Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE: PM Modi met nearly 3,000 people during 7 days of campaign blitzkrieg in Karnataka

16:38 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

BJP's Nadda says Congress always 'stood with tukde tukde gang'

On Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s “Karnataka sovereignty” remark, BJP chief JP Nadda told ANI, “…this is a result of Congress party’s mental bankruptcy. To say anything for the sake of votes is condemnable…They have always stood with ‘Tukde Tukde’ gang. Those who stand with such people will use such words.”

16:12 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Group within Congress conspiring to defeat Siddaramaiah, so he will lose poll from Varuna, says BJP state chief Kateel

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah would lose the Varuna constituency, according to party state president and Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, who expressed confidence that the BJP would win a clear majority in the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections. This is because a faction within the Congress is plotting against its senior leader, he claimed.

"A group within the Congress is conspiring to defeat Siddaramaiah from the Varuna assembly constituency," he alleged at a press conference here.

A similar organisation, according to Kateel, allegedly operated against Congressman Mallikarjun Kharge in Kalaburagi during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

He predicted that the BJP will win the elections with a clear majority and that after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the party's predicted vote total would rise.

15:51 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

EC to pilot facial recognition at polling booths for ease of voting

The Election Commission of India has worked out a way to ensure a smooth polling process for voters in Karnataka. In Bengaluru, polling booths will be equipped with facial recognition technology after concerns were raised by activists about privacy.

The first-of-its-kind system will be piloted in one polling station — Room no. 2, Government Ramnarayan Chellaram College on Palace Road, near the office of the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer on 10 May.

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15:43 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

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

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi's electioneering blitzkrieg dominated the state of Karnataka, a lesser-known aspect of his outreach was his meetings with nearly 3,000 people during his seven days of public meetings and roadshows in the state, including prominent citizens and old and new party members.

According to sources, he met around 430 people on the final day of his campaign on Sunday, compared to approximately 450 the day before. They continued, saying that the prime minister had spoken with more than 300 individuals on 5 May. He has made it a point to personally greet people before and after rallies and flights, they said.

On 27 April, Modi engaged in virtual contact with party members in addition to speaking at 18 rallies in the southern state. Additionally, he oversaw six roadshows: three in Bengaluru, one in Mysuru, one in Kalaburagi, and one in Tumakuru

15:12 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Kharge makes emotional appeal on home turf, says he is Karnataka's 'Bhoomi Putra' 

On the final day of campaigning, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge made an impassioned plea to voters on his home turf. He urged them to take pride in the fact that he was elected AICC president in his capacity as a "bhoomi putra" of Karnataka and he desired a victory for the Congress in that name.

He stated he would continue to fight for the poor and strive to preserve their interests until the day he died, adding that he was 81 years old and that someone may kill him.

Congress had recently alleged that an assassination plot had been hatched to "wipe out" Kharge, his wife and his entire family by a BJP candidate. It had shared an alleged audio recording of the BJP candidate from Chittapur constituency in Kalaburagi district, Manikanta Rathod, in which he is heard purportedly saying in Kannada that he would wipe out "Kharge, his wife and children".

14:21 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

BJP moves EC against Sonia Gandhi's 'sovereignty' remark, demands strict action

The BJP on Monday filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Sonia Gandhi’s comment that “Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, sovereignty or integrity.” The party has requested the polling body to issue an FIR against Gandhi.

The Congress, referring to Gandhi’s speech at a campaign rally at Hubballi on Saturday, said in a tweet that the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson “sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas,’ and also posted pictures of her speaking at the public meeting.

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13:33 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

BJP files complaint with EC against Sonia Gandhi over 'sovereignty' row

The BJP complained to the Election Commission on Monday about Sonia Gandhi, the former head of the Congress, for saying that the party would not tolerate anyone endangering Karnataka's "reputation, sovereignty, or integrity" and asked the commission to direct the filing of an FIR against her.

The Congress tweeted that the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson "sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas" in reference to Gandhi's address at a campaign rally in Hubballi on Saturday. The party also shared images of Gandhi speaking at the public event.

The Congress tweet read: "The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty or integrity."

Sonia Gandhi has breached the Model Code of Conduct, according to Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who submitted the complaint, who called this comment "shocking and unacceptable" and asked the EC to take strict action against her for making "such a statement."

Karandlaje, the convener of the BJP Election Management Committee, asked the EC to demand the filing of a police report against her and the imposition of severe penalties.

13:29 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

After Bajrang Dal ban issue, Congress attracts criticism for Sonia Gandhi's 'sovereignty' comment

The ruling BJP did not take kindly to Congress leader Sonia Gandhi's decision to refer to Karnataka as having "sovereignty," and has once again found new fodder to criticise the grand old party and its campaign in advance of the May 10 assembly elections. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, other BJP leaders, and internet users all harshly criticised the former party president after she said that the Congress would not tolerate anyone endangering "Karnataka's reputation, sovereignty, or integrity" in her speech at her first rally in the state on Saturday.

“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’." tweeted the Congress from its official handle.

A day after Sonia’s comments went viral, Prime Minister Modi tore into them and accused the Congress of openly advocating the separation of Karnataka from India. Referring to the comments, the prime minister said the “disease of the ‘tukde-tukde gang’ (anti-national elements) has reached the top level of the Congress".

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." pic.twitter.com/W6HjKYWjLa— Congress (@INCIndia) May 6, 2023

12:56 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Priyanka Gandhi holds roadshow in Bengaluru on last day of campaigning

On the final day of campaigning for the 10 May Karnataka Assembly elections, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hosted a roadshow in Bengaluru's Vijayanagar on Monday. 

A massive crowd gathered on the streets to attend the ceremony, and Congress workers and supporters from all across the state took part in a grand roadshow. 

12:03 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Congress used Muslims only as vote bank, alleges Kumaraswamy

According to Janata Dal (S) leader and former chief minister of Karnataka HD Kumaraswamy, the Congress had just utilised the Muslim minority as a vote-bank and had not taken any significant action to further their welfare.

Speaking at a rally in support of his party's Mangaluru North candidate Mohiuddin Bava on Sunday evening in Krishnapura, close by, he also accused that the Congress was luring hardline Hindu leaders into the party and claimed that JD(S) had an agreement with the BJP.

The two national parties, according to Kumaraswamy, are abusing the youth for their own political gain. On the eve of elections, the BJP administration launched a Billawa development company with an eye towards the community's votes, he added.

11:35 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Kapil Sibal slams PM Modi's 'Shahi Parivar' remark on Congress

Former Congressman Kapil Sibal responded on Monday to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that the Gandhi family supported the "secession" of Karnataka from India by saying that the same "shahi parivar" had sacrificed blood for the nation. 

"PM said: Congress Shahi Parivar wants Karnataka to "secede" from India. But Modiji: The nation saw them "bleed" for India -Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi. Is the NCERT going to efface those facts from textbooks?" Sibal who is also a Rajya Sabha MP tweeted on Monday.

PM said :
Congress Shahi Parivar wants Karnataka to “secede” from India

But Modiji :
The nation saw them "bleed" for India

Indira Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi

Is the NCERT going to efface those facts from textbooks ?— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) May 8, 2023

11:16 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Rahul Gandhi meets gig workers in Bengaluru, reiterates Congress' poll promise of Rs 3,000 crore corpus fund for them

Keeping in view the hardship of delivery persons, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday reiterated his party’s promise to set up a Gig Workers’ Welfare Board in Karnataka with a corpus fund of Rs 3,000 crore and minimum hourly wages for them.

Gandhi spoke about the promise once again during an interaction with gig workers and delivery persons of various companies here in poll-bound Karnataka.

Over a cup of coffee and masala dosa, Gandhi discussed with them to get an understanding of the lives of delivery workers, lack of stable employment and rising prices of basic commodities, Congress said in a party release.

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11:03 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

SDPI activist held for assaulting Congress worker

During a fight between party members here on Sunday night, a Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activist was detained by police for beating a Congress employee.

According to police sources, the conflict between the employees of the two parties started when a Congress campaign truck interfered with an SDPI vehicle rally at Natekal inside the boundaries of Konaje police station.

As the bike and rickshaw rally organised by SDPI workers caused traffic obstruction on the road, the driver of the Congress campaign vehicle honked horn and played a campaign song. The enraged SDPI workers then assaulted the driver of the vehicle. Naufal, who was injured in the scuffle, was hospitalised. Police later arrested an SDPI worker who was part of the group that assaulted Naufal.

10:39 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

BJP won't give reservations to Muslims in Karnataka: Amit Shah

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would not permit Muslim reservations in the state, according to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who attacked the Congress for engaging in "appeasement politics" ahead of the Karnataka assembly polls on Sunday.

Addressing a public meeting in Hunagunda, Shah said, "BJP has strengthened the security of the nation by banning the Popular Front of India (PFI), but the Congress party is against it... BJP will neither allow Muslim reservations nor will allow Lingayat reservations to be reduced in the state."

10:25 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

ECI issues advisory to political parties to get clearance for print ads

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has instructed all political parties and candidates to obtain “clearance” from the media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC) before publishing any advertisements in the print media on the day of voting and a day prior in response to complaints regarding “unverified” claims in political advertisements.

In a letter to the political parties dated 7 May, the poll body said, “No political party or candidate or any other organisation or person shall publish any advertisement in the print media on poll day and one day prior to poll day unless the contents of political advertisement are got pre-certified by them from the MCMC committee at the State/District level, as the case may be.”

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10:20 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Surprised over PM Modi giving ‘religious’ slogans during Karnataka poll campaigning: Pawar

Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has expressed astonishment that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has used 'religious' slogans while running for office in Karnataka, which has elections on May 10.

Pawar told a local television outlet that bringing up a religion or religious problem during an election generates a different sort of atmosphere and is not a positive thing.

The NCP leader asserted that the Congress will take power in Karnataka while speaking to media in Pandharpur Temple Town earlier on Sunday.

“We take oath for democratic values and secularism at the time of contesting an election,” Pawar told TV9 Marathi.

09:49 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

No uncertified advertisements during silence period: EC to parties ahead of Karnataka polling

In a warning issued on Sunday ahead of the May 10 elections in Karnataka, the Election Commission stated that neither a party nor a candidate may run any print advertisements on election day or the day before without receiving permission from the media certification and monitoring committee.

On Monday at 5 o'clock, the campaign for the Karnataka assembly elections is scheduled to finish.

As electioneering reached a frantic level in the southern state, the poll authorities also stressed "clean and serious" campaigning in its advice to political parties. It said that offensive and deceptive commercials taint the entire electoral process.

Regarding concerns about media commercials, the Commission stated that national parties and prominent campaigners had an obligation to abide by the anticipated standards of political speech.

The Election Commission (EC) made it plain to editors in a separate letter that they are accountable for all content, including ads, published in their publications according to Press Council of India standards for journalistic behaviour.