Karnataka Election LIVE: Why Has BJP Not Banned Beef Exports Yet, Asks Siddaramaiah in Mysore

The state Congress had earlier decided against giving him the ticket after his son generated negative publicity with the alleged assault on a youth at a high-end pub in Bengaluru two months ago.

The long wait seems to be over for Congress MLA NA Haris as the party has decided to re-nominate him from Shanthinagara Assembly seat in Bengaluru, weeks after putting his ticket on hold over the assault allegations against his son Mohammad Nalapad. Chief minister Siddaramaiah also said today, "NA Haris will most probably get the ticket to contest. He's not the accused in the case." A senior Congress leader had said a day earlier that all surveys conducted by them predict Haris' win. "He is still popular in the constituency," he had said.

"They talk about us being 10% commission government but don't have an iota of evidence to prove it. I am of the firm belief that my assessment and our survey reports, I also have an intelligence report, all of them say that the Congress will get a clear majority. I am not asking anyone to believe me, I am only talking about our surveys. This isn't about what BSY or HD Kumaraswamy say. In 2006, the JDS was in power and despite their best efforts, I won. This time too, they will fail miserably. There is perfect understanding amongst all our leaders. We are united," said CM Siddaramaiah in Mysore.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, while addressing a rally in Mysore, said, "For five years we gave a stable government. They, on the other hand, had three CMs. We don't have resort politics, while G Janardhana Reddy has only done resort politics when Yeddyurappa was CM. We have given a stable, clean and scandal-less government. BSY is corrupt, he was jailed. BJP is trying their best to come to power but the people are smart."

On the issue of saffron party's pledge to ban beef in the country, the chief minister said, "Why couldn't they (BJP) ban beef exports? Why couldn't they ban beef in North eastern states? People are taking note of all this. They can understand all this. Congress will win this election. It will be a stepping stone for national politics. In 2019, Congress and like-minded parties will win at the center also."

On H S Chandramouli's candidature from Madikeri, Siddaramaiah said, "He is a practicing advocate. Just because he represented Mehul Choksi or whoever, does it become illegal? Back then, Nirav Modi hadn't snatched money and run away. This was during Modi's time."

When chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is on a tour to Mysore, was asked whether he would contest from Badami or not, the CM said, "I will decide tomorrow morning after discussing with Rahul Gandhi. Badami and Bijapur people had asked me to contest from Badami. So, I told them will convey their demands to high command. Whatever high command decides, I will do that."

As the day of polling is drawing closer, the hopping and jumping among parties continues. Today, Former MP and BJP leader K Virupakshappa resigned from party, saying that the BJP betrayed him. On the other hand, former Congress MLA N Y Gopalakrishna and a close associate of Kharge, Cheluvadi Narayanaswamy, are likely to join BJP after both were denied tickets by the Grand Old Party.

An FIR has been filed against BJP MLA Sanjay Patil under section125 of Representation of People Act and IPC section 153A and  295A for inciting hate speech in Belagavi. A day earlier, Patil had said that he can proudly proclaim that India is a country of Hindus, a country where Lord Ram was born and Ram Mandir should he built in Ayodhaya. He said that he is ready to do anything to fulfill this purpose. "Let Belagavi's Congress leader Lakshmi Hebbalkar say that they will build Ram Mandir, you all can vote for her. But she won't say that. They build masjid and Babri Masjid, but we build Ram Mandir. This election is not about roads and drinking water, but about Hindus and Muslims. Who wants to build Babri Masjid and celebrate Tipu Jayanthu? It's the Congress party."

CM Siddaramaiah, former CM H D Kumaraswamy and dozens of top leaders to file nominations today as the day is considered to be auspicious. The suspense over chief minister’s candidature from Badami — in addition to Chamundeshwari — may end with Siddaramaiah's filing the nomination papers.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Eshwarappa filed his papers from Shivamogga in the presence of former chief minister Jagadish Shettar. A Kuruba leader, Eshwarappa, who has served as BJP state president in the past, had last year led a battle against Yeddyuappa's "unilateral" style of functioning by leading 'Rayanna Brigade', an "apolitical forum" of Dalits and backward classes. The BJP central leadership had stepped in and brought about a rapprochement between the two squabbling leaders.

BS Yeddyurappa, projected as the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, filed the papers from his traditional Shikaripura constituency in Shimoga district in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh and Union ministers Ananth Kumar and Ramesh Jigajinagi. Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said a total of 155 nominations were filed in two days since the process began on April 17. Wednesday was a public holiday on account of 'Basava Jayanti’.

Several top leaders in the state, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy will file their nomination paper today, considered to be an auspicious day. With voting to be held on May 12, a Saturday, and counting on May 15, a Tuesday and Amavasya, politicians in the state are leaving no stone unturned to woo the stars and planets. Yesterday. JD(S) chief Deve Gowda had taken a chopper ride to a 1,300-year-old mutt to get the party’s election papers “blessed”.

On interlinking of rivers, the BJP president says projects have been initiated in UP, Maharashtra and Gujarat. “South Indian matters are before the courts now. Once elections are over, we will look into south Indian projects too.” When someone from the audience stands up and begins "today all ATMs say no cash no cash no cash..," Amit Shah quickly interjects and says, "parso thak sabko cash milega (Everybody will get cash by day after tomorrow)... don't worry."

With Chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa in tow, Shaa says that he is not there to talk only about the status of the country but to ask for votes. “Forget JDS, they can't form a government. If there's a government that you can choose as an alternative to Congress, it's BJP,” he says. Shah says that Rahul Gandhi talks about what Modi has done in four years, but right now he and Siddaramaiah must answer what Congress has done for Karnataka in the last 5 years. “You were sleeping. On the stage, in the assembly, in the vehicles, at home... and money has gone away in corruption. The development of the entire state is stuck in Bangalore traffic,” he adds.

Amit Shah also boasted about the cross-border surgical strikes conducted by the Indian Army in 2016, saying that after Israel and America, if there is anyone who has the courage to protect their pride and status, it is us. “After the surgical strikes we have proved it,” he says. This comes just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India waited to inform Pakistan about the operation before disclosing it to the media and the people. “I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them. We were calling them since 11 am but they were scared to come on phone, at 12 we spoke to them and then told the Indian media,” Modi had said.

Amit Shah: In 2014, voters took a historic decision. Crores of people in this country did not have bank accounts. Narendra Modi ensured they have bank accounts. People sitting here may not understand its value but those who did not have bank accounts, for them it is important. There were 10 crores family in this country who did not have toilets. No govt cared how these people lived. Narendra Modi provided toilets to these people in the last four years. Chidambaram mocked saying is making pakodas a job? Then even begging is? Let me tell you, it is. He is earning for his family. The respect that Modi is getting abroad is not for Modi, not for BJP. It is for the people of this country.

BJP president Amit Shah held an interactive meet with professionals and entrepreneurs in Bengaluru in which he touted the development works done by PM Modi-led BJP government at the Centre and attacked Siddaramaiah for “stalling the state’s growth and engaging in corruption”.

POLLING TIME EXTENDED | Taking note of the summer heat, the Election Commission has extended the polling time for the May elections elections till 6pm in the evening. Earlier, people could poll their votes between 7am and 5pm in the evening. The commission also cited the introduction of VVPAT machines in the elections as a reason behind this extension.

BJP MLA Sanjay Patil says, "This election not about development but Hindus vs Muslims"

#BREAKING - Election not about development, but Hindus vs Muslims: BJP MLA's hate rant. #BattleForKarnataka pic.twitter.com/CoTcRDL0JQ

— News18 (@CNNnews18) April 19, 2018

Congress spokesperson Madhu Goud Yaskhi condemned Sanjay Patil’s blatantly communal statement and said that this just shows the desperation of BJP because they are losing the upcoming Assembly elections. Yakshi said, “Making such an unconstitutional statement is a violation of law and we will take it up with the Election Commission. This won't work in Karnataka. The people won't allow destabilizing forces like this.” Meanwhile, Patil's party, BJP, too, has not taken kindly to his comments and said that it is inappropriate.

KARNATAKA BJP MLA'S COMMUNAL PITCH |  Karnataka BJP MLA Sanjay Patil raked up the Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid issue at a campaign on Wednesday. He said, “I will touch my heart and tell you that this is India, the country of Hindus, the country where Ram was born… Ram Mandir should be built in Ayodhya and I am ready to do anything for that cause.”

“Let Congress’ Lakshmi Hebbalkar tell you that they will build the Ram Mandir, you all can vote for her but they only build masjids, they will build Babri Masjid. We build Ram Mandir. Once upon a time former PM Manmohan Singh gave an affidavit in the Supreme Court.

“This election is not about roads or drinking water, this election is about Hindu and Muslims. Those who want to build the Babri Masjid and celebrate Tipu Jayanti are the Congress party. If you want Shivaji Maharaj, or someone who does pooja at a Lakshmi temple, then vote for BJP."

In a 'do-or-die' battle for Karnataka, JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda seems to have invested more in gods than in his party candidates.

For former prime minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, the way to temporal power is through spiritual. The devout Hindu Gowda believes more in stars and planets than in mortal efforts to achieve political power. Gowda claims divine intervention has always helped him attain power. In a ‘do-or-die’ battle for Karnataka, he seems to have invested more in gods than in his party candidates. Gowda and his elder son and MLA HD Revanna, who is also a devout Hindu, are making the rounds of powerful temples with the nomination forms, seeking the blessings of the Almighty. 

Karnataka health minister Ramesh Kumar filed his nomination for Srinivasapura in Kolar district. Meanwhile, water resources minister MB Patil asked CM Siddaramaiah to contest from Badami, saying that the Mumbai-Karnataka Congress leaders want him.

In the video, Bhavani is heard saying, "Please remember this, he is just a candidate and his father, son are already throwing their weight around. Imagine if he wins and later becomes a minister. He will just impose himself on thousands of people." To this, the community chiefs nod and say that they have indeed seen the mentioned leader's kin behave "arrogantly on TV". To this, Bhavani further goes on to say, "These are the same people who used to comes to visit you, right? It is my responsibility to save the entire taluk. Tell everyone what I said, use my name."

A video shows Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Deve Gowda's daughter-in-law Bhavani Revanna telling community leaders in the Mysore's KR Nagar constituency to make sure that the party's candidate loses from there. Bhavani, the wife of HD Revanna, was an aspirant from the seat and is seen talking to Vokkaliga community leaders of Saligrama. The JD(S) had announced SR Mahesh as the official party candidate from KR Nagar. News18 could not independently verify the veracity of the video.

BS Yeddyurappa, ahead of filing his nomination, has declared that he is confident of winning the election by a margin of more than 30-40k votes. Meanwhile, local Kannada channels are claiming that the BJP's third list would be announced today.

Dreams of several MLAs, who were eyeing their seats for the second time, came crashing down after Congress announced its candidates last week. This led to disgruntled leaders hopping to other major parties.

BJP's Karnataka CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa is on a show of strength rally ahead of his nomination filing from Shikaripura. The leader is expected to file his nomination around 12:30 pm: