Hyderabad: Debates on one nation, one election has also given rise to speculation on early Lok Sabha polls to coincide with elections to some state assemblies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20 January has asked for a national debate on holding simultaneous elections — his fancy name for it: One Nation One Poll. Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Prakash immediately supported Modi’s idea.
According to a DC report, the elections in Karnataka which is scheduled for May could be deferred for six months and held along with the Assembly elections of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which are scheduled for later this year. However, a source quote that the BJP’s intention to delay poll is to build a stronger case for the party’s re-election in Karnataka.
The Modi government has reportedly proposed Karnataka government to continue as the caretaker till the election. However, the high level officials in the Karnataka government have refused to confirm receiving such a letter. Congress party is busy in charting down the strategy for the election. Senior Congress leader Madhusudan Mistry will head the partys screening committee for the elections.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi approved his name while constituting the screening panel for the crucial poll. Party MPs Tamradhwaj Sahu and Gaurav Gogoi will be members of the panel which will also comprise of party general secretary in-charge for Karnataka K C Venugopal and state unit chief G Parameshwara as ex officio members.
Karnataka is the only major state where the Congress is in power at present and retaining it is crucial for the party morale ahead of next years general elections. A recent pre-poll tie up between the JDS and BSP has queered the pitch in the state where Congress is fighting incumbency under Chief Minister Siddharamaiah. Gandhi has already held two yatras in the state as part of his campaign plan in the southern state.
The Assembly election in Karnataka is likely to take place in April-May. The opposition parties have however questioned practicality and constitutionality of holding simultaneous elections in a federal polity like India.
Siasat Web Team