Lok Sabha Election | May 24 Highlights: Modi Pledged UCC, Congress Supporting 'Sharia', Says PM

The sixth or the penultimate phase of Lok Sabha elections will take place in 58 constituencies across six states and two Union territories, including all the seven seats in Delhi on May 24.

Besides the national capital, polling for the sixth round of the marathon seven-phase elections will be held Saturday in 14 seats in Uttar Pradesh, all 10 seats of Haryana, eight seats each in Bihar and West Bengal, six seats in Odisha, four seats in Jharkhand and one seat in Jammu and Kashmir.

The poll campaigning in these constituencies have ended on Thursday.

Till now, voting has been completed in 25 states and Union territories and 428 constituencies out of 543. The last phase of polling is scheduled on June 1 and counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.

The Delhi Police has registered two FIRs after slogans to boycott elections were found written on walls at multiple places in the Delhi University area, officials said on Thursday.

Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM) claimed the responsibility for the slogans, such as "Ek hi raasta Naxalbari," written on the walls. The self-proclaimed youth organisation posted photos of the slogans on its Instagram page.

Police said they noticed the slogans written in the area during morning patrolling on Thursday.

A woman BJP worker from the Scheduled Caste community was killed in Nandigram on Wednesday night, triggering large-scale protests by saffron party activists there on Thursday.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the "killing" of the woman and directed Banerjee to take immediate action and submit an action-taken report to him, reported PTI.

The region, which falls under Tamluk Lok Sabha seat and is considered to be the backyard of Bengal's leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari, is scheduled to vote on May 25.

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait appealed to people on Thursday to vote for those candidates who are capable of defeating the ruling BJP's nominees in the two final phases of the Lok Sabha polls on May 25 and June 1.

The national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU), which is part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions, also alleged that it is not the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that is contesting the ongoing election, but "a gang of capitalists" that has captured the country.

Former Punjab Congress MLA Harminder Singh Jassi on Thursday joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

Chandrasekhar welcomed him into the party and said the three-term former MLA has joined the BJP as he was impressed with the government's welfare and development policies.

As the poll campaigns for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections ended on Thursday evening, the security in the sensitive areas of Jammu and Kashmir has been heightened.

The Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat in J&K will go for vote on May 25.

Delhi Chief Electoral Officer P Krishnamurthy said on Thursday that over one lakh polling personnel have been deployed for the conduct of polls on May 25 while several steps have been taken to protect people from the intense heat wave.

Highlighting special initiatives to enhance the voting experience, he said they have set up 70 pink polling stations across Delhi, one in each assembly constituency, which will be entirely operated by women polling staff, according to a statement.

To further encourage voter turnout, the office of chief electoral officer has partnered with Rapido bike taxi to offer free rides home after voting. Voters will also receive special coupons from Zomato and Swiggy online food ordering and delivery platforms, and various restaurants will provide discounts upon showing voting ink, the statement said.

The Election Commission has issued a strict warning to Congress candidate from Jalandhar Charanjit Singh Channi for violating the Model Code of Conduct, an official said.

Former Punjab chief minister Channi had called the Poonch terror attack, in which an IAF soldier was killed and four others were injured, a "poll stunt" meant to make the BJP win the Lok Sabha elections.

The commission found his response "unsatisfactory", deeming it a violation of the MCC clause which provides - "Criticism of other political parties, when made, shall be confined to their policies and programme, past record and work... Criticism of other parties or their workers based on unverified allegations or distortion shall be avoided."

One soldier was killed and four others were injured as terrorists ambushed an IAF convoy in the Poonch district on May 4.

Replying to a question on the attack, Channi had said, "Yeh stuntbaazi ho rahi hai, hamle nahi ho rahe (These are all stunts, not attacks). Whenever elections are near, such stunts are performed to make the BJP win."

- PTI

The Congress came down heavily on the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday for not disclosing voter data to the public and said it is unfortunate and condemnable that the poll body is not fulfilling its constitutional duty and that its inclination is "one-sided".

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi accused the EC of trying to be "the election department" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by not acting on the complaints of model code violation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and instead, making "false equivalences" by giving generalised directions to political parties.

"The EC has become one-sided and blind-sided to one particular party. All this is being done unfortunately, because the EC wants to become the election department of the government of India," Singhvi told a press conference in New Delhi.

His comments came after the EC gave an affidavit in the Supreme Court, saying "indiscriminate disclosure" of polling station-wise voter-turnout data and posting it on its website will cause chaos in the election machinery, which is already in motion for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

- PTI

Two candidates in the fray in the fourth and final phase of assembly elections in Odisha have declared zero assets in their affidavits, reortedly.

Sanjay Kumar Das, an Independent candidate contesting from Dhamnagar assembly segment, and Ambedkarite Party of India nominee from Korei constituency, Gopal Krushna Mohant, declared that they did not own any asset.

Independent candidate Benudhar Mohapatra is contesting from Udala assembly seat with only Rs 645 in hand. Another Independent nominee Jharanarani Jena, who is contesting from Basta constituency, has declared that she has only Rs 1,000.

On the other hand, as many as 121 candidates (31 per cent of total nominees) in the fray in the fourth phase are 'crorepatis', with BJD candidate from Basta segment, Subasini Jena, being the richest with Rs 135.17 crore assets, the report said.

- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his poll campaign in Punjab by holding his first rally in Patiala on May 23. He will also address rallies in Gurdaspur and Jalandhar on May 24.

PM Modi will then address two rallies, one at Nahan in Shimla (SC) parliamentary constituency in support of party candidate Suresh Kashyap and second at Mandi in support of Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut on May 24.

The Election Commission of India issues voter slips and sends them to the houses of the eligible voters. However, not all eligible voters end up receiving their voter slips.

Voters can check whether their name is mentioned on the electoral roll on the official website of the Election Commission of India -electoralsearch.eci.gov.in.

In case the voters don't have a Voter ID card but are mentioned in the electoral roll, they can still cast their vote by showing other government IDs recognised by the ECI, such as - Aadhar, PAN Card, Passport, etc.

To Know How To Get Your Voter Slip CLICK HERE

Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha seat Kangana Ranaut offers prayers at Bijli Mahadev Temple in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh.

Ranaut is scheduled to participate in rally with PM Modi on May 24.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) transferred two Punjab Police officers from their current posts to non-election duties. Swapan Sharma, IPS (RR: 2009), currently serving as the Police Commissioner of Jalandhar and Kuldeep Chahal, IPS (RR: 2009), currently serving as the Police Commissioner of Ludhiana, have been transferred from their present posts.

The ECI has appointed Nilabh Kishore, IPS 1998 Batch (currently posted as ADGP STF Punjab, Shahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar), as Police Commissioner Ludhiana and Rahul S, IPS 2008 Batch (currently posted as DIG-cum- Director Vigilance Bureau Punjab, Shahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar), as Police Commissioner Jalandhar.

- ANI

Former Chhattisgarh CM & Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel says, "When people used to vote through ballot paper, election commission used to release the data of voting percentage within 24 hrs. Today, in the digital era, the election commission doesn't give the data even after 8-10 days and when it gives, the percentage increases by 6-8%. It means the election commission is biased."

The polling parties leave for their respective polling stations with EVMsfrom the Delivery and Receiving Centres in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. Voting for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections will be conducted in Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat on May 25.

RJD leader Manoj Jha spoke at a press conference in Patna, Bihar on Friday where he said, “The sixth phase of the Lok Sabha election will be held tomorrow (May 25) and only one phase will be left after it. Five phases of voting have already been conducted and a change is being witnessed in the country, especially in Bihar. Everyone is now saying - 'Naukri matlab Tejashwi'.”

On Union Ministers and other BJP leaders coming to the state to campaign, 5T Chairman and BJD leader VK Pandian said, "State BJP unit and all their constituency leaders are not able to come out of their constituencies because of the strategy of the BJD and Naveen babu, they are all fixed in their own constituencies. They are not able to come out. So, somebody has to come out and campaign for them. That is why, national leaders are coming...Actually, they are helping BJD in the sense that the way are abusing the CM - such a popular CM - they are helping BJD in getting higher vote share. It is very sad that they have to reduce the political discourse to such inappropriate levels, it is not good. We are a mature democracy...One should know where to draw the line. Just to get votes, you cannot demean great leaders. History will not forgive those people, also people of Odisha will not forgive, on June 4 we will see the results."

Polling parties were dispatched with EVMs to voting centres in North-East Parliamentary Constituency, ahead of the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024.

BJP has fielded Manoj Tiwari from North East Delhi & Congress has fielded Kanhaiya Kumar.

Supreme Court declines to grant any interim relief on application seeking uploading of Form 17C data on Election Commission of India website and publication of booth-wise voter turnout data.

Supreme Court says it cannot interrupt the polls.

The Aam Aadmi Party has lodged a complaint to the Election Commission, alleging that BJP's Ghatal Lok Sabha nominee Hiranmoy Chattopadhyaya has provided "wrong" information about his educational qualification in the affidavit and sought cancellation of his candidature.

The AAP also accused the actor-turned-politician of making a false claim that he is a research fellow at IIT Kharagpur.

“We have observed a discrepancy in the election affidavit declaration of Hiranmoy Chattopadhyaya regarding his educational qualification/accomplishment. He has claimed to be a research fellow at IIT Kharagpur since May 2023. However, a recent RTI reply from IIT Kharagpur has revealed that he is neither a research associate, nor scientist, nor staff, nor in any other category, as per the institute rules and regulations," the AAP wrote in the letter on Thursday.

Beginning to address in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur, PM Modi said, "I am here to seek blessings for BJP's third term, not for myself or my family but for a developed nation."

"I don't need your blessings for me or my people, I need your blessings to make India strong for the growth of the country, for the development of the Himachal. Five phases of polling have already happened and the victory of BJP-led NDA is now certain, " he added.

PM Modi then slammed the incumbent Congress government in the state, stating, "You will find three commonalities among the Congress and their allies. They are extremely communal, casteist and 'Pariwarwaadi'. For 60 years, Congress did not even think that there are poor people in the general category too. Congress never thought that even this society needs reservation. The society that was assumed to be wealthy, I provided 10 per cent reservation for the poor children of general cast and there was no objection raised to it in the country."

He said, "Let alone giving 1 lakh jobs to youths, Cong's 'talabaaz sarkar' put a lock on recruitment commission."

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that her government will approach a higher court, challenging the Calcutta High Court order that cancelled all OBC certificates issued in the state since 2010.

Addressing an election rally in Sagar in South 24 Parganas district, she said the state government would appeal to the higher court against the order after summer vacation.

“We do not accept the order that scrapped OBC certificates. We will contest at a higher court after summer vacation," Banerjee said.

BJP Mandi candidate Kangana Ranaut addresses a public rally in the parliamentary constituency, she says, "PM Modi is coming to Mandi today. His character, the works he has done, his patriotism - all are a role model for the country. He has introduced many schemes for women. His resolve for 33% reservation for women has already been implemented by giving (election) ticket to this daughter. This is a matter of huge respect for the women of Himachal Pradesh."

"I am very fortunate to have entered this field under the guidance of PM Modi. Under his guidance, I will be able to learn a lot and do work for the people. I also believe that it is the love and trust of people of Himachal Pradesh that have brought me here," said actor and BJP candidate from Mandi seat Kangana Ranaut.

The state votes in Lok Sabha elections in the 7th phase on 1st June.

Addressing a public rally in Arrah, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "After 5 phases, Modi ji has got 310 seats. The account of 'Ghamandia alliance' will not be opened in Bihar. "

He then added, "If CPI-ML (Liberation) candidate wins from Arrah LS seat, Naxalism will once again return to Bihar."

Shah reiterated BJP's old claim that INDIA bloc leaders want to give reservation based on religion to Muslims.

"RJD chief Lalu Prasad promotes only his sons and daughters", said Shah and added, "If RJD comes to power, gang war, 'jungle raj', abduction will return to Bihar."

RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav along with former CM Rabri Devi campaigns in Patliputra parliamentary constituency. The party's Misa Bharti is contesting from the seat.

RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav says, "It is going to be a fantastic election, especially in Patliputra. There is no point in him coming here. I forecast that the PM will be limited to photos and flags in this election. The election result will be fantastic."

5T Chairman and BJD leader VK Pandian addresses a public rally in Mayurbhanj.

"BJP leaders have disrespected the CM and used derogatory language against him. They are also lying about the health condition of Naveen Babu, "says BJD leader VK Pandian.

Addressing a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar, BJP National President JP Nadda said, "...10 years ago it used to be written 'Made in China', 'Made in Korea', 'Made in Japan' on mobile phones, but today it's written 'Made in India' on them..."

Addressing a rally in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said BJP working committee took decision in Himachal to build Ram temple, adding that state is 'sankalp bhumi' for Ayodhya temple construction.

PM Modi on Friday addressed a rally in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi in support of Kangana Ranaut, BJP's candidate from the constituency for Lok Sabha elections 2024.

PM Modi slammed Congress over alleged "derogatory remarks" by its leaders against Kangana Ranaut, saying that "she represents aspirations of youth, our daughters."

What else PM Modi said

"Central funds sent for Himachal monsoon disaster victims distributed selectively, will find out where money went"

"Derogatory remarks by Congress leaders against Kangana Ranaut insult to Mandi"

Jammu and Kashmir's controversially redrawn Anantnag-Rajouri constituency will be voting on Saturday, May 25, in the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 amid threat of cross-border shelling in some border areas and satellite phones and special runners in place to deal with contingencies.

Contesting against Mehbooba Mufti, working to revive her party’s fortunes following its alliance with the BJP in 2015, in the keenly watched election on Saturday are National Conference’s Mian Altaf and 18 others.

Elections in the last of the five seats in Jammu and Kashmir take place against the backdrop of four terror incidents, including one that claimed the life of an Indian Air Force soldier and a former BJP sarpanch.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday wondered how Prime Minister Narendra Modi was raising the slogan of winning over 400 seats when his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was losing everywhere.

Kharge said there is every possibility of INDIA bloc getting a majority. Talking to reporters in his hometown, Karnataka's Kalaburagi, Kharge said people have provided a good environment in favour of the INDIA alliance.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Friday that his party, after five phases of voting of the Lok Sabha elections, seems to be in "profitable situation" in the states where it performed poorly in 2029.

"Voting on 428 seats has already concluded in five phases and tomorrow, 58 seats will go to polls in the sixth phase. It became clear to us after two phases that we will get a decisive majority. In states where we performed badly in 2019, for instance Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh... we are in a very profitable situation there this time," said Jairam Ramesh.

AAP MP Raghav Chadha was seen along with his wife and actor Parineeti Chopra at the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai on Friday.

Reacting to the alleged killing of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar in West Bengal's Kolkata, Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said, "Law and order situation is very bad in Bengal. Mamata government is protecting goons. Police are working for TMC which is why this is happening. The country is getting defamed."

Addressing a public rally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took a swipe and Congress and Samajwadi Party, saying whenever their leaders Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav join hands, it is "destructive".

"There is security, respect, development, welfare of the poor, heritage and respect of the faith. On one hand, BJP is doing everything under the leadership of PM Modi. Have we done anything based on caste? There is only one mantra, 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas'... On the other hand, there is Congress and Samajwadi Party's alliance. 'Jab bhi ye gathbandhan hota hai do ladkon ka, ye bada hi anarthkari hai'. Whenever their alliance is formed, terror attacks take place. Under SP's rule in the state and Congress at the centre, Ayodhya's Ram Lalla temple and Kashi's Sankat Mochan temple were attacked. The first thing Akhilesh Yadav did as a CM was to withdraw the cases against terrorists, fortunately, the court intervened...," Yogi Adityanath said.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said Amit Shah "only comes to make hatred trend in Bihar."

"He lies. The people of Bihar will not fall for his lies. Bihar will not follow the trend of lies and hatred, Bihar will follow the trend of jobs... What have they done for Bihar in the last 10 years?" Tejjashwi Yadav said.

Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge held parallel public meetings in Jharkhand on Friday. Addressing his meeting, Kharge said "Narendra Modi has attacked 'jal, jungle, zameen' of Jharkhand in the last 10 years. He gave 'jal, jungle, zameen' of India to his 20-25 friends."

Amit Shah, meanwhile, said in Jharkhand's Dumka that the state is just a "vote bank, property, land bank and corruption ATM for Congress and for the one who is requesting from jail," referring to jailed former CM Hemant Soren.

"Hemant Soren is doing injustice to Jharkhand by sitting in the lap of Congress that roadblocked the development of Jharkhand for years just to become CM," said Amit Shah.

On BJP's '400 paar' target for Lok Sabha elections, EAM Dr S Jaishankar said in an interview with news agency ANI that the party will "definitely pick up more seats in the South, and improve numbers in Odisha and Bengal as well.

"For us [BJP], its Dakshin mein double, for opposition…Uttar mein even more trouble...We will definitely pick up more seats in the South, in Odisha & Bengal we will improve our numbers...The figure of 370 did not come out of thin air...," Jaishankar said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Congress supported Islamic law Sharia under the guise of the Muslim Personal law.

Addressing an election rally in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, PM Modi batted for the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), a common set of laws that would subsume customary laws across faiths and govern issues such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and maintenance. Follow full coverage of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"Modi has pledged to a Uniform Civil Code. Indian citizens, whether they are Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian or Buddhist, should have uniform civil laws. But Congress is opposing the Uniform Civil Code. Congress supports Sharia in the name of Muslim Personal Law," PM Modi said.

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The counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 will be taking place on June 4. Lok Sabha or general elections 2024 are taking place in India in seven phases, which started from April 19.

While the first phase of voting happened on April 19, the second on April 26, third on May 7, fourth on May 13, fifth on May 20 and the sixth scheduled on MAy 25, the remaining last phase will take place on June 1.

Full Lok Sabha Elections Schedule

Around 35,000 security personnel including 121 companies of central armed police force (CAPF) and 106 platoons of Odisha armed police and 19,865 civil police personnel have been deployed for the third phase of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to be held in Odisha on May 25, a senior police officer told news agency PTI.

Six parliamentary constituencies - Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Puri and Sambalpur - along with 42 assembly seats coming under these Lok Sabha segments will go for polls in the third phase in Odisha and phase-six in India.

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

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "owed an explanation to the country's women" for having campaigned in favour of sex scandal accused Prajjwal Revanna.

Speaking to PTI Tharoor alleged that accusations against Revanna had been known to the BJP which chose to ignore these because of "political cynicism".

"It is now well known that videotapes of Revanna were made available to a BJP leader in Karnataka where the party displayed political cynicism by keeping mum and having a truck with the Janata Dal (Secular)," he said.

Referring to a rally of Modi in the Hassan constituency for Revanna who has been on the run since the matter came to light, Tharoor said, "The prime minister of the country clearly owes an answer to the country's women for canvassing in favour of such a candidate".

-PTI inputs

On the eve of Lok Sabha polls in the national capital, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena reminded Delhiites that Saturday is a "day of duty" and not a holiday, and urged voters to exercise their franchise.

In a video message, Saxena advised people to cast their votes early in the morning in view of the prevailing intense summer heat in the city. Votes for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will be cast from 7 am to 6 pm on Saturday.

"We are going to celebrate the festival of democracy on May 25. Festivals like Holi, Diwali, Eid, Christmas come every year, but this biggest poll festival comes only once in five years," said the LG in his message.

(With PTI inputs)

BJP Rajya Sabha MP and national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi in an interview with news agency PTI said: "Arvind Kejriwal is the latest link in the series of Chief Ministers who went to jail on corruption charges, which started in 1997 with the then Bihar CM Lalu Prasad Yadav. He is the only Chief Minister in the history of India who did not resign even after going to jail. He is out on bail and was instructed not to talk about the case, but he is doing just the opposite with his misleading campaign."

He added, "Technically speaking, he has been an IRS officer, and he is saying that there is no physical presence of scam-related money. This is either misleading or vicious."

"In this game of corruption, Arvind Kejriwal is playing the role of that playback singer, who has always been behind the scenes. He must remember that no matter how smart the thief is, he will be caught by the law of the land,” Sudhanshu Trivedi said.

On May 7 while addressing a rally at Chaibasa in Jharkhand, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that PM Modi wants to hand over Jal Jungle and Jameen of Adivasis to the industrialists. Emphasising the rights of Adivasis over their land and forest, he said, “The BJP wants to confine tribals to roles like domestic helps. They never want you to become doctors, engineers and lawyers. They want to hand over jungles to industrialists.”

This statement of Gandhi came at a time when the political discourse in Jharkhand is centred around the rights of the indigenous population. When the Enforcement Directorate arrested former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren for his alleged role in a land grabbing case, it became a major electoral issue for Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

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