BJP leaders in Shivamogga, led by candidate B.Y. Raghavendra, staged a protest on May 6 over allegations of police targeting BJP workers. They claimed an externment order against BJP worker Vinod Raj was issued on false charges, and he had been taken to Bidar based on forced statements from an accused in a gambling case. The BJP submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner expressing their concerns about politically motivated actions.