Leaders of all parties reached the shelter of Hanumanji in Karnataka on Big Tuesday, VHP agitated when they were stopped citing Section 144

Campaigning for the assembly elections in Karnataka has come to an end and a day before the voting, all political parties are in the shelter of Lord Hanuman. Today is also a big Tuesday, so on this day anyway special worship of Hanumanji is done. In Karnataka, since Hanumanji has become an issue in the assembly elections, a different shade is being seen today. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai along with his supporters recited Hanuman Chalisa at Hanuman Mandir in Vijay Nagar in Hubli, while on the other hand State Congress President DK Shivakumar, who is considered to be a strong contender for the post of Chief Minister from the Congress, performed at Anjaneya Swamy Temple in KR Market, Bengaluru. I worshiped Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also recited Hanuman Chalisa at Nagashettykoppa Hanuman Temple with VHP workers in Hubli. After Hanuman Chalisa recitation, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that our message is clear that we believe in Hanuman, we believe in Ram. Hanuman is the source of strength. I pray every day, today I prayed in public. The Chief Minister said that what Hanuman is to Ram, Bajrang Dal is to Bajrang Bali.

Let us tell you that BJP and Vishwa Hindu Parishad organized Hanuman Chalisa recitation across the state today, a complaint has also been made to the Election Commission. When the officials of the Election Commission tried to stop an event of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the leader of the organization Shashikant Sharma got angry and said that now will we need to take permission to worship God in our country? He said that are we in Pakistan that permission will have to be taken for worship?

A look at the Karnataka election campaign

On the other hand, if we look at the entire election campaign in Karnataka, it can be seen that the declining level of public rhetoric was evident during the nearly month-long campaign with comments like ‘poisonous snakes’, ‘Vishkanya’ and ‘Nalayak’. Instances of politicians using intemperate and abusive language without caution and restraint vitiated the campaign and election atmosphere. During the election campaign, All India Congress Committee President Mallikarjun Kharge had compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a ‘poisonous snake’. Addressing a public meeting at Ron in Gadag district, Kharge said on April 27, “Don’t make a mistake. Modi is like a poisonous snake….” Kharge, who hails from Karnataka, drew flak from BJP leaders for his remarks. Prime Minister Modi also raised this issue during election rallies. In addition, the BJP’s Vijayapura candidate Basanagouda Patil Yatnal compared former Congress president Sonia Gandhi to ‘Vishkanya’ during the election campaign. A few days later, Kharge’s son Priyank called Modi a “worthless son” over “confusion” regarding internal reservations for Scheduled Castes, especially the nomadic Lambani tribes.

Apart from this, the issue of corruption also dominated the election campaign and both the Congress and the BJP tried to corner each other on it. While the Congress continued to attack the ruling BJP, calling it a ’40 per cent commission government’, PM Modi hit back at the opposition party, pointing to 85 per cent corruption during Rajiv Gandhi’s prime ministership. Comparing the Congress symbol ‘hand’ to a ‘claw’, he said, “Which claw took away 85 per cent of the people’s share?” Allegations of murder also made headlines during the election campaign. The Congress alleged that Manikant Rathore, the BJP candidate from Chittapur, conspired to eliminate Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and his family. The Congress released an alleged audio recording of the conversation, claiming it to be of Rathore, in which he allegedly threatened her. Rathod, however, denied the allegations and called it a lie.