BJP favours early elections in Karnataka

The BJP favoured early elections in Karnataka and requested the Election Commission to hold the polls in February next year.

The BJP on Tuesday favoured early elections in Karnataka and requested the Election Commission to hold the polls in February next year.

“February will be a conducive month to hold elections as examinations are held during April and May. The onset of summer also brings drinking water problems,” BJP’s Karnataka unit president D N Sadanada Gowda told reporters in Mangalore.

Such a step would also put a stop to mudslinging among political parties, he said.

Alleging that the Congress was trying to prolong the dates of the elections, Gowda said the EC should not ‘succumb’ to their pressure tactics to postpone the elections.

He said the BJP, which had 79 members in the recently dissolved assembly, would field candidates in all the 224 constituencies and fight the elections on its own. Even after the elections, the BJP would have no truck with any other political party, he said.

The BJP leader hoped that his party would get an absolute majority with 145 seats in the 224 member House.

Gowda said former minister and JDS leader of Mysore G T Devegowda had evinced interest in joining the party. “He has however sought a week’s time to disclose his decision.”