Date:10/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/10/stories/2008121054100400.htm

New Delhi

YSR rules out early polls

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has made it clear that there was no question of advancing the Assembly elections, which is due in May 2009, in view of resounding victory of the Congress in three States recently.

“How can we (AP) think in seclusion. We will go along with the general elections to the Lok Sabha,” he told mediapersons here on Tuesday.

He pointed out that the decision on holding the polls had to be taken by the Election Commission and it would take it at the right time even if someone did not want it, he said sarcastically referring to his bête-noire TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Dr. Reddy, who is here with a high level delegation to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the Babli issue and construction of 11 “illegal” barrages by Maharashtra across Godavari river, said he also thanked Dr. Singh for waiving customs duty on Naptha as requested by him in the earlier meeting.