Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra holds roadshow in Chitradurga

16:50 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Time of struggle for our family now, says nostalgic Priyanka Gandhi in Karnataka's Chikkamagaluru

Trying to strike an emotional chord with people of Chikkamagaluru district by recalling the association with people of the region, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said it was now a time of struggle for the family, similar to what her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was going through when she came before them nearly 45 years ago.

Pointing to her brother and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being disqualified from Parliament in what she described a "false case similar to what had happened to Indira Gandhi", she expressed confidence about emerging victorious with the blessings of god and the people as they were fighting for truth.

-PTI

16:19 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Shettar rejected second-line leadership: BJP candidate Mahesh Tenginkai

"BJP didn't deny ticket to just Shettar. Leaders including Eshwarappa, Raghupati Bhat, Ramdas were denied tickets too because we want to develop second-line leadership...he (Shettar) rejected us," says Mahesh Tenginkai, BJP candidate

15:34 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Congress used 'religion' to come to power, says Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Karnataka

Rajnath Singh, the defence minister, attacked the Congress on Wednesday, saying that it had used'mazhab,' or religion in Urdu, to gain power.
In addition, Singh criticised the party for enacting 4 per cent religiously-based reservation in Karnataka during its previous tenure, claiming it was done just to satisfy Muslims.
"If there is any political party in the history of India which took the support of 'dharma', or rather, 'mazhab' to come to power, then it is Congress," Singh said, addressing a public meeting at Kagwad in Belagavi district.

15:11 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Congress leader Priyanka appeals to the people to stand by her

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has appealed to the people to support her. Gandhi claimed that the people of Karnataka have previously supported Indira Gandhi and requested that they do so again in this election. “We will be grateful to you,” said Priyanka Gandhi.

15:03 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Priyanka Gandhi promises financial assistance to youth and women

According to Priyanka Gandhi, the Congress will pay graduates Rs 3000 per month and diploma holders will get Rs 1500 under the "Yuva Nidhi Yojana." The party will give women in the state Rs 2000 each month under the Griha Laxmi Yojana.

14:47 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Shettar says Yediyurappa's 'wish for me (to lose) will convert into success for me'

Jagadish Shettar said: "I take criticism from BS Yediyurappa as his blessing in this election...His wish for me (to lose) will convert into success for me." 
Shettar's comments came after Yediyurappa claimed that Shettar will lose from his Hubbali seat.

14:23 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Yogi Adityanath slams Cong over 'anti-constitutional' religion-based reservation in Karnataka

Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday attacked the Congress over religion-based quota, claiming that it was against the Constitution, at his maiden political rally in Karnataka, which is close to going to the polls.
Additionally, he asserted that Uttar Pradesh has not had any riots in the previous six years as a result of the effective "double engine government."
Adityanath stated during an electoral rally in the Vokkaliga heartland, the bastion of JD(S) led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, that "Congress appeases the Popular Front of India (PFI) and gives religion-based reservation, which is against the Indian Constitution."

13:57 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Siddaramaiah meets CM Bommai at Belagavi airport

The two chiefs exchanged handshakes. They were even spotted conversing briefly at the airport, with Siddaramaiah even patting Bommai's back.

13:47 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

The state of Karnataka was developed under BJP rule, says Yogi Adityanath

There as no leadership in Karnataka before BJP came to power in 2014, says UP CM Yogi Adityanath
Congress talks about development, but the 5-year plans they used to unveil only became a reality once the plan's duration was up. According to the Uttar Pradesh chief minister during a campaign rally, when PM Modi maintains a scheme's basis, he also inaugurates it.

13:18 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Yediyurappa guarantees that Jagadish Shetter will not win from Hubballi,   

According to BJP leader BS Yediyurappa, he "will give it in writing with blood that Jagadish Shetter will not win from" Hubballi on Wednesday. Jagadish Shettar, who is now a leader in the Congress, is running for the Karnataka's Hubli-Dharwad Central Assembly seat.

13:01 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan takes a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi was mocked by MP CM and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan as he was campaigning for BJP in Belagavi, Karnataka. He said: “He (Rahul Gandhi) is 50 years old but his mental age is 5…when the court sentenced him, he blaming PM Modi for it. He doesn’t know what to speak…is he capable of giving promises?”

12:26 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Kannada actor Kiccha Sudeep campaigns for BJP in Chitradurga 

In Chitradurga, Kannada actor Kiccha Sudeep participated in a campaign for S Thippeswamy, a Bharat Janata Party candidate for the Molakalmuru Assembly constituency.

12:05 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

After complaint against Annamalai, BJP claims Congress has gone into panic mode

The Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai was the target of a complaint made to the State Chief Electoral Officer by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. A BJP spokesperson claimed that the Grand Old Party appeared to have "gone in panic mode" after this.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has filed a complaint with the State Chief Electoral Officer, requesting that Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai be subjected to suitable punishment for "exerting influence" over state election officials.

11:50 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Jairam Ramesh slams Amit Shah's remarks on Karnataka polls

Asserting that riots will break out in Karnataka if the grand old party wins the poll, Home Minister Amit Shah was accused by the Congress on Wednesday of making a "brazenly intimidatory statement" and of "issuing threats" during the election campaign.

The growth of the state, according to Shah, will be in "reverse gear" if the Congress establishes the government, he said in a speech to the public on Tuesday in the Belagavi district of Karnataka.

"If the Congress comes to power, dynastic politics will be at an all-time high and Karnataka will be afflicted with riots," the home minister had said.

Hitting back at Shah, Congress general secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh said, "This is a brazenly intimidatory statement. The Union Home Minister having allegiance to an organisation banned by India's very first Home Minister is now issuing threats during an election campaign when staring at certain defeat."

11:22 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Congress files complaint against Tamil Nadu BJP chief

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has filed a complaint with the State Chief Electoral Officer, requesting that Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai be subjected to suitable punishment for "exerting influence" over state election officials.

10:53 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

Yogi Adityanath to address four rallies in Karnataka today

Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, will visit the Gowda stronghold of Mandya and address a public gathering there as well as in Vijayapura.
For the 2019 Karnataka elections, this is the UP CM's first visit. The BJP believes that Yogi might assist the party in stealing a substantial portion of Vokkaliga votes away from the JDS and Congress.

10:34 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

BJP and Karnataka CM Bommai committed sin by staying own reservation, says Congress MP

Congress MP Randeep Surjewala said that the BJP administration has broken the law by delaying its own reservation decree until 27 March 2023.

10:10 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

'I have no power to decide...': Eshwarappa denies pitching for CT Ravi as Karnataka CM

Former state minister and prominent party figure KS Eshwarappa on Tuesday denied making any remarks to the effect that he was endorsing BJP national general secretary CT Ravi as the "next" chief minister of Karnataka amid allegations to that effect. 
The senior BJP official said CT Ravi is a "good leader" but that choosing the CM face is outside of his purview. He had already expressed his desire to leave electoral politics.
He continued by saying that he lacks the power to select the party's chief ministerial nominee.
However, he asserted that CT Ravi, a well-known leader from the Vokkaliga group, with all the necessary skills to succeed him as the state's next chief minister.

09:53 (IST)

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE Updates

There is strong wave of BJP in Karnataka, says CM Bommai ahead of Assembly polls

Basavaraja Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, claimed on Tuesday that there is a significant BJP wave in the state ahead of the assembly elections. 
After today's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he spoke with the media.
Ahead of the state elections on May 10th, Bommai conducted a campaign stop on Tuesday in the Hubli-Dharwad West Assembly seat. Jagadish Shettar is running from the Hubballi-Dharwad Central constituency, which he has won several times. He joined the Congress after quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Amit Shah, the minister of state for the interior, claimed on Tuesday that Shettar, a traitor, "will lose the election" and that Hubbali has consistently supported the BJP.