Date:10/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/10/stories/2006031019090500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Election notification likely today

Special Correspondent

Congress, Janata Dal (Secular) yet to initiate any move on candidates

Elections to the Upper House scheduled for March 28
Four seats from the State Assembly vacant

M. Rajashekaramurthy resigned from Rajya Sabha and joined the Janata Dal (S)

Bangalore: The notification for March 28 elections to the Rajya Sabha from the State and elsewhere is being issued on Friday. Elections from the State Assembly are being held to fill four vacancies.

One of the four has been vacant for a few months now with the resignation of the former BJP member M. Rajashekaramurthy, who has since joined the Janata Dal (Secular). The three retiring members from the State belong to the Congress and they are Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha K. Rehman Khan, All India Congress Committee Secretary K.B. Krishnamurthy, and Bimba Raikar.

The BJP is expected to field two candidates. Among those under consideration are the former Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, who has cultivated links with the State ever since her unsuccessful bid to enter the Lok Sabha from Bellary in 1999. Though she lost the election to the AICC President Sonia Gandhi, her candidature helped the BJP capture the Congress stronghold. The BJP has grown in strength in Bellary district. The party won the Lok Sabha election from Bellary in 2004 as also the Bellary Assembly seat. It has since captured the Bellary Zilla Panchayat. The other name being considered by the BJP is that of the former Minister K.B. Shanappa.

The Congress and the Janata Dal (S) are yet to hold formal meetings of their leaders to choose their candidates.