The Hindu : Front Page : Congress favours mid-term elections in State?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 06, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Congress favours mid-term elections in State?

S. Rajendran

Bangalore: The Congress is understood to be veering around the view that it is time to hold Assembly elections in Karnataka.

There are indications that the party High Command may opt for elections in the State in May or June next.

The party's performance in the panchayat elections where it has won a majority in 15 of the 27 zilla panchayats has triggered a fresh round of thinking on these lines.

Sources in the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) told The Hindu that as a first step, some Congress leaders have expressed a preference for replacing the Governor in Karnataka. That will be followed by President's rule for a few months and the Assembly elections will be held along with States such as Tamil Nadu.

Governor T.N. Chaturvedi was sworn in on August 21, 2002 and his five-year term will end in August 2007.

There is speculation that he may be shifted and the former Kerala Minister T. Balakrishna Pillai, considered a Congress loyalist, may be appointed in his place. That would be followed by the dissolution of the Assembly and the promulgation of President's rule.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page

News Update

Stories in this Section