As per the latest survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS-ABP News ahead of Karnataka Assembly polls, Congress is likely to beat its rivals BJP and JD(S) in a closely fought race.

The pre-poll survey which was conducted between April 27 and May 3 indicates that the Congress with a 38 percent of the vote share is ahead of the BJP. But it is still short of the half way mark by a few seats. The survey predicts 33 % vote share for BJP while the JD(S) will be a distant third with 22 percent of the votes.

But according to the survey the Congress has not gained much from the Lingayat card played by recommending religion status for the dominant community. However, though according to the survey 61 percent of the Lingayats may vote for the BJP, as much as 43% of the Lingayats support the separate religion status.

It may be recalled that the previous survey conducted by a Jain University-Lokniti-CSDS indicated that no party would get majority and predicted hung assembly in the state. The selection of candidates and the vigorous campaigning appears to have given an edge with Congress much ahead of its principal rival, the BJP.

The latest survey also shows that the ruling Congress is inching ahead in all regions of the state – Hyderabad-Karnataka, coastal Karnataka, Mumbai-Karnataka and others, except the Old Mysuru region in south Karnataka where it is trailing behind the JD(S), led by former PM H D Deve Gowda.

The previous survey by the same agency had predicted that the BJP would be ahead in coastal Karnataka and Mumbai Karnataka. But the new survey has succeeded in wresting power in these both regions. The survey also shows that the Congress still has suport Kurubas (of Siddaramaiah’s community), the minority, Dalit and tribal voters. Though the JD(S) is preferred by the Vokkaliga voters, the Congress too has made some inroads into this dominant caste. The survey also reveals that a majority of the farmers are backing the Congress.

The survey further indicates that the electorate has given priority to the real issues pertaining to the state. The people of Karnataka have once again chosen Siddaramaiah as most preferred chief ministerial choice, followed by BJP’s CM nominee, B S Yeddyurappa and the JD(S) nominee, H D Kumaraswamy in this survey.

West Bengal Congress President Adhir Chowdhury on Monday accused the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress of conspiring to weaken his party’s strength in the state while simultaniously promoting the rise of BJP.

Talking to the reporters at the press club here, Chowdhury claimed that the Trinamool is resorting to different tactics like blackmailing, registering fake police cases to scare the Congress leaders and activists away from the party.

Admitting that the strength of Congress has gone down in Bengal since 1977, the leader said winning 44 seats in the state assembly polls show that Congress is still a formidable force here.

Chowdhury also accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of conspiring with the BJP in Delhi and “Trinamool and BJP has the same political DNA.”

About the upcoming Panchayat polls, he said he feared that the polling date of May 14 would be marred with violence by the Trinamool-backed miscreants and urged the State Election Commission to stop dancing to the tune of the party in power and take necessary steps to conduct the election in a proper way.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi by likening him to a mobile phone, saying that “Modiji uses only speaker and airplane mode and not work mode”.

Gandhi’s retort came in response to a query from reporters about Modi’s jibe at an election rally that the Congress would be reduced to “PPP (Punjab, Puducherry and Parivar) Congress” after the Karnataka polls.

“There are three modes in a cell phone: the first is the work mode, the other two are speaker mode and airplane mode. Modiji only uses speaker and airplane mode, he never uses work mode,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi, who held a protest here over rise in prices of petroleum products, alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s chief ministerial candidate in Karnataka B.S. Yeddyurappa and Reddy brothers were “most corrupt” and asked Modi why he was “shielding” them.

Gandhi also targeted Modi on issues like atrocities against Dalits, who were being “suppressed, crushed in the country”. He accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fountainhead of the BJP, of being against the progress of the Dalits.

“There is the example of Rohith Vemula. Whenever a Dalit goes towards education, wants to transform his life, the RSS and its thinking stops him,” he said.

“Modiji said B.S. Yeddyurappa is their chief ministerial candidate. Yedyurappaji is the most corrupt CM that the country has ever seen. Reddy brothers are the most corrupt people that this country has ever seen. Modiji should tell why he is protecting corrupt Yedyurappaji and Reddy brothers,” he said.

Gandhi also accused Modi of ignoring the farmers of the state.

“He should tell what he was doing when the farmers of Karnataka were seeking a loan waiver. The Karnataka government waived off loans of Rs 8,000 crore. Why did Modiji not contribute a single rupee?” he said asked.

He further said that Modi had not raised the Doklam issue with China during his recent visit to the neigbhouring country.

“Modiji should tell is why did he go to China. China has intruded into Doklam, it is constructing a helipad there and our PM is having tea and greeting them. He did not speak a word on Doklam,” he said.

“The Congress will return to power here. Siddaramaiahji has done very good work. We will win elections,” he added.

Congress leader Anand Sharma on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lost all his credibility and is stooping to new levels in the runup to the Karanata Assembly elections by dragging in the name of Indian Army and religion for votes.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no impact because he has lost his credibility. People have no hope from his promises and the trust that he had gained in 2014 has evaporated and that is reflected in the desperation and the tactics employed by him who has stooped to new low levels.

“Modi is the first Prime Minister who has repeatedly dragged the Indian Army, the soldiers and the Generals for electoral gains to emotionally exploit the people,” he said.

The former Union Minister accused Modi of openly seeking votes by “creating suspicion, tension and division among communities, groups and religions”, adding the design of the BJP-RSS is clear from their statements and the happenings in some parts of the country.

“A list of martyrs of the BJP has been released by the BJP leadership in Karnataka and many of the people are alive. So, this is the level to which they have stooped. They are levelling false accusations. His language is not in accordance with the dignity of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Sharma claimed that Modi has said several other things in this election campaign that showed he has not yet understood the responsibilities of the post of Prime Minister.

“Modi should realize that he is no more a leader in opposition, but for the last four years he is the Prime Minister of the country. And, he should behave like one … the world watches what the leader of a country is saying and if he says something wrong then he is ridiculed,” he said.

Modi and BJP President Amit Shah have destroyed the country’s economy, destroyed job opportunities and weakened social unity and the composite culture of this country, he said.

“This is only one state election, wait for 2019 and I can say this with responsibility, that this government is now in the departure lounge. The Prime Minister and his government will be given a send-off in 2019 for what they have done to the country,” Sharma added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday rejected the Congress accusation against his government of not creating enough jobs and claimed that several of its initiatives led to the creation of jobs in the public and private sectors.

Modi, in turn, held the Congress responsible for the unemployment situation and accused it of opposing technologies/initiatives like the EVMs and Aadhaar.

“With emphasis on public and private sectors, we are also focussing on personal sector for employment. The pace of work on the infrastructure projects has been increased,” Modi said in response to a query while addressing Bharatiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha ‘karyakartas’ through his NaMo app.

Highlighting how the National Democratic Alliance government was strengthening the personal sector, he said that the country’s infrastructure sector was growing rapidly and added that without employing more people it was not possible to achieve this growth.

He mentioned a World Bank report on easing business environment in India and how through the Mudra Yojana a platform was being provided to budding entrepreneurs across the country.

Modi said that due to the government initiative, India had emerged as the best destination for foreign investment and this has been approved by various credit agencies.

“The Foreign Direct Investment in India has reached its highest level, which is consistently increasing,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that under the Mudra Yojana, loans of Rs 1.27 crore have been disbursed to the youth of Karnataka without any collateral.

“This constitutes 11 per cent of the total Mudra loans disbursed so far. Youngsters are not only becoming self-dependent, but also creating jobs for others,” he said.

Modi said that in the last few years, immense growth was seen in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) accounts.

“Due to demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax, there has been a great change in the formal sector. Workers are getting proper benefits in the social sector. The figures of EPFO accounts prove that there has been growth in the formal sector,” he said.

Dubbing the Congress criticism on employment and job creation fronts as a “conspiracy”, he said that the opposition party has been putting the blame on the BJP government because it failed to do anything during its 10-year rule from 2004-14.

“The Congress has nothing to say about its own achievements. They ruled the country for 60 years and what did they do for employment generation? If there is unemployment, is that due to four years of our government? So, they find it easy to accuse us and spread lies,” he said.

Modi said that the Congress is spreading lies and hatching conspiracies to put the onus on the NDA government for its own failures.

Terming employment generation as the “biggest problem” in the country, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has been attacking the Centre for not fulfilling the promise of creating two crore jobs every year, which the BJP made ahead of the 2014 elections.

Responding to a query over rising political violence, the Prime Minister said there can be no place for such violence in Indian democracy.

“But of late, I have seen that such violence is on the rise in some states. In Karnataka too, we have seen how brutally our ‘karyakartas’ have been murdered. It’s highly condemnable.

“Violence in any form should not be allowed by any political party or ideology in democracy. I appeal to BJP’s youth workers in Karnataka not to act with vengeance even when they have lost their several colleagues in political violence,” he added.

Modi accused the Congress of opposing technologies/gadgets like the Electronic Voting Machines and the Aadhaar initiative and noted how the BJP was promoting technology in every sector.

“In this age of Artificial Intelligence, India cannot lag behind. Through technology, we are promoting skill development,” he said.

On a question on strengthening the demographic dividends of the country, he said that the government’s stress was on quality of education and quantity of opportunities.

“The government is committed to increased higher education facilities,” he said while shedding light on the Atal Innovation Mission. He said the initiative was promoting research and scientific temper among the students.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa to an open debate with him.

“Prime Minister Modi is deliberately confusing Karnataka voters with his bombastic speeches on non-issues. All hot air and no substance. My contest is not with him. It is with Yeddyurappa,” tweeted Siddaramaiah.

“I challenge him to an open debate on issues on a single platform. Will he accept? Modi is also welcome,” he added.

Siddaramaiah said: “I will speak extempore. They can bring paper. Come on BSY ‘avare’ let people see who they are voting for beyond the smokescreen created by hot air from Modi-Shah-Yogi (Modi-Amit Shah-Yogi Adityanath) team,” he added.

Karnataka Assembly elections are scheduled for May 12.

The Congress, Modi demanded, make it clear if it had a secret understanding with JD(S) or not. He said it was with the support of Deve Gowda’s party that the Congress had its mayor in Bengaluru.

After criticising Congress chief Rahul Gandhi of having insulted JD(S) chief HD Kumaraswamy, PM Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Congress and the JD(S) have entered into a “secret” pact for the Karnataka Assembly polls.

Prime Minister Modi said H D Deve Gowda’s party was “protecting” the Congress.

“If anyone is protecting the Congress, it is the JD(S)… Congress and JD(S) have a secret understanding…an understanding behind the curtains,” said Modi.

Addressing an election rally here, Modi alleged that the Congress, for years, spoke about poverty eradication only to garner votes, while neglecting farmers and the poor.

“Poll surveys, political pundits…everyone is saying the JD(S) cannot defeat Congress. They cannot form government. If anyone can change the government in Karnataka, it is the BJP,” said Modi.

The Congress, Modi demanded, make it clear if it had a secret understanding with JD(S) or not. He said it was with the support of Deve Gowda’s party that the Congress had its mayor in Bengaluru.

“Why are you hiding this? Congress should have the courage to speak out the truth to people,” said the PM.

Modi, however, insisted he still has respect for Deve Gowda, who had announced before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls that he would commit suicide if he became the prime minister.

The PM said despite Deve Gowda opposing him, when he came to Karnataka for campaigning during the Lok Sabha elections, he wished the JD(S) leader should live for 100 years and serve the society.

“Garibi, garibi, garibi (poverty, poverty, poverty) was their constant rant. But once the son of a poor mother became the prime minister, they clammed shut…now they don’t talk about poverty,” he said.

He alleged the Congress was responsible for the backwardness of Tumakuru.

The farmers, he said, were suffering because of the policies of successive Congress governments at the Centre and in the state.

“Congress needs to be punished for ensuring Karnataka has a better future,” Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address four public rallies in Tumkur, Gadag, Shimoga and Mangaluru on Saturday (May 05)

Modi is on a whirlwind tour of election-bound Karnataka since May 01. After an overnight stay in Mangaluru, he will take up campaigning again in Chitradurga, Raichur, Jamkhandi and Hubballi on Sunday (May 06)

BJP State President B S Yeddyurappa will campaign in M K Hubli and also share the dias with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his rally in Shimoga today.

BJP National President Amit Shah will lead road shows in Mysuru district.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh is addressing four public rallies in Kalburgi district today and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will conclude his three days campaign today in the state.

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

Congress leaders Dr. Shashi Tharoor and Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi are campaigning in Bengaluru on Saturday (May 05).

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and JD(S) State President H D Kumaraswamy are also campaigning in Bagalkote and other places today.

As the countdown begins for the May 12th assembly election in Karnataka, campaign has reached its peak.

On the other hand voters education efforts have also not stayed behind. Apart from Election Commission, a number of other citizen-centric organisations across the state are actively spreading awareness about the importance of exercising our franchise.

Bengaluru city where voters turnout has always remained around 50 percent, a mock poll is being organised today by umbrella of such organisations including Change my city and Citizen Action Group. The programme is called ‘My vote, Our welfare’ where distinguished citizens of the city will take part in the mock poll.

Another organisation known as Karnataka Election Watch is releasing Affidavits based report on Sunday (May 06) on candidates who are contesting the election to help voters take informed decision before they cast their vote.

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

Launching a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday questioned his silence on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders facing corruption charges.

“Dear Modi ji, You talk a lot. Problem is, your actions don’t match your words. Here’s a primer on your candidate selection in Karnataka,” Gandhi tweeted along with a video asking if the Prime Minister will speak for five minutes on the eight tickets to the “Reddy brothers gang”.

The video plays like an episode of “Karnataka’s Most Wanted”.

“Making someone who has 23 cases of corruption, cheating, forgery your CM candidate? When will you speak on your top 11 leaders facing corruption cases,” it questioned.

The clip named B. Sriamulu, G. Somashekara Reddy, T.H. Suresh Babu, Katta Subramanya Naidu, C.T. Ravi, Murugesh Nirani, ES EN Krishnaiah Shetty Malur, K. Shivanagouda Naik, R. Ashok, and Shobha Karandlaje as the 11 BJP candidates facing crimnal cases.

“Putting a lid on the Rs 35,000 crore illegal iron ore mining scam of the Reddy brothers. Waiting your reply. PS: You can refer to a paper for answers,” it said.

The attack came ahead of polling for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, to be held on May 12.

The results will be declared on May 15.

(IANS)