Election Opinion

A comprehensive survey commissioned by Asianet News Network and conducted by Jan Ki Baat between April 15 and May 1 has predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party would emerge as the single largest party in the state on May 13 when the counting of votes is undertaken.

What seemed like a close fight a month ago, now seems to be swinging in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The latest opinion poll commissioned by Asianet News Network and conducted by Jan ki Baat predicts that the Congress may have a close fight with the BJP in the Bengaluru, Central Karnataka and Hyderabad Karnataka regions

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi likened the promised ban on Bajrang Dal to locking up Hanuman and his devotees, former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa burnt the Congress manifesto, and Bajrang Dal activists tore the Congress document, hit it with slippers and held rallies in several parts of the state demonstrating their protest.

According to the ECI, nine out of 20 lowest voter turnout constituencies during the 2019 Lok Sabha were from Urban areas. It was a similar trend during Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh polls, urban constituencies had low voter turnout.

At some places, "Hanuman Chalisa" were also chanted. The protestors are slated to chant Hanuman Chalisa' on Thursday evening at  Hanuman temples or any other temple to protest against the Congress promise.

According to a report from election watch organisation Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), the Indian National Congress has 31 percent, BJP has 30 percent and JDS has 25 percent candidates with serious criminal cases against them as per the affidavits filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI).

In the final phase of electioneering, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in 20 events, while Union Minister for Home Amit Shah will attend 25 events. The union home minister is also expected to hold a series of meetings with party leaders across the state.

Ashok Kumar Rai is the Congress candidate from Puttur constituency for the upcoming state polls. So far, the police has seized over Rs 110 crore in cash. According to the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, as many as 2,346 FIRs have been filed with regard to the seizures.

After severing his decades-old ties with the saffron party, Jagadish Shettar now in his last leg of political career puts a Congress flag on his car and sets out for campaigning along with the party workers.

Addressing a public meeting in Dakshina Kannada district of coastal Karnataka, PM Modi said Congress' only identity is "appeasement politics". "Will you (people) allow such Congress to come to power, will you allow Karnataka to get ruined?"

In the upcoming polls, this constituency will see a contest between B Suresh Gowda from the BJP, GH Shanmukhappa Yadav from the Congress, and Gowri Shankar from the Janata Dal (Secular).

In this constituency, founder of Hindutva outfit Sri Rama Sena Pramod Mutalik is taking on Minister for Energy, Kannada and Culture and incumbent three-time BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar whose routes were in the Bajrang Dal.

The District Electoral Officer and chief commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Tushar Giri Nath, clarified that May 10 will be treated as a general holiday for all employees in Karnataka, regardless of whether they are voters or not.

The EC also notes that as per the MCC provisions, use of provocative and inflammatory statements, use of intemperate and abusive language transgressing the limits of decency and attacks on the personal character and conduct of political rivals vitiate the level playing field.