Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public rally ahead of Assembly polls, in Haveri, Friday, May 6, 2023. (PTI Photo) Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023 Highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued his attack at the Congress during his rally at Haveri, calling the party one that “surrenders to terror” and practices “appeasement politics” and the “divide and rule” policy. Earlier, during his rally at Badami, the Prime Minister had said that the Congress has a track record of “85% commission” and “they can never work to serve people”.
Pitching for a return of the BJP’s “double-engine government”, PM Modi said that it always works for the overall development of the state without any discrimination. Earlier in the day he had also conducted a 26 km roadshow in Bengaluru, covering 18 Assembly constituencies. Modi was accompanied by MPs Tejasvi Surya (Bengaluru South) and PC Mohan (Bengaluru Central) on the campaign vehicle.
This comes even after the Congress filed a police complaint against PM Modi over his comments at Ballari regarding the party shielding terrorists to secure its vote bank. Meanwhile, the Congress has also alleged that the BJP has hatched a plot to murder All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge and his entire family. AICC general secretary-in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala released an audio clip of a purported conversation between Chittapur BJP candidate Manikanta Rathod and a local BJP leader in which Rathod is heard saying that he would “wipe off” the wife and children of Kharge.
MAKING a rare appearance at an election rally, senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi Saturday addressed a poll meeting in Hubballi, where she accused the BJP of taking the country “on the path of destruction”.
She also criticised comments made by BJP leaders during their campaign in Karnataka, saying the fate of the people was not dependent on any leader’s blessings and that the people decided their own fate. At a poll meeting recently, BJP president J P Nadda had urged people to vote for the BJP so as “not to be devoid of (Prime Minister) Modi’s blessings”. (Read More)
Acting on a BJP complaint, the Election Commission on Saturday issued a notice asking Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar to submit “empirical evidence” for corruption allegations made in a party ad against the state government.
The advertisement, titled “Corruption Rate Card”, gave amounts allegedly charged as bribes for appointments, transfers and government deals in the state. It was a part of the Congress’ campaign labelling the BJP government as “40 per cent sarkara”, implying that 40 per cent commissions are paid for government contracts. (Read More)
In a scathing attack on the BJP, senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said Karnataka and by extension India cannot make progress without getting rid of the ruling party's "loot, lies, ego and hatred".
Making her maiden entry into the 2023 Karnataka Assembly poll battle, Sonia also said the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by her son Rahul Gandhi was against those spreading hatred. "This was the reason that lakhs of people joined Rahul Gandhi's 4,000 km march".
"Neither Karnataka nor India can make progress without getting rid of the atmosphere of BJP's loot, lies, ego and hatred," Gandhi said in her first public rally in poll-bound Karnataka, which votes on May 10. (PTI)
Amid the row over the Congress party's manifesto mentioning 'decisive action' against Bajrang Dal, the Chandigarh unit of the organisation on Saturday sent a notice of defamation to the party demanding damages worth Rs 100 crores.
In the notice addressed to Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, Bajrang Dal Chandigarh stated, 'In the manifesto on page 10, you (Congress) have made defamatory statements against the Bajrang Dal, an associate body of Vishwa Hindu Parishad by declaring to ban the organisation and comparing it to outlawed terrorist organisations like Popular Front of India and similar terrorist organisations like Student Islamic Movement of India which are outlawed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act by the government of India'.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad also reacted to the notice and said that the Congress party will have to bear the cost of 'hurting sentiments of Hinds globally'. (ANI)
"Today the situation has become such that the BJP openly threatens people. They say if BJP loses the elections then Karnataka won't get ‘Modiji’s blessing’. But I want to tell them, that the people of Karnataka are not helpless. They have faith in their hard work and determination and not someone’s ‘blessing’.”
The BJP has become so arrogant that they do not provide answers to any questions or even letters. They do not care about any statutory body. Have you ever seen such a despotic government? Is this how a democracy should be run?
Congress leader Sonia Gandhi is addressing her first public rally in poll-bound Karntaka in Hubballi city today. Mounting up the attack on BJP she said, 'The people of Karnataka did not give the mandate to BJP back in 2018, but they grabbed power by committing dacoity. And since then their 40% commission government began the process of looting you."
The Congress on Saturday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "master of distortion" and accused him of caring only for his "grand tamasha" and not the inconvenience caused by his 26-km roadshow in Bengaluru.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged ambulances were stuck on roads due to the chaos caused by the roadshow and said that Modi should cancel the second part of the roadshow slated for Sunday. (PTI)
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot hit out at the BJP over an alleged threat by a party candidate in Karnataka polls to wipe out Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and his family, asking when will the Centre break its silence on the indecent behaviour.
Sharing an audio clip on Twitter, Congress Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala has claimed that the BJP's candidate from Chittapur constituency in Kalaburagi district, Manikanta Rathod, has hatched an assassination plot against Kharge and his family.
Meanwhile, Rathod has rejected the allegation, saying it's fake audio, and Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said an investigation would be conducted to find out the authenticity of the recording. (PTI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Saturday held a roadshow at Chintamani in poll-bound Karnataka's Chikkaballapura district.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the controversial movie, The Kerala Story, at an election rally in Karnataka’s Ballari city on Friday and accused the Congress of having a “backdoor understanding with terror groups”. He also said that the Congress’s “situation” ahead of the state’s May 10 elections was “so bad” that the party was “taking issue” with him “chanting Jai Bajrang Bali’.
“There was a lot of discussion about The Kerala Story, which discusses ploys to make the country hollow from within. They say the movie is based on the terrorist plots in just one state…such a beautiful state where people are hard working and talented. The Kerala Story has exposed the terror conspiracies. But look at the misfortune of the country. The Congress today is standing with such terror elements that have destroyed the nation. The Congress has a backdoor understanding with them. People of the state should be wary of the Congress…It has surrendered in front of terrorists to appease its vote bank,” Modi said. (Read More)
The Congress party has filed a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the High Grounds Police Station in Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru, for making "false and unverified comments against their party" while addressing a public rally in Ballari on May 5.
? What does the Congress party's complaint letter say?
COMPLAINT AGAINST SHRI NARENDRA MODI FOR MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS AND UNVERIFIED ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS WHICH ARE BLATANTLY DEFAMATORY, MALICIOUS TO SUCH AN UNPRECEDENTED DEGREE THAT IT AMOUNTS TO COMMITTING OFFENCES PUNISHABLE UNDER THE REPRESENTATION OF PEOPLE ACT, 1951; THE INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860; & VIOLATIONS OF OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW.
“…Congress has shielded terrorism for the vote bank..
…..look at the unfortunate situation in the country where the Congress is seen standing with this trend of terrorism that destroys societies. Not just this the Congress is also taking part in backdoor political negotiations with those who are linked to this trend of terrorism.”
3.The above-mentioned statements make it amply evident that Shri Narendra Modi has not only (i) tried to mislead the voters by making these false and unverified allegations, which he knows to be untrue; (ii) accused the party that led India’s struggle for freedom and which is also the principal Opposition Party in Parliament, the Indian National Congress of supporting terrorists and terrorism; (iii) made a desperate attempt to falsely tarnish the sacrifices and legacy of an almost hundred and forty year old party with an unmatched record of public service and sacrifice, all for the sake of petty political gains in the ensuing Karnataka Assembly Elections.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday once again targeted the Congress during campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka and dubbed the party's leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar as "family members" of Tipu Sultan.
"Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are family members of Tipu Sultan," Sarma said while addressing an election rally in Karnataka's Virajpet assembly of Kodagu district.
"I came from Assam and in Assam 17 times Mughals attacked us but Mughals could not defeat us, we remain undefeated. Today I bow to this holy land because the Kodagu people also defeated Tipu Sultan many times," he added.
The BJP leader said that if Siddaramaiah intends to celebrate the Tipu Sultan jayanti, he should do so in Pakistan. "80,000 people sacrificed their lives. And today Siddaramaiah is saying that they will celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanti. If you want to celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanti go and celebrate it in Pakistan and Bangladesh. But you don't have any right to do it in India", he added. (ANI)
Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday hit out at Congress while highlighting the achievements of the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that the double-engine government in Karnataka has worked for the benefit of the people.
Addressing an election rally in Belagavi, Amit Shah said PM Modi fulfilled the dreams of Lord Ram devotees by constructing the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "BJP has worked for the farmers here. We have given several benefits to the farmers. Congress insulted Savarkar. But BJP developed the Marathas and respected them...PM Modi fulfilled the dreams of Lord Ram devotees by constructing the Ram temple in Ayodhya".
Shah said that the Congress party insulted Lord Bajrang Bali. "We believe that law and Constitution are sacrosanct and cannot be violated by individuals and Organisations like Bajrang Dal, PFI or others promoting enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities," read the Congress manifesto. (ANI)
Union minister Smriti Irani claimed on Friday that she had seen Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi offer namaz while campaigning for her brother Rahul Gandhi at Amethi during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
She was responding to questions by news agency ANI on the assurance made by KPCC president D K Shivakumar that Congress would also build temples for Lod Hanuman in the state. This was after the BJP equated the proposed ban in the Congress manifesto on Bajrang Dal and other outfits that disturb communal harmony as an insult on Lord Hanuman. (Read More)
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. (Read More)
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said an investigation would be conducted to find out the authenticity of the audio recording regarding the alleged plot to kill Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge and his family.
Speaking to reporters, he said, “I do not know about the audio. That will be investigated. We will take it seriously and get it investigated.' Bommai was reacting to the charge of the Congress General Secretary and Karnataka in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, who alleged that an assassination plot has been hatched to ‘wipe out' Kharge, his wife and his entire family by a BJP candidate, Surjewala also shared an alleged audio recording of the BJP candidate from Chittapur constituency in Kalaburagi district Manikanta Rathod, in which he is heard purportedly saying in Kannada that he will wipe out ‘Kharge, his wife and children'.
Meanwhile, Rathod rejected the charges outright and said, “It is all a lie. They are playing some fake audio. The Congress is leveling baseless allegations fearing defeat.” (PTI)
? Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar Saturday exuded confidence that his party would win at least 141 seats in the May 10 assembly polls and asserted that he would abide by whatever the party decides on the issue of chief ministership.
? The Karnataka Congress chief lashed out at the BJP for raising issues such as the Uniform Civil Code and National Register of Citizens in its manifesto for the assembly polls, saying it shows their "bankruptcy" of ideas and vision for the state.
? He also claimed that since the BJP has no agenda and vision for Karnataka, the "Modi factor" will not work in the assembly polls this time.
? On him being a strong contender for the post of chief minister, Shivakumar said his first priority was to ensure that the party wins a majority in Karnataka.
? Asked about the controversy surrounding the Congress manifesto talking about taking decisive action as per law, including imposing a ban on organizations such as PFI and Bajrang Dal, Shivakumar alleged that the BJP was trying to divide the society.
? "We are comfortably winning Karnataka elections and it will open the doors for the Lok Sabha elections. Karnataka people will give a message to the country. Earlier also at the time of Devraj Urs (former chief minister), when the Janata Party was in power at the national level in 1978, Karnataka had opened the door for Congress. Now again, Karnataka will play its role," Shivakumar said. (PTI)
(PTI Images)
Barely four days ahead of the polling in the high-stakes Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress has alleged that the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was “hatching a plot to murder” the All India Congress Committee (AICC) president, Mallikarjun Kharge, and his family.
Making this allegation at a press conference in Bengaluru Saturday, the AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, released an audio clip of a purported conversation between the BJP’s Chittapur candidate Manikanta Rathod and a local BJP leader in which Rathod is heard saying that he would “finish off” the wife and children of Kharge. (Read More)
With the May 10 Assembly Elections in Karnataka right around the corner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of the star campaigners of the BJP. We track his campaign trail across the state here
Hours after the Congress alleged that BJP leaders were plotting to kill its party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and his family, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that an investigation will be carried out into the issue.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, Bommai said that the investigation will ascertain whether the audio is doctored or not.
Addressing an election rally in Karnataka's Belagavi district, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Saturday that the BJP worked for the benefit of the farmers in the district.
"We have given several benefits to the farmers. Congress insulted Savarkar. But BJP developed the Marathas and respected them...PM Modi fulfilled the dreams of Lord Ram devotees by constructing the Ram temple in Ayodhya," he said.
With just days left before the Karnataka Assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is addressing a rally in the Savadatti Yellamma constituency in Belagavi district. Watch here:
Campaigning at Ballari on Friday for the coming Karnataka Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the controversial new film release The Kerala Story, which is purportedly about women who left homes to join the ISIS.
Modi's invocation of the controversial film on women who left homes to join ISIS, during his Karnataka campaign, is just the latest instance of him drawing on a movie to make his point. Read here
In what is seen as a mega outreach to Bengaluru urban voters in the run-up to the Karnataka Assembly elections due on May 10, PM Modi’s 26-km roadshow targeted voters of at least 12 Assembly constituencies within the Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency. Modi was accompanied by MPs Tejasvi Surya (Bengaluru South) and PC Mohan (Bengaluru Central) on the campaign vehicle. Sanath Prasad reports
Former BJP leader Jagadish Shettar has committed a "political blunder" by joining its rival Congress and should have rather fought as an independent candidate since that gave him a better chance of winning in the May 10 Assembly polls, senior ruling party leader and Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hedge Kageri has said.
In an interview to PTI, Kageri said, there could have been some impact had Shettar not joined the Congress. "By joining the Congress, it became negative," the senior BJP leader said. Shettar, also a former chief minister, defected to the Congress over denial of a ticket to contest from Hubli-Dharwad Central assembly segment, from where he has been winning since 1994. (PTI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will arrive in Bengaluru on Saturday evening to begin his three-day campaign for BJP candidates in the state, ahead of the May 10 Karnataka elections.
The roadshow began at 10 am from JP Nagar 7th Phase and will conclude at Sankey Road in Malleswaram, covering 18 Assembly constituencies. (Source: BJP Photos)
At Tipu Sultan Park in the heart of Raichur city, the headquarters of Raichur district that is also one of Karnataka’s most impoverished, a community organiser for agricultural workers, Abhay Kumar, is on hunger strike, demanding NREGA jobs and drinking water supply in the villages.
He is joined in the protest by several women who work as community organisers with an agricultural workers’ union, Grameena Koolikarmikara Sanghatane (Grakoos), which has organised farm labour across 21 village panchayats of Raichur district, part of the Kalyana Karnataka region. Johnson TA reports
Ahead of the Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick-started his 26km roadshow from JP Nagar in Bengaluru. Watch:
In the last leg of campaigning, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will on Saturday hold election rallies in Yemkanmardi, Chikkodi and Huballi districts. Here's his schedule: (Source: Twitter/@INCIndia)
Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the BJP was "intimidated by the all-round blessing of Kannadigas being showered on the Congress Party and facing a complete rout in the ensuing assembly elections"
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Saturday alleged that the BJP was hatching a plot to “murder” its party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and his family.
Addressing a press conference, Surjewala released an audio clip from the BJP candidate from Chitapur and said, "The sinister and ugly plot to kill Mallikarjun Kharge and his entire family by the BJP is the lowest that the political discourse can stoop to".
Watch what he said:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 26km roadshow beginning at 10 am is likely to throw traffic out of gear in the city. Here's a list of restrictions:
? Modi’s first roadshow – 10.1 km – will be held in Bengaluru Central from 10 am to 1 pm. The roadshow will start from the Suranjan Das Road as soon as PM Modi lands at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and will pass through Mahadevapura, K R Puram, C V Raman Nagar, Shivajinagar, and Shanti Nagar Assembly constituencies.
? The Bengaluru Traffic Police have issued an advisory to avoid 35 key roads and junctions between 8 am and 1 pm. While they usually issue traffic diversions, this time, the advisory asks commuters to avoid these roads entirely.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the controversial movie, The Kerala Story, at an election rally in Karnataka’s Ballari city on Friday and accused the Congress of having a “backdoor understanding with terror groups”. He also said that the Congress’s “situation” ahead of the state’s May 10 elections was “so bad” that the party was “taking issue” with him “chanting Jai Bajrang Bali’.
“There was a lot of discussion about The Kerala Story, which discusses ploys to make the country hollow from within. They say the movie is based on the terrorist plots in just one state…such a beautiful state where people are hard working and talented. The Kerala Story has exposed the terror conspiracies. But look at the misfortune of the country. The Congress today is standing with such terror elements that have destroyed the nation. The Congress has a backdoor understanding with them. People of the state should be wary of the Congress…It has surrendered in front of terrorists to appease its vote bank,” Modi said. Read the full story here
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 36km roadshow split across Saturday and Sunday, tight security has been put in place by the Bengaluru police. (See pics here/Express)
Ahead of the May 10 Karnataka Assembly Elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a mega 26km roadshow in the Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency Saturday. The roadshow is expected to begin at 10 am from JP Nagar 7th Phase and will conclude at Sankey Road in Malleswaram, covering 18 Assembly constituencies.
Modi’s first roadshow – 10.1 km – will be held in Bengaluru Central from 10 am to 1 pm. The roadshow will start from the Suranjan Das Road as soon as PM Modi lands at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) and will pass through Mahadevapura, K R Puram, C V Raman Nagar, Shivajinagar, and Shanti Nagar Assembly constituencies.
Good morning! Welcome to today's live blog. We bring to you the latest updates, ground reports, analysis and explainers ahead of the May 10 Karnataka Assembly election. Stay tuned and follow @ie_elections on Twitter!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday held a public meeting and a roadshow in Karnataka's Tumkur.
(Photos: BJP)
Congress leaders Friday protested against Karnataka BJP's corrupt practices at T Narasipura. The Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D K Shivakumar, state in-charge AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and others were present at the protest site.
The party referred to the protest as 'Bhrashtasura BJP Dahana.'
(Photo: KPCC)
According to BJP media, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a road show in Bengaluru on Saturday, starting from the Brigade Millennium, JP Nagar to the 18th Cross Junction in Sampige road, Malleshwaram. The roadshow is scheduled to begin at 10 am.
He will also address a public meeting at Adagalla Grama near Badami Railway Station in Karnataka's Badami. The meeting will begin at 2 pm, according to the party.
At Tipu Sultan Park in the heart of Raichur city, the headquarters of Raichur district that is also one of Karnataka’s most impoverished, a community organiser for agricultural workers, Abhay Kumar, is on hunger strike, demanding NREGA jobs and drinking water supply in the villages.
He is joined in the protest by several women who work as community organisers with an agricultural workers’ union, Grameena Koolikarmikara Sanghatane (Grakoos), which has organised farm labour across 21 village panchayats of Raichur district, part of the Kalyana Karnataka region.
With the hunger strike entering its second day and state elections barely a week away, several state officials are making a beeline to the protest site, in an effort to resolve the issues raised by Grakoos, which has the capacity to influence voters through its network.
Read the Political Pulse by Johnson T A here.
All India Congress Committee President Mallikarjun Kharge Friday addressed a public Meeting in Karnataka's Afzalpur.
(Photo: KPCC)
Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep Friday campaigned for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka's Gundlupete.
(Photo: BJP)
Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda Friday attended a meeting at Karnataka's KR Pete constituency.
(Photos: JDS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday, addressing a rally in Karnataka's Tumakuru, hit out at the Congress for its stances on the National Education Policy (NEP).
He said, "the Congress has become the enemy of children in villages. Congress has announced that if they come to power, they will discontinue the National Education Policy. Congress is saying that technical education will not be done in Kannada, and it wants to snatch away all the facilities for the students."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday began his address in Karnataka's Tumakuru with chants of 'Bajrang Bali Ki Jai.'
Addressing the rally, Modi said, "BJP is returning to power in Karnataka with a thumping majority ... There was no pre-planned programme, but a mega roadshow was taken out due to the overwhelming crowd." according to news agency PTI. (PTI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president J P Nadda Friday, while addressing a rally in Karnataka's Raichur, said that the "Congress has a policy of being either in jail or on bail," according to news agency PTI.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Karnataka ahead of Assembly elections this year, held a roadshow in Tumakuru, news agency ANI reported.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Friday, addressing the media, attacked the Congress party for 'making mistakes,' and also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state would benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party in the upcoming Assembly elections.
'As we're strengthening in Varuna, Siddaramaiah is bringing film stars. They [Congress] make mistakes and then clarify. In this camera world, they can't justify their mistake. PM's visit will benefit us,' Bommai said.
Further expressing his confidence in securing 'a comfortable majority' in Varuna constituency, the CM said, 'We have had a positive report for the BJP candidate from day one in Varuna. We are expecting more numbers than the surveys show.'
(Photo: BJP)