How Congress thinks PM Modi is influencing Karnataka polls from Nepal

On day two of his Nepal visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited two iconic temples – Muktinath and Pashupatinath – and offered special prayers.

So far, the Prime Minister has visited three temples, including Janakpur’s Janki Temple, during his two-day visit. While addressing a gathering in Janakpur on Friday, Modi even said that he came to Nepal as “chief pilgrim” and not as prime minister.

Now, the Opposition Congress has raised an objection to the Prime Minister’s temple visits on a day when polling was being held in Karnataka.

Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said that Modi was trying to influence Hindu voters back home by offering prayers at temples in Nepal.

“As there is a model code of conduct in Karnataka, PM Modi planned to pray at temples in Nepal instead, just to influence voters,” Gehlot said on Saturday.

“This is not a good trend for democracy. Why did he only choose today as the day?” Gehlot asked.

After a high-voltage campaigning for weeks, voting for 222 of the 224-member Assembly was being held in Karnataka on Saturday.

Both the Congress and the BJP were trading accusations of indulging in unethical practices to woo the voters.

In what it looks like a bid to swing Hindu voters in his party’s favour, BJP spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa on Saturday asked people to let election in Karnataka be a referendum on whether Modi was the reincarnation of Lord Rama.

“BJP has described Modi Ji as the reincarnation of Lord Rama. Amit Shah, of Lakshmana and Adityanath, a bachelor as the reincarnation of Hanuman. Let today’s election in Karnataka be a referendum on whether voters believe if these three individuals are really Gods reborn!!” Kalappa tweeted.