Karnataka elections: Early polls to thwart Modi wave?

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has consistently claimed that assembly elections would be held on time in April-May 2018. But for weeks now, JD (S) supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda and his son, H.D. Kumaraswamy have maintained that the general elections calendar might be held ahead in December this year.

Now, sources in the Congress party have told Deccan Chronicle that discussions have begun at the party's central level on advancing the elections, with sources saying that while the party had not taken a final decision on this and it was still weighing the pros and cons of this proposal before taking a final decision, the primary reason may be to thwart the Narendra Modi from campaigning in the state.

"If Karnataka elections are held at the same time as Gujarat assembly polls in December, Mr Modi will be forced to focus more on Gujarat where he has a lot at stake. A loss in Gujarat would be a big blot on his political journey, so he will prefer to focus on winning Gujarat than coming down to Karnataka and address 20-30 rallies. And if he focuses less on Karnataka, the possibility of Modi wave would not arise. In such circumstances, the Congress party can easily beat the BJP and retain power in Karnataka," sources said.

However, sources said this would depend on CM Siddaramaiah's performamce in the next four or five months which would determine the political course of Karnataka.