Karnataka polls: Siddaramaiah says Cong to win with full majority; updates

In the last leg of his campaigning for May 12 polls, Narendra Modi will visit Karnataka's Chitradurga, Raichur, JamaKhandi and Hubli area. Find latest updates on Karnataka assembly elections 2018.

Accusing the Congress of creating hurdles at every step of development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Karnataka government must give an account of the work they have done for the people of the state, addimg all they do is calling out his name and abuse Modi.

PM Modi, addressing a rally at Raichur in Karnataka, said it's the right time to bid farewell to Congress party which opposes him on every issue.

Earlier in the day at another rally in Chitradurga, Modi accused the Congress of indulging in "vote bank politics" for celebrating the "jayantis of Sultans".

Modi was apparently referring to the Siddaramaiah government's controversial decision to celebrate "Tipu Jayanti" every year on November 10 to commemorate the memory of Tipu Sultan, the legendary 18th-century ruler of Mysore.

Addressing an election rally in Chitradurga, the prime minister said, "Look at the Congress character....whose jayanti needs to celebrated with respect, from whom we have to draw inspiration for generations to generations, they can't think about celebrating their jayantis".

"Veera Madakari and Onake Obavva are forgotten, but for the sake of vote bank politics they are into celebrating jayantis of Sultans," he said.

A Dalit woman, Onake Obavva was the legendary wife of a soldier in the army of Madakari Nayaka, the last ruler of Chitrdurga.

She is said to have fought single-handedly and killed with a pestle several invading soldiers of the army of Hyder Ali, father of Tipu Sultan, in 1779. She was killed by Hyder Ali's soldiers in her valiant effort to protect the fort where her husband was the guard of a watchtower.

The celebration has also triggered a sharp division in society with some hailing Tipu Sultan as a hero who died fighting the British, while others calling him a "fanatic" ruler.

"By celebrating this jayanti, Congress has insulted people of Karnataka and Chitradurga. They have played with sentiments and feelings of people of Chitradurga, Modi said.

"Congress by celebrating jayanti of those who gave poison to Nayaka's of Chitradurga by betrayal and those who killed the courageous lady Onake Obavva have insulted this land, you and the history," he said, as he sought to connect with local historical sentiments.

He also hit out at the Congress for "spreading lies and trying to mislead Dalits".

Narendra Modi on Sunday will address four rallies in Karnataka ahead of the upcoming state legislative assembly elections.

In the last leg of his campaigning for May 12 polls, the Prime Minister will visit Karnataka's Chitradurga, Raichur, JamaKhandi and Hubli area.

Apart from this, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah will also hold multiple rallies in the poll-bound state. He will hold two public meetings and will take part in a road show in Belagavi.
 

Here are the top 10 developments around rallies being addressed by top national leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the run-up to the Karnataka Assembly election 2018, to be held on May 12:

1. Congress will come back to power with full majority, says Siddaramaiah: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that the Congress party will come back to power in Karnataka with full majority.

"Yeddyurappa and Kumaraswamy are both claiming that they'll come to power. If you look at BJP's track records they haven't won a seat in many crucial constituencies. Congress will come back to power in Karnataka with full majority," he said while addressing a Press Conference in Bengaluru, reported ANI.

He also said, "The time of income-tax raids during elections is questionable. Amit Shah and Modi are behind it."

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed confidence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forming a government with 'absolute majority' in Karnataka.

2. Congress against development: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the Karnataka government must give an account of the work they have done for the people of the state, adding all they do is calling out his name and abuse Modi.

"The Karnataka government must give an account of the work they have done for the people of the state. Instead, all they do is- Modi, Modi, Modi. They just keep abusing me," said PM Modi.

He added that the Karnataka polls are about the future of the state. "On one side, there is the BJP's development agenda and on the other side is the anti-development Congress," he said.

Addressing the rally at Raichur, Modi said when Sonia Gandhi's government was in power, LED bulb used to be sold at Rs 350. Under BJP government, the bulb are being sold at Rs 50. Where were the extra Rs 300 spent, he said.

3. Modi on culprits of rape: PM Modi at Raichur also touched upon the situation of women's security and rape in the country saying news of crimes against women keep coming but the subject should not be how many crimes occured. He said such crimes should not be a part of civilised society.

He added that his government has made laws to put an end to those menaces and that whoever commits those heinous crimes against women will be hanged.

4. Congress looting the state, says Modi: Modi while addressing a rally in Karnataka, said that Congress leaders are looting the state and the longer they stay, the longer they will continue their loot. 

Modi said, "Congress does not care for Dil or Dalits, it only cares for deals."

Congress does not care for Dil or Dalits, it only cares for Deals : PM Modi #KarnatakaTrustsModi pic.twitter.com/grQclHrftb

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 6, 2018

5. Modi calls out to Dalit community: While addressing a rally in Chitradurga, Modi said that the Congress never accepted and always humiliated B R Ambedkar. Modi said: "Congress is obviously uncomfortable today because the highest offices of the land are occupied by people from poor and humble backgrounds. That is why now Congress prefers to mislead in the name of the Dalit community"

6. BJP want Dalits to exist at bottom rung of society, says Rahul Gandhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that the BJP and RSS wanted Dalits and Adivasis to exist at the bottom rung of society.

Rahul Gandhi shared a video on Twitter showing atrocities against Dalits, including the 2016 Una incident.
 

"Central to the RSS/BJP fascist ideology, is that Dalits and Adivasis must continue to exist at the bottom rung of society. In this disturbing video, the dangers of this mindset and how it's openly propagated by senior RSS/BJP leaders is revealed" Gandhi tweeted with the hashtag #AnswerMaadiModi or Modi must answer in Kannada.
 

The video also claims that "every 12 minutes, Dalits faces atrocity, everyday six Dalit women are raped".
 

"Why are Dalits constantly prosecuted in Modi's new India... His silence reflects the mindset of RSS and BJP... Speak-up Mr Modi," it added.
 

Central to the RSS/ BJP fascist ideology, is that Dalits & Adivasis must continue to exist at the bottom rung of society.

In this disturbing video, the dangers of this mindset and how it’s openly propagated by senior RSS/ BJP leaders is revealed. #AnswerMaadiModi pic.twitter.com/gX2NwL0q27

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 6, 2018

7. PM Modi to address four rallies in Karnataka today: Narendra Modi on Sunday will address four rallies in Karnataka ahead of the upcoming state legislative assembly elections.
 

In the last leg of his campaigning for May 12 polls, the Prime Minister will visit Karnataka's Chitradurga, Raichur, JamaKhandi and Hubli area.
 

Apart from this Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief, Amit Shah will also hold multiple rallies in the poll-bound state.
 

He will hold two public meetings and will take part in a road show in Belagavi.
 

8. BJP's win written in Karnataka's walls: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed confidence of Bharatiya Janata Party's win with a majority in Karnataka while addressing a rally in Mangaluru, adding people of Karnataka would give a fitting reply to the Congress for the tormenting times.
 

"The results of Karnataka Election are clearly written on the walls. The people of Karnataka would help form a BJP government in the state with an absolute majority," he said.
 

Continuing his attack, Prime Minister Modi said that if anyone can defeat Congress, it is Bharatiya Janata Party.
 

"If anyone can defeat Congress, it is Bharatiya Janata Party. JD(S) is standing very far. I request you to bring BJP to power in Karnataka," he added.
 

9. Modi's New definition of EVMs: Intensifying the campaign, PM Modi took a jibe at Congress, saying that the whenever they lose a state election they tend to blame the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).
 

"Whenever they lose, it is the fault of the EVM. But whenever they win, it is only then that the EVMs are not malfunctioning," the prime minister further added.
 

He also gave a new definition for EVMs, "True EVM is this. E- Energy of the people, V-people's electoral value addition, and M stands for people's motivation for progress. This is EVM, I can see this EVM," Modi said at the election rally at Mangaluru.

 

10. Siddaramaiah's take on Modi's jibe: Hitting back at Narendra Modi over his "Punjab, Puducherry, Parivar- Congress" jibe against his party, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday called BJP a "prison, price rise and pakoda" party.
 

"Dear Modiji, Heard you spun a new abbreviation 'PPP' today.
 

Sir, we have always championed the 3 Ps of democracy --- 'Of the People, By the People, For the People'," Siddaramaiah said in a tweet shortly after Modi's attack.
 

"While your party is a 'Prison', 'Price Rise' & 'Pakoda' party. Am I right, Sir? #NijaHeliModi," he said. "Nija heli" in Kannada means tell the truth.
 

Modi on Saturday in a scathing attack on the Congress over corruption asserted it will become "Punjab, Puducherry, Parivar" Congress after its defeat in the Karnataka Assembly polls.

"After May 15 (when poll results will be declared), Indian National Congress will be reduced to 'PPP Congress'-- P for Punjab, P for Puducherry, and P for Parivar (family)," Modi told an election rally in Gadag.

Siddaramaiah asked Modi to talk about "something relevant" to the people of Karnataka and suggested topics such as expensive diesel and petrol besides job creation.

Attacking Yeddyurappa with 'rubbish' language: Taking on Congress leaders for attacking BJP's chief ministerial candidate for Karnataka B S Yeddyurappa, PM Modi said they were talking "rubbish" about him, adding political differences and rivalry may exist, allegations and counter-allegations made, but restraint must be exercised while speaking.

"The kind of language they are using....baseless allegations they are making ignoring his age and commitment to the society.

"All kinds of 'anap shanap' (rubbish) language is being used...I want to tell the people of Shivamogga to ensure that Congress candidates lose their deposit, Yeddyurappa's insult is avenged," he said with the Lingayat strongman seated on the dais.

 

Karnataka goes to polls on May 12 and 2,655 candidates, including 219 women, are in the poll fray for securing 224 seats up. The results will be declared on May 15. Data provided by the Chief Electoral Office in Karnataka has indicated that the BJP will contest all 224 seats, while the Congress will contest 222 seats. The H.D. Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal-Secular will contest on 201 seats.

With Agency inputs