Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CHENNAI389
2008-11-25 03:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Chennai
Cable title:
POLLING OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE DATES FOR KARNATAKA'S
how-toVZCZCXRO8784 RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW DE RUEHCG #0389 3300323 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 250323Z NOV 08 FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1991 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 3412 RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS CHENNAI 000389
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: POLLING OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE DATES FOR KARNATAKA'S
BY-ELECTIONS
UNCLAS CHENNAI 000389
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: POLLING OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE DATES FOR KARNATAKA'S
BY-ELECTIONS
1. (U) Karnataka state election officials announced on November 23
that by-elections for seven seats in the state's legislative
assembly will take place on December 27. Six of these seats were
held by assembly members who have left their original party (either
Congress or the Janata Dal Secular Party -- JDS) to join the ruling
BJP; the seventh seat is open as a result of the death of the
incumbent. Indian law requires these members to resign and
re-contest their seats in by-elections. An eighth constituency
remains mired in legal challenges and apparently will not take part
in the December 27 by-elections.
2. (U) Comment: Following May's legislative assembly elections, the
BJP managed to secure a majority only with the help of several
independent members of the legislative assembly. Success for the
now-BJP candidates in the by-elections would allow the party to
maintain a stable majority for the duration of its five-year term
(ending in 2013). The by-elections provide an opportunity for the
BJP's opponents to cast the vote as a referendum on the BJP's rule,
but the apparent inability of Congress and JDS to establish an
electoral alliance ought to allow the BJP's candidates to do well,
adding to the party's electoral momentum as India heads towards
national polls next year. An unexpectedly poor showing by the BJP
would buoy the spirits of Congress supporters, who have had precious
little electoral good news in India's recent state elections. End
Comment.
SIMKIN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: POLLING OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE DATES FOR KARNATAKA'S
BY-ELECTIONS
1. (U) Karnataka state election officials announced on November 23
that by-elections for seven seats in the state's legislative
assembly will take place on December 27. Six of these seats were
held by assembly members who have left their original party (either
Congress or the Janata Dal Secular Party -- JDS) to join the ruling
BJP; the seventh seat is open as a result of the death of the
incumbent. Indian law requires these members to resign and
re-contest their seats in by-elections. An eighth constituency
remains mired in legal challenges and apparently will not take part
in the December 27 by-elections.
2. (U) Comment: Following May's legislative assembly elections, the
BJP managed to secure a majority only with the help of several
independent members of the legislative assembly. Success for the
now-BJP candidates in the by-elections would allow the party to
maintain a stable majority for the duration of its five-year term
(ending in 2013). The by-elections provide an opportunity for the
BJP's opponents to cast the vote as a referendum on the BJP's rule,
but the apparent inability of Congress and JDS to establish an
electoral alliance ought to allow the BJP's candidates to do well,
adding to the party's electoral momentum as India heads towards
national polls next year. An unexpectedly poor showing by the BJP
would buoy the spirits of Congress supporters, who have had precious
little electoral good news in India's recent state elections. End
Comment.
SIMKIN