Fingers Crossed on Karnataka

Fingers are crossed on what will happen in Karnataka elections that has witnessed intense drama and intrigue. Both Bharatiya Janata Party and ruling party in the State Congress indulged in a no holds barred fight leveling acquisition after acquisition on each other.
As the state prepares for tomorrow's assembly polls, the Election Commission has issued guidelines to political parties and media for strict compliance with the Model code of conduct till the election is over. The Election Commission has also imposed the ban on public opinion programmes in the media. 
The high-voltage campaigning for the Assembly polls concluded last evening. Polling for 223 assembly segments will be held tomorrow and counting will take place on 15th of this month, i.e. Tuesday. 
The election in Jayanagar Assembly constituency has been postponed following the death of BJP candidate B N Vijay Kumar. Total 2636 candidates are in fray out of which 617 are women. BJP has fielded 223 candidates while Congress has fielded 222 candidates. JD(S) is contesting in 201 constituencies. 
More than 58000 polling booths have been set up for over five crores six lakh voters. The young voters' size has also doubled compared to the last assembly elections in the state. It was 7 lakh 22 thousand in 2013 and now 15 lakh 72 thousand young voters were added in the electoral roll.
There are 58008 polling stations set up, including 1312 auxiliary booths. The Election Commission has identified 12001 of them as critical or sensitive booths The Election Commission has deployed 585 companies of Central forces comprising of 45000 personnel for the poll duty. Over 3,50,000 polling personnel are put on poll duty in the booths. 
Before reaching a standstill, Political parties and leaders made last ditch efforts to woo the voters. 
BJP National President Amit Shah and Congress President Pameshwaran addressed a press conference in Bengaluru yesterday. 
Shah accused Congress of adopting unfair means to rig the election. The BJP President said, there was 173 percent increase in the suicide of farmers in Karnataka and law and order situation has taken a nose dive. Shah alleged that 24 BJP and RSS workers were murdered in the state. 
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, his party fought a very good campaign, it stood together, raised fundamental issues and laid down a vision for the development of Karnataka.

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Karnataka Election : Amit Shah Ups the Ante

Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah has established himself as a fearsome strategist not for nothing. He comes with newer moves and counter moves with every poll. It is as if he especially relishes the electoral battles that bring to forth his unfathomable mastery in the poll strategies.
The newest salvo comes as he slough it out in the scorching sun of Karnataka. Shah has said that his  party will give account for the money spent during the 2019 election to  the Lok Sabha.
  "NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra  Modi will give account for the money spent during its five year term in  office," he said  addressing a  public meeting at Hungund.
In the same breath, he challenged Congress President Rahul Gandhib as well.
"Since it is a Assembly  election, he (Rahul) should give details of Siddaramaiah  government's performance during the last five years in office," he said.
Asserting that the BJP will form  the next government in Karnataka, Mr Shah said that Congress has already  lost Assembly elections in 12 States and in May 12 election also same  thing will happen and Congress will lose power.
The move is a smart one as it allows BJP to project itself as a transparent party. At the same time, it puts Congress in a tight spot as the latter is married by corruption scandals.
With this announcement, Amit Shah has upped the ante and now one waits for the response from Congress camp.

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