Karnataka Assembly Election 2018 updates: Amit Shah to kick-off campaign on Thursday; Congress to release first list

I am going to get a minimum lead of 30,000-40,000: Yeddyurappa

I have come to file my nomination & I am going to get a minimum lead of 30,000-40,000: BJP's CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa before filing nomination from Shimoga's Shikaripura #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/ehwD9V8CUH

— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2018

(Updates begin for 19 April)

BS Yeddyurappa holds roadshow before filing nomination for Karnataka polls

BS Yeddyurappa, Ananth Kumar & Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh conduct a road show in #Karnataka's Shimoga. pic.twitter.com/VlelLiwnLW

— ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2018

Disgruntled with Congress’ list of candidates, partymen take to streets, vandalise district offices

Disgruntled with the party high command’s first list of candidates in the upcoming Assembly Elections in Karnataka, Congress party workers took to streets on Monday to express their anger. Media visuals showed party workers chanting anti-Siddaramaiah slogans, burning tyres, effigies etc on the streets. ( Read more )

At least five candidates in BJP’s second list have tainted past

The BJP’s second list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections on 12 May contains at least five names with a tainted past. The list, comprising 82 names, has candidates, who were acquitted in corruption, forgery, cheating and rape cases. At least two of them had spent quite some time in jail on charges of cheating and forgery.PTI ( Read more here)

BJP announces second list of candidates for Karnataka polls, no Muslims or Christians given ticket

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday has announced its second list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections scheduled for 12 May 2018.While the BJP’s first list of candidates included seasoned politicians like five-time MLA S Angara, an MLA from Sullia, it has fielded new faces from other constituencies in the state. The party’s chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa is slated to contest from Shikaripura. ( Read more here )

Siddaramaiah’s son Dr Yatheendra will contest from Varuna constituency

No ticket for Congress MLA NA Haris from Shanti Nagar 

Congress MLA NA Haris from Shanti Nagar has not been given a ticket. A month before, his son Mohammad Nalapad, was arrested in connection with an assault case. – Input by Prabhu Mallikarjunan/ 101 Reporters

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah to contest from Chamundeshwari instead of Varuna

Congress announces first list of 218 candidates for Karnataka polls

INC COMMUNIQUE

Announcement of candidates for the upcoming Assembly Elections in Karnataka. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/q5M2ss7Z48

— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) April 15, 2018

Announcement of candidates for the upcoming Assembly Elections in Karnataka. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/yoTv2MN0TT

— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) April 15, 2018

BJP leader Prakash Khandre calls bandh in Bhalki

BJP leader Prakash Khandre of Bhalki constituency in Bidar and his supporters called for a Bhalki bandh on 17 April after they suspected that Khandre would not be given a ticket. Input from Lakshmi Bhavge/101reporters

RECAP: Kannadigas have full faith in us, says Siddaramaiah

The clear message emerging from all opinion polls: Kannadigas have full faith in our government and there is no anti-incumbency whatsoever.

ನಾವು ನುಡಿದಂತೆ ನಡದಿದ್ದೇವೆ. I have confidence on our work, and that people’s blessings will bring us back with full majority. #INC4Karnataka

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 14, 2018

RECAP: Not going to contest Assembly elections, says BS Yeddyurappa’s son BY Raghavendra

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Resting all speculation of his candidature at the upcoming Karnataka assembly polls, BY Raghavendra on 12 April said that he will limit his role only as a ‘karyakartha’ of the party.

“This election I am not going to contest at all. The party has entrusted me a responsibility as the co-convener of the district election committee in Shivamogga. I will stick to that,” Raghavendra said in an interview for Firstpost.

Dinesh Gundu Rao says ‘slipper’ comment on Yogi Adityanath was moment of ’emotional outburst’

My reaction to the Adityanath controversy. It was an emotional outburst in a speech on the plight of the raped victims and the complete apathy by Adityanath govt. I regret if it’s offensive but the abuse of law in UP is a serious issue. https://t.co/LA3hNBxHiF

— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) April 15, 2018

Unsure of implications, Congress in Karnataka treads cautiously on Lingayat issue

Wary of electoral implications, political parties in Karnataka seem to have toned down on the contentious issue of “religious minority” status to the dominant Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats in the run-up to the 12 May Assembly polls.

After having taken a huge gamble despite sharp divisions within the Siddaramaiah government in an apparent move to take away a significant slice of the Lingayat/Veerashaiva vote bank that has largely stayed with the BJP, the ruling party is now treading cautiously on the issue.

The Congress that heavily invested on the issue, with a few cabinet Lingayat ministers themselves spearheading the movement demanding a “separate religion” tag, is now cautious as it fears that the issue could swing either way for the party, as it has been accused of dividing the Hindu community. – PTI

‘Congress insulted entire Hindu community’: BJP claims over ‘slipper’ comment on Yogi Adityanath

Congress has not just insulted UP CM Yogi Adityanath, it has also insulted the entire Hindu community

Today, BJP Karnataka General Secretary @ShobhaBJP led a protest against Congress for its anti Hindu remarks. pic.twitter.com/X8HEdZBFFX

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 15, 2018

Nargund agitation enters 1003rd day, to figure in nearly 30 Assembly constituencies in upcoming polls

The agitation in Nargund to divert water from the Mahadayi river to the region entered its 1003rd day on 13 April, reported The Indian Express . 

The lack of drinking water across Karnataka is a major poll issue, often acknowledged by Congress and BJP, is expected to figure in nearly 30 Assembly consituencies in the upcoming state elections.

RECAP: EC panel says poll schedule was not leaked, but mere speculation

An in-house committee set up by the Election Commission to probe the alleged leak of Karnataka poll schedule minutes before the official announcement, said on 13 April the information was not leaked but mere speculation .

The committee noted that the media has speculated election schedules before and it seemed similar attempts were made in the case of Karnataka elections.

“As pointed out by (a private TV channel) in its response…, the alleged leak was not a leak and was merely speculation. Thus, the committee is of the opinion that there was no leak of schedule of elections to Karnataka Legislative Assembly 2018,” the committee said it its report.

Rs 22 cr illegal cash seized in Karnataka since model code of conduct enforced

The Election Commission’s surveillance squads and police officials have seized over Rs 22 crore illegal cash since the model code of conduct was put in force on 27 March in poll-bound Karnataka, the state’s Chief Electoral Officer said on Saturday.

“The EC squads and police authorities have so far seized cash over Rs 22.34 crore, besides 7.5kg gold valued at Rs 1.76 crore, unspecified amount of silver worth over Rs 12 lakh, 10 sarees and 160 laptops, among other items, for violation of the model code of conduct in force for the May 12 state legislative Assembly election,” said CEO Sanjiv Kumar in a statement in Bengaluru. – IANS

Dinesh Gundu Rao hits back at BJP, ‘wonders’ how many yogis and saints have Adityanath’s ’track record’

Please take a look at UP CM Adityanaths criminal record. I wonder how many Yogis and Saints have his track record.
Should we still call him a Yogi?
And why are you insulting our revered true saints of Karnataka & India by comparing them to Adityanath.https://t.co/Zn3cJTjq4Y… https://t.co/ghkL5tnKGe

— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) April 14, 2018

BJP demands Election Commission register case against Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao

Rao's statement inciting people to beat Yogi Adityanath with chappals shows Cong's utter contempt for a democratically elected CM. One may vehemently disagree with opponent, but is it right to give a call for violence?

For free elections, EC must register a case under IPC 153A.

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 15, 2018

‘Was emotional while making comments,’ KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao defends his comments on Adityanath

“I made the comments in emotion. Let them (BJP) protest against me, but shouldn’t Uttar Pradesh do something about the Unnao victim? Don’t compare Yogi ADityanath to swamijis in Karnataka. They are respectable people.” KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao told India Today in response to BJP’s demand for an apology for his remarks on the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

Yogi Adityanath should be ‘beaten with slippers’, says Dinesh Gundu Rao; BJP demands apology

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president Dinesh Gundu Rao demanded Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s resignation over the Unnao rape case and reportedly said that he should be “beaten with slippers”.

Speaking at an event organised by Congress in Bengaluru to protest against Unnao and Kathua rape cases, Rao said that Adityanath is unfit to be a chief minister. 

BJP has taken a sharp objection to Rao’s choice of words and demanded an apology from the Congress leader.

RECAP: KS Eshwarappa, Yeddyurappa’s arch rival in BJP, to contest from Shivamogga city 

In a crucial move, BJP has given KS Eshwarappa , Yeddyurappa’s arch rival, the ticket to contest from Shivamogga city assembly constituency. The move is seen as an attempt by the BJP top brass to put an end to the rift between the two leaders. Currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, party workers had expressed their discontent that if Eshwarappa was offered the ticket, BJP would be defeated, as was the case in the 2013 Assembly polls.

RECAP: BS Yeddyurappa to contest from his home turf Shikaripura assembly constituency 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first list of 72 candidates for the 12 May Karnataka Assembly Election on 8 April, which included prominent names such as the party’s chief ministerial face BS Yeddyurappa, veterans such as KS Eshwarappa, B Sreeramulu, and Jagadish Shettar among others.

Here’s a quick look at some of the key candidates mentioned in the first list:

BS Yeddyurappa, the Karnataka BJP head and former chief minister, is one of the only two Members of Parliament (MPs) who has been given a ticket to contest the state polls. He will be contesting from his home turf Shikaripura assembly constituency in Shivamogga district.

Projected as the party’s chief ministerial candidate, Yeddyurappa has been elected from Shikaripura to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly for seven terms in the past. A prominent leader of the Lingayat community, the BJP state chief tried to float his own party, Karnataka Janata Party, prior to the 2013 Assembly polls but later joined hands with BJP ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

RECAP: BJP releases first list of candidates for Karnataka polls on 8 April

The BJP on 8 April released its first list of 72 candidates to contest in the 12 May Karnataka Assembly elections for the 224 seats across the southern state.

Among the candidates are many of the party’s 48 sitting or outgoing legislators from the state’s northern, central and southern region, including Bengaluru, which has 28 assembly constituencies.

Prominent nominees are the party’s chief ministerial face BS Yeddyurappa from Shikaripura, KS Eshwarappa from Shivamogga, Jagadish Shettar from Hubli-Dharwad Central, Basavaraj Bommai from Shiggaon, CM Udasi from Hangal, KV Hegde from Sirsi and B. Sriramulu from Molakalmuru (reserved).

Rahul Gandhi likely to make at least three visits to Karnataka

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With the Karnataka Assembly poll date nearing, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is likely to make at least three visits to the state, intensifying the party’s campaigning as it seeks to retain power there, sources said.

Sources said Gandhi is expected to fan those areas of the state which he has not visited yet as part of his Jana Aashirwada Yatre. “All his rallies and meetings till now have received a good response. There is a feeling among Karnataka workers that he should cover more areas in the four regions of the state to ensure our victory,” a party leader said. – PTI

Congress BJP to release candidates list today

Congress and BJP are all set to release the list of candidates on Sunday. While the Congress is expected to release its first list of candidates by 3 pm, according to sources, BJP will release its second list later on Sunday night.

Updates for 15 April, 2018 begin here

Former BJP MLA Seema Masuti to contest as an Independent from Dharwad constituency

Former BJP MLA Seema Masuti resigned from the party after she was reportedly denied a ticket for upcoming elections. She also announced that she would contest as an Independent from Dharwad constituency #KarnatakaElection2018 pic.twitter.com/Ta8soL0Fsy

— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2018

Amit Shah to kick off sixth leg of campaign in Karnataka on Thursday

BJP president Amit Shah will tour northern parts of the state from Thursday on his sixth round of campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka, where the saffron party is going all out to unseat the Congress. During his two-day trip, the BJP chief will take part in campaigns, protests and meet Lingayat and Veerashaiva seers. Shah will hold a sit-in at Hubballi joining Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party MPs to protest the recent washout of the Budget Session of Parliament. Read more here.

Muslims want Cong to give community one seat in each district

 A group of Muslim leaders from Karnataka on Tuesday demanded that the Congress party reserve at least one constituency in each district of the state for Muslim candidates.

According to a report by The Times of India , reeling off statistics of Muslim population, leaders from the community say that the Muslim candidates can win as many as 28 seats with the support of a sizeable 12 percent population.

Freebies, liquor cash flow free in Karnataka as BJP, Congress spar over MCC violations 

Since 27 March, when the Model Code of Conduct came into effect in Karnataka, Rs 4.69 crore cash has been seized in the state by the surveillance teams for violation of the poll code.

Freebies for voters worth over Rs 9.96 crore were also seized by the poll officials. About 10,500 litres of liquor valued at Rs 46 lakh was also seized by the state’s Excise Department.

Meanwhile BJP and Congress have been accusing each other of poll code violations. While Congress filed a complaint against Amit Shah for offering Rs 5 lakh to the family of a deceased BJP worker, the saffron party claimed that Siddaramaiah had given a “bribe” of Rs 2,000 each to two women who welcomed him during his visit to Chamundeshwari.

Karnataka state EC to use 5,000 new EVMs in Bengaluru for Karnataka polls

A total of 5,000 advanced EVMs and VVPATs which can automatically detect errors and any tampering with the vote will be used in Bengaluru for the May 12 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election, the state’s Chief Electoral Official said on Tuesday.

Bengaluru-based Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) will be supplying these advanced election machinery to used in the city for the ensuing elections on a pilot basis. “The new machines, which will be used for the first time in the state, will be deployed in the constituencies of Bengaluru,” Kumar said.

Each EVM consists of a control unit and a balloting unit. As of date, there are 89,206 balloting units and 76,192 control units in the state. “These units are enough for the 58,546 polling stations across 224 assembly segments in the state,” Kumar added. 

IANS

Kin of Karnataka’s first CM hopes to revive legacy

Holding firmly on to a slice of history, the granddaughter-in-law of undivided Karnataka’s first chief minister, KC Reddy, has been camping in the national capital, hoping to fight an election for an Assembly seat in the state.

For the last two days, Vasantha Kavitha Shrikar KC Reddy has been waiting anxiously outside the Congress party’s electoral war room at 15 Gurudwara Rakabganj Road, where its screening committee is finalising the candidates.

Vasantha, whose husband is a businessman, is the first member of the family after the late chief minister to enter politics. “He (Reddy) did not encourage the family to join politics. But I felt the need to spread his legacy and work for people like him,” the 40-year-old Congress member said.

Congress claims ‘fake’ candidate list doing rounds in media, blames BJP IT cell

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said the Congress party had not yet finalised the list of candidates for the upcoming state assembly polls and that a “fake” list was in circulation to create confusion.

The fake list not only showed Leader of Congress party in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge as a candidate, but had senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandis’ signature. However, the makers of the list were perhaps unaware of the fact that Fernandes is unwell and is undergoing treatment in Delhi. He no longer is the authorised signatory for such lists. 

The AICC secretary in charge of Karnataka and former MP Madhu Yashki Goud directly blamed the BJP IT Cell responsible for it. Threatening a criminal action against the BJP, he said that the saffron party had “mastered the art of fake news to misguide the people".

Updates for 11 April begin

BJP complains to state CEO, says police acting like ‘Congress’ puppets and creating issues for them

The BJP on Tuesday complained to the state poll panel’s chief that the police were acting like the ruling Congress’ “puppet,” harassing and implicating its party workers in criminal cases in the run-up to the 12 May Assembly polls.

In its memorandum to Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar, the saffron party also complained of ‘rigid and arbitrary" interpretation of the model code by poll panel’s officials and said it was creating problems for them. “It is beyond our imagination why the EC is creating obstructions to the smooth conduct of the in-house programme,” the memorandum said.

Accusing police of harassing BJP workers and its others sympathisers, the memorandum said false cases were being lodged against them.

It also alleged that officials were preventing party workers from holding bike rally, though BJP is a cadre-based party having a large base of workers who voluntarily want to participate in the programmes.

The party sources said the CEO assured the leaders that he would look into their grievances.

PTI

Swaraj India to field popular farmer leader KS Puttanaiah’s son Darshan from Melkotes

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KS Puttannaiah, MLA of the Karnataka Sarvodaya Party, who represented Melkote segment, died of a massive cardiac arrest in February 2018.  Swaraj India has fielded his son Darshan from the same seat. Now according to  The News Minute , Congress is planning to lend support to Darshan. 

“The Congress is planning to not field any candidate from Melkote but instead back Darshan Puttanaiah who will be contesting from Swaraj India party. KS Puttanaiah was loved by the people of Mandya, it seems like the right choice to back his son,” the Congress source told The News Minute.

Report on poll code ‘violation’ by Amit Shah under scrutiny: CEO

Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjiv Kumar today said the report on alleged violation of model code of conduct by BJP President Amit Shah for giving Rs five lakh to the family of a deceased party worker is under scrutiny. 

“The mother of the deceased person had earlier given some statement before some television channel, but she has changed her version now. She is now saying, neither has she received any cheque nor has she been given an assurance in this regard,” he told reporters here. 

“This has been mentioned in the divisional commissioner’s report.. The report is under scrutiny,” he added.

Vote anyone but BJP: TDP tells Andhra Pradesh people in Karnataka

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Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister KE Krishna Murthy urged the Telegu speaking population in poll-bound state of Karnataka to vote for anybody but BJP, citing the ‘great injustice’ done by the party to Andhra Pradesh.

Is SM Krishna Returning to Congress?

Senior politician and former Congress stalwart SM Krishna is considering returning to his mother party merely a year after he joined the BJP in a surprise move, calling the Congress a party in rapid decline.

State Congress sources claim that the former external affairs minister is now interested in rejoining the party as he is disillusioned with the BJP. He feels that the saffron party has humiliated him by giving no importance to him.

“BJP has also refused to field his daughter Shambhavi from Rajarajeshwarinagara Assembly seat in Bengaluru. Neither the state BJP, nor its national leadership is giving him any importance. He is actually a nobody in BJP. It has hurt him deeply. He has been sending the feelers to Congress for the past two months,” a senior Congress leader told News18 .

BJP’s first candidates list exposes internal fissures, cadre calls leadership ‘autocratic’

The BJP state unit received the list with mixed reactions. Party leaders and workers are upset over the selection of people who have migrated from other parties in at least three seats — Chickpet in Bengaluru, Afzalpur in Kalaburgi district, and Basavakalyan in Bidar district.

Party workers slammed the national leadership for ignoring the recommendations of the district-level core committees and compromising on internal democracy. The cadres are especially shocked over the choice of Malikayya Guttedar, who switched over from the Congress just a week ago, in Afzalpur. “There are more things than just power and money… a party member who toiled for the party for long years has been sidelined to make way for Guttedar, which is nothing but an autocratic tendency (of the BJP),” said Dharmaiah Nayak, a BJP leader in Kalaburgi.

Updates for 10 April begin

Ashok Gehlot appointed member of Congress central election panel

Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot has been appointed a member of the party’s central election committee, the apex body for selection of candidates during elections.

Gehlot, a former chief minister of Rajasthan, was recently appointed the AICC general secretary in charge of organisation and training of party cadres.

PTI

BS Yeddyurappa unfazed by Lingayat seers’ support for Congress

Yeddyurappa said that it is just a few of them who have made these statements, while the entire Lingayat-Veerashaiva community is with the BJP.

“This is the work of one or two Swamijis and I am not at all bothered. Almost everyone in the community is with us and we are going to win about 150 seats and form the government,” The Times of India  quoted him as saying.

‘Congress, BJP are two sides of same coin: JD(S)

Janata Dal (Secular) state president HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday sought to reply to Rahul Gandhi’s charge that his party was in cahoots with the BJP. Terming both two sides of the same coin he said they share a “one should beat and another would weep” agreement,  The Times of India  reported. 

“JD(S) is not the BJP’s B team as alleged by the Congress. On the contrary, leaders who were with Janata Pariwar migrated to the Congress and formed a B team, sidelining seniors like Mallikjarjuna Kharge and Parameshwara," he said.

Miscreants snatch away applications regarding voter list

Miscreants today snatched away about 450 applications pertaining to the addition, changes and deletion of names from the voter list at Yashwanthapura in Bengaluru. 

According to S Yogeshwar, returning officer of  Yashwanthapura constituency, the incident occurred when a special drive in booth number 74 of the constituency was going on at a school.

An FIR has been lodged against the unknown miscreants, police said.

Party-hoppers given ticket by BJP for assembly polls 

Most of the party-hoppers, who joined the BJP ahead of the May 12 assembly polls in Karnataka, have made it to the party’s first list of candidates. In the list of 72 candidates for the high-stakes contest to the 224-member Assembly that was released last night, at least 11 recently joined the BJP, including some who had deserted it earlier. 

Those who have made it to the list include P Rajeev  (Kudachi), A S Patil Nadahalli (Muddebihal), Basavanagouda  Patil Yatnal (Bijapur City), Malikayya Guttedar (Afzalpur),  Mallikarjun Khuba (Basavakalyana) and Dr Shivaraj Patil  (Raichur).

Most of them are sitting legislators and a few of them also served as ministers in the past.  Guttedar, a six-time MLA and OBC leader, had yesterday joined the party, hours before the first list was announced.

 BJP’s second list of candidates likely on 11 April: Yeddyurappa  

The BJP’s Karnataka unit chief B S Yeddyurappa today said the second list of party candidates for the May 12 assembly election in the state was likely to be announced on 11 April.

The former chief minister also announced that he would file his nomination from Shikaripura in Shivamogga  district on 19 April.

BJP plans to bank on brand Modi again 

“Our campaign so far has been lacklustre. We have failed to put the Congress on back foot. Actually, they are setting the agenda and we are being forced to react to them. The party high command has taken a serious note of it and they seem to have decided to take direct charge of the campaign,” said a senior state BJP leader. 

The state BJP has requested Modi to address at least 15 public meetings. According to a spokesman of the party, depending on the situation Modi may spare more time for Karnataka addressing over a dozen meetings. 

“PM Modi is our biggest weapon. We want him to create a Modi “wave” closer to the election. In Gujarat, he single handedly rescued the party from a certain defeat. The situation is not so favourable even here. We are hopeful that Prime Minister will do the magic,” he said. 

The RSS is also of the opinion that Modi is their best bet and he should lead the campaign against Congress. 

JD(S) seeks to draw first blood, ropes in 20 Congress workers from Siddaramaiah’s Chamundeshwari constituency

The Janata Dal (Secular) which holds the Chamundeshwari seat, is trying to dent his chances of victory by roping in Congress party workers. On Wednesday, the JD(S) announced that 20 Congress workers in the constituency, including block-level leaders like Kaling Naik, Angadi Manju, and MH Rajashekar were joining the party.

G T Devegowda, the JD(S) MLA from Chamundeshwari constituency, said that Congress workers were not happy with Siddaramaiah’s leadership and were defecting only because they intend to see HD Kumaraswamy as chief minister. JD(S)’s claim may not prove to be a setback for the Congress, but it is bound to impact party’s campaign strategy.

Karnataka Congress’ comeback to BJP over its temple run jibe on Rahul Gandhi

ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ, ಪರಂಪರೆ ಅರಿಯದ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ @AmitShah

ಸಭ್ಯತೆ, ಶಿಷ್ಟಾಚಾರ ತಿಳಿದಿರುವ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ @RahulGandhi #JanaAashirwadaYatre #CongressForPeaceAndHarmony pic.twitter.com/xDRMSOABOk

— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) April 9, 2018

Has Siddaramaiah walked into a trap by contesting at Chamundeshwari, in place of Varuna?

With his desire to see his son, Yathindra take a plunge into electoral politics, Siddaramaiah has given up on his safe Varuna seat to risk it in Chamundeshwari. The odds are stacked against Siddaramaiah in this constituency that is named after the hilltop Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru.

He will be up against GT Deve Gowda of the JD(S). Gowda is the sitting MLA and also a one-time close associate of the chief minister. Siddaramaiah wants to pitch his decision to contest from his erstwhile constituency as the return of the prodigal son in what is being spoken of as his 10th and final electoral battle. But Gowda labels Siddaramaiah as someone who “abandoned” Chamundeshwari for Varuna after his skip-a-heartbeat 2006 victory.

Only three women among 72 candidates in BJP’s first list 

Only three women figure among the 72 contestants – Sashikala Jolle from Nippani assembly segment in the state’s northwest region, Roopali Naik from Karwar in the coastal area and Poornima Srinivas from Hiriyur in central part.

Sashikala is re-contesting from the same seat, while Roopali is a former civic corporator in Bengaluru and Poornima is the party’s women wing’s secretary.

BJP announces its first list of candidates 

The BJP on Sunday released its first list of 72 candidates to contest in the 12 May Karnataka Assembly elections for the 224 seats across the southern state. 

Among the candidates are many of the party’s 48 sitting or outgoing legislators from the state’s northern, central and southern region, including Bengaluru, which has 28 assembly constituencies.

Prominent nominees are the party’s chief ministerial face BS Yeddyurappa from Shikaripura, KS Eshwarappa from Shivamogga, Jagadish Shettar from Hubli-Dharwad Central, Basavaraj Bommai from Shiggaon, CM Udasi from Hangal, KV Hegde from Sirsi and B. Sriramulu from Molakalmuru (reserved).