Karnataka elections 2018 Live: More than 2 dozen BJP workers killed under Congress rule, says Modi

In the run-up to the Karnataka Assembly elections, BJP's star-of-star campaigner PM Modi is expected to address a dozen rallies across five days

BENAGALURU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first address in Mysuru on Tuesday in his ongoing five-day poll campaign launched a fiery attack on Congress and its leadership.

PM Modi, BJP's star-of-star campaigners, is expected to address a dozen rallies across five days in a campaign blitz. His first rally scheduled at 11:30 am at Santhemaranahalli. He'll then head to the coastal town of Udipi, where he will seek the blessings of the head of the Pejawar Matha, Vishvesha Tirtha. After, he is set to address a rally around 3 pm at the AGM College Ground in the temple town. His final stop of the day will be Chikkodi in northern Karnataka's Belagavi district, where he's addressing another rally.

The party hopes to overthrow the incumbent Siddaramiah-led Congress government, adding the 21st state to it's cap. 

Karnataka is all set to go to polls in a single phase on May 12, with the counting of votes set for May 15.

The BJP, with its Chief Ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, is attempting to form the government for the second time in Karnataka. The Congress is looking to retain power under incumbent CM Siddaramaiah. The other major force in Karnataka politics - Deve Gowda's JD(S) - is also playing the game hard, perhaps with the hope of playing kingmaker.

01 May 2018

15:47 IST

Students in Udupi always perform better than those in other parts of Karnataka, there have been no instances of cheating also, but then after completing education, everyone is compelled to move to Bengaluru, leaving their parents behind, says PM Modi.

15:46 IST

People in power area backing sand mafia, they will not let anything remain with you. This government committing loot deserves to be thrown out. I have come here to plead before you that a government backing sand mafia cannot help you, this is the only chance for you to get rid of them, says PM Modi.

15:45 IST

We have decided to ensure death penalty for rape convicts, and when we decide on something, we always implement it, says PM Modi.

15:42 IST

Congress party is for intolerance, poor law and order and attrocity, even Lokayukta gets attacked in the state ruled by Congress. The way our daughters have been attacked in Karnataka, even if media does not show it, people on social media know the truth, says PM Modi.

15:38 IST

There are differences in politics, but there's some decency in public life and they have their own values. Whenever former PM Deve Gowda came to Delhi and asked me for my time, I always met him. He is politically different from us, but he is a respectable political face of India. But I heard Congress president disrespecting him during a rally recently, you have just taken birth and Deve Gowda has spent his lifetime in politics. Such arrogant people are a big threat to the country's democracy, says PM Modi.

15:37 IST

We did ease of doing business, Congress did ease of murder in Karnataka, says PM Modi.

15:33 IST

I want to ask the government of Karnataka and leaders of Congress, do they have the right to kill innocent people? Will people ask Congress about killing of more than two dozen BJP workers who were killed just because they spoke of a different ideology, says PM Modi.

15:31 IST

Under Congress rule, money in banks did not benefit the youth, but we started Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana launched by us, 12 crore loans were approved by banks and the amount was more than Rs 4 lakh crore, says PM Modi.

15:29 IST

Doors of banks were locked for those who wanted to start small scale businesses, or wanted small investment for borewells etc, but things have changed now, says PM Modi.

15:26 IST

The land that gave banking system to India, poor people of that area were not given a chance to go the banks. When you sent us to Delhi, we gave the poor people access to banking system, says PM Modi.

15:25 IST

Udupi of Dakshin Karnataka is known as land of temple, but the country should know that this region is also the land of banking for India, says PM Modi.

15:23 IST

When no flag of Jan Sangh could be seen in other parts of India, Udupi used to send Jan Sangh members to city councils, says PM Modi.

15:22 IST

Giriraj Pujari went from this land of Krishna, and got a medal for India in Commonwealth Games, says PM Modi.

15:21 IST

I will return your love in the form of development, says PM Modi.

15:19 IST

I have a natural connection with Udupi, I bow down for the love given by you, says PM Modi.

15:18 IST

The vision of Congress is latkana and bhatkana, says PM Modi in a rally in Udupi in Karnataka.

12:39 IST

Sonia Gandhi, as UPA chairperson, had said in 2005 that all households will be electrified by 2009 under ‘Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana’. Will she and her son Rahul Gandhi answer why this was not achieved? PM Modi #NammaModi pic.twitter.com/7BRaOfGWJ5

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 1, 2018

12:37 IST

Congress President has challenged me, if he speaks for 15 minutes in Parliament Modi will not be able to sit. He is correct, there is no way ordinary people like me, who do not even dress well, can sit with such high and mighty people like the Congress President: PM Modi

12:30 IST

I have something to say to Rahul. Speak 15 minutes without reading from a piece of paper. Language doesn't matter-- speak in Hindi or Kannada or your mother's language. And during those 15 minutes, try pronouncing Vishveshwarya five times: PM Modi

12:29 IST

We don't even have good clothes. We are kaamdaars. We event have the authority to sit in front of you: PM Modi

12:26 IST

Those who keep abusing us day and night do not tell why there are still 4 crore households without electricity. We have vowed to electrify these 4 crore households through ‘Saubhagya Yojana’ : PM Modi

12:25 IST

The Congress President is 'Namdaar' so how does he know about the efforts of 'Kaamdaars' : PM Modi

12:25 IST

In 2005, during the time of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh's government said they will provide electricity to every village by 2009. What happened to that? In any case, we saw how the Congress treated Manmohan Singh. They tore off ordinances and disrespected him: PM

12:19 IST

Congress today is led by people who have knowledge about the country's history, or know the national song Vande Mataram or have any clue about what their party members say: PM Modi

12:17 IST

We will not stop at just providing electricity to each house in every village. We'll keep our focus on development. But I want to ask those questioning us, what did you do in last 70 years? Four crore homes are yet to receive electricity. We will make sure that these 4 crore households gets free electricity: PM Modi

12:17 IST

BS Yeddyurappa is the hope of the people of Karnataka and he is going to be the next chief minister of the state: PM Modi

12:15 IST

18000 villages have electricity today because of the efforts of hard workers. I salute these people: PM Modi on Labour Day.

12:10 IST

News of Karnataka elections keeps coming in Delhi. But let me tell you, there's no BJP wave in Karnataka, there's a BJP storm in the state: PM MODI

12:07 IST

PM Modi addresses public rally in Mysuru's Santhemarahalli

12:07 IST

PM Modi addresses public rally in Mysuru's Santhemarahalli

11:33 IST

Looking forward to being in Karnataka today. I will be addressing three rallies across the state. @BJP4Karnataka https://t.co/6X8rE9jkkL

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 1, 2018

11:01 IST

Modi's campaign blitz comes with just 11 days to go before Karnataka votes on its next government. The state is set to go to the polls in a single phase on May 12, with the counting of votes set for May 15.