Karnataka election: Modi plays surgical strike card to attack Cong; updates

There is a fierce competition between the BJP and Congress for Karnataka Assembly election 2018. PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath will address rallies in Karnataka today. Catch Karnataka polls 2018 updates

BS Web Team  |  New Delhi 

Karnataka Assembly election 2018
Karnataka Assembly election 2018: PM Narendra Modi addressing a public meeting at Kalaburagi in Karnataka on Thursday. Photo: @BJP4India

Karnataka Assembly election 2018 is seeing a fierce competition between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday undertaking his third round of campaigning in the poll-bound state and Congress President Rahul Gandhi on the same day visiting Karnataka for an eighth time this year. While Modi accused the Congress of disrespecting the sacrifice of India's soldiers at his rally today, Gandhi stressed that he would continue to question the prime minister.

Ahead of the May 12 Assembly election, Modi had launched his campaign blitzkrieg on Tuesday, with a blistering attack on the Congress party chief Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Further, a day after Modi lavished praise on him at an election rally in Karnataka, Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda sought to play it down amid speculation of a BJP-JD(S) alliance or tacit understanding between the parties for the election. His remark came after Modi lashed out at Gandhi for "insulting" Gowda, saying that it showed his "arrogance". Countering Modi's statement, the Congress said that its president had not shown any disrespect to Gowda.

BJP's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa laid down the road map for his swearing-in, saying that he becoming chief minister was "inevitable" and no one needed to have any doubt about it. Meanwhile, the Congress accused Modi and the BJP of getting Yeddyurappa's name "cleared" in corruption cases through the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and said that the 'Yeddy-Reddy' combine was seeking to return to power to "loot" and "plunder" the state. Accused in an alleged illegal mining scam, the three Reddy brothers -- Galli Karunakara, Janardhana, and Somashekhara -- had been brought back in business by the BJP in the current Karnataka polls, the Congress claimed.

While the political fight continued on the hustings, the BJP on Wednesday claimed before the Election Commission that the Congress was violating the electoral laws by allegedly seeking votes on communal grounds and deploying money power in Karnataka.

Here are the top 10 developments in the BJP and Congress' ongoing Karnataka Assembly election 2018 campaign:

1) Will never make a personal attack on Modi, says Rahul: While addressing a rally in Bidar, Rahul Gandhi said no matter what Modi said about him, he would "never make a personal attack on him as he is the prime minister of the country". However, the Congress chief said, "... But, I can ask him questions."

At a rally at the Navodaya Vidyalaya Grounds in Kalaburagi, Modi on Thursday urged the people of Karnataka to vote for a change in the upcoming Assembly election, saying their mandate would decide the future of farmers and youths. "This election is going to decide the future of Karnataka, its farmers and youth. It is about the safety of women. Do not assume that it is only about electing an MLA, it is much beyond that," Modi said.

Modi, who is campaigning for the BJP for a second day, addressed the rally for some 30 minutes in Hindi.

Accusing the state's Congress government of being indifferent to farmers, Modi said the state failed to ensure that the benefits of the central government's schemes reached the farmers. "Kalaburagi is known for dal (pulses) cultivation. Our farmers are working hard here, but the Karnataka government is insensitive towards their condition," Modi said.

He said the BJP's chief ministerial face, Yeddyurappa, was a farmer's son who understood the concerns of farmers. "In Yeddyurappa, we have a leader who is devoted to the welfare of farmers. For him, their (farmers') welfare is top priority."

Further, attacking the Siddaramaiah government, Modi said: "We have seen the state being ruined for five years and we will no longer allow the state to be ruined further. People are seeing that in all corners of India, the Congress is being rejected."


Modi, who was speaking shortly after Rahul Gandhi issued a report card failing his government over its performance in the agriculture sector, also said that the Congress sat over the Swaminathan Commission recommendation to increase MSP for farmers. "It's not expected of them to accept this sin but they can at least keep quiet, when our government has approved its implementation," added the Prime Minister.


3) Congress does not respect sacrifice of our soldiers, says Modi: Speaking at Kalaburagi, Modi accused the Congress of having no respect for the sacrifices of soldiers. He said that when the Army conducted the surgical strikes in 2016, the "shameless" Congress party had questioned the strikes, adding that they "kept asking for proof".

Sharpening his attack, Modi said that the Congress party's "disrespectful attitude for our Armed Forces is well known". The prime minister charged the Congress with "consistently showing their disdain for our brave heroes" -- "From insulting Field Marshall Cariappa and General Thimayya to calling our Army Chief a 'sadak ka goonda' right after surgical strikes".

4) Rahul fails Modi in 'Karnataka agriculture exam': Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday gave the Modi government an 'F grade' on the "subject" of agriculture in poll-bound Karnataka. There had been no contribution from the Centre to the Congress-led government's Rs 8.5 billion (Rs 8,500 crore) cost for farm loan waivers, Gandhi said on Twitter.

Farmers also suffered due to the prime minister's crop insurance scheme, in which insurance companies made huge profits, Gandhi added. He also said that there had been no MSP (minimum support price) plus 50 per cent for farmers of Karnataka as promised by the Modi regime.

5) Modi holds rally at Kalaburagi: Prime Minister Modi on Thursday addressed a public rally in Kalaburagi. Starting his third round of campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka, Modi is set to address three rallies in Kalaburagi, Ballari (at 3 pm), and Bengaluru (at 5.30 pm) today. The BJP has also lined up a galaxy of leaders, including Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, to address public meetings in the next few days, according to BJP sources.



The Prime Minister's next round of campaigning will be at Tumakuru on May 5. After Tuesday's three rallies, the Prime Minister is slated to address another 18 rallies over the next few days before Karnataka goes to poll on May 12. By the end of campaigning, Modi will have addressed 21 rallies in the state.

Modi had launched his campaign blitzkrieg on Tuesday with a blistering attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress. Modi resumed his campaign in the state after a long break -- the last rally he addressed was in February -- as he sought to give a big push to BJP's efforts to return to power in the state for the second time.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday will be on his eighth visit to Karnataka this year. During his two-day visit, Gandhi will be in the Bidar district, where he will hold corner meetings in Aurad, Bhalki, and Humnabad on Thursday. Gandhi will again visit the state from May 7 to May 10.

Read our detailed copy on Wednesday's campaigning in Karnataka Assembly election 2018: Karnataka election: Yeddy-Reddy combo aim to loot, plunder, says Congress

Read our detailed copy on Tuesday's campaigning in Karnataka Assembly election 2018: Modi trashes Karnataka election opinion polls, says BJP will win; updates

Union Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari will hold public meetings at Karnataka's K R Pete, Srirangapattana, Nippani, and Belagavi on May 3.

7) Yeddyurappa already planning his swearing-in ceremony: Buoyed by the response to Modi's public rallies, Yeddyurappa said his becoming Karnataka chief minister was "inevitable" and no one needed to have any doubts about it. Sounding upbeat, Yeddyurappa said there should not be any confusion about his swearing-in ceremony at Vidhana Soudha, the state secretariat, which he hinted would happen on May 17 or 18.

In his address to party workers at Shivamogga on Wednesday, he said, "May 17 is Thursday and May 18 is Friday. We have to look at the convenient time of the Prime Minister. Chief Ministers of other states too will attend the event."

"My oath-taking at Vidhana Soudha as the chief minister of Karnataka is inevitable. Nobody should have any doubt about it. Karnataka election results will be a replay of UP election results. There is no confusion about it," Yeddyurappa told the cheering crowd.

8) Rahul never disrespected Gowda, says Congress: Countering Modi's remarks, the Congress said its president Rahul Gandhi has not shown any disrespect towards JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda. Hitting back, the party said it was Modi who had 'disrespected' his two predecessors (Manmohan Singh and Gowda) and sought an apology from him for it.

"There is no disrespect expressed ever towards Deve Gowda by Rahul Gandhi... it is not the Congress culture to insult," deputy leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma told reporters. Accusing the prime minister of assaulting the dignity of his office with his expressions and language, Sharma said during campaign speeches Modi had said things that were not true.

8) Congress communalising Karnataka polls, BJP tells EC: The BJP has gone to the Election Commission, alleging that the Congress was seeking votes on communal grounds and deploying money power in Karnataka in violation of electoral laws. It also sought action against state officials who are "demonstrating leanings towards the ruling political dispensation" ahead of the May 12 Assembly election.

A BJP delegation led by Gadkari visited the EC and demanded "immediate criminal action" against senior Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge. They also submitted a memorandum wherein it also stated that delay in granting permissions by the state officials was hurting its election campaign.

The delegation also sought the constituencies of Belgaum North, Gokak, Yemakanmardi, Badami, and Bableshwar be declared "critical" and Central Armed Police Forces and micro observers "be deployed forthwith to ensure a level playing field for all parties".

"In a public meeting on May 1 at Kalaburagi in Karnataka, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge appealed to Muslims to cast their vote en masse in favour of the Congress candidates. This is a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct and a criminal offence under the provisions of Representation of People's Act, 1951," the BJP memorandum said.

"This desperate misadventure of the Congress party is an offence against the community and a bid to divide the otherwise peace-loving communities of Karnataka. The BJP urges the Commission to act decisively and firmly against such attempts of the Congress Party," it added.

9) Gowda says JD(S) will form a government in Karnataka on its own: Discounting the possibility of a hung Assembly, JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda has asserted that his party will come back to power in the May 12 Karnataka polls. Gowda also denied that BJP and JDS were cosying up to each other. "Maybe, by praising me, he (the prime minister) wants to gain sympathy. That is all. That does not mean there is an understanding (between BJP and JDS)," Gowda said. "In fact, the JDS is confident of forming the government on its own with the cooperation of TDP (Telugu Desam Party) leader Chandrababu Naidu, Chandrasekhar Rao (of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi) and other friends in political arena... I do not expect a hung Assembly," he said.

"I have been saying this and I will say this again -- we are confident of forming government on our own," the JDS chief added.

Gowda also slammed Siddaramaiah for suggesting that his party, the JD(S), would back the BJP. He claimed that it was Siddaramaiah who wanted to become chief minister in 2004 with the saffron party's support when he was in the JD(S).

During a committee meeting held with party leaders in Amaravati, TDP National President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said, "Karnataka election is a case study for Bharatiya Janata Party's collusion politics."

"In Andhra Pradesh, Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is getting relief from the Enforcement Directorate attachments. In Karnataka, Gali Janardhan Reddy is getting relief in mining cases. It is hilarious that CBI is writing letters saying we don't have details on from where and how much iron ore was illegally exported. Is this BJP's fight against corruption?" asked Naidu.

Naidu also urged his supporters to shun the BJP in Karnataka by not voting for them in the upcoming election. "I am appealing to all Telugu people in Karnataka to defeat BJP that indulges in collusion politics and conspiracies in Karnataka. YSR Congress, instead of demanding Special Category Status (SCS) from BJP, is attacking the TDP, which is fighting for the same cause on behalf of five crore people of the state that shows their secret agenda," said Naidu.

With agency inputs
First Published: Thu, May 03 2018. 15:46 IST