Yeddyurappa, Gowda leave for Delhi to discuss elections

Bangalore, Mar 19 (UNI) Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa and party state unit president Sadananda Gowda today left for Delhi to have discussions with party leaders on the ensuing Assembly elections, most likely to be held in May, in the state.

The two leaders would discuss with party president Rajnath Singh and senior leader L K Advani the selection of candidates for the elections and finalise plans to bring the party to power on its own, party spokesperson Suresh Kumar said.

Talking to UNI, Mr Kumar said the first list of candidates was likely to be released by March end or during the first week of April.

''With just 50 or 55 days left for the polls, we are in preparation mode and ready to face the elections. Newly-appointed party in charge for elections Arun Jaitley will arrive here tomorrow night to give a formal start to the election work,'' he said.

Mr Jaitley would preside over a meeting of the 'core group' and discuss the party's election preparedness in the backdrop of the delimitation of Assembly segments, being taken up in the state, he said.

The 15-member election committee in Karnataka has already been selecting the candidates and would give a feedback to the central leadership. The state unit had also completed one-round of consultations with district and taluk level office bearers in this regard, he said.

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