Karnataka assembly election 2018 Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP’s chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa share a lighter moment during Karnataka election campaign rally at Chamarajanagar on Tuesday.( PTI Photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who officially kickstarted the BJP campaign in Karnataka, predicted that the BJP would storm to power in the state. “It is not a BJP wave in Karnataka but it is a BJP storm,” he said. Addressing a rally in Santhemarahalli town of Chamarajanagar district, the prime minister dared Congress President Rahul Gandhi to speak for 15 minutes extempore in any language of his choice, including his mother tongue. “I challenge you (Rahul Gandhi) to speak for 15 minutes on the achievements of your government in Karnataka without reading from any piece of paper. You can speak in Hindi, English or your mother tongue,” he said. Gandhi had previously challenged PM Modi to allow him to speak in Parliament for 15 minutes.
PM Modi also attacked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s government, saying it did nothing for the farmers in the state and also halted various developmental projects in the state. “Where there is Congress, all roads of development are clogged. There is corruption, lack of harmony,” he said. Modi will address a total of 15 rallies over a period of five days in the state.
BJP President Amit Shah has been campaigning in the state continuously in the past month. (File)
'Everywhere in the world, India is being hailed. It’s not because of me, it’s because of you. You elected a majority government. Elect us and you will be able to ask for proof of the promises we make. I’m fighting against corruption and black money and I need your help. Under Yeddyurappa’s leadership, vote for a BJP-majority government,' said PM Modi during his address in Belagavi.
"I urge people of Karnataka to fulfill Mahatma Gandhi's wish of disbanding the Congress party. Now, its Karnataka's turn and you should grab this opportunity," he added.
Urging people of Karnataka to help BJP come to power and work towards the development of the state, PM Modi ended his address in Belagavi. This was his last public gathering of the day.
"Congress fears loss in elections and that is why its leaders are spreading lies and creating the atmosphere of fear. Bring us to power with a clear majority so that when we form the government, you can ask us, ' what did you do Modi ji?' says PM Modi.
"We want our farmers to become prosperous. That is why we ensured neem coating of urea. This significantly helped the farmers and stopped black marketing of urea. Farmer welfare is a priority for us. We brought the soil health cards, ensured MSP at 1.5 times of input cost, implemented the Fasal Bima Yojana," says PM Modi.
'Congress is jealous because it was our government that got the majority and a person for humble background became the prime minister,' says PM Modi. "Siddaramaiah government did nothing for the farmers in Karnataka. Why did they not ensure proper irrigation facilities to the farmers," he adds.
"Congress cannot live without power. That is why they are spreading lies, dividing people on the grounds of caste," says PM Modi.
'Congress never respected Baba Saheb Ambedkar. They never accepted Baba Saheb's views,' ANI quotes PM Modi as saying in Belagavi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently addressing his last public gathering of the day in Belagavi district.
"Crime is not increasing in Karnataka abnormally. PM repeats the lie of increasing crime rate for political purposes. I challenge him for an open debate on a single platform on crime & law & order situation in Karnataka vis-a-viz BJP ruled states," says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah.
Polling for the 224-member Assembly will be held on the 12th of this month and results will be declared on the 15th.
"I was reading in newspapers about ‘2+1’ & ‘1+1’ formula in Karnataka. This is nothing but a version of ‘family politics’ of the Congress. Karnataka election is a battle between 'Naamdaars' and ‘Kaamdaars’, between ‘family politics’ and ‘people’s politics," said PM Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will now head towards Belagavi district where he will address his final public rally of the day at 6 pm.
"Congress has halted work on crucial projects in the state," says PM Modi. He said that the region was naturally blessed with coastal plains and yet it had failed to develop under the Congress. After that, the prime minister concluded his speech in Udupi.
"Congress leaders and Congress President's disrespect towards Shri Deve Gowda ji is not acceptable. If such is their mindset, how can they think good for people of Karnataka? There might be political differences between parties but civility and respect should be maintained. Whenever former PM Deve Gowda Ji visits me in Delhi, I always welcome him with respect and always give him time. The way Rahul Gandhi talked about him recently is shameful," says PM Modi.
'Violence cannot be accepted in a democracy. It is shameful how BJP Karyakartas were murdered in Karnataka. The Congress must answer on increasing crimes,' says PM Modi. "We are talking about enhancing 'Ease of Doing Business' in the country, but Congress believes in 'Ease of Doing Murder'. This is the culture they have developed," he adds.
'We opened bank accounts for the poor. Over 31 crores accounts have been opened under Jan Dhan Yojana. If the Congress had ensured their bank accounts, the poor would have contributed so much to the economy,' says PM Modi.
Congress allowed a handful of people to "loot" banks, he adds.
Your love is such, that language cannot act as a barrier between us, says PM Modi to the audience at a rally in Udupi
"People of Karnataka have decided to punish the Congress in the assembly elections. We will leave no stone unturned to fulfill aspirations of people of Karnataka and ensure all-round development of the state," says PM Modi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is present at the MGM College, Udupi where he will be addressing his second public gathering in a while.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday challenged Congress president Rahul Gandhi to speak for 15 minutes and list down the party’s achievements in Karnataka without referring to a paper. Rahul Gandhi can speak in any language as he pleases, including his mother tongue, PM Modi said.
Read | PM Modi has a challenge of his own for Rahul Gandhi
"Was it fear that drove you to contest from 2 parliamentary constituencies Varanasi and Vadodara PM Narendra Modi? Of course you are a 56 inch man, you would have some clever explanation!! Forget 2 seats, Sir. Worry about the fact that your party will not cross 60-70!" tweeted Siddaramaiah. This was in response to PM Modi's statement "I was reading the papers and saw a 2+1 formula in Karnataka. This is a version of family politics in Karnataka."
The Prime Minister after concluding his speech is now headed to Udupi in coastal Karnataka where he will also be making a visit to local temples.
Projects worth Rs 80000 crore is underway in Karnataka, but the Congress is indulged in politicising those projects. The expressway worth Rs 7000 crore is being undertaken between Mysore and Bengaluru, which will also benefit Santhemarahalli and adjoining areas. But, Congress is obstructing the project.
It is the NDA Government that is working to transform the lives of farmers. The farmers of Karnataka are benefitting from the various initiatives of the Central Government. Why are the people of Chamarajanagar not getting access to proper drinking water, jobs and why is the tourism potential here not being harnessed. What is the State Government doing?
In Karnataka there is no law, there is no order. The respected Lokayukta is not safe, how can the common people be safe. PM Modi says the area of Santhemarahalli is suffering from the shortage of water, but the state government does nothing to improve the situation. Our government has launched water projects in 99 villages across India which also include 5 projects in Karnataka: Modi
Wherever there is Congress party ruling, all directions of development get jammed and its all about crime, dynasty and Karnataka has also gone through similar problems in last five years.
PM Modi says it is time for people politics and family/dynasty politics will not work. There is no one in the current Congress government who is away from corruption and the people of the state know that the 10 per cent commission has taken over the people's mission. Urges people to vote for BJP and change the fate of the state.
Modi takes a jibe at CM Siddaramaiah on contesting election from two seats, says he is running here and there in hope of winning from atleast one seat. For CM if it's two plus one formula than for ministers they one plus one formula where father and children are contesting the election.
Congress President challenged me and said Modiji will not be able to sit in Parliament if he speaks for 15 minutes, but the biggest point is that he will speak for 15 minutes. Rahul Gandhi ji we cannot sit in front of you because you are 'naamdaar'and you are 'kaamdaar'. We don't even have good clothes to wear. Modi said that Rahul Gandhi can deliver the speech in any language be it Hindi, English or in Sonia Gandhi's mother tongue.
PM Modi targets Congress on promises to provide electricity by 2009, but they failed till 2014. You kept sitting till 2014, until I came to power, why did you waste time. Modi said that after they came to power they electrified 39 villages, in four years of Congress government just two villages were electrified.
Dr. Manmohan Singh said we will electrify villages by 2009, Smt. Sonia Gandhi went a step ahead and said we will provide electricity to every house by 2009. But what happened? Congress has nothing but contempt for the poor and the labourers of India.
The Congress is led by leaders who have no respect for India's history. I was shocked that they even went to the level of disrespecting 'Vande Mataram': Modi
Before I came here, I was told there is a 'Hawa' for the BJP in Karnataka. Now that I am here, I can tell you - it is much more than that. The Party is going to do very well in the poll. Modi talked about his government's achievement of complete electrification of villages in the country.
Prime Minister Modi with the help of an interpreter says BS Yeddyurappa is the hope of the people of Karnataka and he is going to be the future Chief Minister of the state. Modi wishes people on the occasion of labour day, Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day.
PM Modi in his own style begins his address in local dialect to large chants and applause from the gathered crowd./ PM Modi is beginning his campaign in the state from south Karnataka and is scheduled to address 15 rallies over a period of just five days.
It is a democracy, we have no personal enmity with the PM. We have no objection to him coming here (Karnataka), but it is not going to have any impact, said CM Siddaramaiah on Modi's visit to Karnataka.
What moral right does BJP have to talk about corruption? For last 4 years, the Central Government has not appointed a Lokpal. When he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi never appointed Lokayukta, says CM Siddaramaiah.
Siddaramaiah calls PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath as imports. I want to ask the CM, is Sonia Gandhi your relative? Congress will not win more than 50 seats, there is a wave of BJP in the state, we will win more than 150 seats, JDS will not win more than 25 seats: Yeddyurappa
Addressing the public rally ahead of PM Modi, BJP CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa said, "Some people say that BJP will ally with JDS, I want to clarify that we will form the government on our own."
PM Modi has arrived at the rally venue in Santhemarahalli and will shortly address, launching the election campaign for his party. The Prime Minister is being accompanied by state BJP President and CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa.
JD(S) state President H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said he would not be a “kingmaker” and instead people of the state would bless him as “king” in the May 12 Karnataka Assembly polls, which he conceded was a “battle for survival” for his party. Expressing confidence about the JD(S) coming to power on its own, the former chief minister said, he is asking people to give the party a “chance”, having seen the performance of both the BJP and the Congress. “I’m completely confident about bringing in a government with majority, I don’t have an iota of doubt,” Kumaraswamy told news agency PTI.
The BJP and JD(S) on Monday denied allegations made by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of a secret meeting on board an aircraft on April 13 between BJP national president Amit Shah and JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy. At an election rally in Belagavi in north Karnataka on Sunday, Siddaramaiah alleged that the BJP and JD(S) had entered into a secret pact for the assembly elections and that he could produce proof if necessary of the meeting between Shah and Kumaraswamy. READ HERE
The BJP is banking on the support of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, which has a strong presence in many constituencies of the region. Unlike Lingayats in north Karnataka, who identify themselves as a separate sect and whom the Congress is trying to woo, Lingayats in south Karnataka tend to identify itself as Veerashaiva Hindus, rather than as a separate religion.
Southern Karnataka comprises eight seats, including Varuna in Mysuru district, vacated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his son Yathindra. The Congress swept the region in 2008, while the JD(S) won one of the eight seats in 2013. With three of these eight seats reserved for Scheduled Castes, besides one for Scheduled Tribes, former Nanjangud MLA V Srinivas Prasad, a key leader from the SC community who left the Congress last year to join the BJP, is expected to help the party prevent consolidation of the sizeable Dalit vote in favour of the Congress.
Hello, and welcome to the Indian Express LIVE BLog. As PM Modi begins the BJP campaign in the Karnataka assembly election 2018, we bring to you developments on the go. Stay tuned!!