Sources told The Indian Express the former Karnataka Chief Minister held talks with Sonia Gandhi until late this evening and was expected to put in his papers as early as Wednesday or Thursday, at least three weeks before he was originally scheduled to quit.

Krishna was set to return to Mumbai from Bangalore on Tuesday when he was asked to change his plans and fly to Delhi instead, sources said, indicating the seriousness with which the party was treating the likelihood of the EC changing its mind over polls in the southern state.

“There is a strong possibility that the elections could be held in May and so he is expected to resign, come to Mumbai and then go to Bangalore,” the source said.

Krishna had earlier planned to stay on in Mumbai’s Raj Bhawan through this month, with the Assembly’s budget session beginning March 10, and move to Bangalore either in the last week of the month or early April.

Congress sources had last month told The Indian Express that AICC treasurer and former Madhya Pradesh governor Motilal Vora was the frontrunner to replace Krishna in Mumbai, followed by former CEC M S Gill, HRD Minister Arjun Singh and former Orissa CM J B Patnaik.

The Congress wants elections in the state to be held after the constituency delimitation exercise is completed, possibly in October as that would give the party more time. Some Congress leaders hope that an increase in reserved seats would benefit the party while the delay would dilute sympathy for the BJP over being ditched by its alliance partner Janata Dal (S), which led to the imposition of President’s Rule in the state.

Central rule is due to expire on May 28 and the BJP has strongly opposed its extension, calling for elections to be held soon and accusing the Congress of trying to manipulate its timing.

Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami, along with ECs Navin Chawla and S Y Quraishi visited Bangalore today to review the preparation of electoral rolls and redrawing of constituencies as recommended by the Delimitation Commission. Gopalaswami said the Election Commission would decide by April 15 if it would hold polls before the end of May or later.