Page 3 - Karnataka Election

K'taka Polls: Cong has no right to criticise govt on inflation, says FM

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman, who cast her vote for Karnataka Assembly polls on Wednesday, expressed confidence about BJP coming back to power in the state with full majority and criticised the Congress over inflation during UPA rule. On the issue of rising inflation, the Union minister said she and the BJP government stand with the people and want the prices to come down. Contending that the BJP government is making efforts to control price rise, she hit out at the Congress saying that it doesn't have any right to criticise the Centre on the issue as inflation was constantly high during its tenure. "You are watching for yourself the situation here, senior citizens, youth, women have come with families and are peacefully standing in queues to cast their votes, and looking at the way in which they interacted with me it is clear to me that BJP will come back victorious with full majority," Sitharaman told reporters here after voting. To a question on the foremost issues on

High-voltage campaigning for Karnataka elections to end today at 5 pm

The election campaign in Karnataka will come to an end at 5 pm on Monday, 48 hours before the voting day of May 10

PM met 3,000 people during 7 days of campaign blitzkrieg in Karnataka

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaign blitzkrieg dominated the electioneering in Karnataka, a lesser-known aspect of his outreach has been his meetings with nearly 3,000 people -- old and new party workers and prominent citizens -- during his seven days of public meetings and roadshows in the state. Sources said he met around 430 people on the last day of his campaign on Sunday while, a day earlier, he interacted with nearly 450 people. The prime minister has made it a point to meet people personally before and after rallies and flight trips, they added, noting that he had spoken with more than 300 people on May 5. Overall, Modi addressed 18 rallies in the southern state and spoke to party members through a virtual interaction on April 27. He also led six roadshows -- three in Bengaluru and one each in Mysuru, Kalaburagi and Tumakuru. Sources said the selection of people who met him during the campaign was done meticulously to ensure a good mix of party workers, professional

Rahul takes bus ride in Bengaluru, interacts with students, working women

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday interacted with college students and working women here ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka. The former party chief stopped for a cup of coffee at a 'Cafe Coffee Day' outlet on Cunningham Road. At a close-by Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus stop, he spoke to a bunch of college students and working women. He then hopped on to a BMTC bus and interacted with women passengers to understand their vision for Karnataka, party leaders said. "They candidly discussed topics including the rising price of essentials, 'Gruhalakshmi' scheme (Rs 2,000 per month for woman head of household) and the Congress' 'guarantee' of free travel for women in BMTC and KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) buses," they said. The women told him about issues of transportation, and also price rise affecting their budgets. Gandhi then got down from the bus at Lingarajapuram where he again spoke to women at the bus stop. Ga

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

Come May 13, will BJP script history in 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections?

The BJP, which is vying for overall political dominance, has set a target of winning at least 150 seats in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections

Karnataka polls: PM Modi holds massive roadshow in Bengaluru amid fanfare

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, a day before the final day of campaigning for May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka, held a massive road show in the city, waving at a large number of enthusiastic crowd lined up on both sides of the route, despite overcast sky. The 8-km roadshow from Kempegowda statue at New Thippasandra Road to Trinity circle was covered in about one-and-half hours. The roadshow that began with Modi paying floral tributes to the statue of Kempegowda (founder of Bengaluru) passed through parts of east and central Bengaluru, touching about half-a-dozen Assembly segments, they said. The PM was accompanied in the specially-designed vehicle by Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, and Bengaluru Central MP, P C Mohan. Standing on a specially designed vehicle, Modi greeted by waving at the crowd gathered on the sides of the roads and on nearby buildings, many of whom were seen chanting 'Modi, Modi', 'Bharat Mata ki

PM Modi begins 8 km roadshow in Bengaluru ahead of May 10 K'taka polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his eight km roadshow in Bengaluru on Sunday morning, campaigning for the BJP, ahead of May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka. The roadshow from Kempegowda statue at New Thippasandra Road to Trinity circle is expected to be covered in about one-and-half hours, according to party sources. The roadshow that began with Modi paying floral tributes to the statue of Kempegowda (founder of Bengaluru) will be passing through parts of central Bengaluru, touching five Assembly segments, they said. The Prime Minister was accompanied in the specially-designed vehicle by Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, and Bengaluru Central MP, P C Mohan. Massive arrangements have been made along the stretch, like erecting barricades, to ensure that the roadshow goes on smoothly, as tens of thousands of people are expected to gather along the roadside, official sources said. The entire distance is covered with saffron hue

Fulfil duty towards Manipur instead of campaigning in K'taka: Cong to PM

The Congress on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil his duty towards violence-hit Manipur instead of being busy in election campaign in Karnataka and sought Home Minister Amit Shah's sacking for his "complete failure" in maintaining peace in the northeastern state. The Congress also demanded President's rule in Manipur, which has been hit by violence between tribals and the majority Meitei community. "Modi ji, you are an elected prime minister of the country and the people of Karnataka are also watching what is happening in Manipur and want that you should save Manipur from burning and restore peace in the state first. "Seeking votes in Karnataka is against your 'kartavya' (duty) and we want to remind you that your duty is to save Manipur instead," Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said. She charged that the home minister has totally failed, and referred to an earlier clash between police forces of Assam and Mizoram and the border rift between Maharashtra and .

BJP tweaks PM Modi's 2-day roadshow in Bengaluru due to NEET: K'taka polls

Keeping NEET examinations in mind, the Karnataka BJP made changes in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day roadshow in Bengaluru, ahead of the Assembly polls in the state, by scheduling an extensive event on May 6 and a shorter one on May 7, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje said on Friday. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is scheduled on May 7 (Sunday). "PM Narendra Modi's road show will be on May 6 and 7, preparations are on for it. We had shared information in that regard to the public through the press. However, you (media) people informed us about the NEET exams on May 7 at 2 pm, and the 26 km roadshow will cause inconvenience for (students writing) exams," Karandlaje said. Speaking to reporters here, she said, this was brought it to the notice of the Prime Minister, and Modi who pays special attention to children with initiatives such as 'Pariksha pe Charcha', asked us to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to even a single student going to th

As Karnataka assembly election nears, NRC returns to BJP syllabus

In the first session of Parliament after the 2019 elections, Parliament made instant triple talaq illegal and invalidated Article 370 on August 5, 2019

Ajit Pawar skips NCP meet, does not figure in party's star campaigners list

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar on Friday skipped a convention of his party's Mumbai unit, raising eyebrows in political circles as speculation about his next political move refuses to die down. His name was also missing from the party's list of star campaigners for the Karnataka Assembly elections. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Pawar said he was unable to attend the convention as it clashed with some other programs he had to attend, and nothing more should be read into it. The daylong meeting in Mumbai was addressed by party chief Sharad Pawar and senior leaders like Praful Patel, Jitendra Awhad, Supriya Sule, Chhagan Bhujbal and state NCP president Jayant Patil. Talking about Ajit Pawar's absence from the meeting, NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto said the event was planned a month ago. Ajit Pawar had accepted invitations to several programmes in Pune. He expressed his inability to attend. All leaders have their schedules to follow. Just because they are .

BRS to support JD(S) in Karnataka polls, choses not to field any candidate

The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Telangana is extending support to the JD(S) in Karnataka Assembly elections and it chose not to field any candidate in the May 10 polls as its friendly party is in the fray. The BRS, previously TRS, renamed itself in December last year to make a foray into national politics and it had toyed with the idea of contesting Karnataka elections. However, it chose not to field candidates in the Assembly polls as JD(S) is its friend and also because it lacked adequate time to plan for fielding nominees in the elections, BRS sources said on Friday. The party was not in favour of contesting the elections without adequate preparation and planning, the sources said, pointing out the efforts being made by BRS to gain a foothold in neighbouring Maharashtra. BRS supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has so far addressed two rallies in Nanded region in Maharashtra and is slated to address a public meeting at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad)

Siddaramaiah is scared, says K'taka CM Bommai on tacit understanding charge

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that Congress leader Siddaramaiah was scared while contesting from his constituency

Karnataka polls: Congress releases 6th and final list of candidates

The Congress in the early hours of Thursday released its sixth and final list of five candidates for the impending Karnataka assembly elections. In the final list, Mohammed Shalem was fielded from Raichur, BV Rajeev Gowda from Sidlaghatta, S Anand Kumar from C V Raman Nagar (SC), HP Sridhar Gowda from Arkalgud, and Inayath Ali from Mangalore City North. The party had on Wednesday replaced Mohammed Yousuf Savanur as its candidate from the Shiggaon constituency in Karnataka, currently under Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai, and fielded Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan instead from there. Bommai had defeated Congress candidates Sayed Azeempeer Khadri Shiggaon in the 2018 elections. The party released its fifth list on Wednesday of three new candidates, fielding B C Muddugangadhar from the Mulbagal (SC) seat, D K Mohan from K R Pura, and A C Srinivasa from the Pulakeshinagar -- SC seat. With the sixth list, the Congress has announced 223 candidates, marking one seat in the 224-member assembly fo

Congress woos women voters with cash transfers in poll-bound Karnataka

The Congress is sharply focusing on women voters promising cash transfers and separate manifesto months ahead of Assembly elections in Karnataka as it aims to wrest power from the BJP. Seeking to raise the pitch, women aspirants have also been pushing for allotment of at least 15 per cent of the tickets. The Congress has announced that Rs 2,000 would be credited to the account of woman head of households every month if it's voted to power. Days earlier, it promised 200 units of free power a month to all homes in the State, where Assembly elections are due by May. A separate manifesto for women is also in the works. The Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra recently announced 'Na Nayaki' ('I am the woman leader') project here under which the 'Gruha Lakshmi' scheme offering Rs 2,000 was promised. According to her, a separate manifesto for women, as was done in Uttar Pradesh, will be brought out in Karnataka. Conceding that the Congress experiment of women-centr

LIVE updates: BJP-backed candidates leading in Karnataka panchayat polls

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Karnataka by-elections: Ageless victory for the B S Yeddiyurappa family

By-elections were held for two Assembly constituencies - Rajarajeshwari Nagar (RR Nagar) in Bengaluru; and Sira in Tumkur district. BJP won both the seats

Voting begins for four legislative council seats in Karnataka

Polling for four legislative council seats got underway in Karnataka on Wednesday amid the Covid-19 pandemic situation

Karnataka bypolls: Voting underway, results may decide BJP govt's fate

Karnataka bypolls: While JD(S) has fielded candidates in 12 seats, BJP and Congress are contesting all the 15 seats