The Hindu : New Delhi News : Yeddyurappa calls for early Assembly elections

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 20, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

Yeddyurappa calls for early Assembly elections

Special Correspondent

Says delimitation should not come in the way
‘Voters’ list can be modified in one week’

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and the former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Saturday said that his party would try and convince the Election Commission to hold Assembly elections in the State before the end of April, even if the exercise of delimitation of the constituencies was to be implemented.

Pointing out that the final voters’ list would be ready by March 10, he told presspersons here on Saturday that since the list would be available in the digital form, it should not be difficult to make changes in it within one week if the Centre came out with the notification on delimitation of the constituencies.

About the reported statement of the Election Commission that the process of changing the list to accommodate the delimitation process could take four months, he said: “We will try and convince the Election Commission to do it within a week. It can be done.”

Asked whether the party would move the court, Mr. Yeddyurappa said the party would consider all options at the appropriate time. The Congress, he alleged, was trying to get the election postponed as it felt that since it was in power at the Centre, the President’s rule would benefit it.

Mr. Yeddyurappa criticised Congress leader Siddaramaiah for deriding the BJP’s promise to provide free power to farmers. “The BJP will come to power with absolute majority and we will provide free power supply to farmers. We will implement the promise. There need not be any doubt about that,” he said.

He refuted Mr. Siddaramaiah’s allegation that the ban on arrack imposed during the BJP-JD (S) regime had proved to be a bane for the poor in the State. About the former minister M.P. Prakash joining the BJP, he said the talks were continuing.

Mr. Yeddyurappa called on party President, Rajnath Singh, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha L.K. Advani.

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

New Delhi