Karnataka Election: Last day to file nominations today

Today is the last day of filing nominations for the Karnataka Assembly elections and one can look forward to exciting political developments. CM Siddaramaiah, who was earlier supposed to file nomination from Badami seat on April 23, will do so today (April 24). On the other hand, the BJP is yet to announce candidates for four seats which includes Badami and Varuna seats.

These, apparently, are the two seats from where Siddaramaiah and his son Dr. Yathindra would be contesting. Meanwhile, two opinions polls came out yesterday. While the ABP opinion poll predicted that the BJP would emerge as the single largest party, the Times Now poll prediction was that Congress would bag most seats. Both polls, however, predicted a hung assembly which means that the support of JD (S) would be needed to form the government. BJP MP Sriramulu to take on CM Siddaramaiah in Badami assembly constituency. Both Siddaramaiah and Sriramulu to file nominations today after a roadshow. BS Yeddyurappa and Jagadish Shetter to accompany Sriramulu.

B Y Vijayendra may after all get a ticket from the Varuna assembly constituency. The party will hold discussions today after a banner of protest was raised when Yeddyurappa said that his son would not be contesting from Varuna. The Election Commission has extended polling time in Karnataka by an hour in view of the excessive heat in the state. The earlier poll timing was between 7 am and 5 pm. The new timing is 7 am to 6 pm, EC officials said. "It is necessary to extend the hours of the poll to facilitate all the voters to cast their votes even in the late hours," read the official ECI order. "Karnataka suffered badly under BJP rule, they had 3 CMs in 5 years.This is BJP's contribution. In 5 years of Congress rule though there was only 1 CM but look what has happened to Lokayukta," said former prime minister HD Deve Gowda.

One more day to go, will the Congress be able to pacify Ambareesh? He continues to avoid the Congress leadership and today is the last date to file nominations. On Monday, BJP Karnataka president BS Yeddyurappa announcemt that his son BY Vijayendra would not be contesting from Varuna assembly constituency in Mysuru against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's son Yatindra led to largescale protests by BJP workers, following which police resorted to lathicharge to bring the situation under control. Four senior BJP leaders led by its General Secretary Bhupender Yadav submitted a memorandum to the poll panel, demanding deployment of adequate number of Central Armed Police Forces and "micro-observers preferably from outside Karnataka."

The BJP moved the Election Commission today alleging that the Congress was trying to rig the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka and also complained that some officers in the state were biased towards the ruling party. Flying Squads, SSTs (Static Surveillance Teams) & other police authorities have seized cash worth over Rs. 38 crore. Excise department seized 42 thousand litres (appx) of liquor worth Rs. 2 crore: Chief Electoral Officer. Decision about Varuna (constituency) has nothing to do with RSS or BJP. I didn't want to restrict myself to one place. I am going to be CM, it is as certain as existence of sun & moon. I'm going to spend one day in each constituency to ensure my party's victory,says BS Yeddyurappa. Party workers created ruckus at BJP CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa's rally, after he announced that his son BY Vijayendra will not be contesting from Varuna constituency. BJP's Jagdish Shettar filed his nomination for #Karnataka assembly elections on Monday.