Karnataka Elections LIVE: Scam-tainted Reddy Brothers Have Taken Over BJP, Says Congress

MOILY ON CONGRESS MANIFESTO | Senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily says that the party would soon release its manifesto for Karnataka. The manifesto committee has already prepared a draft manifesto and is awaiting the approval from Rahul Gandhi to release it. He revealed that apart from Bengaluru, it focuses on transformative changes for development, social justice and agriculture. 
On tickets given to Janardhan Reddy's aides, Moily said that it reflects the fact that the BJP has become desperate. “They are not finding good and genuine candidates that is why they have ransacked and put any candidate. Whether they are tainted or not, whether they are criminals or not doesn’t matter.” 
“They have released four lists which shows the instability in the minds of BJP leadership, whereas the Congress released 218 seats in one go that shows our stability.”

"BJP has been taken over by the Reddy Brothers. Several MLA tickets have been given to their family members. Even today, yet another of their relative has been given a ticket in Bengaluru.

BJP seems to have not learnt their lesson from their 2008-13 disastrous tenure": @moilyv pic.twitter.com/SxrNs13Ck0

— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) April 23, 2018

BJP has released its third list of 59 candidates on Friday for the Karnataka assembly elections.

REDDY BROTHERS | BJP on Friday fielded Karunakar Reddy, one of the Reddy brothers - tainted mining barons - from Harapanahalli as it released its third list of 59 candidates on Friday for the Karnataka assembly elections. The party had in its second list released earlier fielded another of three Reddy brothers, Somashekhara Reddy, from Ballari. Reddy brothers have been accused in the past of illegal mining.

Senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily says on Twitter: “Congress has released the list of candidates already while BJP & JD(S) are struggling to find candidates. Only Congress has a pan-Karnataka presence & JD(S) is the B-Team of BJP.”

Senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily tweets: "BJP has been taken over by the Reddy Brothers. Several MLA tickets have been given to their family members. Even today, yet another of their relative has been given a ticket in Bengaluru. BJP seems to have not learnt their lesson from their 2008-13 disastrous tenure."

The much-talked about assembly constituencies — Badami and Varuna — are missing from the BJP's fourth list. BJP is yet to make up its mind on the remaining four constituencies and tomorrow is the last date to file nominations. The ticket for Varuna, where BS Yeddyurappa's son B.Y. Vijayendra was expected to contest, has also not announced yet. Earlier in the day, Yeddyurappa said his son won't contest the upcoming election which led to the ruckus at party's Mysore office. The party is yet to announce its candidate in Badami. 

BJP releases the fourth list for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018 but it is still incomplete. The party is still deciding on four constituencies. Jaggesh will contest from Yeshwantpur, while the comedian wanted a seat in Tumakuru district. Meanwhile, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje, who was seen actively campaigning for the party in Yeshwantpur, won't be contesting elections this time.

Addressing a convention in Mysore, BJP state president and CM hopeful BS Yeddyurappa has said that his son Vijayendra will not be contesting against CM Siddaramaiah's son Yathindra from Varuna constituency. The announcement was met with an uproar from party workers, who created a ruckus and even threw chairs.

Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary who is in-charge of Karnataka said there is nothing wrong in Janardhana Reddy campaigning for BJP. Though his name is not in BJP's campaigners' list, he can still campaign.

Mandya MLA and popular Sandalwood actor Ambareesh have expressed that he does not wish to contest in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018. He asked Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dr. G Parameshwara to offer the ticket to his associate,  Amaravathi  Chandrashekar. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party criticised Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah for contesting from Badami.  The BJP took to Twitter and said "Siddaramaiah has accepted defeat even before the war has begun. By contesting from Badami he has proved two things: 1. He has no confidence in winning from his own hometown. 2. By choosing a Kuruba dominant constituency, he showed he is no more than a 'one caste' leader."

CM @siddaramaiah has accepted defeat even before the war has begun. By contesting from Badami he has proved two things:
1. He has no confidence in winning from his own hometown.
2. By choosing a Kuruba dominant constituency, he showed he is no more than a 'one caste' leader.

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 23, 2018

Its interesting how self proclaimed AHINDA leader @siddaramaiah did not consider minority dominated seats like Mangaluru, Gulbarga North or OBC dominant seats like Afzalpur or Gurmitkal, for 2nd candidature.

By Badami you have proved your appeal is at most limited to one caste.

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 23, 2018

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah took to Twitter to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I am looking forward to a thundering speech on corruption by PM @narendramodi on 1st May!," the tweet reads.

I am looking forward to a thundering speech on corruption by PM @narendramodi on 1st May! pic.twitter.com/c4ReMFBMn3

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) April 23, 2018

Congress MLA NA Haris is re-nominated from Shanthinagara Assembly seat in Bengaluru, weeks after putting his ticket on hold over the assault allegations against his son Mohammad Nalapad. 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. However, after scouting for a suitable candidate who could replace Haris, the ruling Congress seems to have fallen back on the two-time MLA to win the seat again. Haris’ son Mohammad Nalapad has been expelled from the Youth Congress two months ago after the assault which hit national headlines. The Karnataka High Court dismissed his bail application and the state government filed a caveat in the Supreme Court opposing his bail.  Haris is a two-time MLA from Shanthinagara, a Muslim, Christian and Dalit-dominated Assembly seat in Bengaluru. 

Congress releases final list of 11 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Elections 2018. There are four changes in the list released today. No ticket for HS Chandramouli, the lawyer for absconding businessman Mehul Choksi. Chandramouli was chosen as the candidate from Madikeri. Now, KP Chandrakala will contest from Madikeri. 

Reacting to BJP's Sadananda Gowda's demand that the Election Commission should reject Siddaramaiah's nomination for "providing wrong information", Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said "Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji also contested election from two seats. He (Siddaramaiah) is contesting election from the two constituencies (Chamundeshwari and Badami) under directions by Party's High Command."

Udupi-Chikmagalur BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje likely to get an assembly ticket from Yashwanthpur in Bengaluru. She won from there in 2008 by a slender margin of 1000 votes.

Sitting BJP MLA Revu Naik Belamagi joins Janata Dal-Secular. Earlier in the day, he has threatened to quit the party after being denied a ticket. Belamagi is a five-time MLA from Gulbarga district and a Scheduled Caste (SC) leader. He further alleged that "BJP is giving importance to criminals over honest people."

Denied ticket from Sagar Assembly Constituency, former BJP MLA Belur Gopalakrishna joins Congress today. Gopalkrishna said he will support his relative Kagodu Thimmappa this time. Meanwhile, Bijapur district's President Vittal Katakadonda also joined the Congress party today after BJP denied him a ticket from Nagathana SC seat.

The Congress, meanwhile, ended the suspense over the Badami seat, the second seat that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would be contesting from. He had earlier this week file his nomination from Chamundeshwari seat and would file papers from Badami on April 24. 

Sitting BJP MLA Revu Naik Belamagi, meanwhile, has threatened to quit the party after being denied a ticket. Belamagi is a five-time MLA from Gulbarga district and a Scheduled Caste (SC) leader.  He further alleges that "BJP is giving importance to criminals over honest people."

Former BJP minister V Somanna's son Arun Somanna has reportedly refused to contest from Arasikere in Hassan district. The state unit of BJP picked Arun Somanna, son of former minister V Somanna, for Arasikere Assembly constituency, but the leaders are in a quandary as the candidate has opted out on grounds that he prefers to contest from an urban seat. Mr Arun Somanna, a resident of Bengaluru was picked by BJP leaders for Arasikere since he has the support of a significant number of Lingayat voters, despite opposition from the local unit with office bearers suggesting a local candidate.

The Congress and the BJP are making last-minute changes to their candidates’ list for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. Since Minister for Planning and Statistics, Science and Technology MR Seetharam has decided against contesting from the Malleswaram constituency in Bengaluru, the party is now fielding Kengal Sreepada Renu, grandson of the late CM Kengal Hanumanthiah from there. 

Siddaramaiah asks Muralidhara Rao to tweet in Kannada or English, as he doesn't understand Hindi

on the day veteran leader and former finance minister in the NDA government Yashwant Sinha decided to snap ties with BJP, its ripple could be felt in Karnataka as well. Taking note of the development, CM Siddaramaiah wished him health and fulfilment. The CM also used the opportunity to take a jibe at the BJP leadership in the state. He tweeted,"It seems in BJP all honest senior leaders above 75 are being forced to take sanyas; except those who have the qualification of being former #JailBirds."

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Two weeks after BJP chief Amit Shah said that they had nothing to do with the controversial Reddy brothers, Janardhana Reddy is seen sharing stage with Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Yeddyurappa. All four members of the Reddy clan have now got BJP tickets. Janardhana is now openly campaigning for the BJP. 

Home Minister Ramlinga Reddy's daughter Soumya Reddy files her nomination from Jayanagar constituency in Bengaluru.