Karnataka Assembly Poll highlights: ‘Cong carried PFI on its head’, says Shah

Union home minister Amit Shah took a swipe at the Congress party and urged people to vote the BJP. He also claimed that a vote to the BJP will protect Karnataka from Popular Front of India(PFI) 

Addressing a public meeting at Shirahatti, Shah said, "Each vote counts, so ensure it goes to the right leadership. When the people of Karnataka press the 'Lotus' symbol, understand that you are not voting to elect an MLA or a minister and Chief Minister. Your vote will further strengthen PM Modi's hands in creating 'Mahan Karnataka'. Your vote will protect Karnataka from PFI."

DK Shivakumar said that roping in actors like Darshan and Sudeep will not help the BJP to fight the anti-incumbency. He said, “They are just campaigning for the party and did not join the party. Their presence will no way help the BJP to gain votes and fight the anti incumbency” 

The Congress on Friday requested the Election Commission to bar Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from campaigning for the May 10 assembly polls in Karnataka for their alleged statements against the minority community.

The delegation alleged that Shah and Adityanath made "false", "partisan" and "communal" statements during the poll campaign in Karnataka with a view to seek electoral gains, and demanded that they be not allowed to campaign in the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the Congress party and its leaders have lost their mind. He said, "Congress is lacking on issues, in the last nine years Prime Minister Narendra Modi has increased India's pride in the world, he has worked to make India prosperous, he has made India's infrastructure strong, he has made India's borders safe. Wherever Modi ji goes across the world people there welcome him with 'Modi-Modi' slogans. But the Congress calls him a 'poisnous snake'"

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday promised allocation of ₹one crore for each village panchayat, and ₹5,000 crore for the Kalyana Karnataka region if the grand old party comes to the power after assembly elections. 

He said, “We will allocate ₹5,000 crore for this region. Each village panchayat will get ₹one crore,”

Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi spoke at a public rally in Karnataka's Kalaburagi on Friday and said, “We will win the Karnataka elections and form govt here; no one can stop. And this is also fixed that as BJP love 40 number the most, Karnataka people will give only 40 seats to them. Congress will get at least 150 seats.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a public gathering at the Navalgund Assembly constituency in Karnataka on Friday, where he said, “Those 'Congress Shehzada' can never understand the pain of the poor...BJP has secured the safety of Karnataka people by banning PFI. Congress should answer why we should not ban PFI.”

“The party (Congress) which does not respect the farmers and lathi-charged them has no right to ask for a vote from Navalgund. Congress has done nothing for the farmers of the state,” he added. (ANI)

Congress leader Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is contesting from Belagavi (Rural) assembly segment, on Friday said it is not easy for women to rapidly climb the political ladder but wished to see a woman chief minister or deputy chief minister in Karnataka in near future. Hebbalkar is contesting for the second time to retain her home turf in the May 10 Assembly polls in the state. (PTI)

Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai has slammed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his ‘poisonous snake’ comments on PM Modi. He said that people will respond to his statement in the elections. 

Annamalai said, “Every time Congress attacked PM Modi with the distasteful and degrading comments, people have taught them a lesson. The same thing will repeat in this assembly elections too. Defeat is written on Congress' face.” 

The Congress on Friday hit at the BJP demanding expulsion of its leader Basangouda Patil Yatnal for calling Sonia Gandhi a "vishkanya". Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka and its leaders have lost their mental as well as political balance.

He said, “Facing a complete rout in the assembly elections, the BJP leadership is frustrated to the core and is hurling filth and muck, which is the product of their ugly character and dirty mindset of denigrating and insulting the Congress leadership. They have lost all sense of propriety, political balance and even a remote iota of decency and decorum." 

After roping in Kannada film star Sudeep, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will now have actor Darshan Thoogudeepa campaigning for it in Kolar and Bengaluru Rural districts ahead of the fast approaching assembly elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to visit Karnataka to hold a 4.5-kilometre road show in Bengaluru on Saturday and the BJP state unit is planning it on a grand level.

The JD(S) on Thursday released its "Janata Pranalike" (People's Manifesto) for the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka promising to restore four per cent reservation for Muslims, to "throw out" Amul and to save Nandini brand calling it Kannadiga's identity, among various assurances.

(PTI)

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hit out at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on his controversial ‘poisonous snake’ comment on PM Modi, saying, “Kharge ji used such words to appease his political masters. He must have been under some compulsion.”

Karnataka CM Bommai hit out at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's ‘poisonous snake’ remark against PM Modi and said the intoxication of power has not subsided for the grand old party.

He said the remark showed the Congress' culture, and that the fear of defeat in the upcoming polls haunts the party. He added that PM Modi has become a “nightmare for traitors, anti-social elements, terrorists, anti-nationals, and peace breakers."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met with the fisherfolk community in Udupi where locals gifted him Indo-Pacific king mackerel, also called the “Anjal” fish. Soon after the meet and greet, he visited a nearby temple which he refused to enter, but offered prayers from the outer part of the temple premises.

A video shared online showed him informing the temple priest that he has touched a fish. Karnataka has seen controversies over leaders entering temples after having consumed non-vegetarian food.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interacted with the fisherfolk community in Udupi on Thursday, saying, “Once Congress comes to power, we will give ₹10 lakh insurance cover to fishermen…I can assure you that the Congress government will be very sensitive to the needs of fishermen and we will make sure that your interests are protected.”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held a rally in Karnataka's Mangaluru on Thursday where he promised that the party will implement the 5th guarantee that all women can travel in public transport buses for free, if comes to power in the southern state.