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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Congress Allowed Loot of Banks : PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused the successive Congress governments at the Centre of allowing a handful of people to loot banks while denying loans to poor. 

Begining his election campaign in Karnataka, Modi addressed several public rallies. He said, despite the nationalisation of banks poor remained out of the banking system until his government started helming the country. 

Modi said, there was a time when the poor had no bank accounts, they could not even think of going to a bank. He said, the poor were out of economic mainstream and banking system. 

Modi said, his government started the Jan Dhan scheme for them. 

The Prime Minister told the gathering that 28th April got a momentous day in the history of the country when all un-electrified villages were connected with power lines. 

He said, the NDA government will embark on a task of connecting 4 crore households which do not have electricity even after 70 years of independence.

The Prime Minister dared Congress President Rahul Gandhi to speak in any language for 15 minutes about the achievements of Karnataka's Siddaramaiah government without referring to a piece of paper. 

Mr. Modi said, he is a person from the working class and any criticism by Naamdhar, a person from famous family, will not deter him from taking up the development work. 

He assured people of Karnataka that all the pending projects in the state will be speeded up when BJP comes to power. Mr. Modi claimed over two dozen BJP workers were killed under the Congress government in Karnataka in political violence. 

He also spoke about his government promulgating an ordinance to pave the way for providing stringent punishment, including the death penalty, for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years.

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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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Amit Shah Begins Karnataka Expedition

BJP chief Amit Shah began his two-day visit to election-bound Karnataka with a visit to Suttur Matt in Mysuru today. He took the blessings of Suttur Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahasamiji’s blessings and appreciated the efforts of Swamiji in spreading the values of Indian culture and traditions.
Later, he paid a visit to Amba Vilas Palace and met erstwhile Mysore royal family. Union Minister Ananth Kumar, BJP state President B S Yeddyurappa and Member of Parliament Pratap Simha were present on this occasion. Amit Shah thereafter visited the house of Kyathamaranahalli Raju, an RSS activist who was hacked to death in 2016.
Speaking on the occasion, he said, 23 BJP workers were murdered in the state under Siddaramaiah Government and people have decided to end his rule. He assured the family members of those killed, that the culprits will be booked and punished when Yeddyurappa comes to power.
BJP national President Amit Shah did not reveal the details of his meeting with Mysore royal family. But this visit is considered important in the political circle. Speaking at the Navashakti samavesha in Mysuru he said Congress has lost many elections under Rahul Gandhi and the same will happen in Karnataka.
Later in the day, BJP President will interact with Dalit leaders today. This is the fourth leg of his tour in the state after his visit in north, central and coastal Karnataka regions. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too is campaigning in the Mysuru district today which will continue till April 2nd.

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Karnataka : FIR Registered Against Mohammad Nalapad

The police have registered an FIR against Mohammad Nalapad, the Bengaluru district youth Congress leader and son of Shantinagar MLA N A Haris in Karnataka, 

Mohammad Nalapad has been charged for allegedly beating up a person along with 10 of his supporters in a restaurant last night in UB city of Bengaluru. He has also been accused of threatening the victim at a hospital not to register any police complaint. The state Congress has already expelled Nalapad from the party for six years. 

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has tweeted that he has directed the police to take action as per the rules. Nalapad's whereabouts were not known. The man, identified as Vidwat, has been hospitalised, police said. Nalapad, General Secretary of Bengaluru District Youth Congress, is the son of Shantinagar MLA N A Harris.

According to the FIR, Nalapad and 10 of his supporters thrashed Dollars Colony resident Vidwath after a heated exchange. Vidwath, who already had a fractured leg, was rushed to a nearby hospital, but Nalapad and his supporters reportedly followed him there and threatened against pressing charges.

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