Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Feb 5: The Assembly elections in Karnataka will be announced in another two months' time. As the Election Commission (EC) is issuing a strict code of conduct for election canvassing, the political parties have intensified campaigning well before the announcement of elections by the EC.

The ruling BJP is a step ahead of other political parties and is using various methods of campaigning. Congress, JDS are also reaching out to voters through various announcements.

BJP, which has set a target of 150 seats, has begun booth campaigns from December 2, 2022 itself. It has formed committees at booth level. One Page Pramukh is nominated. He or she has to contact 25 voters. He or she has to form a Whatsapp group and add voters to that group and make them aware of the schemes and developmental works of the BJP government. In one booth at least 25 houses should have BJP flags hoisted on the roof.

In addition, BJP also held Vijaya Sankalp campaign throughout the state from January 21 to 29. During this period, the houses were contacted, stickers were put on them, graffiti was written on the walls and missed call memberships were done. In this campaign, the aim is to recruit at least 1 lac new members from every district.

The Congress has also formed BLAs (Booth Level Agents) and formed booth committees. In addition, committees are also formed at village, zone and block level. Prajadhwani campaigning is also held statewide.

From February 5, ‘Karavali-Malenadu Prajadhwani Yatra’ will take place to cover six districts of coastal and Malnad region. For this yatra, the state leaders will arrive. Booth level meetings will be held as a prelude to the yatra. Later, huge public meetings will be held in two phases. In phase one, Siddaramaiah and in phase 2, D K Shivakumar will take part. This programme is also slated to get over by March 20, according to Harish Kumar, president of Dakshina Kannada Congress.

JDS has begun its campaigning through Pancharatna yatra for the coming assembly elections. Janasamparka meetings and village stay of H D Kumaraswamy are being held together.

Accusations and counter-accusations of all the three leading parties, BJP, Congress and JDS have reached their peak. Congress is using corruption of ruling BJP as its main tool, while BJP is defending it. JDS is trying to point fingers at the failures of both Congress and BJP and playing kingmaker to gain power as it usually does.

All parties are using one or the other gimmick to attract voters. In addition, they are declaring a zonal election manifesto instead of a common one for the whole state.