Karnataka Elections 2018: A look back at 10 controversies

After months of blistering campaigning in battleground Karnataka, the fate of the state will be decided on Tuesday. In the bid to get the majority vote share in the state assembly, the parties in fray left no stones unturned. From sharp attacks by political leaders at each other to numerous controversies, the state witnessed it all. Even as the counting of votes in 222 constituencies will take place on Tuesday to decide who rules the state, here’s a look at 10 controversies that marred the Karnataka assembly elections 2018:

• AMIT MALVIYA POLL DATE LEAK CHARGE:

On March 27, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) IT cell chief Amit Malviya had tweeted the date of the Karnataka polls before it was even announced by the Election Commission (EC). His announcement created a row with the poll panel describing it as a serious issue which merited a probe.

Later, however, Malviya issued a clarification and said he only had quoted a news channel.

READ| BJP’s Amit Malviya, Accused Of Poll Date Leak, Writes To Election Commission. Here’s His Letter

• MEHUL CHOKSI'S LAWYER GIVEN CONG TICKET:

A big controversy erupted after Karnataka Congress gave a ticket for the Madikeri constituency to HS Chandramouli, lawyer of Nirav Modi’s uncle Mehul Choksi. The Congress party had given him ticket while allegedly denying the same to Brijesh Kalappa, who is Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s legal advisor and party spokesperson. However, following an outrage over the issue, the Congress decided against fielding Chandramouli and gave the ticket to KP Chandrakala.

READ| BJP Attacks Congress President Rahul Gandhi For Giving Ticket To Mehul Choksi's Lawyer

• YEDDYURAPPA’S SON DENIED BJP TICKET:

Taking everyone by surprise the Karnataka BJP denied ticket to its chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa’s son Vijayendra. Yeddyurappa himself announced the decision saying instead of Vijayendra, a party worker will be fielded from the Varuna constituency. Congress has pitted Siddaramaiah’s son Yatindra in the constituency.

Vijayendra’s supporters did not take the decision lying down as they held large-scale protests which eventually led to lathi charge by police to disperse the protesting crowd.

• JANARDHAN REDDY DENIED PERMISSION TO CAMPAIGN IN BALLARI DIST OVER COAL MINING

The Supreme Court rejected Gali Janardhan Reddy’s appeal to visit Ballari and campaign for his younger brother Gali Somashekhara Reddy, who is contesting the Karnataka elections from the seat as a candidate for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), because of his association with illegal mining case.

Even as he was disowned by the BJP with the party president, Amit Shah, saying the party has nothing to do with him, he was out on the street campaigning for his brother saying he was working for the BJP.

• PM MODI ATTACKED FORMER PM NEHRU ACCUSING HIM OF MISTREATING ARMY CHIEFS THIMAYYA, CARIAPPA:

Prime Minister Modi while speaking in Kalaburgi on May 4 had attacked Congress, specifically former PM Jawaharlal Nehru and former defence minister RM Krishna, accusing them of mistreating former Army Chiefs Marshal Cariappa and General Thimayya.

“Karnataka is synonymous with valour. But, how did the Congress Govts treat Field Marshal Cariappa and General Thimayya? History is proof of that. In 1948 after defeating Pakistan, General Thimayya was insulted by PM Nehru and Defence Minister Krishna Menon.”

• RAHUL GANDHI'S 15 MINUTE CHALLENGE TO PM MODI:

While addressing a ‘Save Constitution’ rally at New Delhi’s Talkatora stadium, Rahul Gandhi had dared the Prime Minister to have a 15-minute debate with him in Parliament.

WATCH| Rahul Gandhi Launches Scorching Attack At Modi Government, Accuses It Of Destroying Institutions And Much More

Later, the PM reverted back his debate challenge and dared back the Congress President Rahul Gandhi for a 15-minute debate on Karnataka.

WATCH: Karnataka Elections 2018: PM Narendra Modi Dares Rahul Gandhi For A 15-minute-debate; Here's His Explosive Attack

• TIPU SULTAN CONTROVERSY:

On May 4, the government of Pakistan, via its official Twitter handle has hailed controversial 18th-century ruler and military leader Tipu Sultan. The tweet of the Pakistan government praised Tipu Sultan whose reign over the then Kingdom of Mysore ended with his death on May 4, 1799, exactly 219 years ago. 

The tweet by Pakistan at this juncture is suspicious because it came with barely a week to go before Assembly elections are due to be held in Karnataka where Tipu Sultan's kingdom was based and where he is a polarising figure.

READ| Days Before Karnataka Polls, Pakistan Praises Tipu Sultan; BJP Alleges Congress Hand

In 2015, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government had decided to celebrate Tipu Sultan's birth anniversary, describing him as a freedom fighter. However, BJP leaders consider him a tyrant who oppressed and slaughtered Hindus. Two persons lost their lives in the protests that ensued against the Congress government's move.

• AMU CONTROVERSY OVER JINNAH PORTRAIT:

A massive controversy broken out after BJP MP Satish Gautam wrote to the Vice-Chancellor of AMU demanding that the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah be taken down. Jinnah's portrait had been put up in the Students' Union Office at Aligarh Muslim University. 

WATCH| Congress MLA Calls Muhammad Ali Jinnah 'Freedom Fighter'

• FAKE VOTER ID CARD FROM RR NAGAR:

On May 8, the Karnataka Election Commissioner confirmed that at least 9,746 voter ID cards were seized from an apartment in Bengaluru's Rajarajeshwarinagar. Along with the voter ID cards, which carried names and phone numbers of people in the constituency, laptops, printers and files were also recovered. The EC said that it did not have a full understanding of the findings yet and that it would investigate into the matter.

Later, the polling in the constituency was deferred with the EC announcing the polls in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar seat in Bengaluru will be deferred to May 28 with counting to take place on May 31.

READ| Rajarajeshwari Nagar Poll Deferred A Day Before Karnataka Elections As EC Reveals Full Story Of The 10,000 Voter ID Scandal

• RAHUL GANDHI NATIONAL SONG CONTROVERSY

A massive controversy broke out in the poll bound state of Karnataka after BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted a video of Rahul Gandhi allegedly directing Congress leader KC Venugopal to cut the national song Vande Mataram short, in Dakshina Kannada at a public event. In the video Rahul Gandhi can be seen pointing to his watch after which Venugopal can be heard saying, "Just sing one line and finish it." 

WATCH| BJP IT Cell Head Tweets Rahul Gandhi's Video, Claims Congress President Insulted National Song