Bengaluru, May 5 (DHNS): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has cancelled his week-long two-nation trip to Europe citing the Gram Panchayat polls in the State as the reason.

Siddaramaiah had planned to visit Germany and Sweden between May 9 and 16 to invite business entrepreneurs in the two countries to invest in the State and also invite them to participate in the Global Investors Meet scheduled to be held later this year.

However, with the State Election Commission likely to announce the dates for the Gram Panchayat polls this week, Siddaramaiah has cancelled his tour. While Gram Panchayat elections are not fought on party symbols, the polls are crucial for they become the foundation for fighting the taluk and zilla panchayat elections next year.

Siddaramaiah has asked two senior officers - Industries and Commerce department Additional Chief Secretary K Rathna Prabha and Industries and Commerce Director Gaurav Gupta to attend scheduled meetings in the two countries.

Siddarmaiah has declined an invitation by the prime minister to join the official delegation during his visit to China between May 14 and May 16, sources said. Modi personally invited Siddaramaiah to join him for the China trip during the latter’s visit to New Delhi last week.