Karnataka Assembly Election 2018 updates: BJP, Congress talk corruption but 391 candidates face criminal charges

JD(S) hopes Vokkaliga mobilisation will help party become kingmaker, if not king

There is a sense that JD(S) and BJP could forge an alliance and form the government with HD Kumaraswamy at the helm, because more than Congress, the BJP is in a better position to offer Kumaraswamy the chief minister’s post. Sacrificing BS Yeddyurappa would not be a tough call for the BJP, if it comes at a cost of snatching another state away from the Congress.

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IMD forecasts rain, thundershowers for Saturday

Polling day may be marred by inclement weather, with the IMD issued a warning for thunderstorm accompanied with gusty winds at isolated places over Karnataka on Saturday.

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BJP claims to stand for ‘all-round development & fast-paced development’

We stand for all round development & fast-paced development! Large and Medium Industrial Units approved

During 2008-2013 : 2345 units
During 2013-2018 : 1735 units#Vote4ChangeVote4BJP

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 11, 2018

Section 144 imposed in Bengaluru

The Bengaluru Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar has passed prohibitory orders under Section 144, which will last in the city until 6 pm on Sunday evening. Under the provisions of this section, more than four people cannot assemble in a public place, reported Bangalore Mirror. The report added that the police has also undertaken “adequate measures” to maintain law and order in the city, including sensitive in sensitive areas.

RECAP: Karnataka voter ID row: Arrested Congress corporator claims frame job by BJP as parties continue to sling mud

Yeshwanthpur corporator GK Venkatesh, who was arrested along with Congress workers K Sunandamma Bore Gowda and Meenamma a day after the flying squad of the Election Commission (EC) seized around 10,000 voter identity cards, laptops and several copies of Form 6 with Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) seals on it from an apartment in Jalahalli, claimed he and his colleagues are being framed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Close associate of Congress leader Ramanath Rai allegedly attacked in Bantwal

#Karnataka: Close associate of Congress leader Ramanath Rai, Kachigudda Sanjeev Kumar, allegedly attacked in Bantwal; 4 others including Kumar's wife injured, 2 cars damaged. pic.twitter.com/LQBActx1q3

— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2018

Vitriol-filled poll campaign ends in Karnataka 

The vitriol-filled campaign for the Karnataka Assembly elections ended on Thursday with top leaders of the BJP and Congress, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, making a last-gasp effort to sway the voters in a likely cliffhanger.

From corruption to communalism, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Rs 70 lakh Hublot watch to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin, the electoral potboiler had it all.

Like all state polls since he assumed the reins of power in New Delhi, Modi helmed the BJP’s adrenaline-charged campaign despite the party having declared BS Yeddyurappa its chief ministerial candidate, while Rahul Gandhi helmed that of the Congress.

Though Modi remained out of the electoral scene for a long time after addressing a public meeting in February, he launched a blitzkrieg on 1 May, addressing over a score of rallies in his bid to wrest the key southern state, which BJP chief Amit Shah dubbed as the party’s “gateway to south”, from the Congress. – PTI

EC defers decision on Karnataka voter ID recovery

The Election Commission on Thursday night deferred a decision on the recovery of nearly 10,000 voter ID cards from a flat in Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly seat of poll-bound Karnataka even as it sought fresh information from the state election machinery.

Highly-placed sources in the Commission said prima facie it seems that most of the voter ID cards recovered were “genuine”. But the reason as to why they were found in the flat is still being ascertained. – PTI

Fake voter ID scam shows Congress desperate for win, says Amit Shah

“Recovery of fake voter ID cards in Rajarajeshwari Nagar shows how desperately Congress wants to win the election. I want to alert those whose fake IDs have been made, that don’t fall in Congress’ trap and disturb polls. Our workers will be present at each and every booth to see that the polling process is not corrupted,” Shah said.

Only difference between BJP and Congress is that they have no qualms allying with traitors like SDPI and PFI

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Lashing out at the Congress party, Amit Shah said that the Congress party was conniving with divisive forces such as SDPI and PFI to win elections. On a question about Rahul Gandhi labelling Karnataka election a fight of ideologies, Shah said, “The only difference between BJP and Congress is that they have no qualms allying with traitors like SDPI and PFI.”

“We can lose elections but can’t sit with Social Democratic Party of India and Popular Front of India,” Shah added.

Amit Shah predicts over 130 seats for BJP, says no need for any alliance arrangement

Addressing a press conference, Amit Shah revealed his much talked about prediction for elections. For Karnataka he says, he expects no less than 130 seats for his party and ruled out the possibility of any sort of alliance with JD(S).

BJP took suggestions from voters to expand manifesto, says Amit Shah

Shah said that the BJP does not believe in crafting scehemes for a specific religion and has taken inputs from voters across the state to formulate its manifesto. He said that the party will “waive off bank loans up to Rs.1 lakh in 10 days of government formation and will implement schemes to regulate vegetable prices.”

Development in state stuck like Bengaluru traffic, says Amit Shah

Amit Shah said that the development in Karnataka, under the Siddaramaiah government, is stuck like the traffic in Bengaluru. He said that the people’s anger is perceptible across the state, and when a government fails like this, only then a chief minister has to leave his home seat and look for safe seats to fight elections.

Farmer suicides increased by 173% under Siddaramaiah govt, says Amit Shah

Speaking to the press, Amit Shah said that the Siddaramaiah government was unperturbed by the increasing number of farmer suicides and their distress for 5 years. He said that while the farmer suicides under Congress shot up by 173 percent in Karnataka, in neighbouring BJP-ruled Maharashtra the figures have come down by 73 percent. 

“Siddaramaiah government did nothing for the farmers and they are not even ready to give answers for their failure,” Shah said.

Siddaramaiah will lose Badami and Chamundeshwari seats: Amit Shah

“The people of Karnataka are seething with anger, which is palpable as one tours the state. When we campaigned in Badami, there would hardly be a household which did not participate in our roadshow. This shows that people are upset with the government. I think he will lose Badami with an even greater margin than in Chamundeshwari,” Amit Shah.

Siddaramaiah govt Independent India’s most unsuccessful govt: Amit Shah

Speaking at a press conference, Amit Shah said that the Siddaramaiah government is one of the most useless governments in Independent India. He said that he was able to experience the anger in people during his comprehensive campaign programme. He also quoted law and order figures to say that the government has failed utterly on all fronts.

On last day of Karnataka campaign Rahul Gandhi taunts Modi over his aversion to press interactions

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Buoyant after addressing a long press conference, Congress president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and used the opportunity to hit out on Narendra Modi. Latching on to the PM’s reluctance to face press conferences and unplanned media interactions, Rahul said that he would continue to more and more pressers in the future too. 

Enjoyed meeting the regional & national press today in Bengaluru. We had a packed house! I’m sorry not everyone got a chance to ask a question due to the paucity of time.

But, unlike our PM who hasn’t had a press conference in 4 yrs., I will be doing many more of these! pic.twitter.com/tzNVHVLXdu

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 10, 2018

BJP deploys 50 of its netas to on last day of campaigning 

According to NDTV, Union Ministers Ananth Kumar,  Anurag Thakur, DV Sadananda Gowda,  Krishnapal Gujjar, Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, Prakash Javadekar, and Santosh Gangwar are in Karnataka. They are among the senior leaders scheduled to address around 50 mega road shows across the state. The BJP’s three-time Chief Ministers Raman Singh and Shivraj Singh Chouhan are also part of the group that will address the roadshows.

‘Karnataka is BJP’s door to south’: Amit Shah on party’s poll prospects and 2019 Lok Sabha elections

In an interview given to Firstpost, Amit Shah discussed the prospects of his party in the Karnataka elections at length. “We are not taking any chances. It is very important for us. The Karnataka polls are the BJP’s door to the south. This shows how much importance we are giving these elections,” he said. 

BJP set up committee to grant reservation to OBC communities 

“Our government increased the creamy layer income cap from Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh per year and also constituted a commission to sub-categorise OBC communities to benefit them with reservation within constitutional sanctity,” Modi said.

Narendra Modi addresses SC/ST/OBC and Slum Morcha Karyakartas of BJP through NaMo app

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the SC/ST/OBC and Slum Morcha workers of karnataka BJP through the NaMo app. He said that the BJP firmly believed in BR Ambedkar’s ideology and was committed to fulfilling his dream.

“Taking inspiration from the great saints of Karnataka like Madara Chennaiah, Basaveswara and Urilinga Peddiare, we trying to fulfill Baba Saheb’s dream of making a powerful and prosperous nation,” Modi said.

‘Rebel’ MH Ambareesh opts out of Mandya contest as Congress seeks his support to reclaim lost ground

This pre-poll season, Ambareesh, known as ‘rebel star’ in the Kannada movie industry, indulged in a cat-and-mouse game with Congress leaders by refusing to accept the Assembly ticket. While Ambareesh seems upset, there is discontent among his fans and followers as well. However, regardless of him refusing to contest, the party was counting on him for support.

Though Ambareesh, a Vokkaliga, has opted out of the poll fray, his meeting with JD(S) state president and Gowda’s son HD Kumaraswamy has alerted political workers since JD(S) is already gaining support among a major chunk of the Vokkaliga population in the district.

Ambareesh hasn’t formally endorsed JD(S) yet. Kumaraswamy was quoted as saying: “He is disappointed with the way he was treated by the Congress… Ambareesh treats me as his younger brother. I am hopeful he will take a decision in a couple of days.” Ambareesh has, however, stated that he is still loyal to the Congress.

Read the full report here

My govt’s singular focus was to bring glory back to Karnataka, says Siddaramaiah

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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Twitter that his government’s “singular focus” was to bring glory back to Karnataka. “We have come a long way from being the most corrupt state in 2010 to become the investment capital of India by 2018,” he said.

Looking back at last 5 yrs, my govt's singular focus was to bring glory back to Karnataka. We have come a long way from being the most corrupt state in 2010 to become the investment capital of India by 2018.

Yet there is so much more we have to do. #CongressForNavaKarnataka pic.twitter.com/vg4ZraDv1v

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 10, 2018

BJP on personal slander trip, not serious about Karnataka: Rahul Gandhi

Congress President Rahul Gandhi said the BJP has restricted itself to only mounting personal attacks on him and his party leaders during its Karnataka campaign and lacked seriousness about what they wished to deliver to the people in the state.

“We put up a vision for the state while our opposition restricted itself to making personal attacks at the Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah), (Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun) Khargeji, and myself and others,” Rahul told the media in Bengaluru.

“They (BJP) have not really named what they want to do for Karnataka. What the Congress wants to do for the state is very very clear,” he said.

IANS

Watch: Amit Shah holds road show in Badami constituency

#WATCH BJP President Amit Shah at a road show in Badami, CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa also present. #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/z8InB4pXoG

— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2018

Amit Shah holds roadshow in Badami constituency

Watch BJP National President Shri @AmitShah's massive roadshow in Badami constituency, Karnataka at https://t.co/uSsmrczi43 #SarkaraBadalisiBJPGellisi pic.twitter.com/HS8cibLF27

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 10, 2018

‘Congress press meet a desperate attempt to convey their leaders are united’

At the BJP press conference, Piyush Goyal said that he was “amazed” that there was a press conference that seemed only to have been called to try and address the issue of internal dissent and discontent in the Congress.

“It was a desperate attempt to convey that Congress’ leaders are united and there are no divisions in the party,” Goyal said.

It was a desperate attempt to convey that Congress' leaders are united & there are no divisions in the party: @PiyushGoyal

— Piyush Goyal Office (@PiyushGoyalOffc) May 10, 2018

Congress press meet almost looked tutored, says BJP

At a press conference by the BJP, Union minister Piyush Goyal lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for not addressing issues particular to Karnataka. “It almost looked like a tutored press conference Many weren’t allowed to ask questions. If an attempt was made to ask, questions were paraphrased,” he said.

“Congress, their president, along with the failed and corrupt Siddaramaiah government have no answers on issues of Karnataka,” he said.

‘My mother is more Indian than many Indians I see’

Responding to Narendra Modi’s “personal attacks” against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi said, “My mother is Italian, she also lived larger part of her life in India. She is more Indian than many Indians I see.”

He lashed out at Modi for bringing up Sonia’s Italian heritage. “My mother sacrificed for this country; she has suffered for it. It shows the quality of the prime minister when he makes these types of comments,” Rahul said.

My mother is more Indian than many Indian people I have met. If the PM likes to abuse her, he may do so if it pleases him: Congress President @RahulGandhi #CongressForNavaKarnataka

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 10, 2018

‘Congress will win hands down’

Alleging that RSS-BJP want to snatch the spirit of Karnataka and impose upon regressive ideology, Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress “will never allow” them to do so.

He asserted that that Congress will win the Karnataka Assembly polls “hands down”. He said, “Whatever comes out of the prime minister’s mouth is what is actually in his heart. He is absolutely convinced now, and he is right, that he is going to lose Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and he is going to lose 2019,”

We've developed Karnataka extensively over the past five years, we'll continue along that path of development more aggressively: Congress President @RahulGandhi #CongressForNavaKarnataka pic.twitter.com/eNC4kAlRnq

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 10, 2018

‘It is my job to visit religous institutions’

Responding to BJP’s tag of ‘Election Hindu’ for him, Rahul Gandhi said, “Our people have different religious beliefs. As a leader of the political party, it is my job to visit the religious institution that invites me. I will however not go to a single institution that divides the society.”

The BJP doesn't understand the term 'Hindu.' When BJP uses the term 'Election Hindu' it defines their own perspective of the religion: Congress President @RahulGandhi #CongressForNavaKarnataka pic.twitter.com/qSMiU5bcOm

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 10, 2018

‘Narendra Modi has anger inside of him’

Responding to personal attacks made by Narendra Modi against him, Rahul Gandhi narrated a story of Buddha and said that the prime minister had anger inside of him. “He is angry with everybody, not only me. I am a lightning rod for anger, I attract anger. But that is his problem. It is not my problem,” he said.

He claimed that the Union ministers were visiting state to campaign for the BJP because of “panic”. “Congress has clearly demonstrated to them what it is capable of in Karnataka. This is a fight between the spirit of Karnataka and the RSS. We are depending on our extremely solid leadership in Karnataka. The RSS is trying to take over your state,” he said.

Rahul slams Modi for not raising Doka La issue during Wuhan summit

Rahul Gandhi  spoke on his concerns over Narendra Modi’s “heart-to-heart” summit with Chinese president Xi Jinping. “The prime minister went to China and didn’t mention a word about Doka La. Are you telling me no agenda? What does he mean by going to China and Nepal with no agenda?”

“Our foreign policy has been decimated. And it because he views foreign policy as individual exercise. There are huge forces and he needs to take into account the people sitting in the foreign ministry,” he added.

He justified why he raised his concern in the first place. “I am very passionate about the China issue. The central challenge is our ability to give jobs to our youngsters. China is a competitor. I am very passionate when I see fundamental errors being made. There is a disaster in the foreign policies,” he said.

‘Atrocities against women a national issue, will continue to raise it’

Rahul Gandhi responded to the row after he held candlelight march against Kathua and Unnao rape case. “Kathua and Unnao rape cases are fundamental issues. The treatment of our women is a fundamental issue. Narendra Modi likes to talk about bullet trains, but not about these issues,” he said.

He accused the prime minister of not talking on farmers’ issues or the tickets given to Reddy brothers. “Modi has not given one rupee for the farmers of Karnataka. He comes and says, he fights for corruption. On his stage, there is Yeddyurappa and on the other side there are the Reddy brothers, who’ve stolen as much money as the Congress put in MGNREGA. In none of his speeches does he talk about the eight tickets given to the Reddy brothers.”

“And by the way, atrocities against women is a national issue and we will continue to raise it,” he added.

‘Modi has nothing to say about Karnataka’s future’

Responding to Narendra Modi’s “naamdaar” jibe, “Modi has nothing to say anything about the future of Karnataka. I am not going to engage in his distractions.”

He also addressed the Rafale deal. “Modi said the Rafale deal was a cracked by the NDA government was better than the deal cracked by UPA. I agree with Modi, it was a good deal for him and his friends. He didn’t follow the procedure. He paid Rs 1,500 crore for a Rs 700 crore plane. You can see the effects of it with the kind of money they are throwing around in the state.,” he siad.

There is a lack of seriousness in BJP, says Rahul Gandhi

Beginning the press conference, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, “​I’ve been now travelling around Karnataka for a couple of months. The Congress has got a very good campaign. Our party is united. Our Opposition has restricted itself from making personal attacks against our chief minister and leaders. We are confident of winning the election.”

Lashing out at the BJP for its “lack of seriousness”, Rahul said, “We prepared a manifesto and it is truly on the essence of Karnataka. In contrast, the BJP made another manifesto in three-four days, copying things from our manifesto. There is a lack of seriousness in  the BJP.”