2024 Indian general election in Karnataka

The 2024 Indian general election was held in Karnataka on 26 April 2024 and 7 May 2024, during the second and third phases respectively, to elect members of the 18th Lok Sabha.

Background
The last date for filing nominations for candidates contesting in constituencies falling in the phase two of the polls was 4 April, and that for phase three was 19 April.

A total of 247 candidates, which included 226 men and 21 women, contested from the 14 constituencies that went for polls in phase two on 26 April. The constituency with most contestants was Chikballapur (29) and the least was Dakshina Kannada (9). More than 28.8 million voters were eligible to vote in 30,602 polling stations. Of these, 19,701 polling stations were announced to be webcast, and 1,370 would be covered via CCTVs. It also included 1,832 special booths with 1,120 of them dedicated to women voters. It was reported that those booths would only have women personnel, including the police and group-D workers. 224 booths were set up for disabled persons, with disabled persons serving as the personnel there. Another 224 booths were set up dedicated for youth with young officials as personnel, intended to encourage youth to take part in polling. In addition to this, one theme-based polling booth in every Assembly constituency was set up that intending to focus on the cultural heritage of the region. Ahead of the phase two, the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka stated that 140,000 personnel would be on duty and that 5,000 micro-observers, 50,000 civil police personnel, 65 companies of Central Parliamentary Force and State Armed Police force of other States would also be deployed for security.

The remaining 14 constituencies that went for polls on 7 May as part of phase three saw a total of 227 candidates contesting, which included 206 men and 21 women. Among these, the Davanagere constituency had the most candidates (30), and Raichur, the least (8). More than 25.9 million voters were eligible in 28,269 polling stations. Of these, 17,000 polling stations were covered by webcasting. Around 1.45 lakh officials were deployed, and additionally, 35,000 civil police personnel, 65 companies of the Paramilitary forces and armed police of other states were deployed. It was reported that 4,000 micro-observers would be on duty.

Campaign
The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Karnataka campaign kicked off in March 2024, a month before going to polls. It was announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Gulbarga, the constituency represented by Indian National Congress (INC) President Mallikarjun Kharge twice in the past. It was earlier reported that he would participate in four rallies between 15 and 19 March, starting in Kolar. He addressed a gathering in Kalaburagi (formerly Gulbarga) on 16 March to kick off the campaign. Modi alleged widespread corruption in Karnataka and stated: "Bad governance, disorder and anarchy start spreading in all directions when the entire capital of the entire State is being used for filling the belly, pockets and treasury of a few people. Congress had promised free electricity, but people got power cut and darkness. Farmers are asking how their pump sets in the field would operate when there is no power supply." Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and BJP leader B. S. Yediyurappa predicted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would win all 28 seats from the State. Former Prime Minister and leader of the Janata Dal (Secular), which is a part of the NDA, H. D. Deve Gowda, also participated in the campaigns.

The INC, in March 2024, constituted a three-member campaign committee for Karnataka, which included Vinay Kumar Sorake, L. Hanumanthaiah and Rizwan Arshad. The incumbent Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, of the INC, campaigned focusing on the constituencies of Mysore–Kodagu and Chamarajanagar for his party. He predicted that his party would win up to 20 seats and directed criticism at the BJP over "hike in price of petrol, diesel and domestic gas." Former INC President Rahul Gandhi addressed a gathering in Mandya and stated that the elections was a "a fight between two ideologies." He criticized the BJP over the Electoral Bond issue, terming it a form of "extortion". On the day of phase two polls, he addressed two public meetings in the northern Karnataka that was to go for polls on 7 May, and termed the BJP as "Bharatiya Chombu Party"; Chombu in Kannada meant a round water pot, to convey emptiness and deception. He accused the party of not giving Karnataka its drought relief amounting to ₹18,000 crore, and the ₹60,000 crore mandated by the Finance Commission, and gave "chombu" instead.