Amit Shah and Priyanka Gandhi to campaign in Karnataka.Karnataka Elections 2023 Live Updates (May 4): With less than a week left for Karnataka to go the polls, the political parties on the fray have stepped up their attack on each other with high-octane and vitriolic campaigns. While Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka party chief D K Shivakumar and senior leader Siddaramaiah had their rallies and roadshows scheduled throughout the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had their events lined up back to back as a part of the BJP’s campaign trail in run up to the May 10 elections.
Meanwhile, with Congress candidate Vinay Kulkarni barred from entering Dharwad district, his wife and daughter are going door-to-door to convince voters. Kulkarni himself is camping on the periphery of the constituency, supporting his family and pursuing his campaign through social media at the same time. An accused in the case of the murder of Zila Panchayat member Yogeesh Gowda, Kulkarni is currently out on bail and is not allowed to enter Dharwad as per a Supreme Court order.
In other news, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a show-cause notice to Priyank Kharge (son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge) for calling PM Narendra Modi “nalayak (inept)” during a campaign rally. The ECI has also issued an advisory urging star campaigners to “maintain the dignity of the political discourse”. It said that such instances have led to complaints, cross-complaints, and also attracted negative media attention.
Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy Thursday campaigned on behalf of JDS candidates H Anandappa and Sashidhar Channabasappa Yaligar at Mayakonda and Shiggaon assembly constituencies.
(Photos: JDS)
All India Congress Committee President Mallikarjun Kharge Thursday addressed a massive gathering in Karnataka's Gurumitkal and Yadgir.
(Photo: KPCC)
After adverse reactions on social media over traffic restrictions in Bengaluru on account of plans for a 36-km roadshow through the city on Sunday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP announced that it would hold it over two days.
Now, Modi will cover the constituencies of Bengaluru Central on Saturday, between 10 am and 1 pm, and Bengaluru South on Sunday, from 10:30 pm to 2:30 pm.
Speaking to reporters here Thursday, Shobha Karandlaje, the convenor of the BJP’s State Election Management Committee, said: “People said it will be a problem if the roadshow is held for the entire day. We respected their feelings.” Read more here.
District Electoral Officer and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath, City Police Commissioner Pratap Reddy along with BSF, and other officials Thursday conducted a route march in the sensitive and ultra-sensitive polling booths of Chamarajpet and Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly Constituencies.
(Express Photos by Jithendra M)
Actor Shivarajkumar and his wife Geetha Shivarajkumar Thursday campaigned for former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Varuna assembly constituency.
(Photo: Congress)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Thursday led a public rally held in Karnataka's Belagavi. Moreover, B S Yediyurappa also conducted a huge road show in Tiptur assembly constituency on behalf of BJP candidate B C Nagesh.
(Photo: BJP)
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari Thursday addressed the gathering at a public rally in Karnataka's Boragaon.
He participated in the rally in support of BJP candidate Shashikala Annasaheb Jolle.
(Photo: BJP)
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Thursday led election rallies in Karnataka's Shiggaon and Savanur constituencies.
(Photo: BJP)
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Thursday visited the famous ancient Kanakagiri Temple built by Shri Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagar Empire in Karnataka.
(Photo: KPCC)
BJP candidate V Somanna Thursday held an election rally at Varuna Assembly constituency.
(Photo: BJP)
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Thursday slammed the BJP government for spiralling prices of essential commodities and services due to its "corrupt policies," PTI reported.
Vadra alleged that there was rampant corruption prevailing in the state, and said that the BJP dispensation in the state is known as "40 per cent commission government". "Prices are skyrocketing in the state. Cooking gas cylinder, rice, pulses and flour prices have gone up. The price rise is due to a corrupt government formulating corrupt policies," she said in an election rally in the state's Koppal district.
"Isn't the government ashamed that you (people) spend so much on the education of your children and prepare them for competitive exams but like the police sub-inspector scam, the candidates come to know that some MLA stole money and their recruitment has stopped," PTI quoted Vadra.
Vadra appealed to the people to not get carried away by the address of big (BJP) leaders on election day and divert their focus from the core issues related to their "daily grind" (PTI).
BJP National Organization General Secretary B L Santhosh and BJP MP Tejasvi Surya Thursday held a special meeting ahead of Karnataka Assembly elections.
The meeting was also attended by State Election Co-in-charges K. Annamalai, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, State Organizing General Secretaries Rajesh GV, State General Secretaries Siddaraju, and State Vice Presidents Nirmal Kumar Surana.
Indian National Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Thursday addressed a rally in Karnataka's Hirikekur.
Indian National Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Thursday addressed a public rally at Karnataka's Kanakagiri.
(Video by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee)
The BJP Thursday dropped plans to have an eight-hour roadshow by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Karnataka scheduled for Saturday, following concerns expressed by citizens over difficulties that they will face as a result of the day-long programme, PTI reported.
Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje said the Prime Minister would now hold a road-show on two days — 10 am to 1.30 pm on Saturday, and 10 am to 2.30 pm on Sunday.
According to the party, Modi was set to hold a roadshow on Saturday — covering a distance of 10.1 km from 11 am to 1 pm, and 26.5 km from 4 pm to 10 pm. "The public has expressed that it will be a problem if the road-show is held for the entire day. So, we have respected their feeling and spread it over two days", Karandlaje told reporters.
The roadshows on May 6 and 7 would pass through 19 of the total 28 Assembly constituencies in the city, PTI quoted party leaders. (PTI)
Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in Belgavi to campaign for BJP candidates. Fadnavis says it has been a tradition since long for Maharashtra leaders to campaign in Karnataka.
Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi would address an election rally in Hubballi on Saturday, her first campaign meeting for the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka. The Congress candidate in Hubballi-Dharwad Central is former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who joined the party after being denied ticket to contest the elections by the BJP.
The BJP has fielded Mahesh Tenginkai in this segment.
The fight between Shettar and Tenginkai has become a prestigious battle of sorts for the ruling BJP and the Congress, which are putting all their might behind their candidates. --PTI
With less than a week left for Karnataka to go the polls, the political parties on the fray have stepped up their attack on each other with high-octane and vitriolic campaigns. While Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka party chief D K Shivakumar and senior leader Siddaramaiah have their rallies and roadshows scheduled throughout the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have their events lined up back to back as a part of the BJP’s campaign trail in run up to the May 10 elections.
In an exclusive interview with the Indian Express, Karnataka minister and veteran BJP leader V Somanna shares his thoughts on a range of issues relating to the high-stakes state assembly election.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar have hailed a 103-year-old voter in Karnataka's Belagavi district for exercising his franchise using the home voting facility.
Mahadeva Mahalinga Mali recently cast his vote from home at Chikkodi in Belagavi for the Karnataka assembly elections.
"Shri Mahadev Mahaling Mali has inspired several people by his commitment towards strengthening democracy. It is also in line with the culture of Karnataka, which celebrates democratic values," Modi said on Twitter.
Officials said Chief Election Commissioner Kumar has spoken to the centenarian over the phone to thank him for exercising his franchise using the home voting facility. (PTI)
Election Commission of India has issued a show-cause notice to BJP candidate and star campaigner Basanagouda R Patil and Congress candidate Priyank Kharge for violation of Model Code of Conduct provisions while campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly Elections
A major talking point in the BJP manifesto in Karnataka is the promise to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), while the Congress has promised to extend the reservation ceiling from 50% to 75%, eradicate corruption in public works, and take strong legal action against groups such as the Bajrang Dal and the Popular Front of India (PFI) that “spread hatred on grounds of religion or caste”.
But how do the manifestos fare beyond these main points? The BJP has listed six promises in its manifesto — Anna (food security), Abhaya (social welfare), Akshara (education), Aarogya (health), Abhivrudhhi (development), and Aadaaya (income), apart from guarantees in other categories such as agriculture, rural development, economy and industry, and infrastructure. The Congress manifesto mentions five guarantees: Gruha Jyothi, Gruha Lakshmi, Anna Bhagya, Yuva Nidhi, and Shakti. The Opposition party’s vision document is divided into sections such as administration and governance, law and justice, regional and rural development, irrigation, and wealth creation. (Read More)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chanted ‘Jai Bajrang Bali' during all the three public meetings he addressed in poll-bound Karnataka on Wednesday, in what is seen as a counter to the Congress, which has promised to ban right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal in its election manifesto.
Along with ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai' in praise of 'Mother India', Modi also made a point at the beginning as well as at the end of his speech to raise ‘Jai Bajrang Bali' in Mulki in Dakshina Kannada district, Ankola in Uttara Kannada distinct and Bailhongal in Belagavi district. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi would hold a 36.6 kilometre roadshow here on May 6, Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha member P C Mohan said on Wednesday.
The roadshow, as part of the BJP's campaigning for the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka, would pass through the city's 17 Assembly constituencies, Mohan said.
The Prime Minister would cover a distance of 10.1 kilometres from 11 am to 1 pm, and 26.5 km from 4 pm to 10 pm, Mohan said. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Padma recipient and environmentalist Tulsi Gowda and folk artist Sukri Bommagowda.
Tulsi Gowda belongs to the Halakki community from Uttara Kannada district and is also known as the ‘encyclopedia of forest’. She has a vast knowledge of diverse species of plants and herbs and has planted more than 30,000 saplings.
Sukri Bommagowda also belongs to the Halakki community and is known as the nightingale of the Halakki Vokkaliga tribes of Uttara Kannada district. She has also campaigned for literacy among girls, and for a ban against alcohol in her area.
The Bajrang Dal has decided to conduct 'Hanuman Chalisa' recital programmes across Karnataka on Thursday, a day after the Congress promised in its election manifesto to ban the outfit.
The opposition Congress, in its manifesto for the May 10 Assembly election in Karnataka, said it was committed to take firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste and religion.
"This is the time when 'Dharma' is in danger and standing together is the only way forward. We should set aside our differences and come together to protect dharma, and hold hands together," the right-wing organisation said in a statement.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) too extended its support to the call. (PTI)
In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress General secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday wondered why the "omnipresent and omniscient" leader could not see the "loot" happening in Karnataka by the '40 per cent commission government' of the BJP.
"You (Modi) are supreme, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. Why couldn't you fulfil your dream? When your own government was plundering people by becoming '40 per cent commission governent' what were you doing?" Vadra asked. (PTI)
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi addressed a public rally in Vijayapura today and alleged that the BJP government looted Rs 1.5 lakh crore from Karnataka.
'In the last three and a half years, they (BJP) have looted Rs 1.5 lakh crore from Karnataka. With that money, they could have built 100 AIIMS hospitals, 30,000 smart classrooms and houses for 30 lakh poor people. Today they cannot talk about your issues in front of you, so every day they raise some new issue which has nothing to do with your development,' she was quoted saying by news agency ANI.
While addressing a rally in Ankola, PM Modi accused the opposition of engaging in 'gaali politics' and said that the people of Karnataka would reject 'this politics of abuse'.
"Opposition only knows 'Gaali politics'. They cannot defeat us so they abuse us. The people of Karnataka reject abuse politics and all the voters will teach them a lesson to Congress for abusing me," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently addressing a rally in Ankola, in Uttara Kannada district. " During the Congress JD (S) government, 30,000 crores of foreign investment (FDI) used to come annually. Investment increased to 90,000 thousand crores annually in 3 years after the formation of the double engine government," he said.
Anti-incumbency, mainly centring on price rise and corruption, and encompassing farmers’ vulnerabilities, concerns on education and jobs, is a loud and assertive clamour in South Karnataka’s districts of Mandya, Tumakuru and Mysore. This is caste-dominated Vokkaliga territory where the JD(S) is strong, the battle-lines are drawn with the Congress — and the BJP is struggling to make inroads.
It’s a much more erratic refrain in the coastal districts of Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada, where the BJP has carved a stronghold over decades on the back of serial Hindutva mobilisations. It is muted in north Karnataka, in Hubli-Dharwad, where caste raises its head again, and the BJP has the advantage because of a traditional base among the dominant Lingayats. Vandita Mishra writes
With the May 10 Assembly Elections in Karnataka right around the corner, senior political leaders from across parties are currently thronging the southern state, campaigning for their respective candidates. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address rallies in Ankola, Baihongal. Follow this as we track PM Modi's campaign trail:
The Telangana Police detained members of the Bajrang Dal protesting against the Congress' Karnataka election manifesto, news agency ANI reported. On Tuesday, the Congress announced a ban on Bajrang Dal on the lines of PFI.
“Has Yediyurappa come?” asks an elderly lady standing at the entrance to her house in Kolagi, a backward caste hamlet inhabited by the Golla community, as a BJP campaign cavalcade carrying B S Yediyurappa’s younger son B Y Vijayendra rolls through.
When told that it’s not the former CM but his son, the candidate in the Shikaripura constituency this time, she goes back inside, disappointment written on her face. Johnson TA writes
Decrying the promise in the Congress election manifesto that Bajrang Dal will be banned if they are voted to power, Karnataka Energy Minister V Sunil Kumar said the move is to appease the Muslims.
In a series of tweets, the minister said Bajrang Dal is not an anti-social organisation and it strives for protection of the Hindu community and gomata (mother cow). Kumar, who was the state convenor of Bajrang Dal, said the organisation is a team of activists who are ready to undergo any sacrifice for the Hindu cause.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "The misgovernance of Congress forced sisters and mothers in Karnataka to live in poverty".
Speaking at a rally in Karnataka's Mudabidre, PM Narendra Modi said that while the nation respected the country's defence forces, the Congress insulted and abused "our military and soldiers"
Attacking the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the party would push back Karnataka by decades if it came to power.
In his rally speech, PM Narendra Modi said that the BJP will win with majority in Karnataka and said "we want state to become No.1 state in India"
Addressing a rally in Karnataka's Mudabidre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday that the BJP wanted Karnataka to become the No.1 state in India
The Congress manifesto for Karnataka, like that of the BJP, is rich in welfare promises and development goals. However, the eye-catcher is the part on reservation — the party has stated it would increase quotas to 75 per cent to accommodate the interests of SC, ST, OBC and minorities. The party has also said it would restore the 4 per cent quota for Muslims, that was removed by the BJP government. As for the subquotas the Basavaraj Bommai government introduced in March, the Congress manifesto states that it would place the Justice A J Sadashiva Commission report on internal reservation in the first session of the legislature itself. The party has also reiterated its support for caste census, which is emerging as a common political slogan of the Opposition. Read our editorial here
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi’s remarks hitting out at the Congress for promising “decisive action”, including a “ban”, against the Bajrang Dal, in its Karnataka election manifesto, set off a political slugfest Tuesday over an outfit that is no longer the force it once used to be.
After Modi accused the Congress of “trying to lock up those who worship Lord Hanuman”, same as it had “earlier locked up Lord Ram (a reference to the Babri Masjid)”, both the BJP and VHP attacked the Congress and came out in defence of the Bajrang Dal. Lalmani Verma writes
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is scheduled to hold two public meetings and one roadshow in Indi, Bidar South and Gulbarga districts. Have a look at her schedule today (Twitter/@INCIndia)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address three election rallies in Mudabidre, Ankola and Baihongal.
Hours after the Congress released its manifesto, PM Modi hit out at the party for promising “decisive action”, including a “ban”, against the Bajrang Dal. Modi accused the party of “trying to lock up those who worship Lord Hanuman”, same as it had “earlier locked up Lord Ram (a reference to the Babri Masjid)”.
In an election in which no issue seems to straddle the different regions, no factor flattens the state’s several diversities, anti-incumbency also varies and fluctuates. But you can sense its presence in Karnataka. Voting exactly a week away, for the incumbent BJP, which is making the claim and promise of “double-engine sarkar” the central motif of its pursuit of the elusive “poorna bahumat”, that’s not good news.
Anti-incumbency, mainly centring on price rise and corruption, and encompassing farmers’ vulnerabilities, concerns on education and jobs, is a loud and assertive clamour in South Karnataka’s districts of Mandya, Tumakuru and Mysore. This is caste-dominated Vokkaliga territory where the JD(S) is strong, the battle-lines are drawn with the Congress — and the BJP is struggling to make inroads. Vandita Mishra writes
A cautious line on reinstating the old pension scheme (OPS), silence on the hijab ban imposed in pre-university colleges in the state, promise to increase reservations for SCs, STs, OBCs, Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, restoration of 4% quota for Muslims, and imposition of a ban on the Bajrang Dal — the Congress manifesto for Karnataka is an interesting mix of both adhering to and nuancing of its past positions, as well as another push to its aggressive social justice outreach.
Apart from the five “guarantees” that the Congress has been aggressively pitching in the state, the manifesto also talks about enacting a special law to punish the perpetrators of corruption — the “40 per cent commission sarkara” charge against the Basavaraj Bommai government is the party’s main campaign pitch — and repealing all “unjust laws and other anti-people laws passed by the BJP government”, within one year of coming to power. Manoj CG writes
The Karnataka Congress in its manifesto released Tuesday said it would crack down on divisive forces. Under the ‘Law and Justice’ head, the party said that it “was committed to taking firm and decisive action against individuals and organisations spreading hatred amongst communities on grounds of caste and religion.” Here are key points from the manifesto:
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