Karnataka

Addressing a huge gathering in Vijayapura, Yatnal, who spoke ahead of PM Modi, also mentioned Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as the "first prime minister of the country". "Our Sanatan Dharm, our mother and our Bharat Mata are everything to us. We will not tolerate and can give our lives if anyone dares to talk against Bharat Mata.

Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, the BJP legislator from the Vijayapura constituency, questioned Kharge, "if PM Modi is a poisonous snake, then Sonia Gandhi must be visha kanye"? "Being the president of a national party, Kharge does not know how to respect the Prime Minister," Yatnal said at a rally.

The bail petition was dismissed by a Bengaluru court judge, K.S. Jyothisri. Following the development, Srinivas faces the threat of arrest. Senior counsel K.N. Phaneendra has submitted that "the complainant's dignity and honour has been damaged and the victim has registered her statement before the court under section 164". The Special Public Prosecutor from Assam placed arguments in favour of the Assam police objecting to Srinavas' anticipatory bail plea.

Reacting to Shivakumar's statement that Lingayats and Vokkaligas are not beggars, the Chief Minister said during a roadshow in support of the BJP candidate in Sedam, Rajkumar Patil Sedam, that the Congress has the habit of "keeping Dalits inside the well and dropping them in the same place after getting their votes".

As part of the operation, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi has managed to pull former Mayor of Hubballi-Dharwad and senior Congress leader Prakash Kyarakatti to the BJP. The sources said that following the attacks by Shettar, who recently joined the Congress, against BJP National General Secretary (Organization) B.L. Santhosh and the Union Minister, the party has decided to defeat the former Chief Minister at any cost.

State party President D.K. Shivakumar and state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala addressed a joint press conference here. Shivakumar said, "Bommai government has failed to submit an affidavit defending the increase in quota of reservations. The BJP has betrayed, insulted Lingayat, Vokkaliga, SC, ST and minority communities.

Activist Shankar Sait had lodged a private complaint with the Magistrate court in Bengaluru in this regard. The court had adjourned the matter to April 29, after accepting the petition. A complaint had also been registered against the Congress leader with the Election Commission in this regard already. The statement that Lingayat CMs indulged.

Addressing a public rally at Hangal town in Haveri district, the former Congress president requested the people to give at least 150 seats to Congress, "otherwise the BJP will again try to form a government". "Don't give more than 40 seats to them," he reiterated. Rahul Gandhi said even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks of corruption, "he shares the stage with corrupt leaders who take 40 per cent commission".

Speaking to reporters here, Shah maintained that ticket was not denied to Shettar alone, as many others have been denied the same. "We had informed him why he was denied a ticket. The reason can't be discussed with the media," he said. "We will convince the voters in such a way that they will understand. The BJP has a vote bank in the Hubballi-Dharwad Central reagion. The individual is not important, it is the party that is important. Jagadish Shettar is going to lose the elections," he said.

AIADMK candidate, D. Anbarasan withdrew after a request from the BJP national leadership in New Delhi, he said in a statement. Sources in AIADMK told IANS that senior BJP leaders had called Palaniswami directly and requested him to withdraw the AIADMK candidate, pitted against the BJP, in a constituency that has a good presence of Tamil voters.