Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE: Congress will easily win Assembly elections, predicts Rajasthan CM

13:11 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Strong Room opened in Yelahanka ahead of EVM collection for Assembly elections

Tushar Girinath, the Bengaluru District Election Officer, inaugurated the Strong Room on Tuesday at Seshadripuram College in Yelahanka, Karnataka, in advance of tomorrow's Assembly elections.

This occurs before the polling parties gather the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs) for the voting on May 10.

The poll organisation is working nonstop to hold free and fair elections in the southern State.

The intense campaign for the 10 May assembly elections came to a conclusion on Monday as well, with senior politicians conducting 19 public events and six roadshows, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spent 12 days camped out in the state.

All three of the state's major political parties—the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS)—have worked extremely hard to win over voters by making promises and levelling personal attacks on one another in a bid to win a majority in the 224-seat Assembly.

12:59 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Ahead of poll day, civic body disallows two Bengaluru restaurants to offer free breakfast to voters

The high-octane Karnataka elections are just hours away, and voters are ready to show up at the polling centres to exercise their franchise on 10 May. To encourage maximum voter turnout, two restaurants in Bengaluru have come up with a tempting offer – free food to those who show up to cast their vote. However, the civic body has poured cold water over the offer and advised the two hotels to refrain from such an activity.

According to a Times of India report, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagra Palike (BBMP) chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath advised all eateries to not come up with such offers, and said “otherwise cases will be booked.”

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12:47 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Scrapping of Muslim quota in Karnataka: SC says no political statement should be made on issue

The Supreme Court stated on Tuesday that "some sanctity needs to be maintained" in response to political remarks made on the sub-judice case involving the removal of the four per cent Muslim quota in Karnataka.

A bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullaj said, ‘When the matter is pending before the court and there is court order on Karnataka Muslim quota, then there should not be any political statements on the issue. It is not appropriate. Some sanctity needs to be maintained’.

12:06 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Cong will romp home in Karnataka: Gehlot

Ashok Gehlot, the chief minister of Rajasthan, predicted on Tuesday that the Congress will easily win the Karnataka assembly elections.

Election day in Karnataka is this Wednesday, and results will be announced on 13 May.

Speaking to reporters in Udaipur, Gehlot said, "It seems that the elections will be won with a huge majority."

He also asserted that in Rajasthan the Congress government will return to power after the polls.

11:35 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

PM's strong pitch for BJP government's return in Karnataka

A day before the Karnataka Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong case for the BJP to take back power. He claimed that the support he has received in the state over the past few days has been unmatched and has strengthened his resolve to make the party the industry leader in all areas.

"Dream of every citizen of Karnataka is my dream. Your resolve is my resolve. When we come together and set our minds to a goal, no force in the world can stop us", he said on Twitter.

"I seek your blessings in the mission of making Karnataka the number one State in the country," said Modi, who addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows in the State ahead of the polls.

11:00 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Stage set for high-stakes Karnataka Assembly elections tomorrow

Karnataka is getting ready to elect its representatives to the 224-member Legislative Assembly on Wednesday after a high-voltage election campaign.

The BJP, Congress, and JD(S), three major political parties in contention, as well as their candidates, have made a strong appeal in an effort to improve their chances at the hustings given the high stakes of this election.

The voting period will run from 7 am until 6 pm.

In 58,545 polling locations around the state, where 2,615 candidates are running for office, a total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to vote.

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.

10:03 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Union Minister chants Jai Shri Ram at Bengaluru temple

Shobha Karandlaje, a union minister and BJP leader, chants "Jai Shri Ram" at the Vir Anjaneya temple in Bengaluru, Karnataka. This is in light of the Congress's electoral platform in Karnataka, which calls for the outlawing of right-wing organisations like the Bajrang Dal.

#WATCH | Union Minister & BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje chants 'Jai Shri Ram' at Vir Anjaneya temple in Bengaluru, Karnataka

This comes in the backdrop of the Congress Karnataka election manifesto mentioning banning rightwing outfits like Bajrang Dal pic.twitter.com/oIRhwOYqSJ— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2023

09:56 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

'Dream of every Kannadiga is my own', says PM Modi

Just a day before the southern state of Karnataka is scheduled to go to polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared an open letter to the voters where he said that he envisioned their dreams as his own.

In a video address posted on Bharatiya Janta Party’s official Twitter handle, the prime minister can be heard saying, “The dream of every Kannadiga is my own dream. Your resolution is my resolution.”

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09:13 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

VHP, Bajrang Dal to organise 'Hanuman Chalisa' chanting across India

On Tuesday, representatives of the VHP and Bajrang Dal will organise "Hanuman Chalisa" rallies throughout India in opposition to the Congress' pledge to outlaw "organisations like Bajrang Dal and PFI" if it wins the Karnataka state election.

09:03 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Voting in Karnataka election, the results day

On 10 May, voting for the Karnataka Assembly election of 2023 will take place. Voting will take place from 7 am until 6 pm. Vote tallying will be held on 13 May.

08:58 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

EC serves notice to BJP over unsubstantiated claims against Congress in advertisement

The Karnataka BJP was requested by the Election Commission on Monday to produce "verifiable and traceable" information regarding their newspaper advertising branding the Congress as "the most corrupt party in the world" by Tuesday evening.

The election panel had already warned the Congress over their "corruption rate card" advertising in response to a protest from the BJP.

After Congress contacted the election panel, the Election Commission (EC) handed a notice to the Karnataka BJP about its advertising.

The commission stated in its notice that criticising the policies and leadership of rival parties is both a right guaranteed and incorporated in the Constitution and a crucial duty of diverse political players under India's democratic system.

08:54 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Goa govt declares paid holiday on Karnataka election day; Opposition and industry bodies fume

In anticipation of the Assembly elections due in adjacent Karnataka, the BJP administration in Goa has proclaimed May 10 a paid vacation that would also apply to private companies and industrial workers.

Opposition parties and business organisations, however, have not been pleased with the Pramod Sawant government's choice.

The Goa State Industries Association stated that legal action against the vacation may be necessary.

But, a senior official from Goa Chief Minister's Office said it is a practice to give a holiday when there are elections in neighbouring states. He claimed a holiday was declared in Karnataka on the day of polling in Goa last year.

The Goa government on Monday issued a notification declaring May 10 as paid holiday owing to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections. The holiday was extended to government servants and also those working in private establishments including industrial workers, it said.

07:59 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

'Dream of every Kannadiga is my own...': PM Modi ahead of polls

The intense campaign for the Karnataka assembly elections on 10 May came to a conclusion, and on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the state's residents hope by declaring he saw their ambitions as his own.

In a video posted on Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) official Twitter handle, PM Modi said, "The dream of every Kannadiga is my own dream. Your resolution is my resolution."

Lauding the 3.5-year term of the double-engine government in Karnataka, PM Modi said, “BJP government’s decisive, focused and futuristic approach is contributing significantly to Karnataka’s economy.”

PM Shri @narendramodi's appeal to the voters of Karnataka. pic.twitter.com/lrXMuL7kHF— BJP (@BJP4India) May 8, 2023