By BD Narayankar Bengaluru, May 5 (Reporter) The culmination of campaigning for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka brings to light the intricate interplay of controversies, strategies, and power dynamics shaping the state's political landscape. At the forefront of this electoral saga are two pivotal issues - the Neha Hiremath murder case and the Hassan sex scandal - each serving as a prism through which the rivalry between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP is refracted. For the BJP, maintaining its dominance in Karnataka is paramount, and the party has meticulously crafted its campaign narrative around critiquing the Congress government's purported failures in tackling "anti-national activities." Leveraging incidents such as the Neha Hiremath murder, Bengaluru café bomb blast, and pro-Pakistan slogans in Vidhana Soudha, the BJP endeavors to discredit the Congress's governance credentials while positioning itself as the vanguard of law and order. Simultaneously, the BJP has seized upon the Hassan sex scandal, implicating Prajwal Revanna, a prominent NDA candidate and scion of a political dynasty. By questioning the timing of the scandal's emergence and alleging the Congress party's complicity in shielding the accused with delayed action, the BJP aimed to erode the ruling party's moral authority and sow seeds of doubt among voters. In response, Congress mounted a robust counteroffensive, spearheaded by leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Leveraging the Hassan sex scandal, the Congress has launched scathing attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of endorsing a "mass rapist." This aggressive stance reflects the Congress party's strategy to deflect attention from its vulnerabilities and instead cast the spotlight on the BJP's perceived ethical lapses. As Karnataka braces for the polls on May 7, voter turnout emerges as a critical determinant of electoral outcomes. The Election Commission's efforts to mitigate the impact of harsh summer conditions underscore the importance of every vote in shaping the state's political trajectory. Against the backdrop of contentious issues, intricate alliances, and high-stakes maneuvering, the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka assumes significance beyond mere electoral arithmetic. The outcome of these elections is poised to not only reshape the state's representation but also redefine the contours of political discourse and power dynamics in Karnataka for the foreseeable future...////...