With the assembly elections in Karnataka just around the corner, all major political parties are in full swing with their campaigns and manifestos. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Congress, and other regional parties are battling it out for the state’s 224 assembly seats.
The BJP, which is the incumbent party in the state, has brought out its star campaigners including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President JP Nadda to woo the electorate. The party’s manifesto, released on Monday, promises three free gas cylinders and 500 ml of milk daily to BPL cardholders, among other assurances.
Meanwhile, the Congress party, which has been in the opposition since 2018, has unveiled its manifesto on Tuesday. The party has promised 200 units of free power to each household, ₹2,000 to each woman head of the family under the Gruha Lakshmi project, and a sum of ₹3,000 for two years to unemployed graduates.
Apart from the two major parties, smaller regional parties are also in the fray, including the Janata Dal (Secular), the Bahujan Samaj Party, and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen.
The election is being viewed as a significant challenge for the Congress, which has been struggling to retain its hold over the southern states. The party had lost power in Karnataka in 2018 due to infighting, leading to the formation of a BJP government under the leadership of BS Yediyurappa.
As per the latest updates, the voting is scheduled for next Wednesday, with the counting to be held on May 13. The outcome of the elections will have far-reaching implications for the national political scenario, as Karnataka is a key state with a significant number of Lok Sabha seats.
In conclusion, the stage is set for a high-stakes election in Karnataka, with the BJP and Congress vying for power. As the campaigns come to a close, it remains to be seen which party will emerge victorious and form the government in the state.