Karnataka assembly elections: The rallies

Sonia Gandhi led the Congress campaign in Karnataka with an all-out attack on the BJP government in the state. "In the last five years UPA government has given Rs 88,000 crore to Karnataka government for development programmes. Where has this money gone? The BJP government has looted the state. It is very shameful" she said at a rally in Bangalore.

Narendra Modi was the BJP's star campaigner. Though he campaigned for just two days, he didn't miss any opportunity to slam the Congress government - Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi his main targets. "You are fortunate that he (PM) at least came and spoke. In Delhi, the poor man is not allowed to speak anything," he said about Dr Singh. "I will show him (Rahul) how one man (guy) can set everything right. Though born with a golden spoon, he (Rahul) did not read much, especially Indian history," he said at an earlier rally in Bangalore.

Rahul Gandhi campaigned extensively in Tumkur, Haveri and Mandya, flaying the BJP government. “The BJP government has hit the world record in corruption,” the Congress vice-president said at a rally.

Manmohan Singh in an uncharacteristic style also opened a no-holds-barred attack against the BJP. "Bad governance, sloppy development work and corruption," were used frequently in his speech in Hubli.

Political pundits says BS Yeddyurappa's Karnataka Janata Party may well be the kingmaker this election. He has told NDTV that there is no question of his party joining hands with his former party the BJP; an alliance with the Congress may be a possibility. "I have 100 per cent confidence that we will get absolute majority," he told NDTV at the launch of his new party in December last year.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD-S leader HD Kumaraswamy is another heavyweight this election. He is seen here at rally in Chikmagalur.

There was the crowd-pulling glam factor too with Kannada film actress Duniya Rashmi campaigning for the Congress.