Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

BJP banks on Modi's personal appeal to shore up prospects & fight 'anti-incumbency'

The BJP, with its well-oiled electoral machine, ran its campaign with a blitzkrieg by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Karnataka Assembly elections, which take place on Wednesday.

It was obvious that the "double-engine Sarkar" intended to strongly capitalise on Modi's appeal in order to support its campaign, secure its future, and combat "anti-incumbency".

The BJP needs to hold onto power in Karnataka, the only party-ruled State in south India, to maintain its winning run and gain an advantage in elections in the Hindi-speaking states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan later this year.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

People of Karnataka have decided to vote for BJP: CM Bommai ahead of polling day

Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, stated on Tuesday that the state's residents had already chosen to support the Bharatiya Janata Party in the assembly elections on 10 May.

Speaking to ANI, CM Bommai said, "Karnataka people have already decided to vote for BJP. I request them to vote for development, progress, and strong education and healthcare system in the state".

"We believe in Lord Hanuman and Ram, they are our source of strength. I pray to them every day, today I prayed in public," he added.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Karnataka CM visits temple, chants 'Hanuman Chalisa', a day before Assembly polls

Tuesday, one day before the Assembly elections, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and state Congress president D K Shivakumar paid visits to Anjaneya shrines.

Shivakumar visited the temple at KR Market in Bengaluru and offered prayers, while Bommai visited the shrine at Vijayanagara in Hubballi and recited the "Hanuman Chalisa" with worshippers there.

The controversy surrounding the Congress' manifesto's pledge to outlaw the Bajrang Dal lends significance to the trips.

In order to depict the grand old party as being against Lord Anjaneya and the feelings of Hindus, the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi aggressively grabbed up the subject and used the phrase "Jai Bajarangbali" regularly during the campaign.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Ahead of Karnataka polls, PM Modi writes open letter to people of State

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday issued an open letter to the people of the State, underlining his party's commitment to the state's growth and development, a day before the Assembly elections in Karnataka.

"You have always showered me with love and affection. It feels like a divine blessing to me. In our 'Azaadi ka Amrit Kaal', we Indians have aimed to make our beloved country a developed nation. Karnataka is keen to lead the movement to realise its vision", PM Modi said in his letter.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

A high bar on public outreach is set in the state

The high-stakes campaign for the state assembly in Karnataka drew to a close after a weekend of roadshows by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With voters across the state set to cast their ballots, the contest seems headed for a nail-biting finish after the tumultuous campaign by both the BJP and the Congress.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Pawar questions Prithviraj Chavan's 'stature' in Congress after he targets NCP for contesting Karnataka polls

Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, questioned Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday about his "stature" inside the Congress after the latter criticised the NCP for fielding candidates in the forthcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.

Chavan has previously disagreed with Pawar's assertion that the Congress leadership shown obstinacy during negotiations to create the Maha Vikas Aghadi in 2019.

After the Nationalist Congress Party announced its candidates for the Assembly elections that will be contested there on Wednesday, Pawar was in Satara when some media approached him and inquired about Chavan's alleged remarks that the NCP was the 'B' squad of the BJP in Karnataka.

In reply, Pawar said, "He should check what stature he has in his own party...whether it is A, B, C or D. Any colleague from his party would tell you in private.”

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

We gave vision for Kannadigas: Congress on Karnataka poll campaign

The Congress asserted on Tuesday, a day before voting in the Karnataka Assembly elections, that it ran a campaign that was "positive and development-centric with a vision for the Kannadigas" while the BJP sought to "distract, divide, and deceive" the electorate.

On Monday, the loud election campaign for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly came to a close. Three political parties—the Congress, the BJP, and the Janata Dal (Secular), led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda—are vying for control of the state.

"The Congress party in Karnataka has driven a positive, development-centric campaign with a vision to uplift all Kannadigas. Alternatively, the BJP's campaign has only aimed to distract, divide and deceive the people," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Poll officials cast vote through postal ballot in Bengaluru

A day before the Karnataka Assembly elections, election workers cast postal ballots in Bengaluru.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Seizure this time 4.5 time more than last assembly elections, says poll panel

According to the Election Commission's allegation made on Tuesday, the amount of alcohol, drugs, and freebies confiscated by enforcement authorities in Karnataka during the current election was over 375 crore rupees, or 4.5 times the amount seized during the state's previous assembly election.

After the Model Code of Conduct was implemented in the state on March 29, the Enforcement Directorate attached assets worth Rs 288 crore.

81 assembly seats have been designated as "expenditure sensitive" by the polling panel.

 “The recorded seizures in the state mark a significant 4.5 times increase as compared to the assembly election in 2018. Strict vigil, extensive monitoring, coordination with neighbouring states and inter-agency coordination has led to checking flow and distribution of inducements in Karnataka this time," the EC said.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Pralhad Joshi recites ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ with VHP members in Hubballi

Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister and BJP MP from Dharwad seat, and members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chanted the 'Hanuman Chalisa' in a Hanuman temple in Nagashetti Koppa district of Karnataka's Hubballi on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, a number of BJP politicians, including Shobha Karandlaje, Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister of Karnataka, and Malavika Avinash, were spotted reciting the "Hanuman Chalisa."

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Strong Room opened in Yelahanka ahead of EVM collection for Assembly elections

Tushar Girinath, the Bengaluru District Election Officer, inaugurated the Strong Room on Tuesday at Seshadripuram College in Yelahanka, Karnataka, in advance of tomorrow's Assembly elections.

This occurs before the polling parties gather the electronic voting machines (EVMs) and voter verifiable paper audit trails (VVPATs) for the voting on May 10.

The poll organisation is working nonstop to hold free and fair elections in the southern State.

The intense campaign for the 10 May assembly elections came to a conclusion on Monday as well, with senior politicians conducting 19 public events and six roadshows, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spent 12 days camped out in the state.

All three of the state's major political parties—the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS)—have worked extremely hard to win over voters by making promises and levelling personal attacks on one another in a bid to win a majority in the 224-seat Assembly.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Ahead of poll day, civic body disallows two Bengaluru restaurants to offer free breakfast to voters

The high-octane Karnataka elections are just hours away, and voters are ready to show up at the polling centres to exercise their franchise on 10 May. To encourage maximum voter turnout, two restaurants in Bengaluru have come up with a tempting offer – free food to those who show up to cast their vote. However, the civic body has poured cold water over the offer and advised the two hotels to refrain from such an activity.

According to a Times of India report, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagra Palike (BBMP) chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath advised all eateries to not come up with such offers, and said “otherwise cases will be booked.”

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Scrapping of Muslim quota in Karnataka: SC says no political statement should be made on issue

The Supreme Court stated on Tuesday that "some sanctity needs to be maintained" in response to political remarks made on the sub-judice case involving the removal of the four per cent Muslim quota in Karnataka.

A bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullaj said, ‘When the matter is pending before the court and there is court order on Karnataka Muslim quota, then there should not be any political statements on the issue. It is not appropriate. Some sanctity needs to be maintained’.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Cong will romp home in Karnataka: Gehlot

Ashok Gehlot, the chief minister of Rajasthan, predicted on Tuesday that the Congress will easily win the Karnataka assembly elections.

Election day in Karnataka is this Wednesday, and results will be announced on 13 May.

Speaking to reporters in Udaipur, Gehlot said, "It seems that the elections will be won with a huge majority."

He also asserted that in Rajasthan the Congress government will return to power after the polls.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

PM's strong pitch for BJP government's return in Karnataka

A day before the Karnataka Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong case for the BJP to take back power. He claimed that the support he has received in the state over the past few days has been unmatched and has strengthened his resolve to make the party the industry leader in all areas.

"Dream of every citizen of Karnataka is my dream. Your resolve is my resolve. When we come together and set our minds to a goal, no force in the world can stop us", he said on Twitter.

"I seek your blessings in the mission of making Karnataka the number one State in the country," said Modi, who addressed 19 public meetings and held six roadshows in the State ahead of the polls.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Stage set for high-stakes Karnataka Assembly elections tomorrow

Karnataka is getting ready to elect its representatives to the 224-member Legislative Assembly on Wednesday after a high-voltage election campaign.

The BJP, Congress, and JD(S), three major political parties in contention, as well as their candidates, have made a strong appeal in an effort to improve their chances at the hustings given the high stakes of this election.

The voting period will run from 7 am until 6 pm.

In 58,545 polling locations around the state, where 2,615 candidates are running for office, a total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to vote.

Among the electors, 2,67,28,053 are male, 2,64,00,074  female and 4,927 "others", while among the candidates 2,430 are male, 184 female and one from third gender.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Union Minister chants Jai Shri Ram at Bengaluru temple

Shobha Karandlaje, a union minister and BJP leader, chants "Jai Shri Ram" at the Vir Anjaneya temple in Bengaluru, Karnataka. This is in light of the Congress's electoral platform in Karnataka, which calls for the outlawing of right-wing organisations like the Bajrang Dal.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

'Dream of every Kannadiga is my own', says PM Modi

Just a day before the southern state of Karnataka is scheduled to go to polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared an open letter to the voters where he said that he envisioned their dreams as his own.

In a video address posted on Bharatiya Janta Party’s official Twitter handle, the prime minister can be heard saying, “The dream of every Kannadiga is my own dream. Your resolution is my resolution.”

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

VHP, Bajrang Dal to organise 'Hanuman Chalisa' chanting across India

On Tuesday, representatives of the VHP and Bajrang Dal will organise "Hanuman Chalisa" rallies throughout India in opposition to the Congress' pledge to outlaw "organisations like Bajrang Dal and PFI" if it wins the Karnataka state election.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Voting in Karnataka election, the results day

On 10 May, voting for the Karnataka Assembly election of 2023 will take place. Voting will take place from 7 am until 6 pm. Vote tallying will be held on 13 May.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

EC serves notice to BJP over unsubstantiated claims against Congress in advertisement

The Karnataka BJP was requested by the Election Commission on Monday to produce "verifiable and traceable" information regarding their newspaper advertising branding the Congress as "the most corrupt party in the world" by Tuesday evening.

The election panel had already warned the Congress over their "corruption rate card" advertising in response to a protest from the BJP.

After Congress contacted the election panel, the Election Commission (EC) handed a notice to the Karnataka BJP about its advertising.

The commission stated in its notice that criticising the policies and leadership of rival parties is both a right guaranteed and incorporated in the Constitution and a crucial duty of diverse political players under India's democratic system.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

Goa govt declares paid holiday on Karnataka election day; Opposition and industry bodies fume

In anticipation of the Assembly elections due in adjacent Karnataka, the BJP administration in Goa has proclaimed May 10 a paid vacation that would also apply to private companies and industrial workers.

Opposition parties and business organisations, however, have not been pleased with the Pramod Sawant government's choice.

The Goa State Industries Association stated that legal action against the vacation may be necessary.

But, a senior official from Goa Chief Minister's Office said it is a practice to give a holiday when there are elections in neighbouring states. He claimed a holiday was declared in Karnataka on the day of polling in Goa last year.

The Goa government on Monday issued a notification declaring May 10 as paid holiday owing to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections. The holiday was extended to government servants and also those working in private establishments including industrial workers, it said.

Karnataka Election 2023 LIVE

'Dream of every Kannadiga is my own...': PM Modi ahead of polls

The intense campaign for the Karnataka assembly elections on 10 May came to a conclusion, and on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the state's residents hope by declaring he saw their ambitions as his own.

In a video posted on Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) official Twitter handle, PM Modi said, "The dream of every Kannadiga is my own dream. Your resolution is my resolution."

Lauding the 3.5-year term of the double-engine government in Karnataka, PM Modi said, “BJP government’s decisive, focused and futuristic approach is contributing significantly to Karnataka’s economy.”