Lok Sabha election 2024 highlights: Congress fields Deepender Hooda from Rohtak, Selja to contest from Sirsa

The Congress has named candidates for 8 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. The party has fielded Kumari Selja from Sirsa, Deepender Hooda from Rohtak, Satpal Brahmachari from Sonipat.

Claiming that the ongoing elections are a referendum on whether reservations should continue or be abolished in the country, Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy said on Thursday that if voted to power at the Centre, the Congress will increase the quota beyond 50 per cent.

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: These Lok Sabha polls are for saving democracy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Thursday and added there will be no more elections if people miss this chance, as he targeted the BJP over its "divisive politics". Mann also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "mangalsutra" remarks, saying it was "shameful" to make such a statement for votes.

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: Former chief minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot on Thursday demanded that the Election Commission ban Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the entire election campaign after his "redistribution of wealth" statement in Banswara.

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: "Electoral bond ne BJP ka band baja diya, electoral bond ki news sunte hi BJP ko 'electral' ki yaad aa jati hain. The public is going to vote against the BJP this time," SP chief Akhilesh Yadav told ANI.

He added, "I want to appeal to the people to vote for a change. I urge all the voters to cast their franchise against those who gave unemployment and those who have lied in front of the people. Vote against those who gave false promises, because of whom farmers' incomes could not increase."

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: Union home minister Amit Shah says last 24 years of Naveen Patnaik rule is lost years for Odisha. BJP will win 20 Lok Sabha seats in the state, he added.

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: A group of farmers stops the cavalcade of BJP nominee from Kurukshetra, Naveen Jindal in Kaithal

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: Congress declares Varsha Gaikwad as its candidate from Mumbai North Central constituency

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: 

• Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray unveiled the party's manifesto, termed Vachan Nama, in a hastily arranged press conference at Matoshri. 

• The manifesto outlines plans to establish a new financial center in Mumbai and ensure employment opportunities for rural youth at the district level. 

• It emphasises strengthening the public health system in both urban and rural areas and proposes changing the criteria for crop insurance to ensure fair compensation for farmers. 

• The manifesto pledges to exempt seeds, fertilizers, and similar agricultural inputs from GST. -

• Additionally, a new research wing will be established within the agriculture department to advise farmers on crop selection for optimal market outcomes.

• Shiv Sena (UBT) vows to prioritise eco-friendly projects and industries, rejecting those that threaten the environment in Maharashtra.

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: In a video message shared on his official 'X' handle, Rahul Gandhi said that this election is meant to protect the Constitution and democracy while urging the citizens to "fulfil their duty towards democracy". "This election is an election to save democracy and principles. On one side, BJP and RSS are trying to destroy democracy and the constitution. And on the other side, Congress party and INDI alliance are making efforts to protect the constitution and democracy," Rahul Gandhi said.

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav urged the public to "clean bowled" the BJP as he submitted his nomination papers for the Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency on Thursday. 

Yadav filed his nomination in the company of party leaders, including Ram Gopal Yadav. He replaced his nephew Tej Pratap Yadav, who was previously announced as the party's candidate from Kannauj.

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: "As far as the use of religion is concerned, this is not the first time. As the BJP sees the ground slipping beneath its feet, it starts talking again in the context of religion," National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah told reporters here after NC candidate Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi filed nomination from the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency. 

"It seems that the BJP had some expectations from the first phase of the elections, and perhaps those expectations were not met," he added.

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: Maharashtra Congress leader Vishwajit Kadam on Thursday slammed ally Shiv Sena (UBT) for snatching the Sangli Lok Sabha constituency as part of a "conspiracy" and said senior leaders from his party did not keep an eye on what was afoot during seat sharing talks . The Congress wanted to contest from the seat but the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) unilaterally declared wrestler Chandrahar Patil as its candidate, resulting in the grand old party's Vishal Patil filing his nomination as an independent.

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly says, “From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, I went on an election tour to many states and got the opportunity to address public meetings and only one voice is coming from every corner of India that is Phir ek baar Modi Sarkar.”

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: Speaking about the candidature of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav from Kannauj, party leader Dimple Yadav says, “I believe the entire state is turning into a hot (seat). There is nervousness in the BJP after the first phase of elections. After Akhilesh Yadav filed his nomination from Kannuj, nervousness in the BJP has increased.”

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: When questioned about rumours regarding Congress MP Rahul Gandhi contesting from Amethi, SP chief and Kannauj candidate Akhilesh Yadav responded, "I am not aware of it." Regarding his own nomination filing, he expressed, “I am optimistic that the public will secure a historic victory for the SP candidate.”

Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the Samajwadi Party, on Thursday submitted his nomination papers for the Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency. He completed the nomination process in the company of party figures, including Ram Gopal Yadav. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Akhilesh pledged “to prioritise the city's development.”

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a poll rally in Uttar Pradesh's Agra, says, “Will you let go of your property to the corrupt SP-Congress alliance? Before looting the SC, ST, and OBC rights and eyeing women's mangalsutra - 'Jab tak Modi zinda hai, aisa koi bhi paap karne se pehle aapko Modi se nipatna padega' (As long as Modi is alive, to commit any sin, they should deal with Modi first).”

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: During the poll rally in Uttar Pradesh's Agra, PM Modi slammed the Congress party, saying that it is “insulting” Baba Saheb Ambedkar and the Constitution daily referring to the “reservation based on religion”.

Modi says, “It was clear after Independence that reservation cannot be given based on religion...Congress is such a party which insults Baba Saheb Ambedkar daily, insults the Constitution and tears apart social justice.”

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh's Agra, during a poll rally, says, “Some forces are not liking India's rising power. Now, as a defence corridor is being built here, weapons will be manufactured here for the country's army to become self-reliant and to export to the world. They do not want the country's army to become self-reliant.”

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: After addressing a poll rally in Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Agra, Uttar Pradesh, to address the gathering there.

PM Modi says, “Today I have come to ask something from you. I have come to seek your blessings for 'Viksit Bharat'...That is why the country is unitedly saying ‘Phir ek baar Modi sarkar’”

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: YouTuber Manish Kashyap, who spent nine months in prison in connection with fake video cases, officially joined the BJP on Thursday.

After joining the BJP, YouTuber Manish Kashyap says, ".We came from Bihar with Manoj Tiwari, yesterday. I could be released from jail only due to them, and the bad days of my life ended. So, I joined the BJP. We have to strengthen Bihar. Lalu's family looted and destroyed Bihar. So, I joined the BJP. Together with the BJP, I will strengthen Bihar...Allegations were levelled against me, but the Patna Court granted me bail and acquitted me. NSA slapped on me was withdrawn...My fight against those who defame Sanatana and those who are against nationalism will continue..."

Manish Kashyap, who was imprisoned on allegations of circulating false videos depicting attacks on Bihari migrant workers in Tamil Nadu, announced on April 11 his intention to run as an independent candidate in the Lok Sabha elections from the Paschim Champaran constituency.

Check out these news stories related to the Lok Sabha election 2024

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: Addressing the Vijay Sankalp Rally in Madhya Pradesh's Morena, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “The facts relating to Inheritance Tax are eye-opening...When former PM Indira Gandhi died, her children would get her property. But there was a rule earlier, that before the property goes to the children some part of it was taken by the government...To save the property so that it does not go to the government, the then PM Rajiv Gandhi scrapped the Inheritance law.”

Lok Sabha election 2024 live: Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, is reportedly set to conduct roadshows in Delhi starting this weekend.

With Arvind Kejriwal currently in judicial custody following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case in March, Sunita Kejriwal is stepping forward to play a more prominent role in AAP's campaigning efforts.

Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody has been extended until May 7, leaving a leadership vacuum that Sunita Kejriwal is stepping up to fill during this critical period for the party.

“The chief minister's wife is scheduled to attend her first roadshow in Kondli reserved assembly constituency represented by Kuldeep Kumar who is AAP's East Delhi Lok Sabha seat candidate in the coming weekend,” said a source in the party.

(With PTI inputs)