Lok Sabha Election 2024 highlights: Congress' weak govt increased naxalism, says PM Modi

Lok Sabha Elections News highlights: The spotlight is on two key political alliances — the INDIA bloc and the NDA led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

PM Modi in Koderma (ANI)

Lok Sabha Elections News highlights: In the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections on Monday, 67.71 per cent of voters cast their ballots across 96 constituencies in 10 states and Union Territories. West Bengal had the highest turnout at 75.91 per cent, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 68.48 per cent. However, Jammu and Kashmir and Maharashtra reported lower turnouts, with 36.58 per cent and 52.63 per cent respectively. In addition to other states, Andhra Pradesh witnessed a turnout of 68.12%, Bihar 55.90%, Jharkhand 63.37 per cent, Odisha 63.85 per cent, Telangana 61.29 per cent, and Uttar Pradesh 57.76 per cent. ...Read More

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• 14 May 2024, 10:45:08 PM IST

  Shivraj Chouhan slams Kejriwal over 'misbehaviour' with Swati Maliwal at CM residence

  Senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan hit out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday for the alleged incident of “misbehaviour” with AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal.

  Campaigning for BJP candidate from North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency Manoj Tiwari, the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said that even in the Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal, the Sandeshkhali incident happened where women were mistreated.

  “Such humiliation and misbehaviour with a sister in Chief Minister's house, will you accept it?” he said referring to the incident involving AAP leader Maliwal.

• 14 May 2024, 10:41:49 PM IST

  BJP changes Soro Assembly candidate at last moment

  The BJP changed its candidate for the Soro Assembly constituency in Balasore district on Tuesday, the last day for filing of nominations.

  The BJP nominated Parshuram Dhada in place of Rajendra Das. The party had earlier announced the name of Das as its candidate for the Sora Assembly seat and he submitted his nomination papers on Tuesday.

  Dhada the sitting MLA from Soro had resigned from the BJD after the regional party denied ticket to him. He joined the BJP last month.

  The BJP named Dhada as the Sora Assembly candidate on Tuesday. Dhada submitted his nomination papers on Tuesday.

• 14 May 2024, 10:30:48 PM IST

  Independent candidate among two booked for hindering voting in Srinagar

  Police have registered an FIR against two persons, including an independent candidate, for allegedly creating hindrance in peaceful voting at a polling station during the Lok Sabha elections here, officials said on Tuesday. The FIR was lodged at the Sadder police station on Monday against independent candidate Jibran Dar and his woman supporter Sujata Bashir on the complaint of Mehjoor Nagar polling booth's sector magistrate Sarfaraz Ahmad, the officials said.

• 14 May 2024, 10:23:09 PM IST

  219 candidates have filed nomination for seventh phase; Anshul Avijist of Congress files papers from Patna Sahib seat

  Anshul Avijit, Congress candidate backed by opposition INDIA bloc, filed his nomination form the Patna Sahib parliamentary seat among other candidates from the prestigious seat , on the last date of nomination for the seventh phase of polls in Bihar on June 1.

  Avijit is son of former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and is a debutant , who will be pitted against BJP's senior leader and sitting MP from Patna Sahib Ravi Shankar Prasad.

  Eight constituencies comprising Patna Sahib, Patliputra, Nalanda, Arrah, Buxar, Sasaram, Karakat and Jehanabad would go to polls in the seventh and last phase of polls. On the last day of filing of papers on Tuesday, 67 candidates filed their nomination mostly from registered unrecognised political parties(RUPP) and independent nominees in eight seats. Highest was in Patna Sahib seat, where 14 candidates filed their papers on the last day of nomination today, as per data released by the office of Chief Electoral Officer( CEO), Bihar late evening today.

• 14 May 2024, 10:19:29 PM IST

  Himachal police register FIR for 'baseless' post about Priyanka Gandhi’s daughter

  The Himachal Pradesh Police has registered a case against a person for a "misleading and baseless" post about the property of Miraya Vadra, the daughter of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

  A case under sections 153 (provocation for riots), 469 (forgery), 500 (defamation) and 505 (inciting a community or persons for offence against any other community) of IPC was registered on Monday against one Anoop Verma at Shimla East police station, police said on Tuesday.

  The case was lodged on a complaint filed by Congress member Pramod Gupta who alleged that Verma has tweeted a misleading, false and baseless post against Miraya Vadra.

  A senior officer, requesting anonymity, confirmed that a case in this regard has been registered.

  As per the complaint, the post said that Miraya Vadra has wealth worth ₹3,000 crore whereas the source of this wealth is that she is the daughter of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and granddaughter of Sonia Gandhi.

• 14 May 2024, 09:54:45 PM IST

  "They didn't want me to campaign for elections:" Arvind Kejriwal hits out at BJP

  Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday accusing them of hindering his election campaign by incarcerating him.

  During a roadshow in Kurukshetra, Haryana, ahead of the general elections there, CM Arvind Kejriwal said, "I am coming straight from jail to meet you all. I was in jail for 50 days and lost 5 kg of weight. The elections were declared on March 16th, and on March 21st, they arrested me. Their (BJP's) intentions were bad, meaning they didn't want me to campaign for the elections. I want to thank the Supreme Court for giving me the opportunity to campaign, and today I am here among you."

  Kejriwal appealed the electorate to consider the consequences of their vote, stating, "I have come for 20 days, saying that I have to go to jail again (on 2nd June). Whether I go to jail again or not is in your hands. If you press the lotus button on May 25th, I will have to go to jail, and if you press the broom button, I won't have to go to jail."

• 14 May 2024, 09:35:10 PM IST

  Rahul could not be loyal to Rae Bareli when he wasn’t to Amethi, says Nadda

  BJP president J P Nadda on Tuesday questioned if Congress leader Rahul Gandhi could be loyal to Rae Bareli when he wasn’t to his old constituency.

  “There was also a candidate who ran away from here. He didn't run away just once. From here he went to Wayanad, from Wayanad to Rae Bareli and even then did not return to Amethi,” he said at a public meeting without taking any name.

  In 2019, Gandhi lost Amethi – a parliamentary seat once regarded as a family bastion – to BJP's Smriti Irani, but won the Wayanad seat in Kerala.

  This time, the former Congress chief contested again from Wayanad. And, amid speculation that he would also fight from Amethi, picked Rae Bareli, which was recently vacated by his mother Sonia Gandhi, who has shifted to the Rajya Sabha.

• 14 May 2024, 09:30:38 PM IST

  Have an emotional connect with Rae Bareli: Rahul Gandhi

  As he seeks to retain the Rae Bareli seat represented by his mother Sonia Gandhi for two decades, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said he has an emotional family relationship with the people and will stand by both Amethi and Rae Bareli whenever required.

  He shared an emotional video with his mother on social media, where he is seen watching family pictures in Amethi and Rae Bareli and remembered their connect with the people of both Amethi and Rae Bareli.

  Rahul Gandhi is contesting the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat and is pitted against BJP's Dinesh Pratap Singh, who had unsuccessfully contested the last Lok Sabha election against Sonia Gandhi.

  Rahul Gandhi was earlier an MP from Amethi but had lost to Smriti Irani in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

  "Rae Bareli and Amethi are not just constituencies for us, they are our 'karmabhoomi', every corner of which is holding the memories of generations.

• 14 May 2024, 09:27:44 PM IST

  "Rahul Gandhi trying to protect family, not Constitution," says Shehzad Poonawalla

  Bhartiya Janata Party's spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Tuesday criticised Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and claimed that the Congress leader is not trying to protect the Constitution but he is trying to protect his family dynasty.

  Speaking with ANI, Shehzad Poonawalla said, "Rahul Gandhi's statement is correct that they are fighting to protect something. But the fight is not to protect the Constitution but family dynasties and the shrinking shop of its politics."

  He added, "If he has to say that when his grandmother( former PM Indira Gandhi) imposed an emergency or when she put opposition leaders behind bars, the Constitution was safe, or the Constitution was safe when Rajnath Singh was not given permission to perform the last rites of his mother, then he should talk to his leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Chowdhury says that under the governance of West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee, the Constitution is not safe."

• 14 May 2024, 08:35:13 PM IST

  "First time, Lok Sabha elections being fought to save Constitution": Rahul Gandhi

  Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said that this is the first time that the Lok Sabha elections are being fought to safeguard the Constitution, without which people from various sections of the society will lose their rights.

  Rahul Gandhi addressed a joint rally with Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi where both leaders attacked PM Modi for neglecting the interests of the farmers.

  "For the first time, this fight, this election is to save the Constitution. Whatever you have got, whether you are poor, farmers, labourers, backward, Dalits, adivasis, minorities, poor general caste has been given by this book (Constitution). Without this (Constitution) the poor people of India won't belong anywhere," Rahul Gandhi said speaking at a joint campaign at Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi with INDIA bloc partner, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

• 14 May 2024, 08:25:27 PM IST

  Odisha CEO urges people not to share Aadhaar details, mobile number with political parties

  Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal on Tuesday urged the people not to share their Aadhaar details and mobile number with any political party and candidate.

  The CEO also appealed to all political parties and candidates to refrain from the collection of photocopies and personal mobile numbers of voters.

  The CEO issued such an appeal after it came to the notice that many contesting candidates and political parties are collecting photocopies and personal mobile numbers of voters which is "antithetical" to the process of a free, fair and impartial election process.

• 14 May 2024, 07:56:48 PM IST

  Focus on caste, religion gets sharper at Bengal rallies of Shah, Mamata Banerjee

  Union home minister Amit Shah and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee addressed on Tuesday in preparation for the May 20 Lok Sabha polls at seven seats in three districts having large pockets of Dalit and Muslim voters.

  Addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters at North 24 Parganas district’s Bongaon, which is reserved for the schedule caste (SC) community, Shah claimed that Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson, is misleading people on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

  “Polling at 380 (of Lok Sabha’s 543) seats, including 18 in Bengal, are already over in the first four phases. (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi Ji has already got 270 seats. The next fight is for crossing the 400 mark. If you give us 30 seats in Bengal, I promise our MP will go to the door of every Matua community member to enforce CAA,” Shah said.

• 14 May 2024, 07:40:02 PM IST

  Delhi poll body has roped in social media influencers for voter awareness: Chief Electoral Officer

  Keeping up with the times, the Delhi poll body has roped in social media influencers to encourage youth to exercise their franchise on May 25 when the national capital goes to polls.

  Speaking to PTI, Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P Krishnamurthy said the poll body has been conducting activities under the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation programme, better known as SVEEP, to spread voter awareness.

  In a novel initiative this time, various districts have roped in influencers for the cause.

  "Some of our districts have roped in social media influencers, youngsters with significant following like rappers, travel guides, food cuisine experts, to encourage electors to cast vote," he told PTI in an interview.

  From holding activities in schools to teaching children about the value of vote to organising walkathons and 'Voters' Mela', the poll body has launched several initiatives to boost voter turnout.

• 14 May 2024, 07:05:58 PM IST

  INDIA bloc will form next govt; Cong to get more seats than BJP in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh: Pilot

  Asserting that people are voting for change, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday exuded confidence that an INDIA bloc government would be formed at the Centre and claimed his party will get more seats than the BJP in both Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

  The AICC general secretary in-charge of Chhattisgarh and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister said there was a "sea change" from the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, with the people voting for real change this time.

  While Rajasthan has 25 Lok Sabha seats, Chhattisgarh has 11 parliamentary segments. The Congress had drawn a blank last time in Rajasthan and won only two seats from Chhattisgarh.

  In an interview with PTI while campaigning here for Rahul Gandhi, Pilot also accused the BJP of seeking votes in the name of religion and said it was doing so as it could not ask for mandate on its performance.

• 14 May 2024, 07:02:03 PM IST

  BJP losing ground everywhere, says Kejriwal, urges Haryana to lead 'revolution' against Modi

  BJP is losing ground across the country and will not win more than 230 seats all told, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed on Tuesday, as he called on the people of Haryana to start the "revolution" to unseat the saffron party-led alliance from the Centre.

  Kejriwal made the remarks in a roadshow for party candidate Sushil Gupta in Kurukshetra's Pehowa, where he attacked the BJP-led Centre for his jailing, claiming it is scared of him.

  This was Kejriwal's first visit to Haryana after being released on bail.

  Gupta, the AAP's Kurukshetra Lok Sabha candidate, accompanied Kejriwal during the roadshow.

• 14 May 2024, 06:57:35 PM IST

  "Jhansi preparing for BJP's Vidai ki Jhanki," says Akhilesh Yadav

  Uttar Pradesh's former Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief, Akhilesh Yadav, targeted the Yogi Acdityanath government in the state and said that the farmers under Bhartiya Janata Party's rule (BJP) are now in trouble. He also claimed that the people of Jhansi are preparing for the BJPs 'Vidai ki Jhanki.'

  Addressing a public rally in Jhansi, Akhilesh Yadav also claimed that the BJP is falling. He said, "Four phases of elections are over and BJP's graph is falling. The people of Jhansi are preparing for BJP's 'vidai ki jhanki'."

  Taking a jibe at the Central government, Yadav said, "Those who were talking about doubling farmers' incomes, the farmers are now in trouble under their government."

• 14 May 2024, 06:45:45 PM IST

  Congress plotting to send Ram Lala to tent again: PM Modi

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attacked the Congress, accusing it of indulging in "shameful" politics and plotting to send "Ram Lala to tent" again.

  Alleging that the JMM, Congress and INDIA bloc have become the biggest model of corruption, appeasement and dynastic politics, Modi said he has resolved to free India from these vices.

  Addressing a public meeting at Jharkhand's Giridih, the prime minister said, "Shameful statements are being issued by Congress leaders over Ram temple. Their leaders are plotting to send Ram Lala to the tent once again, and talk against the Supreme Court judgement."

  The old idol of Ram Lala was kept in a tent-like structure after the Babri Masjid was demolished.

• 14 May 2024, 06:44:23 PM IST

  MCC is now 'Modi Code of Conduct', stop blatant violations of poll code by BJP: TMC to EC

  The Trinamool Congress on Tuesday asked the Election Commission to stop "blatant violations" of the poll code by the BJP and its leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while alleging that the model code of conduct has been turned into "Modi Code of Conduct".

  After submitting a letter over the matter to the poll panel, the TMC's Rajya Sabha MPs Saket Gokhale and Sagarika Ghose addressed the media and expressed dismay over the "inaction" of the EC against PM Modi over Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations.

  "(BJP chief) J P Nadda was served a notice but there has been absolutely no action taken on our complaints. Instead, PM Modi has become more emboldened in his remarks. He is making promises he has no right to make during elections, announcing financial schemes which his party cannot enact as the ruling party.

• 14 May 2024, 06:38:47 PM IST

  Aam Aadmi Party launches 'Washing Machine Ka Kaala Jaadu' campaign

  The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday launched the ''Washing Machine Ka Kaalu Jaadu'' campaign to inform the common people about the situation in the country, party leaders said.

  At the campaign launch, AAP Delhi state convener Gopal Rai said the BJP is claiming that they are fighting the elections against corruption.

  "But we will tell people about the truth of these claims." he said.

  The opposition parties often use the word "washing machine" to target the BJP over inducting people like Ajit Pawar, Ashok Chavan, and Himanta Biswa Sarma, who were facing corruption charges.

  Demonstrating how the machine works, Delhi Cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the BJP had run a campaign for six months alleging Himanta Biswa Sarma was involved in the Saradha scam.

• 14 May 2024, 06:36:47 PM IST

  Odisha records 73.97 per cent turnout in 4 LS seats

  Odisha recorded a voter turnout of 73.97 per cent in the four Lok Sabha constituencies and 28 Assembly segments which went to the polls on May 13, an official said on Tuesday.

  A voter turnout of over 64.81 per cent was recorded till 6 pm on May 13. A revised figure of 73.97 per cent was released on Tuesday.

  In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections the voter turnout in the four Lok Sabha and 28 Assembly segments was 74.18 per cent.

  Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are being held simultaneously in Odisha.

  The highest voter turnout of 80.22 per cent was recorded in the tribal-dominated Nabarangpur Parliamentary seat followed by Koraput (76.98 pc), Kalahandi (75.71 pc) and Berhampur (63.34 pc)

• 14 May 2024, 06:30:30 PM IST

  Removal of 370 resulted in higher voter turnout in Srinagar, says Modi

  Patting his government's decision to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution, prime minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the step was the reason behind the higher voter turnout in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency that went to poll in the fourth phase on Monday.

  Addressing a joint election rally for Koderma and Giridih Lok Sabha seats at Birni in Giridih, the prime minister also underlined that his government would take a 'decisive action against naxalism and terrorism' in its third term.

  "Srinagar witnessed heavy polling after several decades. People are happy and they are saying it's been possible because of removal of 370. It proves that Modi is working in right direction and Modi government's initiatives yield right results," said Modi, hailing his government's decision that has often been used by the opposition to target his regime.

  "Those who criticises and abused Modi for it should hear this with open ears. As the wall of 370 fell, it joined the hearts of countrymen. People now have common dreams and aspirations and are moving together to achieve them," the prime minister added.

  The Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency reportedly recorded a 36% voter turnout on Monday, the highest since 1998 when the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir was at its peak, as the first major electoral exercise was held in the Valley since the nullification of Constitution’s Article 370 that stripped the region of its semi-autonomous status.

• 14 May 2024, 06:01:55 PM IST

  Expect star campaigners to lead by example and not vitiate delicate fabric of society: EC

  The Election Commission on Tuesday said it expects star campaigners, particularly of the national parties, to lead by example in the remaining three phases of the Lok Sabha polls and not vitiate the delicate fabric of society.

  The commission also said that it is "primarily" the responsibility of the leaders to "correct the course" of their statements or utterances in the remaining phases of the ongoing election.

  The statement comes against the backdrop of the poll authority issuing show-cause notices to BJP president J P Nadda and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on complaints of model code violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

• 14 May 2024, 05:56:58 PM IST

  Congress ideologies are foreign to the Constitution, says Himanta Sarma

  Assam CM Himanta Biswa says, "Our Constitution advocates the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code and recognizes complete Kashmir as a part of Indian territory...The basic principles on which the BJP is working are in the constitution...Congress wants to promote Sharia, religion-based reservation... Congress ideologies are foreign to the Constitution...Wherever the Constitution was diluted, it came from the Congress party, never came from BJP"...

• 14 May 2024, 05:24:00 PM IST

  BJP MP candidate in Odisha hospitalised after being assaulted by independent candidate

  BJP MP candidate from Berhampur, Pradeep Panigrahi was admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, hours after he was assaulted by his rival and independent candidate Shibashankar Das in Berhampur town after polling ended.

  Panigrahi, once key aide of chief minister Naveen Patnaik, had switched to BJP last month more than a year after he was expelled from BJD and given party ticket for Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency.

  On Monday evening, after polling ended, Panigrahi was discussing with police officials about sealing of EVM machines outside a polling booth in Gosani Nuagaon area of Berhampur town, when independent candidate from Berhampur assembly seat arrived at the spot and started assaulting him.

• 14 May 2024, 05:23:21 PM IST

  Srinagar celebrated the festival of democracy after decades: PM Modi

  Srinagar celebrated the festival of democracy after decades yesterday: PM Modi on polling in Kashmir capital.

• 14 May 2024, 05:23:04 PM IST

  Because of Congress' weak govts, naxalism increased in the country, says PM

  During a public rally in Koderma, PM Modi says, " When there is a weak govt like Congress, it weakens the country as well. Such weak govts can never do good to the country. Koderma and the people here have seen the attitude of weak govts. Because of Congress' weak govts, naxalism increased in the country. Naxalism caused a lot of harm to the country but also crushed the dreams of so many mothers in this country...."

• 14 May 2024, 05:16:59 PM IST

  Congress constitutes fact finding team to look allegation on Bijapur encounter

  Two days after the villagers claimed that the Bijapur encounter was staged, political heat is on a high with Congress on Tuesday constituted eight –member a fact-finding team to probe the Bijapur encounter in which 12 suspected Maoists were killed on May 10.

  The team which is led by tribal leader and former deputy speaker of legislative assembly Santram Netam include Indra Shah Mandavi, Vikram Mandavi, Janak Ram Dhruv, Savitri Mandavi, Devti Karma, Rajnu Netam and Shankar Kudiam.

  State Congress president Deepak Baij issued a letter in this regard and urged the members to submit a detailed fact-finding report as soon as possible.

  On Friday, security forces said they gunned down 12 Maoists, including Budhu Oyam and Kallu Punem, both members of military company number 2 of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) outfit who carried rewards of ₹8 lakh each on their head. Others killed in the encounter were Gangaloor area committee member of Maoists, Lakhe Kunjam, and member of military platoon number 12, Bhima Karam, who had rewards of ₹5 lakh each on their heads. The other deceased, militia platoon commander Sannu Lakom and vice-head of the Janata Sarkar (people’s government) Avlam, were carrying a bounty of ₹2 lakh each.

• 14 May 2024, 05:11:20 PM IST

  Fight for 6th Schedule key poll plank for Cong's Ladakh candidate Tsering Namgyal

  Congress candidate in the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat Tsering Namgyal is contesting the election on a four-point agenda for the Union territory, the key among which is the fight for implementation of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution that guarantees land and job for the locals.

  The four-point agenda also includes statehood demand, a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

  Stressing the INDIA bloc was committed to safeguarding the rights of the people of Ladakh, he said there is discontent among the populace following the failure of talks involving Home Minister Amit Shah and representatives of Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance over the demand for the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

  "The dialogue stopped there and so did our hope... people are now worried and angry," Namgyal said in an interview with PTI.

• 14 May 2024, 05:02:07 PM IST

  Mamata's offer to cook food for PM Modi stirs controversy

  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's offer to "cook food" for Prime Minister Narendra Modi elicited mixed responses from different political parties, with the BJP terming it a "political agenda" and the CPI(M) dubbing it as an "understanding" between the TMC and the saffron party.

  Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his recent allegation that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav last month had fish during a period when some Hindus abstain from having non-vegetarian food, Banerjee on Monday said she was ready to "cook something for him (Modi)" if he wanted though she was not sure whether he would eat what she cooked.

  Banerjee, at an election rally here, had made the remarks while taking a dig at the BJP for allegedly interfering with the food habits of the people and had said she would be happy to cook food for Modi but is not sure "whether the PM will be ready to savour my cooked meal."

  "I have been cooking since my childhood days. People have praised my cooking. But will Modi ji accept my food? Will he trust me? I will cook whatever he loves," she had said.

• 14 May 2024, 04:49:52 PM IST

  Good polling conveys Delhi's 2019 decision unacceptable to J&K: Mehbooba Mufti

  Former J&K chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said good voter turnout in Srinagar was a message to Delhi that the decision of 2019 was unacceptable to people in the region.

  Mufti addressed public gatherings in south Kashmir urging people to vote in good numbers.

  While talking to media persons, she said that polling in good numbers in Srinagar parliamentary was indicative of the alleged suffocation people were facing here.

  “Polling was good because people have been feeling suffocated for the past five years. People want to convey a message to Delhi that the decision of 2019 and the subsequent orders after that related to our land, state subject, jobs; they are not acceptable to people of Kashmir, Rajouri-Poonch and Jammu,” she said.

• 14 May 2024, 04:25:11 PM IST

  The election in Raebareli is one-sided, says Sachin Pilot

  Congress leader Sachin Pilot says, "The election in Raebareli is one-sided, Rahul Gandhi will win here with record votes. BJP is putting in all its strength and resources, power is being misused. Both single and double engines are installed here but nothing is working. This is an election rising above caste and religion, the people of Raebareli are eager to bless Rahul Gandhi and they will make him win with a huge number of votes..."

• 14 May 2024, 04:13:25 PM IST

  This election is to save the Constitution, says Rahul Gandhi

  Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, " This fight, this election is to save the Constitution...without this (Constitution) poor people of India won't belong anywhere. The day this (Constitution) is gone, your land rights, reservation, public sector everything will be gone. INDIA alliance, Akhilesh Yadav, Kharge and I are protecting this Constitution..."

• 14 May 2024, 04:12:18 PM IST

  Out of 380, PM Modi has achieved absolute majority by winning 270 seats, says Amit Shah

  Addressing a public meeting in Bangaon, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, says, "4 phases of polling have been completed. Elections for 380 seats have been completed. Elections for 18 seats in Bengal have been completed. Today I tell you that out of 380, PM Modi has achieved absolute majority by winning 270 seats. The fight ahead is to cross 400..."

• 14 May 2024, 03:55:36 PM IST

  BJP will win 270 of 380 Lok Sabha seats where elections are over: Amit Shah

  BJP will win 270 of 380 Lok Sabha seats where elections are over, says Amit Shah at a rally in West Bengal

• 14 May 2024, 03:44:19 PM IST

  .They (BJP) have a feeling that they do not need to do any work for getting votes from you, says Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

  Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "...They (BJP) have a feeling that they do not need to do any work for getting votes from you. They will come during elections & tell you that Dharma is in trouble...They then ask you to swear in the name of Dharma that you would vote for BJP...Because they have not done any work...PM cannot tell about the employment given the roads that were constructed...Therefore, talks about useless things to divert your attention..."

• 14 May 2024, 03:37:17 PM IST

  Srinagar voter turnout not high enough to know people's opinion about Article 370 abrogation: Azad

  DPAP chief Ghulam Nabi Azad Tuesday said the voter turnout in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency is not high enough to know whether the people are happy or angry with the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories in 2019.

  The Srinagar constituency witnessed 37.98 per cent voting on Monday in the first Lok Sabha election in the valley since the scrapping of Article 370, with the Election Commission (EC) stating that it was the "highest turnout in decades".

  Azad said, "I had hoped that Kashmir will witness 80 to 90 per cent turnout in view of what has been happening in the past seven to eight years. Article 370 was removed, statehood was snatched. So I thought the turnout will be high, like 90 to 95 per cent.

  "The increase of a few per cent hardly matters as it happens in every constituency of India. That way, we can not know whether the people are angry or happy (with the abrogation of Article 370 and snatching of statehood). It is a new thing for me," Azad told reporters while campaigning for his party candidate in Kulgam district.

• 14 May 2024, 03:32:51 PM IST

  Former BJP MLA Rohita Rewri joins Congress in Haryana

  Rohita Rewri, former BJP MLA of Panipat City, on Tuesday joined the Congress, with former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda claiming there is a wave in favour of the grand old party in the state.

  Hooda welcomed Rewri into the party fold in Rohtak and said her joining will strengthen the Congress' hold in the Panipat region.

  He said the former BJP leader has joined the party unconditionally and will get due respect and place in the party, Hooda said responding to a question by a reporter.

  Claiming there is a wave in favour of the Congress in the state amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Hooda said the party will win all the nine seats it is contesting, as well as the Kurukshetra seat, being fought by its INDIA bloc ally AAP.

• 14 May 2024, 03:24:16 PM IST

  Bihar is known for blowing winds of change; nobody talks about PM Modi in Singapore: Rohini Acharya

  For voters of Bihar’s Saran Lok Sabha constituency (Chhapra before 2008 delimitation), the contest between RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad’s family and BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy is nothing new. In the past two polls, it was a direct fight between Rudy and RJD candidates linked to the Lalu family. In 2014, Rudy trounced Lalu’s wife and ex-Bihar CM Rabri Devi by 40,000 votes while in 2019, he sent Chandrika Rai, father-in-law of Lalu’s son Tej Pratap Yadav, packing, raising his margin to 1.38 lakh votes. This time, there is a lot of interest in the Saran as Lalu’s daughter Rohini Acharya is making her electoral debut. A medical doctor, Rohini is settled in Singapore. She was in the news in 2022 when she donated one of her kidneys to her ailing dad, an act that won her praise even from Lalu’s rivals. She talks with Vijay Swaroop about the challenges being faced, the BJP barb on kidney for ticket, the outsider tag yand the issues on which she is fighting the polls.

• 14 May 2024, 03:14:55 PM IST

  SC's no to PIL alleging misuse of Ambedkar, Bhagat Singh's names by Kejriwal for personal gains

  The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a PIL seeking a direction to the Centre to prevent the misuse of names of national icons and freedom fighters for personal gains, saying that the plea was politically motivated and asked as to why it was becoming a "political arena".

  The PIL alleged use of freedom fighters Dr B R Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the background during his addresses.

  "Why has this Court become a political arena," asked a bench comprising justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta.

  It said the plea was selectively targeting someone. Sensing the disinclination, the petitioner withdrew the PIL.

• 14 May 2024, 03:00:59 PM IST

  Congress leader Manish Tewari files nomination from Chandigarh

  ongress candidate from the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency Manish Tewari on Tuesday filed his nomination papers.

  He was accompanied by the party's Chandigarh unit president HS Lucky and other leaders.

  Tewari is pitted against BJP candidate Sanjay Tandon from the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Union Territory.

  "Filed my nomination papers from Chandigarh. I seek your blessings and support in this fight to save our democracy and bring prosperity to our City Beautiful," said the former Union minister in a post on X.

• 14 May 2024, 02:59:37 PM IST

  SC dismisses pleas seeking ECI action over PM Modi against alleged hate speech

  Supreme Court junks two petitions seeking direction to the Election Commission for acting against alleged hate speeches by PM Modi and some other BJP leaders during the Lok Sabha election campaigning.

• 14 May 2024, 02:57:31 PM IST

  One-third of candidates contesting in phase II Odisha polls face criminal charges: ADR report

  Out of 265 candidates contesting in phase II of the Odisha Assembly Elections Elections on May 20, 95(36%) are crorepatis, a report by Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) said.

  National Election Watch and ADR analysed the self-sworn affidavits of 265 candidates, out of which 87(33%) have pending criminal cases, with 70(26%) facing serious criminal charges. Among these, five candidates are charged with murder, sixteen with attempt to murder and eleven with crimes against women.

  Out of 35 constituencies going into phase II of Assembly polls, 14(40%) are red alert constituencies. These constituencies are those where three or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.

  The average asset per candidate contesting was found to be ₹3.98 Crores. Among the major political parties, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has the highest average asset per candidate of ₹12.09 Crores. Dilip Kumar Ray (313 Crore+), a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Rourkela, Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo (73 Crore+), a BJD candidate from Bolangir and Naveen Patnaik (71 Crore+) of BJD from Kantabanji and Hinjili are the top three richest candidates fielded in phase II. Sohan Sipka, an independent candidate from Kantabanji constituency has declared zero assets.

• 14 May 2024, 02:30:31 PM IST

  Lok Sabha election 2024: Rahul Gandhi has accepted his failure, says Pushkar Singh Dhami

  Uttarakhand CM and BJP leader Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "Rahul Gandhi has accepted his failure. He knows that he is not going to win the elections. While opposing PM Modi, he has started opposing the country. Congress always supported corruption, they were always against women..."

• 14 May 2024, 02:15:29 PM IST

  Lok Sabha election 2024: No one takes Rahul Gandhi and his statements seriously, says Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

  Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat says, "Neither anyone from the Congress party nor outside the Congress party, or in the country takes Rahul Gandhi and his statements seriously. He flew from Wayanad and came to Raebareli. Now we will see where he will go from Raebareli..."

• 14 May 2024, 01:37:20 PM IST

  Lok Sabha election 2024: Kangana Ranaut files nomination from Mandi

  BJP candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha seat, Kangana Ranaut, on Tuesday filed her nomination from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi for the Lok Sabha election 2024.

• 14 May 2024, 01:14:01 PM IST

  Lok Sabha election 2024: Political leaders react to PM Modi's nomination

• 14 May 2024, 12:45:20 PM IST

  Lok Sabha election 2024: Read related stories

• 14 May 2024, 12:16:59 PM IST

  Lok Sabha election 2024: PM Narendra Modi files nomination from Varanasi

• 14 May 2024, 12:03:23 PM IST

  Lok Sabha election 2024: PM Modi to file nomination shortly

• 14 May 2024, 11:28:10 AM IST

  Lok Sabha election 2024: Kangana Ranaut's mother ahead of nomination filing

  BJP candidate and actor Kangana Ranaut's mother Asha said, "We always wish well for her. She is getting a good response. She will win by a huge margin. Congress leaders are attacking her. Everybody has daughters. They should not make crass comments. I am hurt. All the mothers are unhappy. People will respond through votes. She is getting a lot of love here in Mandi as well as from whole Himachal."