Against the backdrop of the Bharatiya Janata Party's demand that the Centre should not postpone Assembly polls in Karnataka, state Governor Rameshwar Thakur on Wednesday said the elections are likely to be held in May.
"The revised final list of voters list will be ready by March 10 and thereafter the elections. Indications are that elections will be held in May," Thakur, who is on a visit to the national capital, told reporters.
Karnataka is now under the President's rule, which is due to expire on May 28. He replied in the negative when asked whether he had discussions with the Election Commission and the Union Home Ministry on the issue of delimitation of constituencies.
Thakur said there had been reports that holding of elections as per re-drawn constituencies would take some time. He said he would not blame anyone for the delay in the installation of a popular government in the state. The process of revising the electoral rolls are on and on February seven, a copy will be provided to all political parties for scrutiny.
The final list will be published on March 10, he said. Some people claim there will be addition of about nine lakh voters and 33 lakh deletions in the new list, he said.
"I have requested the Election Commission to provide political parties separate lists of additions and deletions along with the revised list for scrutiny," he said.
Senior BJP leader L K Advani had warned the UPA Government against adopting any "ploy" to postpone the elections in Karnataka.