Karnataka likely to see May elections

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore, Feb 28: Will the state go to polls in May? Indications that the Election Commission is keen on completing the elections before May 28 (when the President’s rule ends) has gained currency with Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami visiting Bangalore on March 4. He will hold discussions with the districts returning officers and political parties. 

Not just that. The state election authorities, in tandem with the district administrations, are working overtime to be prepared for elections in May. Earlier, these officials were sceptical of any such move as they felt revising voters’ list under the delimited assembly constituencies was a time-consuming exercise. But what has made them revise their opinion is perhaps the Mandya experiment: The Election Commission and Mandya district officials completed the commissioned project of preparing the voters’ list under the new political map in three days flat. Mandya was the pilot study done by the EC to ascertain the actual time required for the exercise across the country. 

The success has enthused Karnataka Chief Electoral Office (CEO) in setting up an office with 30 computers at BBMP-owned urban health training institute in the city for deputy commissioners of other districts to bring their teams and prepare the electoral rolls. On Wednesday, the list was done for Haveri district with others lined up. 

During his three-day camp in Bangalore in Jan to review electoral rolls, Gopalaswami had hinted the EC was keen on May polls. Besides, Parliament’s nod has to be sought for the extension of President rule and the UPA government will have to cross swords with the BJP, which was an consenting ally for imposing the rule only for six months. 

CEO sources said special provision for preparation of rolls on delimitation of constituencies is allowed according to the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960. The provision says an electoral roll in accordance with law should be urgently prepared if any constituency is delimited. “The Election Commission may direct that the list shall be prepared by putting together the rolls of such of the existing constituencies or parts as comprised within the new constituency and also by making appropriate alterations in the arrangement, serial numbering and headings of the rolls so compiled,’’ Section 24 of the Rules says.