Karnataka Election 2023: 'We banned PFI but Siddarahmaiah released them all', says Amit Shah

17:18 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

BS Yediyurappa is the tallest Lingayat leader, he will hold 110 public rallies: Amit Shah

Union HM Amit Shah says, "We have Govt in 16 states. Let Siddaramaiah say whatever he wants, the people of Karnataka won't believe it. We governed well...We are going to win with a huge majority."

"BS Yediyurappa is the tallest Lingayat leader, he will hold 110 public rallies," he further says.

17:11 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

We banned PFI but Siddarahmaiah released them all: Amit Shah

"...We banned PFI. But Siddaramaiah released them all. BJP Govt put them back in jail. If the 'reverse gear' Govt comes to power, they say, they will revoke the ban on PFI...Don't worry, it won't happen. Under PM Modi, Karnataka's security will remain as it is," says Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Devara Hippargi.

16:38 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

'They tried to give some chocolates just for elections and it has failed': D K Shivakumar 

The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday adjourned to May 9 the hearing of a petition challenging the Karnataka government’s decision to scrap the four per cent reservation provided to Muslims in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category in the state. 

"The BJP govt isn't serious, they know they have completely failed in it. They didn't do it as per law and failed. Just for elections, they tried to give some chocolates and it has failed," said Shivakumar.

15:48 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

People should not vote on 'words' but on 'conscience': Priyanka Gandhi hits at BJP in Karnataka

On Tuesday, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi launched a stinging attack on BJP leaders and pleaded with the state's citizens not to be swayed by their rhetoric but rather to consider the "conscience" of the candidates for office.
The General Secretary of the Congress made the comments while speaking to the crowd at Mysuru.
Priyanka added, "Last time, people elected JDS and Congress, but BJP stole the government with the power of money." She was criticising the state's BJP administration, which is led by CM Bommai.

15:32 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Priyanka hits out at PM for 'dig my grave' comment, says Karnataka polls is not about Modi

There would not be anyone in this nation who doesn't desire the Prime Minister's good health and long life, according to Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who took significant offence to Narendra Modi's remarks that the opposition party wants to "dig his grave."
She referred to such claims as "strange" and questioned whether they were an election issue given that they were being exploited in the campaign. She urged the residents of the state to make sure that this election was not about Modi or any other leader, regardless of their party.
"I have seen that BJP leaders come here and speak strange things. I heard the Prime Minister was saying that opposition leaders want to dig his grave, what kind of talk is this? There won't be anyone in this country who doesn't want our Prime Minister's good health and that he has a long life," Vadra said.

15:30 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Hijab not a major issue in coastal Karnataka poll campaign

The contentious issue of Muslim girls wearing the 'hijab' in educational settings, which made national headlines last year when a government pre-university college in Udupi banned it inside classrooms, does not seem to be a serious campaign issue for the May 10 elections to the Karnataka Assembly.
Following the uproar, the state's BJP administration issued an order banning the hijab last year, stating that "any clothing that would disturb equality, integrity, and public law and order" will not be permitted.

15:10 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacks BJP govt on corruption in poll-bound Karnataka

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, general secretary of the Congress, said on Tuesday that the state of Karnataka had been "looted" of Rs 1.5 lakh crore due to the BJP government's allegedly widespread corruption.
She also expressed optimism that Congress will win the Karnataka Assembly elections on May 10 and lead the state towards progress.
"What is most sad is the 40 per cent government commission that was there in the state looted you. They looted you without any shame," Vadra said while targeting the ruling BJP in the state.

14:56 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

PM Modi to aggressively campaign in Karnataka till 7 May

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold close to 15 public rallies and road shows in Karnataka over the course of six days, giving the party's efforts to maintain power in the state a big boost, sources said on Tuesday. As a result, the campaign for the forthcoming Karnataka Assembly elections is expected to pick up steam. Beginning on 28 April, the prime minister will campaign till 7 May.
Amit Shah, the union home minister, and JP Nadda, the national party president, have been vigorously campaigning around the nation on behalf of the BJP, which has dubbed Karnataka as its "gateway to the South."

14:28 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

CM Bommai campaigns in Shettar's Hubli-Dharwad West Assembly constituency

Prior to the state's 10 May elections, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had a campaign stop on Tuesday in the Hubli-Dharwad West Assembly district. 
Jagdish Shettar is running for the Hubballi-Dharwad-Central seat, which he has won several times. He joined the Congress after quitting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Amit Shah, the union home minister, claimed on Tuesday that Hubbali has always voted for the BJP and predicted that Shettar "will lose the election." 

14:19 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Priyanka Gandhi speaks on reservation

Priyanka Gandhi claimed that although the Bharatiya Janata Party preached about reservations, they fooled the populace while running for office in the election-bound state of Karnataka. 
“In Center, they have their own government then why didn’t they add it to the 9th Schedule? Here, they only do publicity but did nothing at Center,” added Gandhi.

14:04 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Karnataka will be afflicted with riots if Congress comes to power: Amit Shah

According to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, dynasty politics would reach an all-time high in Karnataka if the Congress wins the state's next election, and the region will be "afflicted with riots."
The state's progress, according to the former BJP leader, will be in "reverse gear" if the Congress joins the administration.
At a public forum in this district's Terdal, Shah said that only the BJP can guide the state towards a 'New Karnataka', asking the people of Karnataka for their support for "political stability" before the state goes to the polls on 10 May.
"If the Congress comes to power, dynastic politics will be at an all-time high and Karnataka will be afflicted with riots," added Shah, one of the party's key poll strategists and campaigners.

13:48 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

'Reservation should not be given on basis of religion,' says Amit Shah in Bagalkote 

In response to the Karnataka government's decision to eliminate the 4% OBC reservation for Muslims, Union Home Minister Amit Shah states, "We believe that reservation should not be given on the basis of religion."

13:12 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Election not to choose MLA but future of country, says Amit Shah in Bagalkote

The purpose of this Assembly election is to place PM Modi in charge of the state's destiny rather than merely selecting an MLA. Amit Shah, the union home minister, stated this in Bagalkote, Karnataka: "This election is to make Karnataka a developed state and also bring political stability here," Shah added.

12:59 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Former Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa says, 'Don't want a single Muslim vote'

Speaking on the subject of religious conversion at a Veerashaiva-Lingayat conference in Shivamogga yesterday, BJP leader and former Karnataka Minister KS Eshwarappa declared, "We don't want even a single Muslim vote."

12:38 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Officials seize cash worth ₹83.4 crore, liquor & drugs worth nearly ₹74 crore

Officials in Karnataka seized and recovered cash worth 83.4 crore, nearly 15 lakh litres of spirits worth 57 crore, and 1,176.92 kgs of drugs/narcotics worth 16.5 crore until April 24, according to the Chief Electoral Officer's office.

11:44 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Rajnath Singh to campaign in Karnataka tomorrow

Rajnath Singh, the defence minister, will begin his campaign in Belagavi and Bagalkote in Karnataka tomorrow.

11:36 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Infighting poses hurdle for Congress; sympathy vote for Rahul Gandhi not enough

The largest obstacle facing the party before the forthcoming Assembly elections, which are scheduled on 10 May, is internal strife inside the Congress in Karnataka. The high command of the party has been working hard to divert attention from the dire but subtle situation within Congress. In contrast, the grassroots leaders in a state like Karnataka are what determine the outcome of an election, not the high command’s plan. Former chief minister Siddharamaiah and Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar’s smiling photos look good in the news, but the party will have to deal with reality starting next month. In the meanwhile, there is optimism within the Congress that Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification will help the party get more sympathy votes, although this is unlikely to be the case on the ground.

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11:25 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

SC defers hearing of plea challenging Karnataka govt scrapping 4% OBC reservation to Muslims

SC defers hearing of plea challenging Karnataka government scrapping 4 per cent OBC reservation to Muslims to 9 May. Solicitor General says his earlier assurance that no appointment/ admission will be made as per the government order scrapping the reservation will continue till 9 May.

11:21 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeals to voters: 'Don't Give More than 40 Seats to BJP'

Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress, urged Karnataka voters on Monday to abstain from awarding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) more than 40 seats in the state's impending assembly elections on 10 May.

The former Congress president pleaded with the populace during a public rally in Hangal Town, Haveri District, to provide Congress with at least 150 seats, warning that "the BJP will again try to form a government" in the absence of this.

11:04 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Former CMs Siddaramaiah, HDK stopped central schemes, says BJP President Nadda

On Monday, BJP President JP Nadda charged the former chief minister of Karnataka with putting up barriers to the state's adoption of federal programmes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pioneered. 

The comment was made by the BJP national president on Tuesday during a roadshow in the Chikkaballapur district's Sidlaghatta.

"Governments of former CMs Siddaramaiah and HD Kumaraswamy created bottlenecks in a bid to stop implementation of the schemes of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. Schemes like PM Yashasvi Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi were stopped. Earlier, Siddaramaiah's government also did the same thing," said Nadda. 

10:52 (IST)

Karnataka Assembly Election 2023 LIVE

Reservation based on religion unconstitutional, says Amit Shah in poll-bound Karnataka

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, declared on Monday that religiously-based reservations are illegal and that the BJP will apply the quota system used by the Karnataka administration, which is led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
In addition, nowhere has a non-Lingayat candidate taken the place of a Lingayat, according to the BJP, which distributed tickets for the 10 Karnataka Assembly elections in May on the basis of winnability rather than majority or minority.
Shah predicted that former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who just defected from the BJP and joined the Congress, will lose the election since Hubballi-Dharwad has always supported the BJP.