Launching his sharpest attack yet these elections against the Congress on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a deal party, without a 'dil' (heart). 

Addressing the BJP’s election rally in Chitradurga, he said a particular minister from the district had the word ‘deal’ prefixed with his name. The minister had done his own welfare, instead of social welfare. There were irregularities in the purchase of beds and pillows for hostels where students from the poorer sections of society stay, Modi said.

The prime minister ridiculed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, saying he carries with a suitcase full of character certificates, to be distributed as a clean chit to tainted ministers.

Modi sought to invoke local sentiments, by hitting out at the Congress for celebrating the Jayanti of the Sultans, while forgetting Chitradurga’s heroes like Madakari Nayaka and Onake Obavva. 

The prime minister said that the Congress was feeling insecure as his government was undertaking various pro-Dalit and pro-Adivasi initiatives.   

Later in the day, at a massive election meeting in Jamakhandi, Bagalkot district, Modi said the Congress does not have the loyalty of the Mudhol breed of dogs (of Bagalkot district) towards the nation and its security. 

“You did not learn loyalty to the nation from your leaders, including Mahatma Gandhi. Start being patriotic by at least looking at the Mudhol dogs,” he said, criticising the grand old party for seeking proof of the surgical strikes. The BJP government created a Army battalion of the Mudhol dogs, Modi said.

The Congress party was so arrogant that its then president did not go to congratulate when Ram Nath Kovind, a Dalit, was elected the President of India last year. Her son Rahul went to the Rashtrapati Bhavan only seven months later, that too for submitting a memorandum.

Modi promised support price for sugarcane growers, saying it would be transferred directly to their bank accounts.

At another election meeting in Raichur earlier in the day, the prime minister said the Congress was angry with him for stopping the pilferage in the Rs 70,000-crore projects undertaken by the Centre for the poor, he said.

Tearing into the Congress for calling Yeddyurappa tainted at an evening rally in Hubballi, Modi said Sonia and Rahul were accused in the Rs 5,000-crore scam and they were out on bail.

“Congress ministers were caught with huge amount of money, and when we took steps to seize that money, Congress leaders said Modi is vindictive,” he added.