Page 5 - Karnataka Polls

Goa announces paid holiday on Karnataka polls day, Opposition fumes

The BJP government in Goa has declared May 10 as paid holiday, which will also cover private establishments and industrial workers, in view of voting for Assembly polls scheduled in neighbouring Karnataka on that day. However, this decision of the Pramod Sawant government has not gone down well with Opposition parties and industry bodies. Goa State Industries Association said they may have to take legal recourse against the holiday. The government on Monday issued a notification declaring May 10 as paid holiday owing to elections for Legislative Assembly in Karnataka. The holiday was extended to government servants and also those working in private establishments including industrial workers, it said. Goa State Industries Association president Damodar Kochkar questioned the rationale behind the state government's "absurd" decision. Industries in Goa feel this is absolutely absurd and stupid decision...taking industries to ransom for electoral gains, Kochkar alleged and said they ar

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Karnataka polls: BJP wants derecognition of Cong over 'sovereignty' remark

EC seeks response from Sonia over social media post

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

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: 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

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.

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

K'taka polls: ECI issues advisory to parties to get clearance for print ads

ECI on Sunday also held all major local newspapers in the state responsible for all matters including advertisements published in their newspapers

PM Modi should specify which engine got how much from commission: Rahul

Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on corruption in Karnataka, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday sought to know how much each engine of the "double-engine government" got from the "40 per cent commission" in the state. He also accused the Prime Minister of disqualifying him as MP for raising the Adani issue in Parliament. "For the last three years, there is a BJP government in Karnataka and the Prime Minister is aware of corruption here. You only call it a 'double engine government'. This time, the double engine is stolen," Gandhi said at a public meeting in Anekal near here in poll-bound Karnataka. "Modiji, please tell the people of Karnataka, which engine got how much out of 40 per cent commission," he asked the Prime Minister. Dwelling further, he said the contractors' association in Karnataka wrote to the Prime Minister that 40 per cent commission was charged from them but Modi did not reply. Stating that there were scams upon scams, he said large-scale ..

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I-T raids unearth Rs 15.3 cr cash, 10.14 kg gold in poll-bound Karnataka

The Income Tax department has seized cash of Rs 15.3 crore and 10.14 kg gold worth Rs 7.08 crore during raids at various places in Karnataka, which goes to polls on May 10, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer said on Saturday. According to a statement issued by the CEO's office, Rs 4.77 crore was seized from Shivajinagar, Rs 3.44 crore from Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Rs 3.35 crore from Malleshwaram, Rs 2.3 crore from Pulakeshinagar, Rs 63 lakh from Shanti Nagar, and Rs 55 lakh from Gandhi Nagar. The I-T officials seized 6.59 kg of gold worth Rs five crore from Hebbal, Shanti Nagar and Gandhi Nagar constituencies. Further, 3.55 kg gold worth Rs 2.08 crore and Rs 30 lakh cash were seized from Raichur. Cumulatively, the seizures totalled Rs 365 crore ever since the model code of conduct came into force on March 29, which comprised of Rs 138.55 crore cash, Rs 82.65 crore worth liquor, Rs 23 crore worth drugs and narcotics, 177.95 kg gold worth Rs 92.62 crore and 667 kg silver worth Rs

Priyanka pulls out all stops as she storms with corruption pitch in K'taka

Alleging that the people's money has reached the residences of ministers and leaders, the Congress said that the BJP has betrayed the trust and faith of the people

Shettar committed political blunder by joining Cong: K'taka Speaker Kageri

Former BJP leader Jagadish Shettar has committed a "political blunder" by joining its rival Congress and should have rather fought as an independent candidate since that gave him a better chance of winning in the May 10 Assembly polls, senior ruling party leader and Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hedge Kageri has said. In an interview to PTI, Kageri said, there could have been some impact had Shettar not joined the Congress. "By joining the Congress, it became negative," the senior BJP leader said. Shettar, also a former chief minister, defected to the Congress over denial of a ticket to contest from Hubli-Dharwad Central assembly segment, from where he has been winning since 1994. Kageri said Shettar is one of his closest friends. When he had come to submit the resignation letter, he tried to convince Shettar for two hours, but in vain. "I was really upset that day," he added. "He has committed a mistake by joining Congress. He should have either kept quiet or fought as

Cong meet Lingayat Mutt heads, tough situation for BJP in North K'taka

The Congress leaders have convinced the Lingayat Mutt that the BJP was trying to systematically annihilate the Lingayat leadership in BJP with the forced exit of Yediyurappa from CM post

Cong calls Modi 'master of distortion' as he embarks on roadshow in K'taka

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a roadshow in Bengaluru on Saturday, the Congress called him a "master of distortion" and alleged that he will only inflame prejudice and bigotry in his rally. Congress general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said the PM's roadshow will block the entire city and create chaos and uncertainty for students writing exams. It shows how desperate the PM is, he said. "The Master Of Distortion and Incitement ('Abuse' No. 92??) is arriving in Bengaluru today. "We already know what he'll say to inflame prejudice and bigotry," he said on Twitter. Ramesh said that the prime minister will stay absolutely silent on the real issues of Karnataka, which according to the Congress leader were "40 per cent commission sarkar, intolerable price rise, rising unemployment, and a forever under-construction and dug-up Bengaluru." "This time the despair is so high that his #40km40percent roadshow over 2 days is locking up an entire city, creating chaos &

OPS becomes an election issue in K'taka after Cong promises to deliver it

Shivakumar stated that his party is sympathetic towards those who want to join the OPS

Karnataka polls: PM Modi's road-show begins in Bengaluru amid fanfare

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his 26 km roadshow in the city on Saturday morning, campaigning for the BJP, ahead of May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka. The roadshow from Someshwar Bhavan RBI Ground in Bengaluru South to Malleshwaram's Sankey Tank is expected to be covered in about three-and-half hours, according to party sources. Modi's roadshow today will be passing through parts of south and central Bengaluru, touching about a dozen Assembly segments, they said. The PM was accompanied by Bengaluru South MP, Tejasvi Surya 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 decked up with saffron hues as BJP flags were seen on either side of the road, and thousands of party workers and supporters too wearing saffron shawls and caps. Cultural teams