Highlights | Will eradicate poverty, says Rahul Gandhi on Congress’s Rs 12,000 monthly income plan for 5 crore families

The top Congress leadership on Monday discuss and give a final shape to the party’s manifesto for the Lok Sabha election starting April 11.The Congress manifesto, a poll document that contains promises, programmes and policies of a political party for the next five years if voted to power, is expected to be released in Delhi on April 2. It is customary in the Congress to get the draft approved by CWC, the party’s highest decision-making body.Read headlines here:

1:02 am IST

BJP releases 9th list

Bharatiya Janata Party has released list of candidates for four parliamentary constituencies in Assam(1), Karnataka(2) and Uttar Pradesh(1) and one assembly constituency in Odisha.

5:14 pm IST

I chose to contest from Tumkur on the demand of many Congress and JD(S) leaders: HD Devegowda

HD Deve Gowda, JD(S): I know when we took this decision it might have hurt the sitting MP from Tumkur SP Muddahanumegowda. I don’t want to hurt him, Congress leaders conveyed everything to him...I chose to contest from Tumkur on the demand of many Congress and JD(S) leaders.

5:11 pm IST

Farooq Abdullah, Mamata Banerjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad and many leaders,including my friends,suggested me to contest: HD Devegowda

HD Deve Gowda: I havve worked as Lok Sabha MP for 29 years, that’s why I had said I won’t contest elections. I had decided to make sure Prajwal Revanna contests from Hassan. Farooq Abdullah, Mamata Banerjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad and many leaders,including my friends,suggested me to contest.

5:10 pm IST

PM Modi has put women in leading portfolios: Deepa Malik

Deepa Malik, Paralympian on joining BJP: The work that PM Modi has done for women empowerment and his thoughts towards women, is evident. He has put women in leading portfolios, he has also worked extensively for the ‘divyangs’.

4:56 pm IST

Meeting was excellent : Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan, Makkal Needhi Maiam after meeting West Bengal CM: Meeting was excellent we are proud to say that Makkal Needhi Maiam is an ally of TMC in Andaman. We hope this relation evolves in future. I’m going to campaign for their candidate (in Andaman).

 

4:55 pm IST

It’s a historical day as far as Tumkur is concerned: G Parameshwara

G Parameshwara, Karnataka Deputy CM: It’s a historical day as far as Tumkur is concerned. One of the senior most leaders of the nation, who made Kannadigas proud, who was elected many times from Hassan and was also the CM,HD Deve Gowda ji, is contesting from here.

4:39 pm IST

Former Union Minister Sukh Ram rejoins Congress

Delhi: Former Union Minister Sukh Ram rejoins Congress, his grandson Aashray Sharma also joins the party. They had also met party President Rahul Gandhi earlier today.

 

4:33 pm IST

Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan meets Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna

West Bengal: Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan meets Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna in Howrah.

 

4:31 pm IST

Odisha Chief Minister and BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik files nomination for the Bijepur assembly constituency

Odisha Chief Minister and BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik files nomination for the Bijepur assembly constituency at the Padampur Sub Collector office in Bargarh. He had earlier filed his nomination for the Hinjili assembly constituency as well, reports news agency ANI.

4:15 pm IST

Paralympics Games winner Deepa Malik, who hails from Haryana, joins BJP

Paralympics Games winner Deepa Malik, who hails from Haryana, joins BJP, reports PTI.

4:08 pm IST

INLD MLA Kehar Singh Rawat joins BJP

Delhi: INLD MLA Kehar Singh Rawat joins Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

INLD MLA Kehar Singh Rawat joins Bharatiya Janata Party ( HT Photo )

4:03 pm IST

NCP releases their election manifesto for the Lok Sabha Elections 2019

Delhi: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) releases their election manifesto for the Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

 

4:02 pm IST

Karti Chidambaram files nomination for the Sivaganga parliamentary constituency

Tamil Nadu: Karti Chidambaram files nomination for the Sivaganga parliamentary constituency as the Congress candidate, reports news agency ANI.

3:48 pm IST

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy files nomination as Congress-JD(S) coalition candidate

Karnataka: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy files nomination as Congress-JD(S) coalition candidate from Mandya for Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

 

3:42 pm IST

Nationalist Congress Party releases list of star campaigners for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 for Maharashtra

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) releases list of star campaigners for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 for Maharashtra. Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel and Supriya Sule feature on the list.

3:05 pm IST

Hema Malini files nomination papers from Mathura

Actor-turned-politician and sitting MP Hema Malini on Monday filed her nomination papers from Mathura for the coming polls.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is accompanying the film star-turned-Bharatiya Janata Party leader in Mathura. They will addressing a public rally here later in the day.

This is the second time she has secured a ticket for Mathura, her parliamentary constituency.

2:30 pm IST

BJP made possible whatever was impossible during Cong rule: Yogi Adityanath

“BJP made possible whatever was impossible during Congress rule. This year, lakhs of devotees came to Prayagraj to take the holy dip. Everything happened smoothly. But, this wasn’t the case in 2014 Kumbh,” said Yogi Adityanath at Vijay Sankalp rally in Mathura.

2:22 pm IST

Have consulted many economists on the scheme: Rahul Gandhi

“It is an extremely powerful, ground-breaking and well-thought through idea. We have consulted many economists on the scheme,” said Rahul Gandhi.

2:14 pm IST

‘Final assault on poverty’: Rahul Gandhi

“It is an extremely dynamic scheme and we have thought through the idea. This plan is the final assault on poverty,” said Rahul Gandhi.

2:13 pm IST

Will eliminate poverty from the country: Rahul Gandhi

“This will be a fiscally prudent scheme. We will eliminate poverty from the country,” said Rahul Gandhi.

2:08 pm IST

‘25 crore people benefit from the scheme’: Rahul Gandhi

“5 crore families and 25 crore people will get benefits from the scheme. The minimum income line will be Rs 12000 per month,” said Rahul Gandhi.

2:06 pm IST

Minimum income support will be called ‘NYAY’: Rahul Gandhi

“The minimum income support proposal will be called ‘NYAY’.The scheme will bring justice to the poor,” said Rahul Gandhi.

2:01 pm IST

Rahul Gandhi announces minimum income support

Rahul Gandhi announces Rs 72000 per annum minimum income guarantee scheme for poor.

“Will provide Rs 12000 per month minimum income and 20 per cent families belonging to poor section will be given Rs 72,000 each annually as minimum income if Congress comes to power,” said Rahul Gandhi.

1:37 pm IST

Farooq Abdullah files nomination papers for Srinagar LS seat

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah Monday filed nomination papers from the prestigious Srinagar Lok Sabha seat which is going to polls in the second phase of the general election on April 18.

Abdullah, who is seeking re-election from the constituency, was accompanied by his son and NC vice-president Omar Abdullah and other party leaders to the office of Returning Officer, Srinagar, where he filed his nomination papers.

1:27 pm IST

DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan suspends actor Radha Ravi

DMK General Secretary K Anbazhagan has suspended actor Radha Ravi from the party following his remarks against actor Nayanthara.

12:54 pm IST

Customs filed FIR against Rujira, wife of TMC supremo’s nephew: BJP

“An FIR was registered by the authorities of customs on March. This is a fact, that an FIR exists. The FIR was filed against Rujra. These are facts, which can’t be challenged. If they have nothing to hide, why would they not let customs check their bags. Why would they resist checking of bags?” said BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, nephew of party supremo Mamata Banerjee, Sunday refuted reports that two kg gold was seized from his wife’s baggage when she recently landed here from Bangkok.

12:40 pm IST

In Odisha, members of political families seek re-election

Several political families in Odisha are in the fray in the 2019 polls, with members of some either seeking re-election or crossing swords with their kin.

In some cases, members of such families have been fielded by parties from different constituencies, including one in which the Congress has given a father the responsibility to retain an assembly seat and son to wrest a Lok Sabha seat from rival Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The assembly election will be held in Odisha along with the Lok Sabha polls in four phases - on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. Kinship is evident in the Bolangir Lok Sabha seat, where sitting BJD MP Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo is pitted against his sister-in-law and former MP Sangeeta Singhdeo of the BJP.

12:01 pm IST

Ahead of filing nomination, Hema Malini offers prayers at Banke Bihari temple

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Mathura Hema Malini offered prayers at Banke Bihari temple, ahead of her filing nomination.

 

11:43 am IST

SC refuses to entertain plea seeking direction to ban roadshows, bike rallies during polls

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain plea seeking direction to Election Commission to ban roadshows and bike rallies during polls.

11:20 am IST

Kamal Haasan likely to meet West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee today

Makkal Needhi Maiam Chief Kamal Haasan is likely to meet West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee today, as per TV reports.

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan on Sunday night said he will not contest the Lok Sabha election 2019, saying all the candidates of his party are his faces.

“All the MNM candidates are my faces. I am proud of being the chariot puller than being the chariot,” Kamal Haasan said at the public meeting.

11:18 am IST

BJP leaders should contest polls in Nepal, will win there: Majeed Memon

NCP’s Rajya Sabha member Majeed Memon on Monday said that BJP leaders should contest elections in Nepal claiming that “chowkidars” will emerge victorious in the Himalayan nation, a day after BJP remarked that Congress may win elections in Pakistan.

“If Ram Madhav is saying that Congress would probably win elections in Pakistan if they contest from there, then I would like to give him a piece of advice. All BJP leaders are ‘chowkidars’ (watchmen) and they should contest elections in Nepal and they will win there,” Memon, whose party is in alliance with Congress in Maharashtra, told ANI.

10:16 am IST

Congress, INPT join hands in Tripura

Tripura Congress president Pradyot Kishore on Sunday announced that the Congress and Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) have forged an alliance in the state to defeat the BJP.

“Congress and Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura (INPT) are going ahead in LokSabha election with an alliance. Lok Sabha polls will be a test for forces which want to bring in Citizen Amendment Bill against those who want to oppose it,” Kishore told media here.

9:49 am IST

Rahul Gandhi to meet Delhi Congress

Congress president Rahul Gandhi will meet leaders of the party’s Delhi unit on Monday to talk about the issue of an alliance with Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP in the national capital.

Rahul Gandhi will hold the meeting at 10am at his residence.

8:35 am IST

Cong manifesto may include Rahul Gandhi’s minimum income guarantee proposal

The document is likely to include Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s minimum income guarantee proposal, right to healthcare apart from measures to address unemployment and agrarian distress, party insiders, requesting anonymity, said.