Page 314 - Congress

K'taka polls: Pawar questions Chavan's stature in Cong after he targets NCP

Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday questioned the "stature" of Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan in his own party after the latter targeted the NCP for fielding its candidates in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls. Chavan had earlier also expressed disagreement with Pawar's claim that the Congress leadership was stubborn during the talks for the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi in 2019. Pawar was in Satara where some reporters asked him about Chavan's reported comments that Nationalist Congress Party was the 'B' team of BJP in Karnataka, after the NCP fielded its candidates for the Assembly polls to be held there on Wednesday. In reply, Pawar said, "He should check what stature he has in his own party...whether it is A, B, C or D. Any colleague from his party would tell you in private." On the rationale behind fielding candidates in the Karnataka polls, he said the NCP wanted to make an entry into that state with the aim of expanding the party base. "We

From venomous snake to 'Nalayak Beta'; public discourse during K'taka polls

Barbs like 'venomous snake', 'Vishakanya' and 'Nalayak' -- struck discordant notes as a plummeting level of campaign discourse marked electioneering in Karnataka that votes on Wednesday. Instances of leaders using intemperate and abusive language without exercising caution and restraint vitiated the campaign and election atmosphere, political observers note. The high decibel campaign for polls to the 224-member Assembly ended on Monday in the state, which is witnessing a triangular contest between the ruling BJP, the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. On campaign trail, AICC President M Mallikarjun Kharge made the "venomous snake" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a public meeting at Ron in Gadag district on April 27, Kharge said: "Don't make a mistake. Modi is like a venomous snake..." Kharge, who hails from Karnataka, came under sharp attack by the BJP, and Modi too raised this issue during his election ...

Stage set for high-stakes 224-member Karnataka Assembly elections tomorrow

After a high voltage campaign, it is now time for the mega battle of ballots in Karnataka, with the state all set to elect its representatives to the 224-member Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. With the stakes being high in this election, the major political parties in contention - the BJP, Congress and JD(S) - and their candidates have made a strong pitch seeking to boost their prospects at the hustings. The voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm. A total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to cast their votes in 58,545 polling stations across the state, where 2,615 candidates are in the fray. Among the electors, 2,67,28,053 are male, 2,64,00,074 female and 4,927 "others", while among the candidates 2,430 are male, 184 female and one from third gender. As many as 11,71,558 are young voters, while 5,71,281 are persons with disabilities (PWDs) and 12,15,920 are aged above 80. While the ruling BJP, riding on the Modi juggernaut, wants to break the 38-year jinx and retain its

K'taka polls: Cong adopts new strategy as BJP bets on 'political mistakes'

Even PM Modi, while campaigning in Karnataka, alleged that the Congress was bent on carving Karnataka out of India

Bihar Cong files FIR against Karnataka BJP leader for 'threat' to Kharge

"The BJP leadership can't digest how Kharge, the son of Dalit labourer, became the national President of Congress"

Sonia's 'K'taka's sovereignty' reveals conspiracy to divide India: Anurag

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday alleged that Congress parliamentary party chief Sonia Gandhi's reference to "Karnataka's sovereignty" has revealed the party's "deep conspiracy to disintegrate India". Thakur's strong reaction came after the official Twitter handle of the Congress posted,"CPP Chairperson Smt Sonia Gandhi ji sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty or integrity." "By referring to 'Karnataka's sovereignty', Sonia Gandhi Ji, you have revealed the Congress' deep conspiracy to disintegrate India," Thakur said on Twitter. He said people have not forgotten how the Congress government, going against public sentiment, mischievously introduced a separate flag for Karnataka to mock the BJP's allegiance to the 'One Nation, One Flag'. Ahead of the 2018 assembly polls, the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had approved a new design for a state flag for ..

Promises and sops: Political parties woo economically sound Karnataka

State does well in many economic parameters, but freebies promised by parties may spoil its finances

BJP moves EC, seeks derecogonition of Cong over K'taka sovereignty remark

The BJP on Monday moved the Election Commission seeking action against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and derecognition of her party for her use of the term "sovereignty" for Karnataka during the state poll campaign. A BJP delegation headed by Union minister Bhupender Yadav submitted a memorandum to the poll watchdog over the issue. "Karnataka is a very important member state in the Union of India and any call to protect the sovereignty of a member state of the Union of India amounts to a call for secession and is fraught with perilous and pernicious consequences," the party said. Speaking to reporters, party leader Tarun Chugh cited the Representation of the People Act and said the Congress party should be derecognised. The BJP also submitted a copy of the Congress tweet quoting Gandhi on the issue. The opposition party had tweeted, "CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: 'The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka

Karnataka elections: A look at Congress' history here and its importance

The state is likely to witness a three-cornered fight among Congress, BJP and JD (S) but it carries special importance for the grand old party

Karnataka elections: What's at stake for the key political players?

CM Basavaraj Bommai is battling for legacy, while Congress leader Siddaramaiah is chasing a record second term as CM, and Kumaraswamy is hoping for a hung verdict

EC notice on 'rate card' ads: Cong seeks time to submit detailed response

The Congress has accused the Election Commission of "bias" over its notice on the party's "corruption rate card" advertisements targeting the BJP government in Karnataka and said its leaders are held to a standard that seems reserved only for the Opposition. Despite the Congress bringing to the EC's notice on numerous occasions the "brazen and repeated" violations of electoral guidelines by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders, the commission has not issued one notice or condemnation, the Congress said on Sunday. In the Congress' "preliminary response", party leader and lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi also said the 24-hour window provided by the EC for responding to the notice was insufficient with the Karnataka assembly poll campaign drawing to a close. The EC had on Saturday issued a notice to the Karnataka Congress over its "corruption rate card" advertisements published in newspapers in the run-up to the May 10 state polls and sought "empirical evidence" to prove its

MP polls: Congress announces Rs 1,500 monthly aid for women, LPG at Rs 500

With eyes on MP polls slated this year, Cong's Kamal Nath announced to provide a monthly aid of Rs 1,500 for women and LPG cylinders at a subsidised price to each household

Karnataka elections 2023: Decoding the state's political landscape

Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: Which are the important regions, and what are the party promises? Read more to find out

Karnataka Assembly polls 2023: All you need to know about May 10 elections

A party needs to win at least 113 seats to form a government in Karnataka. Of the total 224 seats, 36 seats are reserved for scheduled castes and 15 for scheduled tribes

K'taka polls: Congress used Muslims only as vote bank, alleges Kumaraswamy

The Congress had only used the Muslim community as a vote-bank, while doing nothing concrete for their welfare, Janata Dal (S) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has said. Addressing a campaign meeting for his party's Mangaluru North candidate Mohiuddin Bava at Krishnapura near here Sunday evening, he also charged that the Congress was welcoming hardcore Hindu leaders into the party and accusing JD(S) of having an understanding with the BJP. Kumaraswamy said the two national parties are taking undue advantage of the youth for their political advantage. The BJP government has announced a Billawa development corporation on the eve of elections with an eye on the community's votes, he said. He expressed the hope that people will repose faith in the JD(S). Party working president B M Farooq, B A Mohiuddin Bava, party leaders Akshit Suvarna and M B Sadashiva were among those present.

Gehlot's statement a conspiracy: Raje counters Rajasthan CM's claim

Vasundhara Raje countered Ashok Gehlot's claims, saying Rajasthan CM is lying out of fear of losing the 2023 Assembly elections and his false allegations show he is rattled by the rebellion

Karnataka polls: Who will take Rahul Gandhi's guarantee, asks Assam CM

Addressing a public meeting in Udupi, Assam CM said, Congress is saying that they will give guarantees to the people of Karnataka. First, they should tell, who are they to give a guarantee to anyone

Congress dividing people while BJP seeking votes for development: Pramod

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party securing a complete majority in the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka

Congress slams Manipur CM over violence, says he cannot absolve himself

The Congress on Sunday hit out at Chief Minister N Biren Singh over the situation in Manipur, saying he cannot absolve himself and "his patrons in New Delhi and Nagpur" of the responsibility for the horrific violence and killings in the state. The Congress' attack came a day after Singh, who heads a BJP-led government in Manipur, chaired an all-party meeting over the prevailing situation in the violence-hit state. In a tweet, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "The CM of Manipur finally condescended to meet with all political parties and some civil society groups. But he cannot absolve himself and his patrons in New Delhi and Nagpur of the responsibility for the horrific violence and killings in the state." The Congress has been warning of the consequences of what the RSS/BJP has been doing in the northeast, he said. "But now is the time for a collective resolve to bring Manipur to peace and harmony," Ramesh added. Violent clashes broke out between tribals and people .

Even six-year-old knows about BJP's corruption in Karnataka: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, hit out against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and said that even a six-year-old child knows about the corruption that happened under the party's tenure in Karnataka