Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal activists staged protests in several parts of the state on Thursday against the Congress election manifesto which proposed banning of the latter in the event of the party coming to power in Karnataka.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday slammed the BJP government, saying prices of essential commodities and services were spiralling due to its "corrupt policies".

The BJP on Thursday dropped plans to have an eight-hour road-show by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday following concerns expressed by Bengalureans over difficulties that they will face with such a day-long programme.

The symbols of parties contesting elections always give rise to drama in relation to the election code during the polls and it is no different this year.

BJP candidate and Minister Dr. Narayana Gowda's election campaign in Mandya, Karnataka turned violent on Sunday when his car was blocked and attacked by over 70 JD(S) workers near Rajaghatta in Sheelaneri Hobli of K.R. Pet. The incident occurred as Narayana Gowda was on his way to campaign for the upcoming elections.

Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi would address an election rally in Hubballi on Saturday, her first campaign meeting for the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka. The Congress candidate in Hubballi-Dharwad Central is former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who joined the party after being denied ticket to contest the elections by the BJP.

The fight in Dharwad is not limited to the Assembly elections where women of the house are battling it out by turning the polls into a fight for justice.

The national president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Tejasvi Surya, has claimed that if the Congress comes to power in Karnataka, the state will experience "goonda raj, mafia raj, Islamisation, and terror situation". Speaking at a news conference, Surya criticized the Congress' manifesto, which promises "decisive action including a ban" on organizations such as the Bajrang Dal.