Gowda opposes poll delay

Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Monday urged Governor Rameshwar Thakur to recommend the Centre to hold the state assembly elections on time.

The JD(S) supremo, who called on the governor, submitted a memorandum seeking elections within six months from the day the President's Rule was imposed on Karnataka.

Without naming the Congress, Gowda told reporters: "Vested interests are trying to postpone the elections. There is pressure on the governor to recommend postponement of the assembly polls in the state. I wish he acts according to the rules."

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has been favouring the

postponement of the elections. One of the factors is the serious infighting within the party. While a section of the state leaders are unwilling to contest the elections under the leadership of KPCC president Mallikarjuna M Kharge, the Congress High Command is yet to find a suitable replacement.

However, in an effort to mask the infighting, Congress leaders are seeking postponement of the elections contending that delimitation of the assembly constituencies was "inappropriate".

Gowda pointed out that Congress' demand for a relook at the delimitation of assembly constituencies was not justified. "The JD(S) is ready to fight the elections. The governor should not heed to the demands of certain parties," he added.

Kharge said Congress was not favouring postponement of elections. "There are various shortcomings. The delimitation of constituencies has disturbed the electoral rolls. Voters' names are missing from the list. The election process should not be initiated till these shortcomings are rectified."