The two-phase Karnataka polls are likely to take place on May 20 and 23, while counting is likely on May 27. The term of present Assembly is till June 3.

The dates are still tentative because the Election Commission has only informally discussed the poll schedule for Karnataka, but officially the full bench of the EC is likely to meet in first week of March. Which means the schedule may be announced on by March 10.

The Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka in his presentation to the Deputy Election Commissioner in Delhi, is believed to have stated a pending case in the Supreme Court on the state civic polls, which may come up for hearing now.

To hold polls, the other parameters to be considered are the rains, festivals and school examinations. It is only then that the available window was settled at May 20th onwards. But an informed source said there was a possibility of another window in the last week of May, but the process had to be completed before the end of May.