Bharatiya Janata Party has charged that the Congress party, in a
bid to polarise a section of voters, has joined hands with communal outfits like Popular Front of
India (PFI) and it’s poltical arm, Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) under the scanner of
National Investigation Agency (NIA) for their known links with terrorists.
Addressing a press conference here today State BJP General Secretary and MP, Kum.
Shobha Karandlaje said the NIA had already arrested some of the members from these
organisations for murdering Hindu karyakarthas such as Kuttappa, Rudresh, Sharath Madival,
Prashanth Pujari, and the Congress had a brazen association with such outfits.
She said the Congress party leaders including Chief Minister, Sri. Siddaramaiah negotiated
with these organisations and made them to withdraw the candidates in the Assembly elections. It
showed that the Congress party could stoop to any level to gain some votes. The people were
wise enough to see their divisive and appeasement politics and teach them a befitting lesson in
the coming Assembly election.
Frustrated by groundswell against him in Chamundeshwari and Badamai segments, Sri.
Siddaramaiah has indulged in low level politics. He had sensed the defeat of himself as well as his
party and was trying to confuse voters. He continued to spread canard about political
opponents. He had been spreading lies that BJP President Sri. Amith Shah and JDS leader Sri. H.
D. Kumaraswamy had discussion on April 13 last. But it was known fact that the BJP chief was in
hectic electioneering programme at Nandagadha, Mudhol and other places. The BJP had asked Sri
Siddaramaiah to come out with proof but the latter had not done it so far, she said.
Kum. Karandlaje said Sri. Siddaramaiah’s political ideology had been rooted in Janata
Pariwar for decades and he had a natural leaning towards it, because of which he opted for an
alliance with JDS in BBMP. They had been sharing power in BBMP for over 3 years. Also, both
parties were supportive each other in looting.
However, Sri Siddaramaiah had been spreading lies about BJP and JDS alliance. Perhaps
the Congress leader was trying to instil fear in minorities specially in Muslims, she said and
appealed to them to see through the ruling party design.
State BJP spokesperson, Dr. Vaman Acharya, Co-spokesperson Sri. Anwar Manappady and
Kum. C. Manjula were present.

If the children of film stars, doctors, businessmen can follow the same career as their parents, why not the children of politicians? In the Karnataka elections, that seems to be one of the arguments to justify tickets given to the children of senior politicians.

Five members of the cabinet, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his son Dr Yathindra who form the most prominent father-child combination, have their children fighting the elections. And while the BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa’s son Vijayendra isn’t a fellow candidate this time round, the Congress has many parent-child combinations.

Sowmya, daughter of Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who will be contesting from Jayanagar in south Bengaluru, has been an activist for around 20 years. She insists that initiatives taken by her justify the Congress’s faith in her.

She told ” It’s not that I was sitting at home and just asked for a ticket… In fact, a couple of years ago, I was outside the political system and fought as against the system. Around 10 years ago, I protested against my own government (Congress)… it was against my father’s programme, a poultry conference. And a few years ago, we had drafted a brilliant poultry bill. But over time, it just collected dust… That’s when I decided to take the plunge and be a part of the system because politics is the biggest vehicle for social change.”

Unlike Sowmya, Priya Krishna, the son of Housing Minister and real estate baron, M Krishnappa, is not a first-time candidate. On the campaign trail in his constituency of Govindrajnagar, he hopes to win the seat for the third time. “I’m definitely expecting more votes than last time,” he said while speaking to NDTV.

For years, the Congress has been accused of dynasty politics, and Randeep Singh Surjewala, media in charge of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) “It is a valid charge that I must answer.”

Sushma Swaraj and her husband are also part of the same family who held positions in the BJP. Yashwant Sinha, who recently resigned, and his son, have both been part of the power set-up in the BJP. Whether it is Dr Raman Singh and his son, or Vasundara Raje Scindia and her son who is BJP lawmaker… there are examples galore, he added.

“Ultimately, you have to succeed or fail on the strength of your own character, your own wisdom and hard work. If Mr Siddaramaiah’s son is fighting, the very fact that Yeddyurappa has to withdraw his son proves that the man is wedded to the grassroots, is simple and will deliver what the people want,” Mr Surjewala said.

The Assembly elections on May 12 are all set in Dakshina Kannada with 58 candidates contesting from the eight Assembly constituencies.

Candidates

DK DC and District Electoral Officer Sasikanth Senthil S. told the press on Friday that a maximum of 11 candidates each are contesting from Mangaluru City South and Puttur Assembly constituencies. Seven candidates each are contesting from Moodbidri and Mangaluru City North constituencies, while six each are contesting from Belthangady and Sullia constituencies. Five candidates each are contesting from Mangaluru and Bantwal Assembly constituencies.

There are total of 17,11,848 voters in the district of which 8,41,073 are men, 8,70,675 women and 100 transgenders.

2.4 lakh voters are from Mangaluru City South, 2.34 lakh from Mangaluru City North, 2.18 lakh from Belthangady, 2.21 lakh from Bantwal, 2.01 lakh from Puttur, 2 lakh from Moodbidri, 1.95 lakh from Mangaluru and 1.98 lakh from Sullia Assembly constituencies. Postal ballots are being issued for 380 service voters.

Speaking of first time voters he said, “We have made arrangements to deliver the cards to all voters. While the cards have been delivered to a majority of the newly registered voters, arrangements have been made to reach the cards to a few remaining voters.”

“There are a total of 1,858 polling stations of which 517 are critical ones. There are adequate numbers of polling personnel who have undergone one round of training. The EVMs and VVPATs for all the polling stations have been kept in the strong rooms of each Assembly constituency,” he mentioned.

Code of Conduct violations

A majority of the 142 complaints received at the Complaint Monitoring System, are related to defacement of public property followed by model code of conduct violations at meetings of political parties. The District Election Commission teams have seized five vehicles and recovered Rs. 11.84 lakh in cash that was unaccounted for so far.

(PTI)

The Election Commission has asked the pre-affirmation board of trustees to reevaluate the substance of three election related advertisement issued by the BJP and requested broadcasting companies, radio channels, online networking and other advanced media to restrain from airing the advertisements.

The request issued by the Karnataka Elections State-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee on Friday depended on a complaint by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, which took complaint to the advertisements— Jana Virdohi Sarkara (hostile to individuals government), Viphala Sarkara (failed government) and Mooru Bhagya (three Bhagya — plans propelled by the Congress government).

In its complaint, the Congress had protested these advertisements and had looked for action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and State unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa, who are in charge of distributing the advertisements.

The board of trustees has been advised to rethink the substance and pass suitable actions within 24 hours.

Shobha Karandlaje, BJP general secretary, said the partyhad been airing the television commercials for the election campaign after due authorization from the regional office of the Election Commission and the current request to stop them likened to partisanship.

(PTI)

The Election Commission (EC) authorities and police seized gold arnaments weighing 58 kgs being transported in a vehicle of a courier company amid a routine check up at the Balepura check-post under Devanahalli constituency on April 27, probably intended to impact voters over the State.

Election Commission authorities and police have been doing checking by setting up additional check points in the state after the model code of conduct came into force in the state.

Authorities caught the Blue Dart courier vehicle close Balepura check post and confiscated gold jewelry being transported without legitimate documents. The ornaments produced by Tanishq (a Tata group company) was en route towards Hosur in Tamil Nadu, when they stopped the Bolero vehicle close Devanahalli.

Doddaballpur Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Mohan Kumar, Vijayapura Circle Inspector of Police (CI) Manjunath, Channarayapatna Sub-Inspector (SI) Anand, election authorities C N Manjunatha, Tahsildar Rajanna went to the spot and investigated the things seized before giving them over to the police.

(PTI)

Forty-year-old Kamanna Heggri, an army havildar, has taken a month’s leave to visit his village near this historical town in northern Karnataka best known for its famous cave temples. His mission now is to vote for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is contesting the assembly election from Badami, a constituency with a sizeable population of Kurubas, a community to which he belongs.

The constituency also has significant presence of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes Muslims and other backward castes — the bedrock of Siddaramaiah’s support base. However, a section of the voters is not going gaga over Siddaramaiah’s decision to enter the fray from here, largely because he opted for Badami as his second choice, amid reports that he was on a sticky wicket in Chamundeshwari in Mysore district.

“I have come to vote for Siddaramaiah. Is it not a matter of pride that a sitting CM is seeking election from our place,” asked Heggri. “How can we let him down? His election will certainly lead to development of the area,” he said. He claims dozens like him in the army hailing from Badami in Bagalakote district are now home-bound just to vote for Siddaramaiah.

However, not all in this nondescript town, which came under media spotlight after Siddaramaiah threw his hat into the ring, share Heggri’s enthusiasm. “Is he (Siddaramaiah) not an outsider? What has he done for Badami in the last five years? According to some media reports, he is contesting from here as he is not confident of victory in Chamundeshwari,” said Veeresh, a Badami voter.

Another voter felt the chief minister’s decision to contest from here was “opportunistic”. “How many times did Siddaramaiah visit Badami in the last five years? If he wins from here and Chamundeshwari, he will certainly give up this seat,” a resident, in his 50s, said.

Siddaramaiah government’s schemes like “Anna Bhagya”– a flagship project to make foodgrains available to common people at affordable prices– have made people lazy and ensured that they get benefits easily without having to do anything, said another Badami resident.

Instead, he should have attempted to empower them, said the man who did not wish to be identified. “There hasn’t been any development in Badami, where there is tremendous potential for tourism,” he said. As Siddaramaiah’s decision to contest from two places sparked a debate, with people seen involved in animated discussions over the move, the BJP and the JD(S) claimed the fear of an imminent defeat in Chamundeshwari prompted him to also contest from Badami, the capital of Chalukya dynasty between the 6th and the 12th centuries.

The Congress and Siddaramaiah have rejected the imputations, and insisted that people of this region wanted him to contest from Badami also. A political analyst said the Congress is hoping that the chief minister’s presence in the fray here would infuse fresh energy into the party’s campaign in north Karnataka.

The BJP considers the area its stronghold, especially the districts of Bagalakote, Vijayapura, Dharwad and Gadag. Congress leaders feel that Siddaramaiah’s presence would encourage the fence-sitters to vote for the party. Former minister and five-time Badami Congress MLA, B B Chimmanakatti, who is ailing, was reluctant to give up his seat initially but eventually fell in line.

The BJP has fielded Ballari Lok Sabha member and influential tribal leader of the region, B Sriramulu, for the seat. With Sriramulu, a confidant of the resourceful and controversial Reddy brothers, joining the fray, the contest for Badami has become a big-ticket battle.

For Sriramulu too, Badami is the second constituency he is contesting apart from Molakalmuru in Chitradurga district. JD(S) candidate Hanumantha Mavinamarada, who is a local, is also putting up a spirited fight. “Both Siddaramaiah and Sriramulu are outsiders. I will win with a good margin,” said Mavinamarada, exuding confidence.

He said he had released his election manifesto a year ago with details about what he will do for the constituency. “One person (Siddaramaiah) wants to win from here and go (later resign), and another person (Sriramulu) wants to defeat him. That”s their aim,” Mavinamarada said. As he entered the battle, Siddaramaiah lost no opportunity to invoke the “Kannada pride”.

“Badami (or ancient Vatapi) was the seat of power of the Chalukyas. Let us revive the memories of the glorious Kannada dynasty,” Siddaramaiah tweeted after filing the nominations amid fanfare.

(PTI)

PM Modi to address series of rallies beginning May 1
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is organising Mahila Jagruthi interaction across the state on Saturday (April 28) in which Union ministers Nirmala Sitaraman, Smriti Irani, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyothi and spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi and others will take part.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a series of rallies in Karnataka beginning May 1 for assembly elections. He is scheduled to address public rallies in Chamrajnagar, Udupi and Belagavi districts on the 1st of May.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be on statewide tour from today. He will hit the campaign trail from Belagavi and travel south in the next ten days. Meanwhile, Congress has charged that BJP is spreading false information among voters.

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

In Karnataka, the Election Model of Conduct is enforced all over the state and Flying Squad teams have seized cash worth over 40 crore rupees and booked 553 cases so far.

The state-owned Mysore Paints and Varnish company has supplied one lakh 32 thousand vials of indelible ink for the forthcoming assembly election. Each vial contains 10 ml of indelible ink and can be used to mark the fingers of 800 voters.

BJP national President Amit Shah is campaigning in Bagalkote and Vijayapura. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will begin his state wide campaign from Belagavi and JD(S) state President H D Kumaraswamy will campaign in Chintamani today. Union Defence minister Nirmala Sitaraman will inaugurate Mahila Jagruthi interaction programme in Bengaluru today.

On Friday (April 27), A BJP delegation led by Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met the Election Commission in New Delhi and demanded free and fair elections in Karnataka. They submitted a list of officials to the Election Commission, including the Commissioner of Bengaluru, “who are interfering in fair conduct of polls”.

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati yesterday gave a clarion call to voters to keep both the Congress and BJP at bay and vote for the JD(S)-BSP combine to create an inclusive society.

Mayawati was in Mysuru yesterday to launch the campaign of the JD(S)-BSP combine ahead of the polls and she addressed a rally at Maharaja’s College Grounds. “I urge you to reject the Congress and the BJP which have neglected the poor, the Dalits and the backward classes.
The Congress, which had a stronghold over the Governments in the country for several decades, did not allow the downtrodden to prosper, for its political gains,” she charged.

“In view of promoting the welfare of the Dalits and backward classes, the BSP has formed a coalition with the JD(S) in Karnataka. When the BSP was in power in Uttar Pradesh, it strived for the development of all communities. If the JD(S)-BSP combine is voted to power, Kumaraswamy will give a pro-people administration,” she said.

She exuded confidence that the JD(S) and BSP combine is a winnable combination and Kumaraswamy will be the next Chief Minister of Karnataka. “The BJP and team were against the implementation of the Mandal Commission Report. The Congress praised Dalits but it didn’t implement the Commission Report. The Congress also failed to recognise the services of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar by giving him Bharat Ratna. It was the V.P. Singh Government that fulfilled both the wishes of BSP,” she stated.

In the days to come, B Sriramulu will play a bigger role in the Karnataka BJP. His responsibilities have already increased and there is a strong rumour that he is likely to be made the deputy chief minister candidate.
As of today, he is the most influential leader in the party after B S Yeddyurappa. Among the ST community, he is revered and also considered as one of their tallest leader. He is expected to consolidate the Dalit votes in these belts. If he is projected as a Deputy CM then this could have an impact in other parts of the state as well. Sriramulu would not just restrict himself to campaigning at his constituency and Ballari.
He would travel the state for the campaign. Sriramulu has been portrayed as the undisputed leader of the ST community. The party felt that such strong leaders must be moved out of their comfort zone so that they can influence a larger number of votes outside their original constituency. On the other hand, Sriramulu fits perfectly well into the scheme of things at a time when the BJP is trying to swing the pro-tribal votes in its favour. In a bid to do this Sriramulu is the star campaigner. Not only is his contest from Molakmuru expected to bring the votes from the constituency, but he would make a difference in Chitradurga, Davangere and Ballari. He has also been asked to fight in Badami against Chief Minister

Siddaramaiah and this is an indicator of how high he has risen in the party. That Sriramulu, considered close to mining baron G Janaradhana Reddy, has gained in importance became evident with the BJP fielding him from Badami against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and also asked him to campaign extensively in the region. The chief minister is also trying his luck from Chamundeshwari constituency while Sreeramulu has thrown his hat into the ring from Molakalmuru in Chitradurga district, a Congress bastion. US has new full-time secretary of state after a month; Mike Pompeo gets the job Supreme Court to hear review pleas on SC/ST verdict on May 3 Korean Summit: What media in Korean Peninsula said Featured Posts PTI reported that political analyst and professor of political science at Karnatak University Dr Harish Ramaswamy said that BJP faces a tough task of garnering tribal votes in North Karnataka.
He has considerable influence in Hyderabad-Karnataka and Chitradurga belt and his main task is to ensure that tribal votes get transferred to the BJP from Congress, he said. “It is a difficult job though,” Ramaswamy said. BJP expects to penetrate into the tribal support base of the Congress, including Chamarajnagar, Mysuru and Bagalkot districts, according to leading political analyst, Dr. Sandeep Shastri. Shastri said though the tribal population in Karnataka was not as large as North-Eastern states and Jharkhand, they can play an important role in a keenly fought election. Tribal communities have significant presence in 15 to 20 assembly constituencies in the state.