High-pitch Karnataka campaign ends

New Delhi, Bengaluru: As the high-decibel and acerbic campaigning for the Assembly elections in Karnataka came to an end on Monday, the incumbent BJP claimed it would retain power by winning “130 to 135 seats”, totally rejecting the predictions made by most opinion polls which have given the Congress an edge in the May 10 electoral battle.

With the high-pitch campaign over, the Election Commission on Monday asked all parties and candidates to respect the 48-hour silence period till the beginning of polling on Wednesday. The ruling party, whose campaigning was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, moved the EC seeking action against Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and de-recognition of her party for using the term “sovereignty” in the state poll campaign. The party also demanded an FIR against her.

Modi, who addressed 18 rallies and held six roadshows, met nearly 3,000 people, including party workers and prominent citizens during his seven days of public meetings and roadshows. The PM also virtually interacted with party members on one occasion.

In its complaint to the EC, the BJP delegation, led by Union minister Bhupender Yadav, said a “sovereign” by definition is an independent nation. When a country is independent, it is called a sovereign country.

“India is a sovereign country and the state of Karnataka is a proud part in it. Till today, no one raised any question about the integrity of Kannadigas with the sovereignty of the nation,” the memorandum said. It further read: “Karnataka is a very important member state in the Union of India and any call to protect the sovereignty of a member state of the Union of India amounts to a call for secession, and is fraught with perilous and pernicious consequences.”

Describing the Congress’ tweet quoting Mrs Gandhi as “shocking and unacceptable”, Union minister Shobha Karandlaje, who filed the complaint, said Mrs Gandhi had violated provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and requested the EC to take stringent action against her for making “such a statement”.

The BJP demanded that the Congress should apologise for its advertisement listing “corruption rates” in the state, between 2019 and 2023, while attacking the BJP government.