Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates: Congress hits back at PM Modi's statement

15:07 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

BJP’s approach in Karnataka is to transfer leadership to ‘young team’, says PM Modi

The Bharatiya Janata Party has come up with a different approach for Karnataka Assembly elections 2023. BJP is preparing a “young team” with an aim to give the baton for the development of the state in the hands of youths which it asserts would lead progress journey in the next 25 years.

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14:24 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

Wait and watch how things move, says JD(S) leader Deve Gowda 

"No reaction on anybody’s assessment. It is their assessment. Let them enjoy till the mandate of the people is declared. Just wait and watch how things move in Karnataka," says JD(S) leader and and former PM HD Deve Gowda said.

14:02 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

Congress hits back at PM Modi's statement, claims Karnataka people will guarantee end of 'BJP's 40% commission Sarkara' 

The Congress responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment that the grand old party cannot provide actual guarantees, claiming that the people of Karnataka will ensure the end of the "BJP's 40 per cent Commission Sarkara" on 10 May and that all of the Congress' pledges will be fulfilled.

In an online speech to BJP members in Karnataka prior to the Assembly elections on 10 May, Modi asked what the Congress' promises meant now that the party's own warranty has expired.

Jairam Ramesh, the general secretary in charge of communications for the Congress, criticised the prime minister for the statement, writing on Twitter, "After Amit Shah and Yogi, now it's Modi's turn to make outrageous comments due to despair and desperation."

"On May 10th, people of Karnataka will guarantee the end of the BJP 40% Commission Sarkara. A few days later Congress Guarantees will be implemented like we have in RJ, CH and HP," he said in a tweet and listed the policies implemented in Congress-ruled states that the party had promised ahead of the polls in those states

13:22 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

PM Modi to visit Karnataka on 29 April

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Karnataka on 29 April and will hold a 4.5-km roadshow in Bengaluru.

13:07 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

PM Modi slams 'revdi culture'

Tens of thousands of BJP members received a virtual message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday in which he urged them to intensify booth-level campaigning for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections and made a strong case for abolishing "revdi culture" (the habit of giving out free things).

The Prime Minister highlighted that the nation and the governments cannot be administered in this manner and said that states are becoming deeply indebted as a result of giveaways.

"In our country some political parties have made politics the means of power and corruption, to achieve this, they are using all means like 'saam, dham, dhand, bedh'. These political parties don't think about the future of the country, future generation of Karnataka, its youth, women," Modi said.

According to him, free-rider politics has led to numerous States making significant expenditures for the purpose of party politics, which also reduces the "share" of future generations.

12:40 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

MP CM Shivaraj Chouhan cautions voters not to fall for 'false promises' made by Congress

While Ramesh Jarkiholi, the BJP candidate, was busy campaigning in nearby districts, Shivaraj Chouhan, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, was at the Gokak assembly sector to support him. He advised voters not to fall for the "false promises" made by the Congress. Ramesh's brother Balachandra Jarkiholi, a BJP contender for the Arabhavi assembly seat, participated in the campaigning on Wednesday with prominent local saffron party officials instead of him.

12:04 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

BJP has undervalued my strengths, will realise it on results day, says former CM Jagadish Shettar

The former chief minister of Karnataka, who switched to Congress after the BJP refused to provide him with a ticket for the assembly elections, claims he has never made statements intended to incite hatred or rage in the innocent people and that he now belongs to a group that shares his beliefs.

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12:00 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

Congress means false guarantee, says PM Modi

Congress denotes a false assurance and a dishonest guarantee. Congress is in a position where it is unable to make any promises. And their warranty has also run out, adds PM Modi during his conversation with BJP members in Karnataka.

PM Modi speaking with BJP members in Karnataka also added that since it has been the main source of corruption, Congress has shown no interest in combating it. The entire nation is looking to see how quickly the war on corruption has progressed after the year 2014. The trinity of Jan-Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile has dealt corruption a serious blow.

11:08 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

PM Modi states no one can compete with Karnataka when it comes to philosophy

PM Modi claimed that Karnataka is rich in language, culture, and literature and that no one can rival the state when it comes to philosophy during his virtual chat.

“Philosophy and development of society go together. People of Karnataka for shaping the future of Karnataka. Youngsters here do coding and read Kavitha’s as well,” added Modi.

11:06 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

PM Modi plays health infrastructure boost card

Speaking virtually to BJP members, PM Modi stated that our country's health is a crucial issue.

“First AIIMS started in 1956 but when did the next one start? Congress will not say anything about that. When we came, we increased AIIMS by three times. Tell us if double engine has strength or not?” added PM Modi.

11:05 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

Congress files complaint against Amit Shah, V Somanna

Amit Shah is the subject of a complaint for allegedly making an inflammatory remark at a rally about possible violence in the state if the Congress wins the election.

Additionally, Congress claims that V Somanna intimidated and lured the JDS candidate in the allegedly viral tape. The complaint was filed by Surjewala and KPCC Chief DK Shivakumar at High Grounds Police Station in Bengaluru.

10:34 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

The festival of democracy is going on in Karnataka, says PM Modi

When speaking to the BJP members from Karnataka, PM Modi stated that everyone of them is proud to be from the state of Lord Basaveshwara, who described the democratic formula, a symbol of the state's rich history, as well as a BJP member brimming with patriotism.

10:17 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

PM Modi interacts with state's BJP workers

PM Modi said that he will visit Karnataka in few days to interact with the people of the state. 

He added that the BJP leaders who have campaigned in the state have said that they received a lot of affection from the people there. 

This demonstrates public support for the BJP, said PM Modi. 

09:35 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

"Corruption increased every time Congress came to power": Rajnath Singh

Rajnath Singh, the defence minister, attacked the Congress on Wednesday, claiming that every time the grand old party won power, corruption developed in the state of Karnataka, which is going to the polls.

Singh stated, "Corruption has increased every time Congress has been in power," while speaking to a crowd in Belagavi. The party has been accused of corruption each time its government has been in power at the centre. He stated, Since the last nine years, the BJP has been in power at the Centre. Neither our Prime Minister nor any minister has a single allegation of corruption against them.”

At a public event earlier in the day in Dharwad, Singh declared that regardless of how well-known they may be, the BJP administration will look into all corrupt leaders.

09:22 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

Yediyurappa slams Siddaramaiah over promise to hike reservation limit

Former chief minister BS Yediyurappa responded angrily to Congress leader Siddaramaiah's assertion that his party would raise the reservation limit in Karnataka from 50 per cent to 75 per cent if elected in the upcoming Assembly elections. 

He said the "poll promise" would never be kept because the main opposition party in the state was doomed to defeat.

09:21 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election LIVE Updates

Yediyurappa hits out at BJP turncoats Shettar, Savadi

Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday came down hard on BJP turncoats Jagdish Shettar and Laxman Savadi, who recently switched over to the Congress, saying that they will pay for betraying the ruling party in the uncoming Assembly polls. 

Shettar, a former chief minister, and Savadi, who formerly served as the depty CM, belong to the Lingayat community which is believed to hold sway over electoral outcomes in the state.

Hitting out at both the BJP deserters, Yediyurappa said, "I call on the people not to cast a single vote for Laxman Savadi and Jagdish Shettar, as they betrayed the BJP despite being entrusted with key portfolios in the government."