Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: TMC attacks Modi govt, says ‘tenure nearing its end’

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a scathing attack on the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), describing them as "incapable of ensuring security, fostering development, and promoting the welfare of the underprivileged."

CM Yogi Adityanath on Sunday held four public meetings, campaigning for the NDA candidates contesting from Mirzapur, Robertsganj, Chandauli, Ghazipur, and Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seats.

"We are devoted followers of Ram and will not rest until we eliminate the wrongdoers. Today, no one can compromise the safety of our daughters or businessmen. Anyone attempting to do so will face swift justice. The mafia, who once defied the law, are now being crushed by the bulldozers of UP," CM Yogi said.

Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday said that people in Punjab will not fall for the Bharatiya Janata Party's trap of being divided on religious lines.

Warring questioned the contributions of the BJP towards Punjab and said that even after giving maximum sacrifices for the nation since independence, the state got nothing in return.

"The more PM visits Punjab, the more people will vote against him. I want to ask PM and Amit Shah what have they given to Punjab. They took the lives of 700 farmers. We are part of this country, Punjabis have given maximum sacrifice for this nation. Be it during the struggle for Independence, or wars in 1965 and 1971. But we never received any special package, our industry got nothing. No AIIMS given to us. Chandigarh which was our right, you gave space to establish Haryana Assembly there," the Punjab Congress chief told ANI.

Ahead of the June 1 election in Himachal Pradesh, cycle rallies were organised in 10 districts of the state to motivate voters, particularly those residing in urban areas, to come out and exercise their franchise, officials said on Sunday.

The cycle rallies were flagged off by all the District Electoral Officers or Deputy Commissioners in their respective districts barring Hamirpur and Kinnau and were organised in collaboration with the Cycling Association of Himachal Pradesh, a statement said here.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday alleged that Delhi chief minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has turned Punjab into an "ATM of corruption" and that he has been relying on it to pay the legal fees to fight his court cases.

At a poll rally in Punjab in support of the BJP's Ludhiana candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu, he slammed the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), saying they hug each other elsewhere but turn into enemies in Punjab.

"I want to ask the AAP and Congress that you have an alliance in Delhi, Haryana and Gujarat, then why you are playing 'noora kushti' (fixed match) here," Shah said.

Former Union minister and NDA candidate Upendra Kushwaha slammed the collegium system of appointment of judges in the higher judiciary and called it "undemocratic".

During a rally in Bihar's Karakat, from where he is contesting the Lok Sabha elections, Kushwaha said,"The collegium system has many flaws. It is undemocratic. It has shut the doors of judgeship in the higher judiciary on Dalits, OBCs and even the poor among the upper castes." Read more.

Top leaders of the BJP and the Congress will again make a beeline to Odisha ahead of the last phase of simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Odisha on May 29 and address three public meetings in Baripada, Balasore and Kendrapara, BJP's Odisha unit vice-president Golak Mohapatra told reporters here on Sunday.

A day before his scheduled visit, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address three rallies in Chandbali, Korei and Nimapada on May 28.

Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday said the Narendra Modi government's tenure is nearing its end, boldly predicting a shift in power dynamics on June 4, when the results of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections will be declared.

Addressing a rally under Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency, within which Sandeshkhali is situated, Banerjee claimed that the BJP-led NDA will be voted out of power in the elections.

"The BJP government's tenure is for a few days more, change will be ushered in on June 4," Banerjee said.

“There is a real problem of drugs and particularly smuggling from Pakistan. We have seen it from both land and sea. Inside Punjab, the police have to do a better job not only at the borders when it comes in but also when it is distributed within the cities and towns. Part of the problem is people who are unemployed and who have no hope in life, are the ones tempted by this,” says Congress leader Shashi Tharoor at a press conference in Amritsar.

“Both the parties (JDS and BJP) have decided to continue our alliance even for future elections. We will jointly fight even the Member of Legislative Council elections. We are fully in support of the legal move that the Centre is taking against Prajwal Revanna; we welcome it,” former Karnataka CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi waived loans worth ₹16 lakh crore of 22 people in the last 10 years but could not give ₹9,000 crore to deal with the disaster caused by monsoon rains in Himachal Pradesh last year, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday.

Addressing an election rally at Nahan in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district, Gandhi said that rather than helping the hilly state, Modi made an attempt to "steal" its elected government.

His statement came days after PM Modi alleged wrongful distribution of Central flood aid by the Congress government in the state and promised action.

"Two years ago, people gave us a thumping majority and helped Bhagwant Mann form government in Punjab. Out of the 117 Assembly seats, we won 92. I thank everyone for that... Delhi and Punjab, where the AAP is in power, are two states where there is free electricity. This was possible because our party is honest. Several Mohalla Clinics have also opened in Punjab. We have also improved education facilities in the state," Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Delhi CM and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal held a roadshow in Hoshiarpur, Punjab today.

BJP president JP Nadda on Sunday credited his party with providing a "mazboot" (strong) government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was capable of penetrating Pakistan's borders to destroy terrorist hideouts.

In contrast, the former Union minister charged, the Congress-led UPA government that got voted out in 2014 was "majboor, kamzor aur apang" (helpless, weak and crippled).

Addressing back-to-back election rallies in Bihar's Arrah and Jehanabad constituencies, Nadda mocked the UPA for having sent "dossiers to Pakistan when the nation was rattled by terrorist attacks sponsored from across the border".

"While unemployment is the most important national issue, inflation is the second most important national issue. Have you (people) ever listened to PM Modi talk about this? He talks about women empowerment and says that he provided 33 per cent reservation to women. But does he talk about inflation?" says Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Chandigarh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lost self-confidence and has been faltering in his speeches upon realising the BJP will not retain power at the Centre, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Sunday.

Asserting the INDIA bloc will form government, he said that after June 4, the day the votes will be counted, the Union cabinet and the media will change.

At an election rally in favour of the party's candidate from Salempur Ram Shankar Vidyarthi, Yadav promised to do away with the Agniveer scheme if the INDIA bloc forms government.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Amit Shah said EVM row and criticism of EC is 'Congress' ploy to cover up Rahul Gandhi's failure due to its impending defeat.'

“I am confident that BJP is going to win a two-third majority in the Assembly elections and will form the government in Odisha. As per the reports, people have voted in favour of BJP in the last three phases of the Assembly elections in the state,” said senior BJP leader Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said a Uniform Civil Code for the entire country will be implemented within the next five years after extensive consultations with all stakeholders if the BJP returns to power.

In a wide-ranging interview with PTI, Shah said the Modi government in its next term will also implement 'One Nation, One Election' as the time has come for the elections to be held simultaneously in the country.

"...6 phases of elections have been completed. After 5 phases of elections, PM Modi has completed the task of forming the government by winning 310 seats. This sixth and seventh phase is to cross 400 seats...": Amit Shah

Addressing the rally in Bansgaon PM Modi said India will begin new journey after June 4. "...Those 3 crore poor who will get pucca houses, elderly people above 70 years of age who will get free treatment of up to ₹5 lakhs, crores of youth who will be benefitted out of Mudra scheme, those 3 crore sisters of self-help groups who will become 'Lakhpati didi' and crores of people who will be getting free electricity under PM Surya Ghar scheme are waiting for June 4..." he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a public meeting in Bansgaon, Uttar Pradesh at present.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the ongoing Lok Sabha polls were a choice between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who celebrated Diwali among Armymen, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who "rushes abroad for vacations whenever the weather becomes uncomfortable".

Addressing a rally in Karakat Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar, Shah also dubbed the INDIA bloc as the one comprising "scamsters guilty of financial wrongdoings worth ₹12 lakh crore" which was taking on Modi, "with an unblemished record during the 23 years he was CM (of Gujarat) and the PM".

Speaking to news agency PTI, Amit Shah said that Congress guarantees were never meant to be met. He also said guarding OBC reservation is BJP's vow.

With the seven-phase Lok Sabha election 2024 season about to conclude with the final round of polling being held on June 1, top political leaders remained in the news for their controversial comments during public rallies. So much so that both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress approached the Elections Commission of India seeking against Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, respectively. Dig Deeper

“RJD wants to take you all to ‘Lantern Yug’ whereas PM Modi wants to take to you ‘LED Yug’. I have spent my childhood here. I have seen Lalu (Prasad Yadav) as a student leader who has now indulged himself in corruption and ‘pariwarvaad’,” said BJP president JP Nadda addressing a gathering in Jehanabad, Bihar.