Karnataka CM Recites Hanuman Chalisa, Minister Chants 'Jai Shri Ram' As Stage Set For Polls Tomorrow

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai recites Hanuman Chalisa while Union Minister chants 'Jai Shri Ram' against Congress's Bajrang Dal ban poll promise.

Karnataka Elections 2023: Campaigning may have ended in Karnataka for May 10 assembly elections but the on the ground intense fight doesn't seem to be cooling down anytime soon. Congress's manifesto promise of banning the Hindu outfit Bajrang Dal has created a stir that is gripping the entire country. A nationwide recitation of Hanuman Chalisa has been organised by Bajrang Dal and VHP against the ban promise. Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister and BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje also participated in the same.

CM Basavaraj Bommai was seen along with his supporters reciting Hanuman Chalisa at Hanuman Mandir in Hubbali's Vijay Nagar, while MP Shobha Karandlaje could be seen chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' at Vir Anjaneya temple in Bengaluru. The development comes just a day before the state is set to vote for a fresh legislative assembly in the state.

Congress has been facing a massive backlash from the ruling BJP over its promise in its manifesto that it would ban Hindu-body Bajrang Dal if voted to power in Karnataka. Following this, the leaders of the BJP accused the Congress of insulting Lord Hanuman while the grand old party responded saying how can one compare Bajrang Bali with Bajrang Dal.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently said in Bagalkote, "When journalists ask that the election of Karnataka has gone on Bajrang Bali, I said that Bajrang Bali was in his temple only, this Congress party has brought Bajrang Bali to the election field."

"Congress party's appeasement policy... due to which they kept Lord Shri Ram locked for years and today they are bent on defaming Bajrang Bali," the Union Home Minister said.

PM Narendra Modi also took a jibe at Congress over the issue in his rallies and roadshows. In one such rally, he said, "Congress' manifesto is all about appeasement, it is all about bans. The people of Karnataka are watching their (Congress) politics of appeasement. They dislike me invoking Bajrang Bali."