The Election Commission of India (ECI), on Wednesday, announced the schedule for assembly elections in Karnataka. According to the schedule of the assembly elections, the polling will be done on May 10, whereas the vote counting will be done on May 13.

Karnataka Assembly elections is anticipated to be a big showdown between the two national parties in the country: BJP and Congress. BJP are hopeful to retain incumbency, whereas the Congress have shown confidence to unseat the BJP.

The polling will be done 224 Assembly constituencies and over 5.21 crore people will be eligible to vote in the election due on May 10. As per the reports, out of 5.21 crore voters, 9.17 Lakh will be the first-time voters. The polling across the 224 seats will be done in a single phased manner.

BJP emerged as the leading party Karnataka in 2018 by being the single-largest party. The BJP claimed majority by sweeping 104 seats out of the 224, whereas, its counterpart Congress trailed behind by winning 80. Janata Dal (Secular) bagged 37. However, Congress and JD(S) alliance led to the Congress-JD(S) alliance to form a government.

Subsequently, in 2019, rebellion leaders jumped ships to the BJP which led to BJP coming in power. BS Yediyurappa was entrusted with the Chief Ministorial role who was later in 2021 replaced by Basavaraj Bommai.

Congress on Karnataka Assembly elections

Congress’s state chief DK Shivakumar spoke to the media and asserted confidence in unseating the BJP. Shivakumar, in his statement to the media, said that this election will be development-oriented and for a corruption-free state.

The Congress recently also released the first list of 124 candidates ahead of the polls which also had former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Pradesh Congress Committee chief DK Shivakumar.

BJP on Karnataka Assembly elections

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai also spoke to the media on the Karnataka Assembly elections and said that the BJP are prepared for the elections. He also claimed that the BJP will return to power with a huge majority.

JD(S) role in Karnataka Assembly elections

The role of Janata Dal (Secular) can be crucial one if the result become a hung election. The JD(s) can prove to be the kingmaker in the state if the situation arises.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come to the fore to target the new-found unity of the Opposition parties after Congress leader’s Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Lok Sabha. PM Modi termed the unit by the Opposition to be a coming together of the corrupt on one stage and further countered the claims made by the Opposition on the central agencies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while delivering an address at the inauguration of the new party headquarters in Delhi, said that the country has a strong foundation of constitutional institutions and further alleged that in a bid to stop India, constitutional institutions are being attacked.

PM Modi in his scathing attack on the Opposition also countered the claims made by the Opposition and further levelled allegation by saying that agencies are being targeting for taking action. He further said that questions are being raised in courts as well, implying at the petition filled in the Supreme Court about the arbitrary use of central agecies.

The Prime Minister, in his address, also alleged that some parties have initiated Bhrashtachari Bachao Abhiyan, taking a dig at the Loktantra Bachao Mashal Shanti March that the Congress was taking out in Delhi.

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He also claimed that the BJP confiscated approximately 10,00,000 crore under the PMLA, and further claimed that during the Congress rule, that number was 5000 crore. PM also claimed that twenty thousand economic offenders who have fled, were caught by the BJP.

PM Modi also attributed the attack by the Opposition to be inspired due to BJP’s alleged crackdown on the corruption. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took a jab at the Opposition and said that the BJP’s crackdown on corruption will upset many, however, won’t be stopped based on Oppositon’s false allegation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeting the Opposition comes amid the recent coming together by the Opposition parties following Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from the parliament. The Opposition parties also accused the Centre of arbitrary use of the Central agencies.

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Delhi Police on Tuesday detained Congress workers and leaders who were reaching to take part in Loktantra Bachao Mashal Shanti March at Red Fort. The video of the detention was shared by the official media platform of Congress.

Reports said several senior leaders including former Chief Minister Harish Rawat were detained by the police. In the visuals, Congress workers and leaders can be seen shouting slogans.

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Watch the video here:

On Monday, Congress leaders wore all black near Parliament and protested against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification from Lok Sabha. The former Congress MP from Wayand’s parliament membership was cancelled after he was convicted in the 2019 defamation case involving the Modi surname remark. The Party is conducting a month-long protest across all states against the disqualification.

Gandhi was sentenced to 2 years in jail in the case by a Surat court and was granted bail on a bail bond of Rs 10,000. His sentence was suspended by the court for 30 days so that Gandhi could appeal to the High Court.

The politician, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2019, attacked the Opposition and apparently asked why all thieves have Modi as their surname during a rally.

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