JDS follows BJP, requests Chief Election Commissioner to set Lok Sabha poll on a later date

BANGALORE: After BJP, JDS too today asked the Chief Election Commissioner to postpone the April 17 Lok Sabha poll in the state in view of a series of holidays which may hit voting percentage.

JDS has sought postponement of the poll from April 17 to April 22 or April 23, party supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said in a statement here. On March 10, the Karnataka BJP unit had asked the Election Commission to postpone the poll date on similar grounds.

Gowda said there is likelihood of considerable sections of the electorate abstaining from voting, thereby affecting the voting percentage due a series of holidays from April 12 to April 20. He said after April 17 next three days are followed by holidays in view of Good Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Also, April 14 was Ambedkar Jayanti, he said.