More forces for K'taka

The Karnataka govt has asked the Centre to provide additional forces for the second phase of polling, to be held in the state on April 26, 2004.

The Karnataka Government has asked the Centre to provide additional forces for the second phase of polling, to be held in the state on April 26, Chief Minister S M Krishna said on Wednesday.

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The state decided to seek deployment of additional forces in the wake of stray incidents of violence that were reported during the first phase of polling on April 20 and during repolling on April 22, he told reporters here.

He said there was "no Vajpayee wave in the state at all, but a Congress wave".

Congress President Sonia Gandhi's campaigning in Karnataka has tilted the wave in favour of the Congress, he said, adding he was 'doubly sure' that the party would retain power in the state.

Krishna also felt that the BJP's efforts of going in for hectic canvassing and bringing central and state leaders to woo the people would not help that party.

The Congress government, in its four-and-a-half year rule in the state, has provided able administration and people had faith in it, he said.