Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

BJP drops PM's day-long road-show in Bengaluru after public express concern

An eight-hour road show by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to take place here on Saturday, but the BJP on Thursday abandoned those plans in response to Bengalureans' worries about the challenges they would encounter with such a long event.

The Prime Minister will now do a road-show on two days, from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. on Sunday, according to Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje.

The party announced on Wednesday that Modi will do a 36.6 kilometre road show in this area on Saturday, including 10.1 km between 11 am and 1 pm and 26.5 km between 4 pm and 10 night.

"The public has expressed that it will be a problem if the road-show is held for the entire day. So, we have respected their feeling and spread it over two days", Karandlaje told reporters on Thursday.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

BJP's defeat in Karnataka to be major setback for Hindutva forces, allow oppn mount serious challenge in 2024: CPI(M)

The CPI(M) asserted on Thursday that the BJP's loss in the Karnataka assembly elections on May 10 will be a "major setback for the Hindutva forces" and will pave the way for the secular and democratic opposition to mount a serious challenge to the saffron party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The most recent editorial from the Left party's publication Peoples Democracy stated that the Karnataka assembly election is particularly significant at this time.

Retaining Karnataka is essential for the BJP's "ambition to spread its influence to other southern states," which is a drive for overall political control.

"Karnataka is the only southern state where the BJP-RSS combine has acquired a significant political and ideological influence. A defeat in the assembly polls will be a major setback for the Hindutva forces and will set the pace for the secular and democratic opposition to mount a serious challenge to the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election," the editorial said.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Raut acting as Cong middleman, following its instructions to cut BJP's votes in Belagavi: Fadnavis

Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, said on Thursday that Sanjay Raut, the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), was campaigning in Belagavi, Karnataka, under the direction of the Congress in an effort to reduce the BJP's support.

In Belagavi district, which has a sizable Marathi-speaking population and has long been a source of friction between the two adjacent states of Maharashtra and Karnataka, Fadnavis was speaking to media.

The conflict started in the 1960s as states were divided according to language. On the basis of linguistic superiority, Maharashtra claimed Belagavi, formerly known as Belgaum, which at the time of independence was a part of the Bombay Presidency

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

VHP, Bajrang Dal stage protests in Karnataka against 'ban' proposal of Congress

On Thursday, demonstrators from the Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) protested the Congress election platform, which called for the party to be banned in Karnataka should it win the poll.

"Hanuman Chalisa" was also chanted in some locations.

On Thursday evening, protesters plan to chant "Hanuman Chalisa" at temples dedicated to Hanuman or any other deity in opposition to the Congress vow.

According to VHP sources, there were demonstrations in a number of cities, including Bengaluru, Chikkaballapura, Srirangapatna, Mandya, and Chikkamagaluru.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Chidambaram slams PM's 'stable govt' pitch in Karnataka polls

P Chidambaram, a senior member of the Congress, criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday for emphasising stable governments in his campaign speech for the Karnataka elections. He said that the BJP-led dispensations in the state following the 2018 elections were the result of "deceit, horse-trading, and money power."

Prime Minister Modi has argued in his speeches throughout the Karnataka election campaign that a strong and stable BJP administration with a majority is essential for the state's rapid overall growth.

Attacking the prime minister, Chidambaram tweeted, "Hon'ble PM has appealed to vote for the BJP to provide stable governments in Karnataka. After the 2018 general elections to the Karnataka state assembly, the state has witnessed four governments. Some stability!"

The Congress has also slammed the BJP over its "double-engine" pitch in the Karnataka polls, saying the May 10 election is to propel the Karnataka engine which got "derailed" by the BJP in the last four years.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Vishva Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal recite Hanuman Chalisa in Vijayanagar

Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal recite Hanuman Chalisa in Vijayanagar to protest against the Congress manifesto for the upcoming Karnata polls

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Bengaluru's techies want new Karnataka govt to address mobility issues

TV Mohandas Pai, a veteran of the information technology sector, says Bengaluru's techies want to see the new Karnataka government do more to address the mobility issue in the city, with a focus on easing traffic on high-density roads, speeding up the completion of expanding the metro rail network, and deploying a large number of electric buses to improve public transport.

The former CFO of the leading IT company Infosys Ltd. refuted the notion that IT workers don't participate in elections in significant numbers.

Pai expressed deep concern over "growing" corruption in the State, saying irrespective of party, every successive government becomes more corrupt than the previous dispensation, and candidates of the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka spend crores of rupees for elections each in their constituencies.                 

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

BJP leader Eshwarappa burns Congress manifesto over 'Bajrang Dal ban' row

On Thursday, senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa set fire to a copy of the Congress' electoral platform and denounced the group for wanting to outlaw Bajrang Dal if it were to win power in Karnataka.

The former Deputy Chief Minister referred to the group as a "patriotic organisation" and questioned, "How dare they (Congress) have courage to talk about banning Bajrang Dal?"

In its platform for the 10 May Assembly elections in Karnataka, the Congress pledged to take tough and decisive action against people and organisations fomenting animosity among groups based on caste and religion.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Karnataka CM seeks fourth consecutive term from Shiggaon

Shiggaon in Haveri district has emerged as a high-profile constituency in this Assembly election, with Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai seeking re-election from the seat for the fourth time in a row.

Since 1999, Congress has failed to capture the seat that was previously seen as a bastion. In 1999 and 2004, the JD(S) and independent candidates respectively won from this area.

Bommai initially ran for office in the 2008 Assembly elections under the BJP banner after leaving the Janata Dal (United).

A Muslim MLA has previously been elected in Shiggaon, which has a sizable Muslim community.

Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, a candidate for the Congress, is running in the district; Shashidhar Yeligar is the JD(S) candidate.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Sonia Gandhi to address election rally in Karnataka on Saturday

Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi will speak at an election rally in Hubballi on Saturday, her first campaign appearance in Karnataka before the 10 May Assembly elections.

Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar is running for Congress in Hubballi-Dharwad Central after the BJP refused to give him a ticket to run in the elections.

Mahesh Tenginkai is the candidate for the BJP in this area

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Congress is trying to divide people, says Union Minister G Kishan Reddy

According to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, the Congress party is trying to divide the people of India on the basis of religion for votes. 

He also stated that he wanted to ask Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi if Bajrang Dal was anti-national or was it a terrorist organization. 

"You want to come to power only for Muslim votes in the name of Bajrang Dal and by dividing people in the name of religion,” said Reddy.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

'No proposal to ban Bajrang Dal': Congress leader on Karnataka manifesto

There is no intention to outlaw the Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Sangh-affiliated Vishwa Hindu Parishad, according to a top leader of the Congress party, which had pledged to crack down on extremist organisations in hopes of winning next week's Karnataka poll. 

Two days after the party's pronouncement in the 10 May election manifesto sparked criticism from members of the governing BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Veerappa Moily, a former chief minister of Karnataka and a member of parliament, made the statement in Udupi.

"We have mentioned both the PFI and the Bajrang Dal in our manifesto. This includes all (radical) outfits. Banning an outfit is not possible by a state government. The Bajrang Dal cannot be banned by the Karnataka government," he said.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Political parties step up Karnataka campaign

With one week till the Karnataka assembly elections, political parties have intensified their campaigning, and on Wednesday, prominent leaders of the BJP, Congress, and JD-S spoke at rallies and attended roadshows in an effort to win over voters.

In speeches to crowds in the region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi decried the "abuse culture" among the Congress. JP Nadda, the head of the BJP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and HD Kumaraswamy, the leader of the Janata Dal-Secular, all ran for office in the state.

Sonia Gandhi, the chief of the Congress parliamentary party, will campaign in Karnataka on 6 May and give a speech at a rally in the Hubbali district, according to sources.

According to the reports, PM Modi will conduct a 36.6-km roadshow on Saturday in Bengaluru that would pass through 17 of the city's assembly districts.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Will recite Hanuman Chalisa across the state, says Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje

Shobha Karandlaje, a BJP leader and Union minister, told reporters on Wednesday that party officials will recite the "Hanuman Chalisa" on Thursday at 7pm in all of Karnataka.

This follows the Congress party's recent election platform, which included a promise to outlaw groups like the Bajrang dal.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Say 'Jai Bajrangbali' while casting vote, PM says in Karnataka

In an effort to "punish" the Congress for its "culture of abuse," Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Karnataka voters on Wednesday to chant "Jai Bajrangbali" when they cast their ballots. The BJP was stepping up its criticism of the opposition party for promising to outlaw the Bajrang Dal.

In defending its stance against the right-wing Hindu organisation, the Congress emphasised that it is committed to stopping people and groups that sow the seeds of discord and claimed that the Supreme Court has also called for action against "those spreading hatred."

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

CM Baghel tweets video of boy using abusive words, calls him Bajrang Dal Member

Bhupesh Baghel, the chief minister of Chhattisgarh, said the youngster in the video was a member of the Bajrang Dal and released it on Twitter. The boy is seen allegedly shouting harsh language against Baghel.

On Wednesday, hours after declaring that the Chhattisgarh government would consider outlawing the Bajrang Dal if the situation called for it, Baghel tweeted the video to his Twitter account.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

'Ruled for 5 years, did not ban then' says HD Kumaraswamy on row over Congress poll manifesto

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy remarked that the grand old party is raising the matter now but did nothing while they were in power in the state, which sparked a controversy over the Congress manifesto's inclusion of the ban on the Bajrang Dal group.

The comments followed the Congress party's inclusion of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and Bajrang Dal in its programme for the Karnataka Assembly elections on 10 May and pledge to prohibit both outfits if elected to power.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

'Halakki Vokkaliga tribe felt proud...': Padma awardees after meeting PM Modi in Karnataka

Sukri Bommagowda, a recipient of the award, said on Wednesday that the Halakki Vokkaliga community was pleased that the PM Narendra Modi administration has honoured two members of the group with the Padma Shri award. The two recipients were introduced to the Prime Minister in the Karnataka town of Ankola. 

Tulsi Gowda and Sukri Bommagowda were presented with their Padma Shri awards by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in Ankola.

The Padma Shri recipients Tulsi Gowda and Sukri Bommagowda expressed their delight and joy on meeting PM Modi. 

"I am very happy that PM Modi came here in Ankola. This is for the first time any Prime Minister came here. We all are very happy. Our children were very excited to see him. I gave my love and blessing to him," said Sukri Bommagowda popularly called the nightingale of the Halakki Vokkaliga tribes