Date:21/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032155820100.htm

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A case of two deadlines

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: It is a case of meeting two deadlines. The Election Commission, which has announced that Assembly elections in the State will be held ahead of the May 28 deadline, has to also take note of the fact that the State was brought under President’s Rule on November 20 and consequently the six-month validity for the current spell of President’s Rule expires on May 19.

The 11th Karnataka Legislative Assembly was dissolved on November 28 and consequently, the Election Commission has set May 28 as the deadline for completing the election process.

Sources in the Election Commission told The Hindu that various aspects were being taken into consideration before the election dates were finalised. If elections were held way ahead of the May 19 deadline (not for the Election Commission though), the Governor need not seek a further extension of President’s Rule. If elections were held a few days beyond that deadline, then the Government would be compelled to seek an extension of President’s Rule by that number of days.

Although a six-month deadline for holding elections is considered as the outer limit, the Supreme Court, in its 2002 ruling, has said elections should be held at the earliest and it is this aspect which is under the serious consideration of the commission, it was said.