Mandya, Karnataka, Apr 9 : In an attempt to douse off dissidence in the party the Former chief minister and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah appealed the party workers in Mandya to work in favor of the JD(S) candidate Nikhil, who is also son of the Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.
In a video message, Siddaramaiah, who had hold a series of meeting with the Congress leaders in Mandya, pursuing them to join hands with the JD(S), where Nikhil is facing a stiff challenge form the Independent candidate, Sumalatha.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy is contesting as the alliance candidate in Mandya. Leaders and workers of Congress and JD(S) should campaign unitedly. I appeal to both Congress and JD(S) workers
especially voters of Mandya, to help Nikhil get votes and bless him,? Siddaramaiah said in the video.
He had also also mentioned that he would campaign in Mandya along with JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on April 12.

Bengaluru, Apr 9 : Former MP and Vice president of the Karnatka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) H T Sangliana, had resigned from the party, a statement said.
According to the statement on Monday, Mr Sangliana one of the strong aspirants for the party ticket from the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha seat, had resigned in protest against denial of a party ticket to Christian minorities in the state by the party High Command.
A couple of days back Former Chief Secretary of Karnataka government, G Alexander, had resigned the party, however, he retracted from his decision, following intervention by the AICC General Secretary, K C Venugopal

The BJP released its manifesto, titled “Sankalp Patra”, for the upcoming polls on Monday. The document was released in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah, and union minister Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, and Rajnath Singh.

Most of the parties, including Congress, Samajwadi Party, and RJD, released theirs days ago.

Here’s what BJP promised this time.

BJP reiterates its stand on Article 370, 35A

In much-awaited manifesto, BJP repeated its stand on Article 370, which gives special rights to Jammu and Kashmir.

“We reiterate our position since the time of the Jan Sangh to the abrogation of Article 370. We are committed to annulling Article 35A of the Constitution of India as the provision is discriminatory against non-permanent residents and women of Jammu and Kashmir,” the manifesto read.

BJP releases its manifesto, promises to pass Citizenship Amendment Bill

Further, BJP’s stand remained unchanged on the sensitive Ram Mandir issue. The party said a grand temple should be constructed on the disputed land in Ayodhya.

The saffron party also promised to pass the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in both houses of the Parliament. However, it added identities of states won’t be compromised.

BJP also reiterated its commitment towards the Uniform Civil Code.

Farmers will be given short-term loans, said Singh

BJP also focused on rural areas in the manifesto. It said rural development is important for the country.

The party said farmers will be able to take short-term agriculture loans up to Rs. 1 lakh at a 0% interest rate for 1-5 years on the condition of prompt repayment of the principal amount.

The party promised to double farmers’ income by 2024.

BJP promises to give reservation to women

Shah spoke about achievements of PM Modi

Talking about the manifesto, Amit Shah said India has emerged as a big power in the last five years. He claimed BJP removed corruption from the country.

Shah said expectations of citizens increased after PM Modi came to power. “This government has set an example of transparency,” added Shah.

He went on to say that previous governments demoralized the country.

Journey from 2014 to 2019 will be remembered: Shah

“I want to remind you about 2014 polls. That time we brought you a vision of how the country would be between 2014 to 2019. The journey from 2014 to 2019 will be written in golden words in the history of Indian development,” Shah said.

Emotions of every citizen were taken into consideration: Singh

Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the manifesto respects the sentiments of 130 crore Indians. He called it a visionary document which will help India take concrete steps towards a better future.

He said development in the country came to a standstill before 2014 but NDA, under the leadership of PM Modi, worked relentlessly.

“We thought about national security,” said Singh.

Our manifesto is not inspired by tukde tukde gang: Jaitley

Speaking on the manifesto, Finance Minister Jaitley said it was not inspired by “tukde tukde” gang. He congratulated Singh for focusing on all sections of the society in the manifesto.

He slammed those who couldn’t deliver “for decades” and sought support for a government which “kept its promise”.

“Our idea of nipping terrorism in its bud was well-received globally,” said Jaitley.

Understanding what BJP promised five years ago

In 2014, BJP had released its manifesto on the first day of the nine-phased polls. Last time, the saffron party focused on corruption and unemployment in its manifesto.

BJP had said it would ensure bureaucracy is not pulled down by “maladministration, scams and policy paralysis”.

The party had also promised to restore credibility in government and remove bottlenecks to ensure seamless delivery of schemes.

Agencies

Vijayawada, Apr 5 : Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda will campaign for the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh for the upcoming general election to be held on April 11.

TDP sources here on Friday said, Mr Gowda would campaign in Krishna and West Godavari districts on April 8 for the party.

He would reach Vijayawada from Bengaluru on that day and proceed to Tanuku in West Godavari district by an helicopter, where he would address an election meeting.

Later he would address election meetings in Ungaturu, Thiruvuru and Pamarru in Krishn district.

He would leave for Bengaluru on the same day itself by flight, the sources added.

Hassan, Karnataka, Apr 5 : Continuing its strict vigil on movement of VVIPs, the Election Commission officials today searched Car and convoy of former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader S M Krishna at Vijayanagara Check Post in the District today.
This comes close on the heels of subjecting Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s car and convoy while he was bound to Karwar and Mangaluru for election campaign yesterday.
Reacting sharply to the Checks by the Election Commission officials, Kumaraswamy had alleged that he was subjected to such check for more than 13 to 14 times during his travel from Bengaluru. “Not only they are checking my car and convoy, even they have checked houses and vehicles of my family members. It is nothing but harassment to the common people by BJP who is misusing the Election Commission machinery. But during search they did not get anything and had to return empty hand,” he told newsmen at Karwar on Thursday.
Former Chief Minister Krishna, who was with Congress for more than 40 years and joined BJP by remaining silent in 2013 Assembly election, has decided to campaign actively for BJP candidates in Hassan, Tumakuru and Mandya. He want to be more actively campaign in his home District Mandya to prove his influence and ensure victory of Independent Candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh, for whom the party has extended full support without fielding candidate. Nikhil, son of Kumaraswamy is the candidate supported by coalition partners in the State, Congress and the JDS.
The Election Commission officials had even searched Resorts and offices of JDS candidate Nikhil in Mandya District recently and camped in the District to keep close watch to prevent any violations of the election code of conducts.

Bengaluru Apr 5 : The BJP strongman in Karnataka B S Yeddyurappa today said he will work as an ordinary worker, and he will not rest until he ensures victory in at least 22 seats for the party out of the totaL lnumber 28 in the state in the coming elections.
Unperturbed with the denial of party ticket to former BJP stalwarts including L K Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi, and Sumitra Mahajan, to contest the coming general elections, state BJP prsident, B S Yeddyurappa, who is currently steering the party in the Parliamentary elections, said he is ready to work as a foot-soldier of the party.
He was speaking at an interaction meeting with the newsmen here on Friday, Mr Yeddyurappa who recently turned 76 recently, said that “I am assigned to ensure a victory of party candidates in a minimum 22 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka and working on it”.
Referring to not to field senior party leaders, Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and others, he said that it was the decision of the Central party leaders, and it is unfair to say that they were sidelined or ignored.
“The contribution of the senior leaders for the present day BJP, is immense, and they continue to guide the party in future also ” he said.
Replying to a question, the BJP leader, a three-time chief minister of the state, and also opposition leader in the current assembly in the state, said that “As for as I am concerned I am ready to serve the party as an ordinary worker”.
To a question about who would be his successor as he had crossed 75 years of age, he said, “There is no dearth of talent and leadership in the party to take it forward. ”Did you know who would succeed A B Vajpayee until Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister? In the same way another leader will emerge in Karnataka when I have to pass the batton” he added.

Bengaluru, Apr 5 : Charging that the JD(S)-Congress coalition government, working for cross purposes, has failed to deliver, Opposition Leader in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly B S Yeddyurappa, who is also the BJP State President said that “the State will have a new government after the Lok Sabha elections”.
Speaking at an interaction meeting, with the media persons, jointly organised by the Press Club Bengaluru and Reporters Guild here on Friday, he said that “thanks to the corrupt coalition government in the State the people have decided to vote-out the JD(S)-Congress combined candidates, fighting the Lok Sabha elections”.
Maintaining that there will be a change of government in Karnataka, in the post poll scenario, the former Chief Minister said that “already discontent is brewing within the Congress and JDS and may come to the fore after the General elections”.
Accusing that the JD(S) which had promised to waive off the entire farm loan has miserably failed in delivering goods, he said that “the JDS-Congress government
in the State had been able to wipe off only about Rs 4500 crore of farm loan as against the promised Rs 48000 crore”.
The agriculturists are in peril, as the price of farm output has crashed and the cost of agricultural inputs is skyrocketing and the state government has no plans or time to address their grievances, the BJP leader said.
Reiterating that the BJP will bag not less than 22 seats among the total number 28 seats in the coming general elections, he said that “the achievement and performance of the BJP government at the Center in the last five years are immense and noteworthy. In the last five years, thanks to the tough decisions, the inflation rate had come down, the GDP growth is on upward trend and the flow of foreign investment is increasing”.
Replying to a question, he said that the party high command had cleared almost all the names, the state BJP had suggested for the coming general elections. “The party’s ranks and files are working in tandem for the success of the party candidates, and whatever discontent surfaced in some places, had been doused off. In Mandya, the central BJP leaders had suggested not to field any candidate and extend unconditional support to Sumalatha Ambareesh, who is contesting as Independent candidate.