Karnataka Election 2018 LIVE: PM Modi Says Congress Will Blame EVMs After Defeat

"The central government has brought social security schemes that are benefitting the poor. The Congress has never been serious about the safety of women. It is the NDA Government that has got a tough law that will ensure safety of women. It is the Congress party that did not allow the law on Triple Talaq to be passed. How is the Congress even talking about women empowerment," said PM Modi.

Empirical evidence suggest developments in the last 48 hours ahead of the polling at times is the difference between a victory and defeat. Especially, in multipolar elections in a first past the post system.

"After they are defeated in Karnataka. The Congress will use excuses like rigged EVMs. I want to ask them, what have they done for the farmers of Karnataka? When the state was suffering due to droughts, Ministers handling key portfolios were busy in Delhi doing politics. Can you name a single minister of Karnataka who has not been alleged of corruption? Everyone knows about the nexus between the contractors and the irrigation Minister. I want to add that it is the Saints, Seers and Mutts who have played a key role in making the society of Karnataka progressive and harmonious. They have worked to remove human suffering," said PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing his first rally of the day in Vijayapura. "People have gathered here, bearing this sweltering heat, for this rally in large numbers. They are here because they want to show their support for BJP and aspire a better life in the coming five years. Instead of going among the people, the Congress leaders are thinking about what excuses to make about a certain defeat. I am here in a land closely associated with Bhagwan Basaveshwara. His philosophy called for taking all sections of society together. Sadly, the Congress government has not followed his principles. All they are bothered about is their votes," he said.

CM Siddaramaiah has launched a fresh salvo at BJP Karnataka and tweeted, "Dear People of Karnataka, Let’s learn Maths with BJP: Jailbird Yeddy = 1. Infamous Reddy Bros = 2+1. Sriramulu = 3+1. Katta Subramanya = 4+1. Krishnaiah Setty = 5+1. Hartal Halappa = 6+1. Renukacharya = 7+1. Should we hand over Karnataka to this gang? Choose Wisely!":

Dear People of Karnataka,

Let’s learn Maths with BJP:

Jailbird Yeddy = 1
Infamous Reddy Bros = 2+1
Sriramulu = 3+1
Katta Subramanya = 4+1
Krishnaiah Setty = 5+1
Hartal Halappa = 6+1
Renukacharya = 7+1

Should we hand over Karnataka to this gang?

Choose Wisely!#YeddyBeda pic.twitter.com/Q5T9glP0Kv

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 8, 2018

While addressing a public rally, Congress president Rahul Gandhi continued his attack on PM Modi and said, "PM Modi stays silent about rapes and rape committed by his MLA in UP. Wherever you see a farmer getting help, you'll see Congress there. We know that you'll beat the BJP for us."

Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram is addressing a press conference in Bengaluru. "I am here to appeal to the people of Karnataka to vote for a stable government by voting for Congress. The average Karnataka resident is today richer than he was five years ago. Per Capita income has seen a growth of 125%. Unemployment is at its lowest in the state. This has been because the state had a stable and strong leadership in Congress, Siddaramaiah. The 15th finance commission is another misadventure after Modi's demonetisation. There cannot be a better place than Karnataka to stop this misadventure," he said.

"The PM promised jobs to the youngsters of Bengaluru, yet his own ministers admit that unemployment is at a record low. I also want to ask why he has taken away the Rafale deal from HAL, which is a 64-year-old company working with the defence sector, and given it to his friend? I want to ask why the PM is silent about farmers, Congress gave a Rs 8,000 crore loan waiver, what about the Centre? The BJP president Amit Shah is accused of murder, whatever he says does not have any credibility," says Rahul Gandhi.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi during an interaction said that if the Grand Old Party were to be the single largest outfit after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, then he would be the Prime Minister. Then, while speaking to the press, Rahul attacked PM Modi over the BJP giving tickets to corrupt individuals in the Karnataka elections. "There has been a systematic attempt by the BJP and RSS to capture all institutes of the country. The people of India are resisting the BJP. Why has the PM chosen a corrupt individual as CM candidate? We are asking the PM why he chose a previously corruption-charges convicted individual as their CM face? Why has he given tickets to the Bellary Reddy brothers, who have looted Rs 35,000 crore?" said Rahul.

Alleging that the BJP-led NDA government did not fulfil election promises, senior Congress leader M Mallikarjuna Kharge listed various schemes and welfare programmes of the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka. "I don't think people will let us down," he said. Kharge claimed that the BJP has deployed 30 to 40 Centralministers and about 100 ministers from various States for campaigning in Karnataka and drafted RSS workers for door-to-door canvassing. "This itself shows that they (BJP) are afraid of Congress," he added. The coming election is "very important and crucial" as it would send a "message" that "whatever the BJP is doing, on the advice of RSS, people are not going to accept." Charging the BJP with trying to weaken institutions, including the Judiciary, Kharge said people would be happy if such a party is defeated at the hustings. "This will teach them a lesson to mend (ways), (and) to act according to the Constitutional methods," he said.

Karnataka Assembly poll is "very crucial" not only for the State's interest but also from the national perspective, senior Congress leader M Mallikarjuna Kharge said. "If you don't prevent BJP here (in Karnataka), then definitely they will destroy the democracy; they are talking a lot of things about change of Constitution and also 'Hindutva' against the minorities. All these arguments (of the BJP), people don't accept," Kharge told PTI. On some opinion polls forecasting a hung verdict in the poll, he said pre-election survey predictions depend on their terms of reference and on parameters they were conducted. Karnataka is 'ahead' in development, and on law and order, investment and employment-generation fronts and, so, the ruling Congress would be 'ahead' in election also, Kharge said.

The May 12 Karnataka Assembly election results would teach a lesson to the BJP to mend its ways and send a larger message that people will not accept what the NDA-led party is doing on the advice of RSS, senior Congress leader M Mallikarjuna Kharge has claimed. While the Congress' campaign theme revolves around development, it's also an "ideological fight" against the RSS-BJP which he alleged, is taking people for a ride. "They (RSS-BJP) are implementing their own agenda. Particularly the weaker sections, minorities and poorer sections, they feel insecure under the BJP and RSS-supported government," the Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha alleged.

The Karnataka BJP has now turned its guns on to Sonia Gandhi's arrival in the poll-bound state and has tweeted about the former Congress president's Italian roots. "Today, Ms Antonio Maino is here in Karnataka to save her last citadel from falling. Madam Maino, Karnataka needs no lessons from the person who was solely responsible for wasting India's 10 precious years. And to Congress, need to remind you of your 'import' jibe?" tweeted BJP Karnataka:

Today, Ms. Antonio Maino is here in K'taka to save her last citadel from falling!

Madam Maino, K'taka needs no lessons from the person who was solely responsible for wasting India's 10 precious years.

And to Congress, need to remind you of your 'import' jibe? https://t.co/7NmhjuoMOM

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 8, 2018

Almost two years after her last campaign rally, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will hit the campaign trail in Karnataka and address a public rally in Bijapur today. Party sources are indicating that this would be the only rally that she’ll address. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be addresssing a rally in the same place, he'll be speaking at 11 am, while the former Congress president will do so at 3 pm. Sonia Gandhi has not campaigned for almost two years. She was away from public eye during the elections in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Nagaland.

Protesting against the high petrol and fuel prices, Congress President Rahul Gandhi today rode a bicycle as he led a march on the issue while campaigning in Karnataka's Kolar district. Later, standing on a bullock cart, he addressed a gathering where he  alleged that the BJP-led government wanted to take money from the common man to give it to its "rich friends" and asked it to tell the people why they were not reducing the price of petrol in the country. (Image: PTI)

DEBATE CHALLENGE |  Replying to Siddaramaiah's challenge of an open debate, BJP chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa sent out a series of tweets saying, "I think your Hublot watch suggests you the right time to show up for a debate. 1. Do get Vijay Eswaran, your fugitive friend along. 2. Do carry the diary of L Govindaraju. 3. Let us also debate: Turning Lokayukta Powerless, Farmers’ suicides, Sand Mafia, Honest Officers' Transfer. 4. I am sure you will mesmerise me with your insights about:

Divisive & Appeasement Politics, The invisible hand of Kempaiah, Crumbling infrastructure of Bengaluru, Waste (Mis)Management, Women Safety, Burning Lakes, Selective withdrawal of criminal cases, Rising lawlessness.

5. You've worked very hard in bringing this Model of (Anti) Development with:

Decreased: Growth Rate (GSDP), Growth rate of Per Capita Income, Spending on Education & Health

Increased: Interest Payments, Borrowings, Debt burden, Crime, Corruption

Rs 100 CRORE DAMAGES | Siddaramaiah’s legal notice further states that in case PM Modi and the others fail to apologise, it would require them to pay an amount of Rs 100 crore for damages.

SIDDA SEEKS PUBLIC APOLOGY | Siddaramaiah has further sought a public apology from BJP and its leaders and said, “… you are called upon to cease and desist from making such statements forthwith and give an unconditional public apology immediately through electronic, print and social media etc in which the statements and advertisements have appeared”.

'EASE OF MURDER' | Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on May 1 assailed the Congress government in Karnataka for initiating the culture of "ease of doing murder", as he launched the second leg of his campaign blitz in the state for the Assembly elections. He also accused the successive Congress governments at the Centre of allowing a handful of people to "loot" banks while denying loans to poor. Modi said, "We want to encourage the ease of doing business, they (the Congress) have initiated the culture of ease of doing murder," he told another election rally in Udupi.”

LEGAL NOTICE | Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has filed a defamation case against Bharatiya Janata Party, PM Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and BS Yeddyurappa for “intentionally and maliciously” making “false and defamatory statements against him”. The notice further writes pulls up PM Modi for his “10% government remark” in which PM Modi had said that the Siddaramaiah government takes a “10% commission” to get a job done in the state. Against this, the notice observes, “Mr Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, have unabatedly made several defamatory and untrue statements in your speeches in Karnataka during the election campaign.” Apart from the “10% government” remark, Siddaramaiah has also referred to PM Modi’s “ease of doing murders” allegations against the Karnataka government.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has filed a defamation case against Bharatiya Janata Party, PM Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and BS Yeddyurappa for “intentionally and maliciously” making “false and defamatory statements against him”.

SIDDA SENDS LEGAL NOTICE TO MODI | Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sends legal notice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa for criminal and civil defamation over PM Moid’s “sidda rupaiya government” comment.

Siddaramaiah reiterates his challenge to Yeddyurappa, says he will speak extempore, but the latter is free to "bring a paper".

I have asked @BSYBJP to join me in an open debate. @narendramodi is welcome to join.

I will speak extempore. They can bring paper

Come on BSY avare let people see who they are voting for beyond the smokescreen created by hot air from Modi-Shah-Yogi teamhttps://t.co/FkSstZIQFW

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 7, 2018

Rahul Gandhi, during a public show in Karnataka, continued his attack on BJP, PM Narendra Modi and said, "I want to ask Modi ji, why he has given tickets to all corrupt people. Oil prices are decreasing worldwide, yet the prices are only going up in India. PM Should tell the nation that he is taking their money and giving it to people like Nirav Modi and Lalit Modi. Has the PM given a single rupee to Karnataka farmers? If Congress comes to power in 2019, we will wave off farmers' debts."

In fact, the PM was in Davos in the company of Nirav Modi and only a few days later, the latter ran away from the country. That itself is the reflection of sad state of affairs in this wonderland of Modi government: Manmohan Singh

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is touring Kolar onboard his special election bus. “The BJP Govt. collected 10 Lakh Crore in taxes on Petrol/LPG/Diesel since 2014. Yet, NO relief in prices for our citizens. This video shows the truth about fuel prices under PM Modi. I will lead a protest against these prices in Kolar at Noon, today (sic),” he had tweeted before his mega road show.

Two major avoidable blunders of Modi government have been demonetisation and hasty implementation of the GST. Losses the economy suffered due to these blunders have severely hurt our micro small and medium enterprises: Manmohan Singh

“The state is being polarised, which is not good. The PM has stooped so low and used language that is unbecoming of his post. No PM has used such language. I hope Modiji learns,” says Manmohan Singh.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh is addressing an election meeting in Karnataka, targeting the Modi government on jobs. “Modi promised 2 crore jobs, but failed to keep that promise. Instead, 72 crore jobs were lost due to the mismanagement of the Modi government.”

How productive has the outgoing Karnataka Assembly been?