The Hindu : Karnataka News : “Decision on Karnataka polls expected”

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Friday, Mar 21, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

“Decision on Karnataka polls expected”

S.Rajendran

BANGALORE: The announcement by the Election Commission on Thursday that Assembly elections in Karnataka will be held before the May 28 deadline has not really come as a surprise to the political parties here given the categorical statement of the Chief Election Commissioner, N. Gopalaswami, during a trip to Bangalore about a fortnight ago that the Election Commission is committed to holding elections in May.

Interestingly, while some of the political parties have expressed reservations over holding elections before the expiry of the six-month period of President’s Rule since in their view there are serious anomalies in the electoral rolls, the Bharatiya Janata Party is upbeat over the decision of the Election Commission.

The same is the case with the Janata Dal (Secular) with its president and former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, and the former Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy, expressing appreciation over the decision of the Election Commission in sticking to its constitutional duty.

Sources in the Election Commission told The Hindu that the Assembly elections would be held in two phases, tentatively between May 10 and May 15, with the counting of votes scheduled a few days later (May 20). With this, there would be adequate time for the formation of a new government, thus ensuring that the election process was completed ahead of the deadline.

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