Karnataka: The Election Commission has announced the polling dates for the 224-member Karnataka assembly. The voting for the elections will be held on 12 May, 2018 and counting will be held on 15 May, 2018. The last state elections were held in the first week of May in 2013. While the Congress is aiming to retain the assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is putting all its might to get the state into its kitty. If BJP manages to form its government in Karnataka, it will be in power on its own or in an alliance in 22 states. Currently, Punjab and Karnataka are two big states apart from Mizoram which are ruled by the Congress.
Karnataka elections will be held in a single phase
Issue of notification: 17 April, 2018
Last date of filing nomination: 24 April, 2018
Date of scrutiny: 25 April 2018
Last date of withdrawal of candidature: 27 April
Voting Date: 12 May
Counting date: 15 May
Chaos at the EC press conference as questions being asked over how election dates have been leaked in Karnataka ahead of the official announcement.
CEC appeals to media to highlight violation of model code of conduct or any wrongdoing by candidates and parties.
Systematic education programme for the voters has been in place. Work has also been done to motivate people to come out and vote. Efforts are on to increase participation of voters since the last elections: EC
Sealing of expenditure is Rs 28 lakh in Karnataka for political parties. The expenditure at polling booth will also be included in the expenditure of the candidates: EC
Voters of weaker sections will be given full protection to ensure they are able to vote in a fair manner: EC
Since there have been some offences in the last elections, CRPF will be deployed to maintain law and order across the state. It will be monitored on a regular basis: EC
Model code of conduct comes into place immediately after the announcement of the poll dates. This will be applicable across the state and also for the Union government: EC
Special arrangements are being made for women. 450 polling stations will be managed by women: EC
Along with the EVMs, VVPATs will be used at all polling centres. Photographs of the candidates will also be attached at the EVMs so that voters do not have any confusion in voting for the candidates: EC
72% population of Karnataka are eligible to vote – 4.96 crore voters. There are 224 seats in Karnataka Assembly: EC
This year the theme of elections is Accessible elections. Voters will be assured at least all minimum facilities at the voting centres: Election Commission
Just ahead of the announcement of the poll dates, the BJP on Tuesday hit out at Rahul Gandhi over his campaigning in Karnataka. The BJP claimed that Rahul is making dubious and opportunistic promises to fulfil anything.
The BJP is already in power in 21 states:
| Andhra Pradesh | Arunachal Pradesh | Assam |
|---|---|---|
| Bihar | Chhattisgarh | Goa |
| Gujarat | Haryana | Himachal Pradesh |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Jharkhand | Madhya Pradesh |
| Maharashtra | Manipur | Nagaland |
| Rajasthan | Sikkim | Tripura |
| Uttar Pradesh | Uttarakhand | Meghalaya |
The Karnataka elections hold huge importance for both the Congress and the BJP. Neither of the two parties want to leave any stone unturned to turn the tide in its favour. Congress President Rahul Gandhi has and BJP chief Amit Shah have been campaigning vigorously across the state ahead of the elections.
Bureau Report
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