The Hindu : Karnataka News : A cloud of uncertainty over bypolls in State

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 29, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

A cloud of uncertainty over bypolls in State

Special Correspondent

The confusion has put leaders of political parties in a fix

SHIMOGA: The byelection to the Lok Sabha from the Shimoga constituency, which is widely believed to be held by the end of May or early June, is likely to be postponed, according to sources here.

The election is being held following the resignation of the former Chief Minister, S. Bangarappa, who was elected on the BJP ticket in the 2004 elections. He is now seeking re-election as the Samajwadi Party candidate.

According to the sources, the Election Commission would have notified the polls by now if they were to be held by May-end or early June.

They point out that the commission would have announced the notification for the Shimoga Lok Sabha bypolls and the byelections to the Chamrajpet Assembly constituency in Bangalore, along with that of the Assembly byelections in Tamil Nadu. The Chamarajpet Assembly bypoll has been necessitated following the resignation of the former Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, after his elevation as Governor of Maharashtra.

Reason

Another reason being cited for the possible postponement of the byelections is that the new Chief Election Commissioner will take over from T.S. Krishnamurthy, who is to retire on May 15, and that it will be left to the discretion as to when the elections should be held.

It is argued that if the notification is issued now, with a 40-day notice, for the two byelections they will have to be held during monsoon which no party wants. It is also not yet certain whether the byelections will be held simultaneously.

As the bypolls are required to be held within six months from the date of the seat falling vacant, the byelection to the Chamrajpet Assembly seat cannot be after the monsoon as by that the six-month stipulation would have been over.

The uncertainty over the holding of the byelections has put the leaders of various parties in a fix.

But they have started preparations for the elections hoping that they will be held by May-end or early June either along with the elections to the zilla panchayats and taluk panchayats which are due in June or soon after that.

Mr. Bangarappa has already completed the first round of his electioneering.

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