The daughter of a Congress leader in the Indian state of Karnataka was stabbed to death by her ex-lover, the news agency PTI reported on Thursday (Apr 18) citing the police.

The daughter of a Congress leader in the Indian state of Karnataka was stabbed to death by her ex-lover, the news agency PTI reported on Thursday (Apr 18) citing the police. Neha Hiremath, the daughter of Congress corporator Niranjan Hiremath was studying at the BVB College in Hubballi. Neha, 23, was a student of Master of Computer Applications (MCA) at the institute, the police said. The accused was identified as 23-year-old Fayaz and was arrested. As per the police, Neha and Fayaz were batchmates during their undergraduate studies. A case of murder was registered and an investigation was underway. The gruesome incident The police said that Fayaz went inside the college campus with a knife and stabbed Neha. He too sustained injuries during the attack. The entire incident was caught on CCTV. Both Neha and Fayaz were shifted to a hospital, but the woman was declared brought dead. VIDEO | “After my daughter’s classes ended at 4:30 pm, she came out of her college and an unknown man attacked her by stabbing. She died on the spot,” says the father of the Hubballi murder victim Niranjan Hiremath. pic.twitter.com/micMenry7R — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 18, 2024 × “During interrogation, he (Fayaz) claimed that the two of them had been in a relationship and that she had suddenly started avoiding him. It needs to be corroborated and verified, but he was arrested immediately,” a police officer told the news agency. (With inputs from agencies)

Congress leader's daughter stabbed to death by ex-lover in India's Karnataka

The chapter on controversial 18th Century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan and his father Haider Ali are among those that have been dropped from the class 7 social science textbook,following the Karnataka government's decision to reduce the 2020-21 syllabi due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the chapters on Tipu have been retained in the class 6 and 10 books, official sources said.

The revised syllabus uploaded on the Karnataka Text Book Society (KTBS) website shows that in class 7, social science text, chapter 5 that deals with Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, Historical places of Mysore, and Administration of Commissioners have been dropped.

The Department of Public Instructions decided to reduce the syllabus for the year 2020-21 in view of the pandemic and disruption in the academic calendar for the year, that has been brought down to 120 working days.

Responding to a question on dropping the chapter, officials said it should be noted that the students study about Tipu in classes 6 and 10.

A couple of months back, amid the growing clamour from some BJP leaders to remove a chapter in the textbook glorifying Tipu Sultan, the government had constituted an expert committee to look into it.

The committee however had recommended that the ruler cannot be ignored from the school syllabus.

Commenting on the development, Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar said that the BJP government was taking such decisions with a political agenda in mind.

Pointing out that Tipu was a historical figure, he said "history is history...You cannot change history.

We will not accept it. Congress will take it seriously by setting up a committee to look into it."

Soon after coming to power, the BJP government in Karnataka had scrapped the birth anniversary celebrations of Tipu Sultan, an annual government event the party had been opposing since 2015 when it was launched during the Congress rule, led by Siddaramaiah.

The BJP and right-wing organisations have been strongly opposing Tipu, calling the erstwhile Mysore king a "religious bigot".

Tipu was considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company.

He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort at Srirangapatnam against the British forces.

Tipu Sultan, however, is a controversial figure in Kodagu district as Kodavas (Coorgis), a martial race, believe that thousands of their men and women were held captive during his occupation and subjected to torture, death and forcible conversion to Islam.

He was also accused of execution of Mandyam Iyengars at the temple town of Melkote in Mandya district on the day of Deepawali as they supported the then Maharaja of Mysuru.

However, the scale of such suppression is disputed by several historians, as they see Tipu as a secular and modern ruler who took on the might of the British.

While BJP and some Hindu organisations see Tipu as a "religious bigot" and a "brutal killer", a few Kannada outfits call him "anti-Kannada", saying he had promoted Persian at the cost of the local language.&nbsp;

The chapter on controversial 18th Century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan and his father Haider Ali are among those that have been dropped from the class 7 social science textbook,following the Karnataka government's decision to reduce the 2020-21 syllabi due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The chapter on controversial 18th Century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan and his father Haider Ali are among those that have been dropped from the class 7 social science textbook,following the Karnataka government's decision to reduce the 2020-21 syllabi due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the chapters on Tipu have been retained in the class 6 and 10 books, official sources said. The revised syllabus uploaded on the Karnataka Text Book Society (KTBS) website shows that in class 7, social science text, chapter 5 that deals with Haider Ali and Tipu Sultan, Historical places of Mysore, and Administration of Commissioners have been dropped. The Department of Public Instructions decided to reduce the syllabus for the year 2020-21 in view of the pandemic and disruption in the academic calendar for the year, that has been brought down to 120 working days. Responding to a question on dropping the chapter, officials said it should be noted that the students study about Tipu in classes 6 and 10. A couple of months back, amid the growing clamour from some BJP leaders to remove a chapter in the textbook glorifying Tipu Sultan, the government had constituted an expert committee to look into it. The committee however had recommended that the ruler cannot be ignored from the school syllabus. Commenting on the development, Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar said that the BJP government was taking such decisions with a political agenda in mind. Pointing out that Tipu was a historical figure, he said "history is history...You cannot change history. We will not accept it. Congress will take it seriously by setting up a committee to look into it." Soon after coming to power, the BJP government in Karnataka had scrapped the birth anniversary celebrations of Tipu Sultan, an annual government event the party had been opposing since 2015 when it was launched during the Congress rule, led by Siddaramaiah. The BJP and right-wing organisations have been strongly opposing Tipu, calling the erstwhile Mysore king a "religious bigot". Tipu was considered an implacable enemy of the British East India Company. He was killed in May 1799 while defending his fort at Srirangapatnam against the British forces. Tipu Sultan, however, is a controversial figure in Kodagu district as Kodavas (Coorgis), a martial race, believe that thousands of their men and women were held captive during his occupation and subjected to torture, death and forcible conversion to Islam. He was also accused of execution of Mandyam Iyengars at the temple town of Melkote in Mandya district on the day of Deepawali as they supported the then Maharaja of Mysuru. However, the scale of such suppression is disputed by several historians, as they see Tipu as a secular and modern ruler who took on the might of the British. While BJP and some Hindu organisations see Tipu as a "religious bigot" and a "brutal killer", a few Kannada outfits call him "anti-Kannada", saying he had promoted Persian at the cost of the local language.

Chapter on Tipu Sultan dropped from class 7 textbook in Karnataka

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that&nbsp;Speaker K R Ramesh cannot be forced to decide on the resignations of 15 rebel MLAs within a time frame. 
 
"The discretion of the Speaker should not be fettered by any direction from the court. The Speaker can decide on the resignations as and when he feels appropriate," the top court said 
 
&nbsp;"As and when it is decided the same shall be placed before the apex court," the bench headed&nbsp;Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi further added. 
 
The top court also said that the rebel MLAs cannot&nbsp;be&nbsp;compelled to participate in the Assembly proceedings or the&nbsp;trust vote on Thursday. 
 
Reacting to the verdict, Karnataka Speaker said that he will take a decision that in no way will go contrary to the Constitution, the Court and the Lokpal. 
 
The rebel MLAs welcomed top court's&nbsp;verdict. "We honour the Supreme Court`s verdict. We all are together. We stand by our decision. There is no question of going to the Assembly," a rebel MLA said on behalf of the dissidents. 
 
Supreme Court on Tuesday had reserved its order on 15 rebel&nbsp;Karnataka MLAs plea against Speaker K R Ramesh for not accepting their resignations.

On Tuesday, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Deepak Gupta heard the submissions made by the counsels of both the petitioners and the respondents.

Last week, the Supreme Court&nbsp;had directed Karnataka Speaker K R Ramesh to not to decide on the resignations or disqualifications of the MLAs till Tuesday.

Supreme Court's direction had come after ten Congress and JD(S) MLAs moved the top court, seeking a direction to the Speaker to accept their resignation and not proceed with the applications for their disqualification from the House.

Following which Speaker K R Ramesh had urged the apex court to recall its order which asked him to take a decision on the resignation of MLAs during the course of the day i.e. July 11.

On Monday, five other rebel MLAs approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to the speaker to accept their resignations at the earliest.

Karnataka government has been reduced to minority in the Assembly after 16 rebel legislators resigned and 2 Independents withdrew support to it.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that Speaker K R Ramesh cannot be forced to decide on the resignations of 15 rebel MLAs within a time frame. "The discretion of the Speaker should not be fettered by any direction from the court.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that Speaker K R Ramesh cannot be forced to decide on the resignations of 15 rebel MLAs within a time frame. "The discretion of the Speaker should not be fettered by any direction from the court. The Speaker can decide on the resignations as and when he feels appropriate," the top court said "As and when it is decided the same shall be placed before the apex court," the bench headed Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi further added. The top court also said that the rebel MLAs cannot be compelled to participate in the Assembly proceedings or the trust vote on Thursday. Reacting to the verdict, Karnataka Speaker said that he will take a decision that in no way will go contrary to the Constitution, the Court and the Lokpal. The rebel MLAs welcomed top court's verdict. "We honour the Supreme Court`s verdict. We all are together. We stand by our decision. There is no question of going to the Assembly," a rebel MLA said on behalf of the dissidents. Supreme Court on Tuesday had reserved its order on 15 rebel Karnataka MLAs plea against Speaker K R Ramesh for not accepting their resignations. On Tuesday, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Deepak Gupta heard the submissions made by the counsels of both the petitioners and the respondents. Last week, the Supreme Court had directed Karnataka Speaker K R Ramesh to not to decide on the resignations or disqualifications of the MLAs till Tuesday. Supreme Court's direction had come after ten Congress and JD(S) MLAs moved the top court, seeking a direction to the Speaker to accept their resignation and not proceed with the applications for their disqualification from the House. Following which Speaker K R Ramesh had urged the apex court to recall its order which asked him to take a decision on the resignation of MLAs during the course of the day i.e. July 11. On Monday, five other rebel MLAs approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to the speaker to accept their resignations at the earliest. Karnataka government has been reduced to minority in the Assembly after 16 rebel legislators resigned and 2 Independents withdrew support to it. (With inputs from agencies)

Karnataka crisis: Speaker can't be forced to take a decision on resignations of MLAs within a time frame, says Supreme Court

<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/siddaramaiah-holds-meeting-with-rebel-mla-ramalinga-reddy-236030&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiw9tesmbbjAhVl63MBHQx7C9AQFjABegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw1-yfHO6BMqXvFpImxZHVmm">Rebel Karnataka MLAs</a> are likely to move the Supreme Court again on Monday, sources said.&nbsp;

The legislators are likely to move the court for contempt proceedings against Congress leaders as the top court has ordered a status quo, however, Congress is trying to influence and threaten the MLAs in many ways, sources added.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the 14 MLAs residing at Renaissance Hotel here wrote to Senior Police Inspector, Powai Police Station, over an alleged "threat" from senior Karnataka and Maharashtra Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad.&nbsp;

Seeking protection, the leaders urged the police officer to make necessary arrangements to ensure that the leaders are not allowed to meet them.

"We the respected Members of Karnataka Assembly are currently staying at Renaissance Hotel Powai, would like to inform you that we have absolutely no intentions in meeting Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji or Ghulam Nabi Azad Ji or any Congress dignitaries or functionaries from Maharashtra and <a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/five-more-karnataka-congress-mlas-move-supreme-court-235563&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiw9tesmbbjAhVl63MBHQx7C9AQFjADegQIEBAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw2zzcTb51jNYdb4cknXCfWM">Karnataka Congress team leaders</a> or any other political leaders.

We anticipate a serious threat from them.&nbsp;

We hereby request you to kindly make necessary arrangements to stop these people from meeting us in case the situation arises," the letter read.&nbsp;

Among the legislators who signed the aforesaid letter are Shivram Hebbar, B.C. Patil, Mahesh K, Vishwanath, Muniratnam, Narayan Gowda, R Shankar, H Nagesh, Pratap Patil, Gopalaiah, Ramesh J, MTB Nagraj, Somshekar, and Basavaraja.

On July 11, the dissident MLAs had returned to the hotel here after meeting Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar in Bengaluru.&nbsp;

The development came after the Supreme Court had directed them to meet the Speaker and resubmit their resignations afresh.&nbsp;

In a twist to the political stalemate in Karnataka, the apex court had on July 12 ordered a status quo until July 16 on a plea filed by 10 dissident MLAs of Congress and JD(S) seeking a direction to the Assembly Speaker to accept their resignation and not proceed with the applications for their disqualification.

Rebel Karnataka MLAs are likely to move the Supreme Court again on Monday, sources said. The legislators are likely to move the court for contempt proceedings against Congress leaders as the top court has ordered a status quo, however, Congress is trying to influence and threaten the MLAs in many ways, sources added.

Rebel Karnataka MLAs are likely to move the Supreme Court again on Monday, sources said. The legislators are likely to move the court for contempt proceedings against Congress leaders as the top court has ordered a status quo, however, Congress is trying to influence and threaten the MLAs in many ways, sources added. Meanwhile, the 14 MLAs residing at Renaissance Hotel here wrote to Senior Police Inspector, Powai Police Station, over an alleged "threat" from senior Karnataka and Maharashtra Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad. Seeking protection, the leaders urged the police officer to make necessary arrangements to ensure that the leaders are not allowed to meet them. "We the respected Members of Karnataka Assembly are currently staying at Renaissance Hotel Powai, would like to inform you that we have absolutely no intentions in meeting Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji or Ghulam Nabi Azad Ji or any Congress dignitaries or functionaries from Maharashtra and Karnataka Congress team leaders or any other political leaders. We anticipate a serious threat from them. We hereby request you to kindly make necessary arrangements to stop these people from meeting us in case the situation arises," the letter read. Among the legislators who signed the aforesaid letter are Shivram Hebbar, B.C. Patil, Mahesh K, Vishwanath, Muniratnam, Narayan Gowda, R Shankar, H Nagesh, Pratap Patil, Gopalaiah, Ramesh J, MTB Nagraj, Somshekar, and Basavaraja. On July 11, the dissident MLAs had returned to the hotel here after meeting Karnataka Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar in Bengaluru. The development came after the Supreme Court had directed them to meet the Speaker and resubmit their resignations afresh. In a twist to the political stalemate in Karnataka, the apex court had on July 12 ordered a status quo until July 16 on a plea filed by 10 dissident MLAs of Congress and JD(S) seeking a direction to the Assembly Speaker to accept their resignation and not proceed with the applications for their disqualification.

Rebel Karnataka MLAs likely to move Supreme Court today

In a jolt to fragile Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition in Karnataka, independent legislator Nagesh has withdrawn his support to the HD Kumaraswamy government. Nagesh was a serving minister in the state government. He skipped the meeting called at the house of deputy chief minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-in-talks-with-disgruntled-leaders-says-deputy-cm-parameshwara-amid-political-crisis-233764">G Parameshwara</a> and instead went to the Governor's House to submit his resignation.

Nagesh said in his resignation letter that he supports the BJP. Nagesh, the MLA from Mulbgal, was inducted into the state Cabinet in the June 12 expansion.

Nagesh's resignation, if accepted, is going to put further stress on the wafer-thin margin of the ruling coalition. The strength of Karnataka Assembly is going to be reduced to 210 - the ruling coalition will have 104 members. With the bench strength of 105, the opposition BJP will be just one short of the majority mark.

However, Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa has said that the party has nothing to do with the current crisis. "We (BJP) have nothing to do with the crisis in the coalition but it is a cause of concern for people of Karnataka," he said on Sunday.

Today's breakfast meeting has been called by the state government to try and placate the rebel MLAs by asking the sitting ministers to resign and giving the ministerial berths to those who have revolted against the government. Thirteen of the 22 Congress ministers are present in the meeting, and sources say all of them have been asked to resign.

Parameshwara has been the first one to offer resignation to save the coalition. "The party will take a decision. If the party says you have to resign I will resign," he said before the meeting.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has, meanwhile, blamed Siddaramaiah for te current crisis. "The Congress party is leaderless now and their internal party problems have spiralled out of their hands. We totally condemn the way our party leaders are being dragged into this matter. This act is not acceptable, the root cause of this crisis is Siddaramaiah," Joshi said.

The Congress-JD (S) government in Karnataka plunged into crisis on Saturday following the resignation of at least 11 MLAs from the membership of the state Assembly. Later in the day, 10 Congress MLAs left for Mumbai where they are said to be lodged in a hotel. JD(S) MLA H Vishwanath claimed that 14 MLAs have jointly tendered resignations to Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar and requested him to accept them.

The Speaker, however, has not yet accepted the resignations.

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who was in the USA, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-crisis-kumaraswamy-reaches-bengaluru-will-hold-meet-with-jds-congress-leaders-233825">reached Bengaluru on Sunday</a> and immediately took stock of the situation. He is involved in a series of meetings to defuse the crisis.

In a jolt to fragile Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition in Karnataka, independent legislator Nagesh has withdrawn his support to the HD Kumaraswamy government.

In a jolt to fragile Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition in Karnataka, independent legislator Nagesh has withdrawn his support to the HD Kumaraswamy government. Nagesh was a serving minister in the state government. He skipped the meeting called at the house of deputy chief minister G Parameshwara and instead went to the Governor's House to submit his resignation. Nagesh said in his resignation letter that he supports the BJP. Nagesh, the MLA from Mulbgal, was inducted into the state Cabinet in the June 12 expansion. Nagesh's resignation, if accepted, is going to put further stress on the wafer-thin margin of the ruling coalition. The strength of Karnataka Assembly is going to be reduced to 210 - the ruling coalition will have 104 members. With the bench strength of 105, the opposition BJP will be just one short of the majority mark. However, Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa has said that the party has nothing to do with the current crisis. "We (BJP) have nothing to do with the crisis in the coalition but it is a cause of concern for people of Karnataka," he said on Sunday. Today's breakfast meeting has been called by the state government to try and placate the rebel MLAs by asking the sitting ministers to resign and giving the ministerial berths to those who have revolted against the government. Thirteen of the 22 Congress ministers are present in the meeting, and sources say all of them have been asked to resign. Parameshwara has been the first one to offer resignation to save the coalition. "The party will take a decision. If the party says you have to resign I will resign," he said before the meeting. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has, meanwhile, blamed Siddaramaiah for te current crisis. "The Congress party is leaderless now and their internal party problems have spiralled out of their hands. We totally condemn the way our party leaders are being dragged into this matter. This act is not acceptable, the root cause of this crisis is Siddaramaiah," Joshi said. The Congress-JD (S) government in Karnataka plunged into crisis on Saturday following the resignation of at least 11 MLAs from the membership of the state Assembly. Later in the day, 10 Congress MLAs left for Mumbai where they are said to be lodged in a hotel. JD(S) MLA H Vishwanath claimed that 14 MLAs have jointly tendered resignations to Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar and requested him to accept them. The Speaker, however, has not yet accepted the resignations. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who was in the USA, reached Bengaluru on Sunday and immediately took stock of the situation. He is involved in a series of meetings to defuse the crisis.

Kumaraswamy government inching towards minority as another legislator pulls support

Caught off guard, Karnataka Congress in charge, K C Venugopal, rushed to Bengaluru on Saturday after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kumaraswamy-led-govt-in-karnataka-in-trouble-as-11-ruling-party-lawmakers-resign-233558">eight Congress and three Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) MLAs resigned </a>from the Assembly, bringing the coalition government into a minority.

Meanwhile former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been tasked to contact the dissidents in the party.

According to sources, D K Shivakumar has also mounted efforts to convince the MLAs to come back.remain in the party fold.

The Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka appeared to have gone into a minority with 11 of the MLAs belonging to the two parties quitting the Assembly as the crisis deepened for the ruling dispensation.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who belongs to the JD(S), is away in the US and is expected to fly back here on Sunday.

With today's developments, the strength of the ruling coalition in Karnataka has come down to 105, which is eight short of the half-way mark of 113 for a majority.

Caught off guard, Karnataka Congress in charge, K C Venugopal, rushed to Bengaluru on Saturday after eight Congress and three Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) MLAs resigned from the Assembly, bringing the coalition government into a minority.

Caught off guard, Karnataka Congress in charge, K C Venugopal, rushed to Bengaluru on Saturday after eight Congress and three Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) MLAs resigned from the Assembly, bringing the coalition government into a minority. Meanwhile former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been tasked to contact the dissidents in the party. According to sources, D K Shivakumar has also mounted efforts to convince the MLAs to come back.remain in the party fold. The Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka appeared to have gone into a minority with 11 of the MLAs belonging to the two parties quitting the Assembly as the crisis deepened for the ruling dispensation. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who belongs to the JD(S), is away in the US and is expected to fly back here on Sunday. With today's developments, the strength of the ruling coalition in Karnataka has come down to 105, which is eight short of the half-way mark of 113 for a majority.

Karnataka Congress in charge KC Venugopal rushes to Bengaluru after 11 MLAs resign

With grim predictions for the Congress in exit polls ahead of the national election results on Thursday, infighting in the party's Karnataka unit has resurfaced with a leader, Roshan Baig, going public with a series of allegations.

Karnataka lawmaker Roshan Baig calls Congress leader 'Buffoon'

A Congress MLA Siddu Nyama Gowda passed away in a road accident near Tulasigere, Karnataka while he was on his way to Bagalkot from Goa.

The 67-year-old MLA's car had rammed into divider while trying to avoid a collision from a truck coming from the opposite side.&nbsp;

He died while he was on his way to the hospital after the accident.

The accident took place early in the morning around 4.30 am near Tulasigere.&nbsp;

He won election from Jamkhandi assembly seat as he defeated BJP's Kulkarni Shrikant Subrao in the recent Karnataka Assembly election.

Karnataka Congress tweeted a condolence message on its Twitter account.

"Deepest condolences on the passing away of our senior leader and Jamkhandi MLA, Shri Siddu B Nyamagouda. The Congress party stands by his family in this hour of grief," the tweet reads.

Former chief minister of the state also condoled his death on Twitter.

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ನಮ್ಮ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಶಾಸಕ ಸಿದ್ದುನ್ಯಾಮಗೌಡ‌ ಅವರ‌‌ ಅಕಾಲಿಕ ಸಾವು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಆಘಾತಕ್ಕೀಡು ಮಾಡಿದೆ. 'ಬ್ಯಾರೇಜ್ ಸಿದ್ದು' ಎಂದೇ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಸಿದ್ದು ನ್ಯಾಮಗೌಡ ಅವರು ಶಾಸಕ ಸಂಸದ, ಮತ್ತು ಕೇಂದ್ರ‌ ಸಚಿವರಾಗಿ ಜನ ಸದಾ ನೆನಪು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಂತಹ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ ಸಿದ್ದು ನ್ಯಾಮಗೌಡರಿಗೆ‌ ನನ್ನ ದುಃಖ ತಪ್ತ ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾಂಜಲಿ. <a href="https://t.co/U8IZBKL3ql">pic.twitter.com/U8IZBKL3ql</a>
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) <a href="https://twitter.com/siddaramaiah/status/1000926068004438016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Congress MLA Siddu Nyama Gowda passed away in a road accident near Tulasigeri. He was on his way from Goa to Bagalkot. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karnataka?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karnataka</a> <a href="https://t.co/0V8R9spaHh">pic.twitter.com/0V8R9spaHh</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1000912296586108928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Siddu Nyama Gowda died while he was on his way to the hospital after the accident

A Congress MLA Siddu Nyama Gowda passed away in a road accident near Tulasigere, Karnataka while he was on his way to Bagalkot from Goa. The 67-year-old MLA's car had rammed into divider while trying to avoid a collision from a truck coming from the opposite side. He died while he was on his way to the hospital after the accident. The accident took place early in the morning around 4.30 am near Tulasigere. He won election from Jamkhandi assembly seat as he defeated BJP's Kulkarni Shrikant Subrao in the recent Karnataka Assembly election. Karnataka Congress tweeted a condolence message on its Twitter account. "Deepest condolences on the passing away of our senior leader and Jamkhandi MLA, Shri Siddu B Nyamagouda. The Congress party stands by his family in this hour of grief," the tweet reads. Former chief minister of the state also condoled his death on Twitter. ನಮ್ಮ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಶಾಸಕ ಸಿದ್ದುನ್ಯಾಮಗೌಡ‌ ಅವರ‌‌ ಅಕಾಲಿಕ ಸಾವು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಆಘಾತಕ್ಕೀಡು ಮಾಡಿದೆ. 'ಬ್ಯಾರೇಜ್ ಸಿದ್ದು' ಎಂದೇ ಜನಪ್ರಿಯರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಸಿದ್ದು ನ್ಯಾಮಗೌಡ ಅವರು ಶಾಸಕ ಸಂಸದ, ಮತ್ತು ಕೇಂದ್ರ‌ ಸಚಿವರಾಗಿ ಜನ ಸದಾ ನೆನಪು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಂತಹ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ ಸಿದ್ದು ನ್ಯಾಮಗೌಡರಿಗೆ‌ ನನ್ನ ದುಃಖ ತಪ್ತ ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾಂಜಲಿ. pic.twitter.com/U8IZBKL3ql — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 28, 2018 × Congress MLA Siddu Nyama Gowda passed away in a road accident near Tulasigeri. He was on his way from Goa to Bagalkot. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/0V8R9spaHh — ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2018 ×

Congress Karnataka MLA Siddu Nyama Gowda dies in road accident

It is turning out to be a miserable Tuesday for Congress, which is on the verge of losing the assembly elections in Karnataka. The BJP is leading in 112 out of the 222 assembly segments, while the Congress is maintaining lead in 70.

With this loss, Congress will be reduced to two states - Punjab and Mizoram - and one Union Territory, Puducherry - a major dent on the party's confidence ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year. Karnataka elections is being seen as a pre-cursor to the big electoral battle, and a win would have given confidence to Congress cadres.

So what didn't work for Congress? Here are some of the possible reasons for the loss of face for the Congress:

Rahul Gandhi's temple visits: Congress president Rahul Gandhi's Gujarat-style election campaign was one of the most talked about things in the run-up to Karnataka elections. Gandhi launched the Congress campaign at a rally at Hosapete in Ballari district in February, and visited many temples to drum up support for the party.

Minority status for Lingayats: The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government gave Lingayatas - one of the dominant castes in Karnataka - the status of a minority religion. The move was aimed at capitalising on the clout the Lingayats enjoy. But the voting pattern of the community doesn't seem to have favoured Congress in this election.

Siddaramaiah's welfare programmes: The Siddaramaiah government had launched many welfare schemes for the poor and youth of Karnataka which were popular among the 69 per cent of the electorate. But the leads on counting day show BJP making inroads in rural areas too, thereby spoiling the party for Congress.

With this loss, Congress will be reduced to two states - Punjab and Mizoram - and one Union Territory, Puducherry.

It is turning out to be a miserable Tuesday for Congress, which is on the verge of losing the assembly elections in Karnataka. The BJP is leading in 112 out of the 222 assembly segments, while the Congress is maintaining lead in 70. With this loss, Congress will be reduced to two states - Punjab and Mizoram - and one Union Territory, Puducherry - a major dent on the party's confidence ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year. Karnataka elections is being seen as a pre-cursor to the big electoral battle, and a win would have given confidence to Congress cadres. So what didn't work for Congress? Here are some of the possible reasons for the loss of face for the Congress: Rahul Gandhi's temple visits: Congress president Rahul Gandhi's Gujarat-style election campaign was one of the most talked about things in the run-up to Karnataka elections. Gandhi launched the Congress campaign at a rally at Hosapete in Ballari district in February, and visited many temples to drum up support for the party. Minority status for Lingayats: The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government gave Lingayatas - one of the dominant castes in Karnataka - the status of a minority religion. The move was aimed at capitalising on the clout the Lingayats enjoy. But the voting pattern of the community doesn't seem to have favoured Congress in this election. Siddaramaiah's welfare programmes: The Siddaramaiah government had launched many welfare schemes for the poor and youth of Karnataka which were popular among the 69 per cent of the electorate. But the leads on counting day show BJP making inroads in rural areas too, thereby spoiling the party for Congress.

Karnataka election results: What didn't work for Congress

With 2019 Lok Sabha elections just a year away, the countdown has already begun for the big two parties - BJP and Congress. Karnataka is the first major assembly elections this year for both to test the waters.

While BJP is upbeat after its success in the assembly elections in the Northeast earlier this year, Congress will be looking to hold its ground where it is still ruling.

Here is a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the key parties in fray. Let's start with the ruling party, Congress.

Strength 1: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

The incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is one of the biggest strengths of the party. In the last 40 years, he is the only chief minister who has been able to complete a full term in office. He joined Congress in 2006 after his expulsion from JD(S). Once considered an outsider in the party, Siddaramaiah has not only become almost indispensable for Congress in the state, but also one of its biggest regional leaders across the country.

Strength 2: Populist schemes

The Siddaramaiah government has taken several populist measures in the last few years. Apart from freebies like rice and milk to poor, the state government also offered laptops to SC/ST students and cash payments to women from minority communities. Siddaramaiah had also set up Indira canteens in the capital Bengaluru, something in line with the Amma canteens in Tamil Nadu. It offers food to the needy at subsidised rates.

Strength 3: The Lingayat strategy

The Lingayat community comprises a major chunk of BJP's vote base in Karnataka. Its chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa is one of the prominent leaders from the community. Ahead of the elections, the Siddaramaiah government approved the community's demand for a separate religious status. This could snatch away a good chunk of votes away from BJP.

While the party has a few strengths, there are certain factors that it needs to worry about too:

Weakness 1: Farmers' distress

More than 3,500 farmers have committed suicide in the state since Congress came to power in 2013. Most of these incidents happened due to two successive droughts. With rural seats constituting almost two-third of entire state, agrarian crisis will be one of the major poll issues that could haunt Congress. Though the Siddaramaiah government announced several measures like farm loan waivers, guaranteed income and cheap loans for farmers, it remains to be seen if they are enough to cut ice.

Weakness 2: Law and order

Two high profile murders in Karnataka rocked the nation. And both happened during Siddaramaiah's tenure. The murders of rationalist MM Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh became the subject of a raging debate across the country. BJP is also likely to raise the killing of pro-Hindu activists in the state during the election campaigns.

Weakness 3: Internal rift

Lack of coordination between the party and Siddaramaiah government could hurt Congress's prospects. The rift between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state Congress President G Parameswara became evident when the two leaders planned separate state-wide rallies in December without keeping each other in the loop. The party has also not been able to promote some of the welfare schemes initiated by the government.

Now let's focus on the BJP. The party is hoping to make a comeback in the state under the leadership of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, and is doing all it can to realise its dream. Let's have a look at some of its strengths and weaknesses.

Strength 1: B S Yeddyurappa

The former chief minister is easily the tallest leader for BJP in Karnataka. After briefly breaking away from the party, he has returned to boost BJP's chances in this southern state.

Strength 2: Lingayat community

He also represents the Lingayat community which has 15-17 per cent vote share in the state. It is likely to back Yeddyurappa because he is projected as the chief ministerial candidate.

Strength 3: Modi-Shah combine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaigns and party chief Amit Shah's poll strategies have won BJP several states since it came to power in the Centre in 2014. Earlier this year, the party managed to gain further inroads in the northeast states by winning two out of three states, either on its own, or with shrewd selection of allies.

However, there are some factors that could dent BJP's chances in the elections:

Weakness 1: B S Yeddyurappa

While Yeddyurappa remains a strong factor for BJP in the state, he could still be a reason for its failure in the forthcoming polls because of his image. He was accused of corruption and was sent to jail before being acquitted. While BJP is busy highlighting corruption under Siddaramaiah, Congress will counter that with Yeddyurappa's track record.

Weakness 2: Factionalism

Difference between two key leaders - Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa - remains a sore point for the BJP ahead of the elections. BJP chief Amit Shah tried to resolve the rift by taking strong actions against some of the office bearers belonging to the two factions. But it has not eased the tension between the two leaders.

Weakness 3: Hindutva agenda vs Kannada pride

Anti-Hindi sentiment or move to introduce separate flag for Karnataka are some of the strategies adopted by Congress to take on BJP's agenda in the state. Karnataka's move to keep Hindi out could unify the southern states, which have resisted BJP's plan to make Hindi the official language of the country.

There is also a third party who can be a gamechanger in Karnataka. However, no one is willing to stick the neck out and bet for Janata Dal (Secular) to win the election all by itself. Despite being the only regional party that could impact the assembly polls in Karnataka, pundits feel JD(S) is only worth a kingmaker's role in case of a hung verdict.

Here is what could be working for the party:

Strength 1: HD Kumaraswamy

He is easily the tallest leader JD(S) has right now to put up a challenge to the two national parties. The former chief minister is known to be an able administrator and has influence among the working class. He has been touring the state wooing farmers and promising loan waivers amid agrarian crisis.

Strength 2: Vokkaligas

This is one of the major vote bank for the party. With the community's strong backing, JD(S) had won 40 seats with a vote share of more than 20 per cent in the 2013 elections. While it may have lost some of its influence, it can still expect a strong backing from this community to enhance its chances, especially in the old Mysuru region.

Strength 3: Strategic alliances

The JD(S)'s alliance with BSP may help the party attract votes from the Dalit population in Karnataka. It is also trying to use actor Pavan Kalyan's popularity to attract young voters and consolidate its position.

But all these may not be enough, because JD(S) has more glaring weaknesses too.

Weakness 1: Lack of leaders

Apart from the father-son duo of HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy, the party doesn't have a strong second line of leadership with a mass appeal. As many as seven of its legislators have deserted leaving the party in a vacuum.

Weakness 2: Limited influence

The JD(S) has its influence only in some of parts of Karnataka. Unlike BJP or Congress it does not have a pan-Karnataka presence. The party doesn't have leaders who can attract votes in the crucial north and coastal Karnataka. While it can hurt the prospects of the bigger parties by cutting into their votebanks, it doesn't stand a chance to win the elections on its own.

Weakness 3: Lack of funds

Limited resources will affect the party's chance in the elections. The candidates do not have enough funds for campaigning. It will be difficult for the party to match either BJP or Congress when it comes to grand political rallies to reach the mass. And this could also affect the morale of the party workers on ground.

But just like cricket, elections in India are also a game of uncertainty. It's never over, until the last vote is counted. We will have to wait and see who has the last laugh on May 15.

While BJP is upbeat after its success in the assembly elections in the Northeast earlier this year, Congress will be looking to hold its ground where it is still ruling.

With 2019 Lok Sabha elections just a year away, the countdown has already begun for the big two parties - BJP and Congress. Karnataka is the first major assembly elections this year for both to test the waters. While BJP is upbeat after its success in the assembly elections in the Northeast earlier this year, Congress will be looking to hold its ground where it is still ruling. Here is a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the key parties in fray. Let's start with the ruling party, Congress. Strength 1: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah The incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is one of the biggest strengths of the party. In the last 40 years, he is the only chief minister who has been able to complete a full term in office. He joined Congress in 2006 after his expulsion from JD(S). Once considered an outsider in the party, Siddaramaiah has not only become almost indispensable for Congress in the state, but also one of its biggest regional leaders across the country. Strength 2: Populist schemes The Siddaramaiah government has taken several populist measures in the last few years. Apart from freebies like rice and milk to poor, the state government also offered laptops to SC/ST students and cash payments to women from minority communities. Siddaramaiah had also set up Indira canteens in the capital Bengaluru, something in line with the Amma canteens in Tamil Nadu. It offers food to the needy at subsidised rates. Strength 3: The Lingayat strategy The Lingayat community comprises a major chunk of BJP's vote base in Karnataka. Its chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa is one of the prominent leaders from the community. Ahead of the elections, the Siddaramaiah government approved the community's demand for a separate religious status. This could snatch away a good chunk of votes away from BJP. While the party has a few strengths, there are certain factors that it needs to worry about too: Weakness 1: Farmers' distress More than 3,500 farmers have committed suicide in the state since Congress came to power in 2013. Most of these incidents happened due to two successive droughts. With rural seats constituting almost two-third of entire state, agrarian crisis will be one of the major poll issues that could haunt Congress. Though the Siddaramaiah government announced several measures like farm loan waivers, guaranteed income and cheap loans for farmers, it remains to be seen if they are enough to cut ice. Weakness 2: Law and order Two high profile murders in Karnataka rocked the nation. And both happened during Siddaramaiah's tenure. The murders of rationalist MM Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh became the subject of a raging debate across the country. BJP is also likely to raise the killing of pro-Hindu activists in the state during the election campaigns. Weakness 3: Internal rift Lack of coordination between the party and Siddaramaiah government could hurt Congress's prospects. The rift between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state Congress President G Parameswara became evident when the two leaders planned separate state-wide rallies in December without keeping each other in the loop. The party has also not been able to promote some of the welfare schemes initiated by the government. Now let's focus on the BJP. The party is hoping to make a comeback in the state under the leadership of former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, and is doing all it can to realise its dream. Let's have a look at some of its strengths and weaknesses. Strength 1: B S Yeddyurappa The former chief minister is easily the tallest leader for BJP in Karnataka. After briefly breaking away from the party, he has returned to boost BJP's chances in this southern state. Strength 2: Lingayat community He also represents the Lingayat community which has 15-17 per cent vote share in the state. It is likely to back Yeddyurappa because he is projected as the chief ministerial candidate. Strength 3: Modi-Shah combine Prime Minister Narendra Modi's campaigns and party chief Amit Shah's poll strategies have won BJP several states since it came to power in the Centre in 2014. Earlier this year, the party managed to gain further inroads in the northeast states by winning two out of three states, either on its own, or with shrewd selection of allies. However, there are some factors that could dent BJP's chances in the elections: Weakness 1: B S Yeddyurappa While Yeddyurappa remains a strong factor for BJP in the state, he could still be a reason for its failure in the forthcoming polls because of his image. He was accused of corruption and was sent to jail before being acquitted. While BJP is busy highlighting corruption under Siddaramaiah, Congress will counter that with Yeddyurappa's track record. Weakness 2: Factionalism Difference between two key leaders - Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa - remains a sore point for the BJP ahead of the elections. BJP chief Amit Shah tried to resolve the rift by taking strong actions against some of the office bearers belonging to the two factions. But it has not eased the tension between the two leaders. Weakness 3: Hindutva agenda vs Kannada pride Anti-Hindi sentiment or move to introduce separate flag for Karnataka are some of the strategies adopted by Congress to take on BJP's agenda in the state. Karnataka's move to keep Hindi out could unify the southern states, which have resisted BJP's plan to make Hindi the official language of the country. There is also a third party who can be a gamechanger in Karnataka. However, no one is willing to stick the neck out and bet for Janata Dal (Secular) to win the election all by itself. Despite being the only regional party that could impact the assembly polls in Karnataka, pundits feel JD(S) is only worth a kingmaker's role in case of a hung verdict. Here is what could be working for the party: Strength 1: HD Kumaraswamy He is easily the tallest leader JD(S) has right now to put up a challenge to the two national parties. The former chief minister is known to be an able administrator and has influence among the working class. He has been touring the state wooing farmers and promising loan waivers amid agrarian crisis. Strength 2: Vokkaligas This is one of the major vote bank for the party. With the community's strong backing, JD(S) had won 40 seats with a vote share of more than 20 per cent in the 2013 elections. While it may have lost some of its influence, it can still expect a strong backing from this community to enhance its chances, especially in the old Mysuru region. Strength 3: Strategic alliances The JD(S)'s alliance with BSP may help the party attract votes from the Dalit population in Karnataka. It is also trying to use actor Pavan Kalyan's popularity to attract young voters and consolidate its position. But all these may not be enough, because JD(S) has more glaring weaknesses too. Weakness 1: Lack of leaders Apart from the father-son duo of HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy, the party doesn't have a strong second line of leadership with a mass appeal. As many as seven of its legislators have deserted leaving the party in a vacuum. Weakness 2: Limited influence The JD(S) has its influence only in some of parts of Karnataka. Unlike BJP or Congress it does not have a pan-Karnataka presence. The party doesn't have leaders who can attract votes in the crucial north and coastal Karnataka. While it can hurt the prospects of the bigger parties by cutting into their votebanks, it doesn't stand a chance to win the elections on its own. Weakness 3: Lack of funds Limited resources will affect the party's chance in the elections. The candidates do not have enough funds for campaigning. It will be difficult for the party to match either BJP or Congress when it comes to grand political rallies to reach the mass. And this could also affect the morale of the party workers on ground. But just like cricket, elections in India are also a game of uncertainty. It's never over, until the last vote is counted. We will have to wait and see who has the last laugh on May 15.

Karnataka elections: Strengths and weaknesses of key parties

Karnataka, which is heading for polls on May 12, is the only big state which left with Congress.

Once a pan-India party, the Congress's presence in the country is now reduced to just three states (Punjab, Mizoram and Karnataka) and one Union Territory (Puducherry).

The first major jolt to the party came in the form of defeat at the hands of Narendra Modi-led BJP in the general elections in 2014. Since then, Congress has been experiencing a series of failures. After losing the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, it has failed to stand against the might of Modi-Shah combine. The party lost electoral battles in Delhi, Assam, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Tripura, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh etc.

The repeated loss of Congress has already put a question mark on the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. A loss again will translate into Rahul's inefficiency against the Modi-Shah might.

If the Congress is able to win the Assembly elections in Karnataka, the victory will certainly be attributed to current chief minister Siddaramaiah's strong reputation in the party. Siddaramaiah belongs to Kuruba (shepherd) caste but enjoys a status of a strong leader in the state. His name and political tenure has been out of any controversy. The various schemes and measures favouring Dalits and minorities that he introduced may also prove profitable to him.

The BJP contemplated the importance Siddaramaiah holds in the state politics as compared to its chief ministerial candidate Yeddyurappa and therefore fielded PM Modi and his "development agenda" against the fight with Congress.

A victory for the Congress in Karnataka will also decide the role that it will play in the potential grand alliance against the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had hosted a dinner party for the leaders of 20 opposition parties at her Janpath residence on March 13. The party was apparently hosted to devise a collective plan to root out the BJP-led NDA in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress said that the party meeting was called to promote "amity and friendship".

Quoting Tejashwi Yadav and Sharad Yadav, a news report said that the meeting was the first step towards a comprehensive alliance of the 2019 elections.

In a bid to win over the hearts (and the votes) of the people of Karnataka, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is not leaving any stone unturned. He is also resorting to the Hindutva card.

Rahul visited around 25 temples in Gujarat during the election campaign in the state. Similar religious symbolism is seen in his recent visits to temples and dargahs in Karnataka.

Also, to woo the Lingayat community in the state, the Karnataka government granted minority status to them in March. Lingayats, the single largest community in Karnataka constitutes 17 per cent of the vote share and plays an important role in about 100 of the state's 224 seats.

A win in the state will also have a significant impact for Congress in the upcoming assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The election in Karnataka is therefore seen as an existential battle for the Congress party which has almost vanished from the map of India.

The repeated loss of Congress has already put a question mark on the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.

Karnataka, which is heading for polls on May 12, is the only big state which left with Congress. Once a pan-India party, the Congress's presence in the country is now reduced to just three states (Punjab, Mizoram and Karnataka) and one Union Territory (Puducherry). The first major jolt to the party came in the form of defeat at the hands of Narendra Modi-led BJP in the general elections in 2014. Since then, Congress has been experiencing a series of failures. After losing the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, it has failed to stand against the might of Modi-Shah combine. The party lost electoral battles in Delhi, Assam, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Tripura, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh etc. The repeated loss of Congress has already put a question mark on the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. A loss again will translate into Rahul's inefficiency against the Modi-Shah might. If the Congress is able to win the Assembly elections in Karnataka, the victory will certainly be attributed to current chief minister Siddaramaiah's strong reputation in the party. Siddaramaiah belongs to Kuruba (shepherd) caste but enjoys a status of a strong leader in the state. His name and political tenure has been out of any controversy. The various schemes and measures favouring Dalits and minorities that he introduced may also prove profitable to him. The BJP contemplated the importance Siddaramaiah holds in the state politics as compared to its chief ministerial candidate Yeddyurappa and therefore fielded PM Modi and his "development agenda" against the fight with Congress. A victory for the Congress in Karnataka will also decide the role that it will play in the potential grand alliance against the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had hosted a dinner party for the leaders of 20 opposition parties at her Janpath residence on March 13. The party was apparently hosted to devise a collective plan to root out the BJP-led NDA in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress said that the party meeting was called to promote "amity and friendship". Quoting Tejashwi Yadav and Sharad Yadav, a news report said that the meeting was the first step towards a comprehensive alliance of the 2019 elections. In a bid to win over the hearts (and the votes) of the people of Karnataka, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is not leaving any stone unturned. He is also resorting to the Hindutva card. Rahul visited around 25 temples in Gujarat during the election campaign in the state. Similar religious symbolism is seen in his recent visits to temples and dargahs in Karnataka. Also, to woo the Lingayat community in the state, the Karnataka government granted minority status to them in March. Lingayats, the single largest community in Karnataka constitutes 17 per cent of the vote share and plays an important role in about 100 of the state's 224 seats. A win in the state will also have a significant impact for Congress in the upcoming assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The election in Karnataka is therefore seen as an existential battle for the Congress party which has almost vanished from the map of India.

Karnataka elections: An existential battle for Congress

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