage of coal for the state's thermal power plants.
He said he had sought cooperation of the Centre for the development of the state.
"I discussed current problems especially shortage of coal for three thermal plants at Raichur, Yaramaras and Bellari in the state. I requested him to ensure sufficient coal supply to these thermal power plants. The current availability of coal in the state is sufficient to operate the plants for 15 days," he told reporters after the meeting.
He said, besides coal, several other matters were also discussed.
"The Prime Minister gave suggestions from his political experience as CM and PM on how to run the government," Kumaraswamy said.
The meeting with the PM comes days after prominent leaders of anti-BJP regional parties put up a united show at Kumaraswamy's swearing-in ceremony in Bengaluru, an event that many saw as a trailer of things to come in the 2019 general elections where national opposition are expected to join hands to defeat the BJP.
Earlier in the day, Kumaraswamy during his visit to the national capital paid his respects at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial in Rajghat. He also met Congress leaders including Ghulam Nabi Azad. Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have flown abroad for the latter's medical checkup.
With PTI Inputs