Karnataka Elections 2023 UPDATES | BJP will come back to power in state with thumping majority: PM Modi

Addressing a rally in Koppal, BJP national president launched a scathing attack on Congress and said that "voting for the grand old party would mean like voting for PFI’s return." "Rahul Gandhi is on Bail, Sonia Gandhi is on Bail & D. K. Shivakumar is on bail. Half on bail, half in jail & they talk about corruption. You (congress) withdrew cases against PFI, you demand a ban on Bajrang Dal, you involve in corruption, and you put a break in development work. That's why remember this If you vote for Congress, then you are voting for PFI’s return," he added. 

As part of his election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Tumakuru district. 

As part of the ongoing poll campaign in the state, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma held a roadshow in Arsikere today. 

The political scenario in Karnataka's Belagavi district, which has the second-highest number of Assembly seats in the state after Bengaluru Urban, is being dominated by the Jarkiholi brothers and the Katti family. While Ramesh and Balachandra Jarkiholi are with the BJP, their brother Satish is one of the main strategists for the Congress in the constituency. All three were ministers in both the Congress and the BJP governments. Ramesh and Balachandra Jarkiholi are contesting from the Gokak and Arabhavi Assembly constituencies, respectively, while Satish is contesting from Yemkanmaradi seat. Former Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Laxman Sivadi quit the BJP after he was denied a ticket and this is being attributed to the power of Ramesh Jarkiholi.

Amit Shah cancels his election campaign today

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has cancelled all his programmes for the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka in the wake of clashes reported in parts of Manipur, sources said. According to the sources, Shah who is closely monitoring the situation in Manipur, is expected to continue to hold meetings with authorities in the state, about the prevailing scene and measures being taken to restore normalcy.

On being asked about his opinion of banning Bajrang Dal, former Karnataka CM and Congress leader Jagadish Shettar says, "Many points are there in the election manifesto, why should we restrict to this issue. Banning any organization is the power of the central government, not the state government. Veerappa Moily clarified that there is no question of banning Bajrang Dal." 

Karnataka CM Bommai junks pre-poll surveys of a Congress edge in May 10 polls, says BJP will secure comfortable majority.

Congress leader Jagadish Shettar's exit will not affect Lingayat support to BJP: CM Basavaraj Bommai

Congress has taken the election discourse to a very low level, says Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai. 

With the promise of a possible ban on Bajrang Dal in its election manifesto being made a big election issue by BJP, the Congress has done an internal survey which says only a small section of people in Karnataka feel it is an election issue, party sources said. They said according to the survey, only seven per cent of voters in Karnataka are even aware of what the issue is and "of this less than 10 per cent thought it was an election issue". Congress sources did not give details of sample size, areas where it was done or the age group in which the survey was done.The survey claimed that most of these voters "were anyway already BJP voters" and "anti-BJP voter consolidation for the Congress on this issue is much higher".

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal members recited 'Hanuman Chalisa' in Bengaluru, amid row over Congress' promise to ban Bajrang Dal in its manifesto for Karnataka elections.In its Karnataka election manifesto, released last week, the Congress said it will take "decisive action" as per law, including banning organisations like Bajrang Dal. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje along with party leaders and workers recited 'Hanuman Chalisa' in Malleshwaram."We made a request to all Hindus today. We will read Hanuman Chalisa in every household..," said Shobha Karandlaje.Hitting out at the grand old party, she said that during its rule in Karnataka did not build any temple and called it a political drama.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar have hailed a 103-year-old voter in Karnataka's Belagavi district for exercising his franchise using the home voting facility. Mahadeva Mahalinga Mali recently cast his vote from home at Chikkodi in Belagavi for the Karnataka assembly elections. "Shri Mahadev Mahaling Mali has inspired several people by his commitment towards strengthening democracy. It is also in line with the culture of Karnataka, which celebrates democratic values," Modi said on Twitter. Officials said Chief Election Commissioner Kumar has spoken to the centenarian over the phone to thank him for exercising his franchise using the home voting facility. Voting for the assembly polls in Karnataka will be held on May 10. Home voting takes place before the actual election date in full secrecy in presence of poll officials and representatives of political parties. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Election Commission has allowed home voting facility to voters who are 80 years and above, and those suffering from the infection or are under quarantine. CEC Kumar telephoned the centenarian voter on Tuesday to thank him for voting in the state polls. According to the officials, Kumar told Mahadeva that elderly voters like him are an inspiration for young and urban voters to participate in the festival of democracy. Mahadeva, they said, thanked the CEC for the facility of voting from home. He also recalled that in the previous elections, he had gone to the polling station in a wheelchair to cast his vote.

Unaccounted cash to the tune of over Rs 4.5 crore was seized from a villa in Bangarpet Taluk in poll-bound Karnataka, police said. Acting on a tip-off, the police raided a car belonging to a realtor, in which cash was found in gunny bags. Upon searching the village, more cash was recovered. The money was meant to be distributed among voters for the May 10 assembly elections. Ever since the model code of conduct came into force in the state on March 29, seizure worth Rs 331 crore has been made, which includes Rs 117 crore cash, Rs 85.53 crore worth gold and Rs 78.71 crore worth liquor.

Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge on Thursday made an emotional appeal to the people of Karnataka saying that he belonged to the state and he should be supported like Prime Minister Narendra Modi is supported in Gujarat. Addressing a huge public rally in Raichur, he said: "I went to Gujarat. There PM Modi used to claim that he is 'bhoomi putra' (son of the soil) of Gujarat during election campaigns. Today I am saying I am the son of the soil here. This is my birth place. I am telling PM Modi that this is my district. I have been elected from here for 50 years." "Today I am in the position of Congress President. Sonia Gandhi and other top leaders have chosen me for the post. This post of AICC President is not available to all. (Mahatma) Gandhi, (Pandit Jawaharlal) Nehru, (Sardar Vallabhbhai) Patel and Maulana Azad were in this position.

The row over Congress' poll promise to ban Bajrang Dal continued in Karnataka on Thursday with the grand old party and the ruling BJP remaining in confrontational mode. Former Chief Minister and BJP Central Parliamentary Committee member B.S. Yediyurappa said that it is "impossible to ban Bajrang Dal". Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar claimed that the Bajrang Dal was created in the name of god and its activists are now indulging in "moral policing". "Once the Congress comes to power, we will take up the development of the birthplace of lord Hanuman. Anjanadri Development Board will be established for the purpose. We have only said that legal action will be initiated if anyone makes organisations in the name of the god and tries to create unrest and disturb peace," the Congress leader said. Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Shivakumar maintained that he is also a devotee of lord Hanuman. Commenting on whether the party had suffered a setback because of Bajrang Dal ban row, he said: "There is difference between god Hanuman and Bajrang Dal. Bajrang Dal is an organisation... If someone is named after lord Hanuman, he will not become a god."