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Four decades old pattern of alternative government in the southern state.
On the other hand, the Congress is hoping to come back to power in the state to boost the morale of the party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In the 224-member assembly, both the major parties, the BJP and the Congress, are targeting an ‘absolute majority government’. The ruling BJP faces a tough challenge to retain power as it grapples with allegations of corruption, communal polarization and caste-based reservation demands – all of which could upset the saffron car.
The saffron party is gearing up to fight anti-incumbency in this all-important assembly election, and is using its ‘development card’ to counter the anti-corruption campaign by rival Congress.
Seeking to emerge as ‘King’ rather than ‘Kingmaker’, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda-led JD(S) seems to be putting all its might into the election campaign. It is hoping to get the numbers needed to form the government on its own.
No uncertified ads during silence period: EC to parties
The Election Commission, in an advisory on Sunday ahead of the May 10 polling in Karnataka, said that no party or candidate shall publish any advertisement in the print media on the day of election and the day before without approval from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee.
Forty-eight hours before the close of the poll is considered a period of silence.
In an advisory to political parties, the election authority also stressed on a “clean and serious” campaign as election campaigning reached its peak in the southern state. The Committee noted that advertisements of objectionable and misleading nature vitiate the entire election process.
On complaints against advertisements in the media, the commission said national parties and star campaigners are bound to follow the requisite standards of election campaigning.
In a separate letter to editors, the Election Commission (EC) made it clear to them that the Press Council of India’s norms of journalistic conduct hold them responsible for all matters including advertisements published in their newspapers.
In a letter to the editors of newspapers in Karnataka, the commission said, “If there is any denial of responsibility, it will be clearly stated in advance.”
The advisory to political parties states that advertisements will have to be pre-certified by the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) on the day of the election and a day before the day of polling.
The advisory asked political parties and candidates to apply to the MCMC two days before the proposed date of publication of advertisement on the day of election and one day before the day of poll.
The Commission said that cases of advertisements of objectionable and misleading nature published in the print media have been brought to the notice of the Commission.
As campaigning for the May 10 polls reached its peak, with politicians hurling terms like “poisonous snake”, “venomous girl” and “worthless son” at each other, the Election Commission issued an advisory on May 2. The tax asked political parties and their star campaigners to exercise caution and restraint in their statements and not to vitiate the electoral atmosphere.
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