434 candidates woo 46 million Karnataka electorate

Though parties have been campaigning informally, since the election process began March 19, with their prospective candidates, it has been a low-key affair due to the model code of conduct in place and budgetary constraints.

"Our national leaders, including party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi, will be visiting the state to campaign for our candidates. Gandhi will address public rallies Friday (April 4) at Bellary and Mangalore," Ramchandrappa said.

The Congress, BJP, Bahujan Samaj Party and AAP are contesting all 28 seats each and JD-S 25, CPI three, CPI-M two and NCP one. Other regional and unrecognised parties have fielded 124 candidates from across the state.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has so far campaigned in the state thrice, and has addressed party rallies at Bijapur and Belgaum in the northern region of the state March 30.

"We have requested Modi to campaign in the state at least twice in the next fortnight to cover other regions despite his tight schedule though he had already addressed `Bharatha Gellisi' (Indian wins) public rallies in Bangalore, Gulbarga, Davangere and Mangalore," BJP spokesman S. Prakash told IANS.