Lok Sabha Election 2024 highlights: Congress to announce poll manifesto on Apr 5

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: DMK leader Dindigul Leoni stated on Monday that the DMK government has made substantial contributions to empowering women, enabling them to excel across diverse domains.

"In the past, women were confined to their homes, and even studying medicine required knowledge of Sanskrit, which seemed unrelated to the field. However, the Dravidian model of governance changed this narrative, enabling women to hold positions such as Mayor, collector and IG," he said while campaigning in Arapalayam here for CPI(M) candidate Venkatesan.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: The Congress will release its Lok Sabha election manifesto on April 5 at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office in New Delhi, announced General Secretary KC Venugopal in a post on X.

“After vast deliberations with people from across the country, the Congress will be releasing its vision document, the Manifesto, on 5th April at AICC HQ. Subsequently, we will hold two Mega Rallies on 6th April - in Jaipur and Hyderabad! In Jaipur, INC President Sh. Mallikarjun @kharge ji, CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji, Sh. @RahulGandhi ji and Smt. @priyankagandhi ji will be launching the manifesto addressing the Mega Rallies Rahul ji will also be addressing the Manifesto launch mega rally in Hyderabad! Our focus has always been on giving the country a welfare oriented, pro-development vision and that will be presented to the people for this election as well!” Venugopal wrote on X.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: Former Madhya Pradesh MLA and BJP leader Laxman Tiwari joined the Congress on Monday, shortly after another significant departure from the opposition party in Chhindwara, the home district of former CM Kamal Nath, news agency PTI reported.

Tiwari emphasised the need to bolster the Congress, which is witnessing a wave of defections in the BJP-ruled state, upon joining the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. His decision to join the Congress came after a meeting with the party's state unit president Jitu Patwari in Bhopal the previous day.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: Gujjar leader Mian Altaf, well-regarded within the Bakarwal and Pahari communities, has been announced as the National Conference's candidate for the newly redrawn Anantnag-Poonch-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, scheduled for polling on May 7.

Altaf, aged 66, brings extensive political experience as a five-time MLA and former minister in the administrations of Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah. Hailing from the ancestral Wangath village in Kangan, Central Kashmir, known as 'Baba Nagri', Altaf's nomination has generated local excitement, with his inclusive approach being a notable aspect of his candidacy.

(PTI)

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll rally on Tuesday in Uttarakhand, state BJP president Mahendra Bhatt says, “PM Modi's rally (in Rudrapur) is going to be historic, the Modi Ground in Rudrapur will change the history. We have given invitations at every house, and there's an excitement in every party worker. PM Modi resides in heart of each person in Uttarakhand, and people cannot forget the development done by him in the state”

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address public gatherings in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan on April 2. In Uttarakhand, he will speak in Rudrapur, while in Rajasthan, he will address the crowd in Kothrutali.

Additionally, as part of his campaign trail, PM Modi will tour Uttar Pradesh. He is set to hold a public meeting in Saharanpur on April 6, followed by a roadshow in Ghaziabad later that evening. Furthermore, a significant public meeting is planned in Pilibhot on April 9, with a potential public gathering in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, on April 16.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: Actor and BJP candidate from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, was spotted mingling with locals and sharing tea with Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Monday. Thakur and state party chief Rajiv Bindal also held discussions with Kangana Ranaut before her interactions with party workers in Mandi. The former Himachal CM, Jairam Thakur, had previously visited Kangana at her Mandi residence on Sunday.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: The BJP lodged a complaint with the Chief Election Commissioner against TMC leader Piyush Panda for his derogatory comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP asserted that the remarks made by the TMC leader constitute significant breaches of the Indian Penal Code, the Representation of People Act, 1951, and the Model Code of Conduct.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: Popular Odia actor and former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP from Kendrapara, Anubhav Mohanty, has officially joined the BJP today after leaving the ruling party in Odisha, citing a feeling of "suffocation".

“I have no complaint against my leader. The reason why I joined the BJP is the pace at which our country is developing. Efforts are being made to make India the number one country in the world. I am deeply inspired by the dynamism that our Prime Minister carries and the bold steps that he takes... I considered my leader as a fatherly figure and he will always remain so... There are some reasons for switching parties which I do not wish to share,” Mohanty was quoted as saying by ANI.

Rahul Gandhi has no right to talk about democracy now as his grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi put lakhs of people in jail and banned political parties during the Emergency: Amit Shah, Union home minister

Katchatheevu was given to Sri Lanka with the consent of late Tamil Nadu CM Karunanidhi. He spoke with Kewal Singh - former External Affairs Minister. Now, the BJP has given a letter to external affairs minister Jaishankar to get back Katchatheevu. It should be brought back to India, this is our stand. The Centre is trying everything possible to bring back Katchatheevu to protect fishermen: K Annamalai

Anubhav Mohanty, Lok Sabha MP from Odisha's Kendrapara who recently left the state's ruling BJD, joins BJP ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

BJP files complaint with the Election Commission, a day after Rahul Gandhi, speaking at an INDIA bloc rally in Delhi, said that the ruling party is doing ‘match-fixing,' insinuating that the BJP is rigging the Lok Sabha elections.

The Congress has decided candidates for five Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh, and for 114 assembly seats. The names of remaining candidates will be confirmed soon. The first list of candidates could be released tomorrow: YS Sharmila, Andhra Pradesh unit chief

Each worker on the ground who is busy gearing up for the election needs to take a resolve that the party must come back with a decisive mandate. 'Abki Baar 400 Paar' and 'Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar' are what we need to work on: BJP official circular ahead of 44th foundation day on April 6.

The BJP government has been in power for the past 10 years. What were they doing about this? Why do they suddenly remember this on the evening of the election? Such opportunism is not going to benefit them. They are in the government, they should tell what it is: Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M)

Election Commission censures BJP MP Dilip Ghosh and Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate after finding both guilty of making ‘personal’ and ‘derogatory’ remarks against women.

While Ghosh was reprimanded for his statement on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Shrinate will face action for comments from her Instagram handle on actor and BJP candidate, Kangana Ranaut.

Former IPS officer K Annamalai, holds a roadshow in Coimbatore. The BJP has fielded him from the Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency.

BJP's manifesto committee for Lok Sabha elections, holds first meeting. Defence minister Rajnath Singh, who heads the committee, chairing the meet at BJP headquarters in Delhi.

Actor Kangana Ranaut, fielded by the BJP from Mandi in her home state Himachal Pradesh, arrives for a party meeting in Mandi.

PM Modi to address public rallies in Uttarakhand's Rudrapur and Rajasthan's Kotputli on April 2. On April 6, the PM will address a rally in UP's Saharanpur. On the same day, he will hold a road show in Ghaziabad, UP. The PM will hold a public rally in Pilibhit on April 9 and in Moradabad on April 16: Sources

Central Election Committee of the Congress meets at party headquarters in Delhi to discuss the candidates for Lok Sabha elections in Telangana.

In the last 10 years, the BJP govt has not done anything for the retrieval of Katchatheevu. Why is the BJP doing this now? They know they will not be able to win 150 seats across the country. They want to take up issues that will divert from the electoral bond scam: Sarvanan Annadurai, DMK spokesperson

The problem with BJP, RSS and PM Modi is that people are rejecting them in Tamil Nadu and they want a diversionary tactic. The government of India headed by Indira Gandhi signed an agreement called the Indira Gandhi-Sirimavo Bandaranaike agreement in that time to save 6 lakh Tamils and to save them this island was given to the Srilankan govt. We are very clear that if our fishermen are attacked, we will raise our voices to take back Katchatheevu Island. But, in 10 years, PM Modi has failed to do so. They will not get even one seat in Tamil Nadu by these cheap tactics. (BJP state chief) Annamalai is struggling for third place (in Coimbatore): Manickam Tagore, Congress