Karnataka Election 2023 Live Updates: Congress has always insulted Lingayats: Amit Shah

The election season in Karnataka has kicked into top gear. The state which is scheduled to go to polls on May 10, is witnessing intense campaigning by leaders of top leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress party and the Janata Dal-Secular. Besides, there are a number of Kannada celebrities who are campaigning in high-profile constituencies. Corruption and price rise are some of the issues that the opposition is pinning their hopes on while the government is banking on the governance and development agenda. Experts believe that the Narendra Modi factor will be crucial for the BJP while the Congress will be hoping that there is still some resonance of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra among the voters in Karnataka. Will Basavaraj Bommai be able to retain power in the state or will Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar be able to dethrone the ruling BJP? The Karnataka verdict will be out on May 13. Watch this space for the latest updates.

6:50 PM

Congress party has always been insulting Lingayats: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the Congress party had always been insulting the Lingayat community. The Congress gave only two Lingayat chief ministers during its long rule and both of them were humiliated and thrown out, he said at an election rally.

कांग्रेस पार्टी हमेशा से लिंगायतों का अपमान करती रही है।

कांग्रेस ने अपने इतने लंबे शासन में सिर्फ दो ही लिंगायत मुख्यमंत्री दिए और दोनों को अपमानित करके बाहर भी कर दिया।

- श्री

पूरा वीडियो देखें:https://t.co/wEKDbuAYGT pic.twitter.com/qaW6OvPJEx

— BJP (@BJP4India)

 

5:19 PM

HDK is childish when it comes to food, just eats yogurt: Anita Kumaraswamy

Former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's wife Anita Kumaraswamy has been campaigning for her husband due to the latter's ill health. Speaking about HDK's illness, said: "I campaigned on his behalf in Channapatnam. He was a little tired. So one day he was treated in the hospital. He did not drink much water. Children are stubborn when it comes to food. If you eat only yoghurt, you are not eating properly. So he got sick. Now he has recovered."

"I campaigned all over Channapatnam. People are responding well. And people are also intelligent. They understand Kumaraswamy. Kumaraswamy is a CM candidate. So if he wins, the constituency will get unlimited grants. So he is hopeful that people will give us another chance," she added.
 

3:01 PM

Voting for JDS is like voting for Cong: Shah

Voting for JDS is like voting for Congress party, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said at an election rally.

"If no party gets a majority, JDS will join hands with Congress to form the government. So, voting for JDS is like voting for Congress," Shah said. 

Likewise, the Congress has said that it will bring back the canceled reservation for Muslims in Karnataka if it comes back to power. However, he asked the Congress, "Which reservations for other communities that have increased due to the cancellation of reservation for Muslims, will you re-give reservation to Muslims." 

2:28 PM

Deve Gowda holds a goat over his shoulder (WATCH)

Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal-Secular patriarch HD Deve Gowda holds a goat over his shoulder. The goat was presented by Kadugolla tribal community's president at an election rally.

1:50 PM

BJP is trying to turn Veerashaiva-Lingayats against me: Siddamraiah

'BJP is trying to pitch Veerashaiva-Lingayats against me. I said that everyone among the Veerashaiva-Lingayats was honest. But, I said that Basavaraja Bommai is a 'corrupt CM'. What's wrong with that? Is that a statement against caste,' asks Siddaramaiah when reporters asked him about whether he believed that his words were being twisted by the BJP.

11:55 AM

PM Modi to address 20 rallies in Karnataka before May 10

According to some reports, around 20 rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are planned in Karnataka in the next few days ahead of the assembly elections in the state on May 10. Prime Minister Modi is likely to address multiple rallies & lead mega roadshows on April 28-29, May 3-4-5 and May 7. 

11:47 AM

SC puts Muslim quota scrap on hold for now

In a setback of sorts for the BJP government in Karnataka, Supreme Court has directs that the Basavaraj Bommai-led administration's decision to scrap the four per cent quota of Muslims will not be implemented till May 9

The Karnataka government has assured that no admissions or appointments will take place on the basis of this government order till May 9 

Supreme Court has adjourns till May 9 the hearing on plea challenging the Karnataka government's decision.

10:37 AM

Rebellion eases in Congress and BJP

List of rebel candidates who have taken back nomination papers

BJP

- Mahadevappa Yadavada-Ramadurga
- Ramanna Lamani-shirahatti
- Bsavaraja Koravara-Dharawad
-Shivaprakash-Mayakonda

Congress

- Sharada Shetty-Kumata
- Gangambike Mallikarjun-Chikkapete
- Ravi Bosaraju - Raichuru City
- Venkatesh Hegde-sirsi
- Prasad Raj Kanchan -Udupi
- Krishnamurthy Acharya-Udupi
- Dr H Krishna-Mandya

10:11 AM

Amit Shah on a campaign blitz in Karnataka today

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a campaign blitz today. He has a packed schedule

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri ’s Public Programs in Karnataka on 25th April 2023.

Watch live:

📺https://t.co/ZFyEVlesOi
📺https://t.co/vpP0MIos7C
📺https://t.co/lcXkSnOnsV
📺https://t.co/4XQ2GzrhRl pic.twitter.com/tZazMZ7fXH

— BJP (@BJP4India)

10:09 AM

Priyanka in Mysore and Chamrajnagar, Kharge in Mangaluru and Sullia

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will be campaigning in Mangaluru and Sullia today.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi will be in Mysore and Chamrajnagar districts today to attend a public meeting, Women Samvaad and a massive roadshow.

10:02 AM

'We cannot ignore even one vote...' EC woos young voters in Bengaluru

Bengaluru District Election Officer and BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath has appealed to the students that every young voter should vote on May 10 to strengthen the democratic system.

He was speaking to launch a program to create awareness among young voters about voting at Vijaya College in Block 4 of Jayanagar on Monday in the wake of the general assembly elections.

First-time voters will have a lot of enthusiasm to vote, and they should vote with others as well, he said, suggesting that all the young voters who are voting for the first time should act as ambassadors not only from their own houses but also among the voters of neighbouring houses to make them aware about voting and encourage them to vote.

"In Bengaluru city, the voting percentage is only 52 per ent. To increase it to 75 per cent, a lot of programs are being conducted by the Election Commission of India and the BBMP. Young voters should vote for the right candidate according to their discretion and criteria. We cannot ignore even one vote," he said.

9:02 AM

Karnataka Election 2023: 2913 candidates in the fray

Monday was the last day for taking back the nomination papers. Let's take a look at some numbers

* 2913 candidates are in the fight

* 184 female candidates

* 2477 male candidates

* 2 transgenders

* 517 candidates took their nomination papers back

8:58 AM

'Why does Congress love Lingayats only during elections?'

"Why does Congress love Lingayats only during elections? Why does Congress get love and respect for Lingayats only during elections? Where did this love go when Virendra Patil or Nijalingappa were insulted earlier," BJP Vice President BY Vijayendra asked while slamming the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi after the latter visited Kudala Sangama -- an important centre of pilgrimage for Lingayats -- on Sunday.

Vijayendra continued: "In the 1989 elections, under the leadership of Virendra Patil, the Congress won 178 seats and achieved a landslide victory. However, the Congress leadership showed arrogance towards the then popular Lingayat CM." He recalled how contempt towards Lingayat leaders had crushed the Congress in subsequent elections.

8:52 AM

Congress cries foul over BJP plans to use naval land for PM's rally in Uttara Kannada

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to arrive in the coastal district of Uttara Kannada with the intention of ensuring a clean sweep for the BJP in the region. However, now a controversy has erupted over one of the venues zeroed in by the BJP -- the naval land in Hattikeri in Ankola Taluk. The Congress is preparing to move the court against the BJP's plans to hold a program on naval property.

BJP leaders have written a letter to the Navy seeking permission to hold PM Modi's election campaign rally on the land owned by the force near Hattikeri village in Ankola. The land is earmarked for a proposed Naval air station. 

According to the Congress party, campaigning in the naval base is not only a violation of the code of conduct, but it is also not right from the security point of view of the country. The Congress, which insists that the PM's event should not be allowed to be held at the naval property, has warned that it will lodge a complaint with the Election Commission and file a case in the court and protest.

6:50 PM IST:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the Congress party had always been insulting the Lingayat community. The Congress gave only two Lingayat chief ministers during its long rule and both of them were humiliated and thrown out, he said at an election rally.

कांग्रेस पार्टी हमेशा से लिंगायतों का अपमान करती रही है।

कांग्रेस ने अपने इतने लंबे शासन में सिर्फ दो ही लिंगायत मुख्यमंत्री दिए और दोनों को अपमानित करके बाहर भी कर दिया।

- श्री

पूरा वीडियो देखें:https://t.co/wEKDbuAYGT pic.twitter.com/qaW6OvPJEx

— BJP (@BJP4India)

 

5:19 PM IST:

Former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's wife Anita Kumaraswamy has been campaigning for her husband due to the latter's ill health. Speaking about HDK's illness, said: "I campaigned on his behalf in Channapatnam. He was a little tired. So one day he was treated in the hospital. He did not drink much water. Children are stubborn when it comes to food. If you eat only yoghurt, you are not eating properly. So he got sick. Now he has recovered."

"I campaigned all over Channapatnam. People are responding well. And people are also intelligent. They understand Kumaraswamy. Kumaraswamy is a CM candidate. So if he wins, the constituency will get unlimited grants. So he is hopeful that people will give us another chance," she added.
 

3:01 PM IST:

Voting for JDS is like voting for Congress party, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said at an election rally.

"If no party gets a majority, JDS will join hands with Congress to form the government. So, voting for JDS is like voting for Congress," Shah said. 

Likewise, the Congress has said that it will bring back the canceled reservation for Muslims in Karnataka if it comes back to power. However, he asked the Congress, "Which reservations for other communities that have increased due to the cancellation of reservation for Muslims, will you re-give reservation to Muslims." 

2:28 PM IST:

Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal-Secular patriarch HD Deve Gowda holds a goat over his shoulder. The goat was presented by Kadugolla tribal community's president at an election rally.

1:50 PM IST:

'BJP is trying to pitch Veerashaiva-Lingayats against me. I said that everyone among the Veerashaiva-Lingayats was honest. But, I said that Basavaraja Bommai is a 'corrupt CM'. What's wrong with that? Is that a statement against caste,' asks Siddaramaiah when reporters asked him about whether he believed that his words were being twisted by the BJP.

11:55 AM IST:

According to some reports, around 20 rallies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are planned in Karnataka in the next few days ahead of the assembly elections in the state on May 10. Prime Minister Modi is likely to address multiple rallies & lead mega roadshows on April 28-29, May 3-4-5 and May 7. 

11:47 AM IST:

In a setback of sorts for the BJP government in Karnataka, Supreme Court has directs that the Basavaraj Bommai-led administration's decision to scrap the four per cent quota of Muslims will not be implemented till May 9

The Karnataka government has assured that no admissions or appointments will take place on the basis of this government order till May 9 

Supreme Court has adjourns till May 9 the hearing on plea challenging the Karnataka government's decision.

10:37 AM IST:

List of rebel candidates who have taken back nomination papers

BJP

- Mahadevappa Yadavada-Ramadurga
- Ramanna Lamani-shirahatti
- Bsavaraja Koravara-Dharawad
-Shivaprakash-Mayakonda

Congress

- Sharada Shetty-Kumata
- Gangambike Mallikarjun-Chikkapete
- Ravi Bosaraju - Raichuru City
- Venkatesh Hegde-sirsi
- Prasad Raj Kanchan -Udupi
- Krishnamurthy Acharya-Udupi
- Dr H Krishna-Mandya

10:11 AM IST:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a campaign blitz today. He has a packed schedule

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri ’s Public Programs in Karnataka on 25th April 2023.

Watch live:

📺https://t.co/ZFyEVlesOi
📺https://t.co/vpP0MIos7C
📺https://t.co/lcXkSnOnsV
📺https://t.co/4XQ2GzrhRl pic.twitter.com/tZazMZ7fXH

— BJP (@BJP4India)

10:09 AM IST:

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will be campaigning in Mangaluru and Sullia today.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi will be in Mysore and Chamrajnagar districts today to attend a public meeting, Women Samvaad and a massive roadshow.

10:02 AM IST:

Bengaluru District Election Officer and BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath has appealed to the students that every young voter should vote on May 10 to strengthen the democratic system.

He was speaking to launch a program to create awareness among young voters about voting at Vijaya College in Block 4 of Jayanagar on Monday in the wake of the general assembly elections.

First-time voters will have a lot of enthusiasm to vote, and they should vote with others as well, he said, suggesting that all the young voters who are voting for the first time should act as ambassadors not only from their own houses but also among the voters of neighbouring houses to make them aware about voting and encourage them to vote.

"In Bengaluru city, the voting percentage is only 52 per ent. To increase it to 75 per cent, a lot of programs are being conducted by the Election Commission of India and the BBMP. Young voters should vote for the right candidate according to their discretion and criteria. We cannot ignore even one vote," he said.

9:02 AM IST:

Monday was the last day for taking back the nomination papers. Let's take a look at some numbers

* 2913 candidates are in the fight

* 184 female candidates

* 2477 male candidates

* 2 transgenders

* 517 candidates took their nomination papers back

8:58 AM IST:

"Why does Congress love Lingayats only during elections? Why does Congress get love and respect for Lingayats only during elections? Where did this love go when Virendra Patil or Nijalingappa were insulted earlier," BJP Vice President BY Vijayendra asked while slamming the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi after the latter visited Kudala Sangama -- an important centre of pilgrimage for Lingayats -- on Sunday.

Vijayendra continued: "In the 1989 elections, under the leadership of Virendra Patil, the Congress won 178 seats and achieved a landslide victory. However, the Congress leadership showed arrogance towards the then popular Lingayat CM." He recalled how contempt towards Lingayat leaders had crushed the Congress in subsequent elections.

8:52 AM IST:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to arrive in the coastal district of Uttara Kannada with the intention of ensuring a clean sweep for the BJP in the region. However, now a controversy has erupted over one of the venues zeroed in by the BJP -- the naval land in Hattikeri in Ankola Taluk. The Congress is preparing to move the court against the BJP's plans to hold a program on naval property.

BJP leaders have written a letter to the Navy seeking permission to hold PM Modi's election campaign rally on the land owned by the force near Hattikeri village in Ankola. The land is earmarked for a proposed Naval air station. 

According to the Congress party, campaigning in the naval base is not only a violation of the code of conduct, but it is also not right from the security point of view of the country. The Congress, which insists that the PM's event should not be allowed to be held at the naval property, has warned that it will lodge a complaint with the Election Commission and file a case in the court and protest.