Karnataka Election highlights: Cong hits out at Bommai's ‘bogus schemes’ remark

Karnataka is set to go into Assembly polls in May this year. With less than two months remaining, all parties are ramping up their campaigns, putting out manifestos and announcing candidates. Follow here for the latest updates.

As assembly elections approach fast, a political slugfest has ensued in the southern state of Karnataka, where parties are mounting attacks on one another by releasing last-minute schemes and making poll promises.

Follow all the updates here:

• Mar 21, 2023 07:58 PM IST

  Union home minister Amit Shah to visit Karnataka on March 26

  On March 26, the home minister will visit Karnataka where he will inaugurate the Gorata martyrs memorial and memorial of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Bidar, officials said.

  He will also hoist a tricolour to be installed at a height of 103 feet in Bidar.

  During the day, Shah will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development schemes in Raichur district, they said. (PTI)

• Mar 21, 2023 06:12 PM IST

  ‘Truth will come out after a research’: Karnataka CM Bommai on Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda controversy

  Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said there was no "setback" to the ruling BJP after a prominent seer called for restraint over the controversy surrounding claims of two Vokkaliga chieftains' alleged role in Tipu Sultan's killing.

  A section of people in the old Mysuru belt and some ruling BJP leaders have claimed that erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan did not die fighting the British, but was killed by two alleged Vokkaliga chieftains Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda. The claim has been contested by prominent historians.

  "There is no question of any setback. When research happens and the day truth comes out, will get victory," Bommai said in response to a question on whether the controversy would adversely impact the party. (PTI)

• Mar 21, 2023 05:04 PM IST

  Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda are not fictional characters, says Shoba Karandlaje

  Amid the controversy surrounding Vokkaliga chieftans Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje told that they are not the fictional characters. She said, “The Congress and JD(S) have argued that Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda did not even exist. The book Suvarna Mandya has references to their fight against Tipu Sultan.”

  The BJP leaders claim that Tipu Sulthan was killed by Vokkaliga chieftans Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda.

• Mar 21, 2023 04:00 PM IST

  Karnataka BJP takes a swipe at former CM Siddaramaiah, says he is scared of independent candidates

  Amid the question over Siddaramaiah's seat in upcoming assembly elections, the state unit of BJP launched an attack against the former CM. The BJP said that Siddaramaiah is scared of the independent candidates and hence the confusion over his seat. 

  A tweet by the Karnataka BJP read, “Hey Siddaramaiah, you said Badami is far and you will contest from Kolar. Now you are moving from Kolar to Varuna, Kushtagi and Kadur. You are clearly scared of losing against independent candidates. You are a tragic leader of the state.” 

   

• Mar 21, 2023 03:07 PM IST

  Karnataka Cong claps back at CM Bommai's ‘bogus schemes' remark

  ಸ್ವತಃ ತಮಗೇ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯ ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ಸಿಗುವ ಭರವಸೆ ಇಲ್ಲದ, ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ಸಿಕ್ಕರೂ ಗೆಲ್ಲುವ ಭರವಸೆ ಇಲ್ಲದ, ಗೆದ್ದರೂ ತಾವೇ ಸಿಎಂ ಹುರಿಯಾಳು ಎಂಬ ಭರವಸೆ ಇಲ್ಲದ @BSBommai ಅವರು ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ನೀಡಿದ #YuvaNidhi ಯೋಜನೆಯ ಭರವಸೆಯನ್ನು ಟೀಕಿಸುವುದು ಹಾಸ್ಯಾಸ್ಪದ.
  
  ಬೊಮ್ಮಾಯಿಯವರೇ, ನೀವು ಕೈಲಾಗದವರು ಇರಬಹುದು, ಆದರೆ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್‌ಗೆ ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ಸಾಧ್ಯ.

  — Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) March 21, 2023

  The Karnataka Congress on Tuesday hit out at Karnataka CM Bommai's remarks that the grand old party's last-minute poll promises are ‘bogus’ and said anything is possible for the Congress.

  “It is ridiculous for @BSBommai, who himself has no hope of getting a BJP ticket, who has no hope of winning even if he gets a ticket, and who has no hope of being the CM even if he wins, to criticize the promise of the #YuvaNidhi scheme given by the Congress. Bommai, for you it may be impossible, but everything is possible for Congress,” the Karnataka Congress tweeted.

• Mar 21, 2023 02:19 PM IST

  PM Modi will be inaugurating ‘half baked’ metro between KR Puram and Whitefield, alleges Randeep Surjewala

  AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating disconnected, disjoining and discontinuous metro line on March 25 at Bengaluru. He also told that inaugurating ‘half baked’ projects will increase the problems of  Bengaluru's residents. 

  “On 25th March, 2023; PM Modi will inaugurate a metro line from nowhere to nowhere. Once again it is a discontinuous, disjointed and disconnected metro line which will cause more problems to Bengalureans than it will solve. The only yield will be a media event of the Prime Minister riding a standalone metro that is disconnected from the existing metro line. It will also gravely endanger public safety,” he said in a press statement. 

• Mar 21, 2023 01:41 PM IST

  Walkways missing on Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway, says Randeep Surjewala

  AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala held a press conference at the KPCC office in Bengaluru on Tuesday, furthering the party's attack on the ruling BJP over the controversy on the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway.

  “The targeted speed (of vehicles) does not match the permitted speed. Can it then not lead to a possible accident? Why are you inaugurating it?” he asked, alleging that the expressway was inaugurated in a hurry ahead of elections, without proper checks to evaluate safety of the commuters.

• Mar 21, 2023 12:37 PM IST

  PM Modi to embark on 7th visit to poll-bound Karnataka on March 25

  PM Narendra Modi will set foot in poll-bound Karnataka on March 25 to inaugurate Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Chikkaballapur, and the much-awaited Whitefield Metro Line in Bengaluru, among other programmes. 

  This will be the PM’s seventh visit to Karnataka this year. The Prime Minister was in Karnataka on March 12 to inaugurate the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway. (PTI)

• Mar 21, 2023 12:01 PM IST

  Siddaramaiah's supporters protest after Cong high command decides not to field him from Kolar

  

  Supporters of former CM Siddaramaiah staging a demonstration outside his residence on Tuesday. (ANI)

  Karnataka leader of opposition and former CM Siddaramaiah's supporters staged a protest outside his residence in Bengaluru on Tuesday, requesting him to contest the upcoming assembly election in the state from the Kolar Assembly constituency. According to party sources, the decision was taken by Congress high command after a survey report showed hostile situation for Siddaramaiah in Kolar.

  “Where I have said that I will not contest from Kolar or any other constituency. I have left it to the party's high command and whatever they decide, I will abide by it. People are joining our party because BJP will lose,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.

• Mar 21, 2023 11:32 AM IST

  ‘My remote control is with someone else but what about Nadda?’: Cong chief Kharge

  AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge clapped back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "remote control" jibe at him on Monday asked where was BJP chief J P Nadda's remote control was.

  "Modi came to Belagavi and said - Kharge has become President (Congress), but remote control is with someone else. Okay, my remote control is with someone else, but where is Nadda's (BJP national President J P Nadda) remote control?" Kharge asked while addressing the ‘Yuva Kranti Samavesha’ in Karnataka's Belagavi.

• Mar 21, 2023 11:05 AM IST

  ‘Will fight elections unitedly…’:  Rahul Gandhi in Karnataka

  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday attempted to end the speculations of infighting within his party's Karnataka unit ahead of the crucial assembly polls in the state. Gandhi was addressing a public meeting in Karnataka when he stated that all leaders of the party will contest the elections together.

  His remarks came amid talks of infighting among KPCC chief DK Shivakumar and former CM and leader of opposition Siddaramaiah, who are both said to vying for the chief ministerial spot.

• Mar 21, 2023 10:41 AM IST

  BJP MLC Baburao Chinchansur resigns from Karnataka Legislative Council

  BJP MLC Baburao Chinchansur, a former MLA from Gurmitkal, resigned from the Karnataka Legislative Council on Monday. Some reports said he quit after being denied a ticket.

  Chinchansur, from the Koli-Kabbaliga community, had joined the BJP in 2018 after quitting the Congress. He may now jump back to the grand old party, reports said. Chinchansur is the second to quit the BJP this month, after former BJP MLC Puttanna. (ANI)

• Mar 21, 2023 10:01 AM IST

  ‘Scared of defeat…’: Karnataka CM Bommai after Cong releases poll promise

  Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai hit out at the Congress after the grand old party unveiled it’s fourth poll promise ahead of crucial assembly elections - of giving a monthly allowance to the unemployed youth of the state. 

  CM Bommai said the Congress has continued the series of releasing bogus schemes over fears of losing the election. "The Congress party had promised to give a monthly payment of ₹1,500 to degree holders in Rajasthan but has not been implemented. In Chattisgarh, they had assured ₹1,500 which is not in the ground. Like this, they have not kept up promises in four to five states. That list of unfulfilled promises will be released soon," the CM added.

• Mar 21, 2023 09:28 AM IST

  AAP releases its first list of 80 candidates

  7 tickets to farmers, 7 to women and 7 to Social Workers. More than 50% of AAP's candidates are below the age of 45. Candidates from all walks of life. Candidates who until today were just Common People like you and I- AAP State Prez @aapkaprithvi to @PTI_News pic.twitter.com/FnTxBWEtJH

  — AAP Bengaluru (@AAPBangalore) March 20, 2023

  The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is looking to extend its presence in Karnataka, released its first list, comprising 80 candidates, who will contest the upcoming Assembly elections.

  Karnataka state president, Prithvi Reddy, addressed a press conference on Monday and said the first list includes Supreme Court lawyer Brijesh Kalappa, who will contest from Chickpet, former Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officer K Mathai (Shanti Nagar), B T Naganna (Rajajinagar), Mohan Dasari (C V Raman Nagar), Shanthala Damle (Mahalakshmi Layout) and Ajay Gowda from Padmanabhanagar. (PTI)