Bengaluru: With a week to go before campaigning for the May 12 assembly polls in Karnataka draws to a close, leaders from across the parties are pulling all their weight to connect with the voters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed three public rallies in the state on Thursday, interacted with the office bearers and workers of the BJP’s Karnataka women’s wing through the NaMo App.
Modi would talk about the initiatives taken by the government for women’s empowerment. During the interaction, he will also answer questions of the workers of the party’s women wing.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi who is in Karnataka on the eighth leg of his campaign tour of the state will also address rallies today. He is expected to address public and corner meetings in Kalburgi, Gadag and Haveri district.
Karnataka is slated to witness a three-corner contest, involving the ruling Congress, the BJP and the H D Deve Gowda-led JD(S).
A total of 2,655 candidates – 2,436 men and 219 women – are left in the fray for the May 12 election for 224 Assembly seats in Karnataka. Counting of votes will take place on May 15.
According to the Chief Electoral Officer’s (CEO) office, the contesting candidates include 224 from BJP, 222 from Congress and 201 from JD(S). Others are BSP 18, CPI 2, CPIM 19, NCP 14, registered unrecognised parties 800 and independents 1,155.
The process of filing of nominations had begun with the gazette notification on April 17. While the last date for filing of nominations was April 24, scrutiny was on April 25.