People in Karnataka have begun casting their votes today for the 224 state legislature seats. Hours ahead of voting in Karnataka, the Congress raised concerns alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was sending people from Goa to Karnataka.
Senior Congress leaders have shared a video of buses from Goa to north Karnataka asking whether illicit money was being transported, or the objective was bogus voting in the state.
Congress leader Pawan Khera took to Twitter and wrote, "Why is Goa BJP Govt sending people from Goa by Kadamba Transport Corporation Buses to Northern Karnataka tonight? Last week too for PM’s rally, people were ferried in over a 100 buses from Goa".
Why is the Goa BJP govt sending people from Goa on Kadamba Transport Corporation buses to northern Karnataka tonight? Why??? Is illicit money being transported? Is bogus voting the objective?” the Congress wrote on its official Twitter handle.
Another Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala called it a 'preposterous, heinous crime'. Surhewala raised questions, 'Is illicit money being transported?'
He suspected a 'resort' link and asked whether Goa minister Visvajeet Rane booked six rooms at Whistling Woods Jungle Resort at Dandeli.
Surjewala wrote, "Where is Karnataka Police? What’s happening at Whistling Woodzs Jungle Resort at Dandeli, Uttar Kannada District, Dandeli, Karnataka? Has Vishvajeet Rane booked 6 rooms here? What’s the purpose? Will ECI act?"
The BJP is leaving no stones unturned to ensure victory in the polls hoping to retain the only southern state where it has ever won power. BJP strongholds are in northern, central, and western India, while opposition parties rule the other southern states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
In the 2018 assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 104 seats, followed by the Congress with 78 seats and the Janata Dal (Secular) with 37. The BJP formed the government 15 months after defecting lawmakers from other parties joined.
The party is banking on its ties with powerful religious institutions followed by different castes and communities like Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Kurubas, Valmikis, Nayakas, and Madiga.
The voting for 224 assembly constituencies in Karnataka started at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.
A total of 5,31,33,054 electors are eligible to cast their votes in 58,545 polling stations across the state. The major political parties in contention are the BJP, Congress, and JD(S) The majority mark to form the government is 113 seats. The counting of votes will take place on May 13.