Elections 2024 News, May 3 Highlights: Kharge Will Have To Start 'Congress Dhundo Yatra' After June 4, Says Amit Shah

Welcome to our live blog, where we'll be bringing you all the latest updates and developments about elections on 3 May 2024. Stay with us!

The Congress party is yet to announce its candidates for the traditional Gandhi family seats of Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. Today is the  last day for filing of nominations. While Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is said to be not willing to contest, media reports said Rahul Gandhi is being persuaded to enter the fray from one of the seats.

Amethi and Rae Bareli are considered as traditional pocket boroughs of the Gandhi-Nehru family as its members have represented the seats for several decades.

The Amethi seat has been represented by Rahul Gandhi from 2004 and he remained the member of Parliament from the constituency for three consecutive terms till 2019 when he was defeated by BJP's Smriti Irani.

Amid weeks of speculation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday named former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Singh's son Karan Bhushan Singh as its Lok Sabha candidate from the Kaiserganj seat in Uttar Pradesh.

Brij Bhushan Saran Singh, who is currently facing criminal charges of sexually harassing women wrestlers, has been replaced.

Despite denying Brij Bhushan the ticket, the seat's contest however remained within the family.

The schedule for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 was announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 16. The voting for Lok Sabha elections 2024 is taking place in seven phases and started on April 19. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.

While voting for Phase 1 took place on April 19, and the second phase happened on April 26, polling for Phase 3 to Phase 7 will take place on: May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.

• Phase 1/April 19 - 21 states/UTs - 102 constituencies

• Phase 2/April 26 - 13 states/UTs - 88 constituencies

• Phase 3/May 7 - 12 states/UTs - 12 constituencies

• Phase 4/May 13 - 10 states/UTs - 96 constituencies

• Phase 5/May 20 - 8 states/UTs - 49 constituencies

• Phase 6/May 25 - 7 states/UTs - 57 constituencies

• Phase 7/June 1 -  8 states/UTs - 57 constituencies

Lok Sabha Elections Full Schedule Here

On suspense over Congress’ Raebareli and Amethi candidates, UP BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary said, “Gandhi family or the entire Congress have been missing from here, Rahul Gandhi was not seen in the last 5 years, Sonia Gandhi has gone to Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. Congress has migrated from Uttar Pradesh.”

After a long suspense, Congress has decided to field Rahul Gandhi and Kishori Lal Sharma in Raebareli and Amethi constituencies, respectively, in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha.

The announcement comes after days of deliberations and speculations over the seat, considered strongholds of the Gandhi family in the state. Last week, the Uttar Pradesh Congress had urged the top party leadership to field Rahul and Priyanka from Amethi and Raebareli Lok Sabha constituencies respectively. 

Priyanka Gandhi is not contesting the Lok Sabha elections from either of the two Congress bastions. Last date of filing nominations from both Rae Bareli and Amethi is today.

The BJP has announced Dinesh Pratap Singh as its candidate from Rae Bareli. These seats are going to polls in the fifth phase on May 20.

None of the Above (NOTA) in EVMs is an option for voters who do not wish to cast vote for any candidate. On the Ballot Units (BU), below the name of the last candidate, there is a button for NOTA option which allows voters who do not want to vote for any of the candidates to exercise the option.

Similarly, Postal Ballot Papers also have a NOTA Panel after the name of the last candidate. The symbol for NOTA as given below will be printed against the NOTA Panel. KNOW MORE HERE

BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla has taken to social media to claim that congress leader Rahul Gandhi is “surrendering” the Amethi seat, after the party named Rahul Gandhi Rahul Gandhi for Raebareli and Kishori Lal Sharma for Amethi.

Pooonawala tweeted: “Rahul Baba surrenders Amethi. Daro Mat kehte kehte Bhag gaye (They ran away while saying, don't be afraid).” 

In another tweet he wrote, “All this drama & build up for what? With Rahul Gandhi running away and surrendering out of Amethi & fielding somebody like KL Sharma, it is evident that Congress has given up on Amethi.” 

“They too realise that Rahul stands no chance in front of Smriti Irani. So they sent him to what they consider a safer Rae Bareli! But isn’t that a complete fraud on people of Wayanad? Not that he will win in Rae Bareli but it just shows “use and throw” mindset of Congress. Rae Bareli too will reject this behaviour & opt for an MP who stays with them & doesn’t desert them.”

Rahul Gandhi is set to hold a roadshow in Raebareli, ahead of filling his nomination papers. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi will accompany him.

The Rae Bareli constituency was represented by Sonia Gandhi from 2004 to 2024. 

A party worker told news agency PTI, "The nomination filing will be done between 11 am to 1 pm. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge will be present. The people are fighting the election in Amethi. It will be historic. They have rejected the present MP."

A person is eligible to vote in India after attaining the age of 18. An eligible voter can vote only if their name appears in the voter list, also known as Electoral Roll. All Voting FAQs Answered Here

The election commission of India offers online voter registration for Indian citizens who have attained the age of 18 on the qualifying date (1 Jan, 1 April, 1 July and 1 Oct of the year of revision of electoral roll). Citizen, can enroll themselves as General Voter and fill Form 6 online at National Voters' Service Portal. The form can be checked HERE - https://voters.eci.gov.in/

BJP national secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "Rahul Gandhi is losing from Wayanad and this is why is going to to contest from Raebareli. Earlier, he accepted defeat from Amethi, now he is running away from Wayanad."

He added, "The situation is such that no one from Congress wants to contest from Amethi, which was Congress' traditional seat...Rahul Gandhi will also have to leave Raebareli, and people will give him a befitting reply, he will be defeated in Raebareli too."

Congress candidate from Amethi KL Sharma is slated to file his nomination today. Top Congress leaders are expected to be present during nomination filing.

Speaking to reporters on the occasion, he said, "I am grateful to the party, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi who have given a chance to fight election to a small worker. Rahul Gandhi was involved in decision-making."

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Robert Vadra have arrived at Fursatganj Airport in Amethi. These senior leaders will be present at the time of Rahul Gandhi's filing of his nomination.

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi said in a press conference: "PM Modi should tell - why does he want over 400 seats? Why is he not talking about getting 272 seats? It is because he wants to change the Constitution and end reservation."

"Why are all of his party MP candidates saying '400 paar'? It is because he wants to change the Constitution."

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hailed the candidature of Kishori Lal Sharma from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat, saying the Gandhi family has had a longstanding association with him.

Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, has been fielded from the seat to take on the BJP's Smriti Irani.

"Our family has a long-standing relationship with Kishori Lal Sharma ji. He has always been engaged wholeheartedly in serving the people of Amethi and Rae Bareli. His passion for public service is an example in itself," Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on X in Hindi.

"Today, it is a matter of happiness that Shri Kishori Lal ji has been made the candidate from Amethi by the Congress Party. Kishori Lal ji's loyalty and dedication towards his duty will definitely bring him success in this election," the Congress general secretary said.

Union minister and BJP leader Giriraj Singh today said Rahul Gandhi would have to leave Rae Bareli as well, after the party named Gandhi for the Uttar Pradesh constituency.

"The Gandhi family never goes back to the seat from where it lost. Rahul Gandhi lost Amethi and he left it. This time if he loses Raebareli too, he will leave that too. Just like Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last emperor of the Mughal Sultanate, Raebareli is the same for the Gandhi family," he told ANI.

"BJP is going to win in Rae Bareli and Amethi with a huge margin. Rahul Gandhi had first left Amethi and went to Wayanad, now he has come to Rae Bareli. The people of Rae Bareli will never accept him. BJP is going to win all 80 seats in the state with a huge majority," he said.

Rahul Gandhi is currently the MP from Kerala's Wayanad. He has contested the 2024 general elections from Wayanad as well.

Addressing a public rally in Bardhaman-Durgapur PM Modi, here is what PM Modi said:

• They (Opposition) cannot bring development. They only know how to divide the society for the sake of votes.

• Congress wants to loot reservations from SC, ST and OBCs and garner 'jihadi' votes from their vote bank.

• A TMC MLA gave an open threat. He said that they would drown Hindus in Bhagirathi in just 2 hours. What is this language and political culture?... What is happening to Hindus in Bengal? Looks like the TMC has made the Hindus second citizens in West Bengal.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said: "I am in a rush because I have to leave for Raebareli to attend the nomination filing of 'bhaiya' (Rahul Gandhi)."

"Kishori Lal Sharma is going to contest from Amethi and you know him for 40 years. He is very well aware of the issues of Amethi. We will fight together and will ensure Kishori Lal Sharma's victory."

Congress has decided to field Rahul Gandhi and Kishori Lal Sharma in Raebareli and Amethi constituencies, respectively, in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha.

General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh took to X and wrote: "Many people have many opinions on the news of Rahul Gandhi contesting elections from Rae Bareli. But he is a seasoned player of politics and chess. He makes his moves after careful consideration. The party leadership has taken this decision after a lot of deliberation and strategy. This decision has devastated the BJP, its supporters and sycophants. The poor self-proclaimed Chanakya who used to talk about 'traditional seats' is not able to understand what to do now?

Rae Bareli has not only been Sonia ji's seat but also Indira Gandhi's seat. This is not a legacy but a responsibility, a duty. 

• As far as the Gandhi family's stronghold is concerned, not just Amethi-Rae Bareli, the entire country from north to south is the stronghold of the Gandhi family. Rahul Gandhi has become an MP three times from Uttar Pradesh and once from Kerala, but why couldn't Modiji muster the courage to contest elections below Vindhyachal?

• One more thing is clear that the Congress family is the family of expectations and aspirations of lakhs of workers. An ordinary worker of Congress is superior to the big ones. Yesterday, a prominent journalist was sarcastically saying to a worker of Amethi that “when will your turn come to get a ticket”? Look, it has come! An ordinary worker of Congress will break both the illusion and arrogance of BJP in Amethi. 

• Priyanka ji is campaigning vigorously and is alone shutting up Narendra Modi by answering his every lie with the truth. That is why it was necessary that she should not be limited to her constituency only. Priyanka ji will reach the House by contesting any by-election. 

• Today Smriti Irani's only identity is that she contests elections from Amethi against Rahul Gandhi. Now Smriti Irani has lost that fame too. 

• Now instead of making useless statements, Smriti Irani should answer about local development, the closed hospitals, steel plant and IIT - that needs to be answered. 

• There are some chess moves left, please wait a bit."

Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma filed his nomination from Amethi on Friday.

Uttar Pradesh's Amethi has long been synonymous with the Gandhis and it would be the first time in 25 years that a Gandhi family member will not be contesting election from the Lok Sabha seat.

Considered a citadel of the Gandhi family since its creation as a constituency in 1967, Amethi has been represented by a Gandhi family member for about 31 years since then.

The Congress fortress was breached in the last general election in 2019 when BJP's Smriti Irani beat Rahul Gandhi by more than 55,000 votes.

This time, Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha election from the Rae Bareli seat, while Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, has been fielded from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat.

-PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: "Sonia Gandhi has launched 'Rahul Baba' 20 times, but the launch hasn't been successful. Today, he has run away from Amethi to file a nomination from Raebareli."

"I want to tell you (Rahul Gandhi) the result from here, 'Rahul Baba' will lose to the BJP candidate, Dinesh Pratap Singh with a huge margin in Raebareli."

Home Minister also said, "Rahul baba and co. cannot keep the nation safe. Only PM Modi can keep India safe. Bomb attacks used to happen regularly across the nation in Manmohan-Sonia rule. They did not do anything, to keep their vote banks happy."

"Things were different when attacks happened in Uri and Pulwama. Within 10 days, Pakistan was given a befitting reply with surgical and air strikes under the leadership of PM Modi," he further added.

Rahul Gandhi has officially submitted his nomination papers to contest from the Raebareli constituency. The party has decided to drop Priyanka Gandhi Vadra this time.

Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma also filed nomination for the Lok Sabha elections from party bastion Amethi, a few hours after the party announced his candidature from the key seat.

After Rahul Gandhi and Kishori Lal Sharma were announced as candidates for Congress' key Lok Sabha seats Raebareli and Amethi, the duo filed their nomination hours before the deadline on Friday.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra speaking to reporters after Gandhi filed the nomination exuded confidence that the grand old party will win in both the seats. She said, "Dono mein jitengey...bilkul pakka jitengey (We will win both (Amethi and Rae Bareli seats), we will definitely win."

PM Modi is in West Bengal as there are several election rallies lined up ahead of him. On Friday PM Modi took out an impromptu roadshow in Krishnanagar of Nadia district amid his rallies.

Addressing an election rally in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he is seeing a "different atmosphere here," adding that he is here to seek blessings.

Speaking in West Bengal's Bolpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Today, I am seeing a different atmosphere here...I am here to seek your blessings. In 2014, you elected Modi not only to run the government or to show the power of PM post. You elected me to fulfill big goals."

Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP leader on Friday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Raebareli in Uttar Pradesh "after running away from Amethi". Shah predicted that he will lose the polls there against the BJP candidate by a huge margin.

He also said former AICC President Sonia Gandhi's multiple attempts to "launch" Rahul Gandhi had failed and claimed that this was the twenty-first attempt.

"Modi ji tried and at once Chandrayaan [mission to Moon] got launched. Sonia Gandhi has launched this 'yaan' named Rahul Baba [Rahul Gandhi] twenty times, but her launching has not been successful. Today for the twenty-first time, running away from Amethi, he has filed nomination from Raebareli," news agency PTI quoted Amit Shah as saying.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday invoked his earlier statement that Rahul Gandhi might have to seek another seat to contest after the casting of votes in Kerala's Wayanad, adding that he bolted from the seat down South as he did in Amethi in 2019.

Addressing a rally in the Purba Bardhaman district on Friday, PM Modi said, "There's no need for an opinion poll or exit poll...I said this much earlier. I predicted on the floor of Parliament two months ago that their [Congress'] biggest leader [Sonia Gandhi] would stand down from contesting these elections. And just as I had foreseen, she [resigned as the Raebareli MP and] took a seat in the Rajya Sabha from Jaipur."

"I also told you earlier that the Shehzaada would start looking for another safe seat for himself, fearing defeat in Wayanad. He was so afraid after losing Amethi in 2019 that he bolted all the way down South, to Wayanad. Now, he has escaped to Raebareli. READ MORE

Congress leader KL Sharma filed his nomination from Amethi Lok Sabha seat on Friday at the collectorate, accompanied by local Congress leaders.

Earlier before the nomination, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot reached the local Congress office and urged the workers and public to vote for Sharma.

While addressing the workers, Priyanka Gandhi assured that she was always with Amethi and will remain so in future. She said she will return on May 6, and will campaign in Amethi and Rae Bareli and help win Kishori Lal Sharma, who has served Amethi for 40 years, by a huge margin.

Ending all the suspense and speculations, Congress on Friday finally announced the Amethi and Raebareli nominees for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. From Amethi, a longtime aide of the Gandhi family, Kishori Lal Sharma has been fielded while the Raebareli lok sabha seat went to Rahul Gandhi. Both of them have already filed nominations today.

A longtime close aide of the Gandhi family, Kishori Lal Sharma originally hails from Punjab's Ludhiana. Back in 1987, he stepped into Raebareli and Amethi along with Rajiv Gandhi. In the absence of Gandhis, Sharma was bestowed with the responsibility of the two key constituencies. READ MORE

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to come prepared for a hearing on the interim bail plea of jailed Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, May 7. The Supreme Court said it may consider hearing Arvind Kejriwal's interim bail plea on account of polls in Delhi if arguments in main case are going to take time. READ FULL STORY

Addressing an election rally in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said in his state, "if anyone is unwell and sends a letter asking for treatment, the money is transferred directly to his Jan Dhan account opened by PM Modi"

"Fifty crore bank accounts have been opened through the Jan Dhan scheme... The commission system that worked under Congress and SP governments has stopped now...," Adityanath said.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee on Friday strongly criticised Governor CV Ananda Bose for his alleged misconduct towards a woman employee of Raj Bhavan, which came to light yesterday evening.

Addressing an election rally in Purba Bardhaman, Banerjee expressed astonishment at the governor's behaviour towards the woman who had gone to Raj Bhavan looking for a job.

"Yesterday, a young woman who worked at Raj Bhavan came out and spoke against the governor's harassment...the tears of the woman broke my heart. I have seen her video testimony, she said.

Mamata Banerjee questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Raj Bhavan last night, remained silent on the issue.

(via PTI)

Addressing a rally in Aonla Lok Sabha constituency, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said respect for India has increased on the global level, borders are secured, terrorism and naxalism is over since 2014.

"Before 2014, India had no respect on the global level, the borders of the nation were not secured, terrorist activities were on the rise... development work was halted due to the corruption, women and businessman were unsafe... After 2014, respect for India has increased on the global level, borders are secured, terrorism and naxalism are over... This is the New India... 'Naya Bharat chhedta nahi hai. Lekin koi Chhedta hai to Chhodta bhi nahi hai'...," Yogi Adityanath said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a roadshow in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on May 13 and file nomination the day after, as per an indiatoday.in report.

Varanasi will go to polls on June 1, the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

In Jharkhand's Singhbhum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the public "what face do the Congress and JMM leaders" come to them with.

"They are so shameless that even after getting caught in scams and corruption, they do not care about it. Why do you think they are so eager to make a government? Do you think it's for your good? They want to make a government in Delhi because they want to unleash unrestrained loot in the country," PM Modi said.

"Before 2014, they did nothing but loot the country... In their government, adivasis are killed in broad daylight. They want to maintain terror of criminals among the adivasis," PM Modi added

During a public rally in Maharashtra's Sangli, Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah asked Uddhav Thackeray a question, calling him the "Chief of fake Shiv Sena".

"You should make it clear in front of the people of Maharashtra, should CAA be implemented or not? should PFI be banned or not? Construction of Ram temple was good thing or bad thing? Removal of triple talaq was a good thing or not?" Amit Shah said.

"Uddhav ji won't answer this because he is scared of his new vote bank...The vote bank of Sharad Pawar and Congress has now become his vote bank...," he said.

Addressing an election rally in UP's Fatehpur Sikri, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told the public that the BJP does not want them to be independent.

"Had they wanted to do good for you, would they have implemented the Agnipath scheme? Would they have let these 30 lakh posts lie vacant in 10 years? They have been busy touring the world... If someone gets too much of governance, they tend to become arrogant...," Priyanka Gandhi said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who filed his nomination from the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat on Friday, declared assets of over Rs 20 crore in his papers. Rahul Gandhi has declared movable assets to the tune of Rs 9,24,59,264, including shares worth Rs 3,81,33,572, a bank balance of Rs 26,25,157 and gold bonds of Rs 15,21,740.

The former Congress president has declared immovable assets with a current market price of Rs 11,15,02,598. These include self-acquired immovable assets currently worth Rs 9,04,89,000 and Rs 2,10,13,598 worth of inherited assets.

Rahul Gandhi has claimed that he has Rs 55,000 cash in hand and a liability of Rs 49,79,184.

His annual income in the last financial year (2022-23) was Rs 1,02,78,680, as per the nomination papers.

(Via PTI)

Actress Rupali Ganguly, famous for her role in popular Hindi daily Anupamaa and new BJP entrant, said, "I want to appeal to the people to come out and vote. I don't need to tell them about the BJP candidate because his work speaks volumes... I want to see Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister for the well-being of my child and my family..."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was on Friday named party's Rae Bareli seat candidate for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 and said it was an "Emotional moment" for him.

"Nomination from Raebareli was an emotional moment for me! My mother has entrusted me with the responsibility of the family's workplace with great confidence and given me the opportunity to serve it," Rahul Gandhi said.

"Amethi and Rae Bareli are not different for me, both are my family and I am happy that Kishori Lal ji, who has been serving the area for 40 years, will represent the party from Amethi," he said.

"In the ongoing fight for justice against injustice, I seek the love and blessings of my loved ones. I am confident that all of you stand with me in this fight to save the Constitution and democracy," Rahul Gandhi added.

Addressing an election rally in Maharashtra's Pune on Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi if he will scrap the 50 per cent limit on reservation.

Here's What Else Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi Said At Pune Rally

• "If the Constitution is changed, India will be unrecognisable"

• "Maharashtra is a 'Congress state' in terms of ideology"

• "Congress party's 'Nyay' guarantees will revolutionalise how politics is conducted"

Actor and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Deepak Adhikari, popularly known by his screen name 'Dev, had a narrow escape on Friday as his helicopter caught fire soon after taking off from a helipad in state's Malda, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.

Dev, TMC's Ghatal MP was unharmed in the incident and later travelled by road to reach his subsequent destination in Raninagar for another election rally, police said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee dialled Dev and enquired about the situation.

Dev said the turbulence, smoke and smell had a "psychological effect" on him.

Addressing an election rally Maharashtra's Pune on Friday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called his party's proposed caste census a "revolutionary step".

"...We have clearly written in our manifesto - when our government comes to power, we will have a caste census, an economic survey and a survey of all organisations. We will find out how many people in press-media, corporate world, private hospitals, colleges and universities are from backward classes, SC and ST. This will bring out the truth. Public will get to know of their participation. This is a revolutionary step," Rahul Gandhi said.

"The day caste census takes place, people of the country will get to know the reality of India," he said.

The Delhi Police on Friday arrested a Congress member for allegedly uploading and circulating a fake video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, an official said here.

Arun Reddy handles the 'Spirit of Congress' account on 'X', the official said.

The Delhi Police Special Cell earlier registered an FIR after the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), filed a complaint about the doctored video of Shah where his statements indicating a commitment to abolish quota for Muslims on religious grounds in Telangana were changed to make it seem that he was advocating scrapping of all reservations.

(via PTI)

On PM Modi's jibe over Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Rae Bareli and not Amethi, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Prime Minisyer indulges in "pretty talks and attacks by abandoning his dignity".

"He indulges in petty talks and attacks by abandoning his dignity - there is no meaning in replying to them. Who is scared? Didn't (LK) Advani file nomination from two seats? Didn't (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee do it? He himself did it. Chhoti baatein karke wo chhota ban'na chahte hain," Kharge said.

A meeting of AAP and the Congress' coordination committee was held on Friday to discuss the alliance's strategy in Delhi for the Lok Sabha elections.

Polling for Delhi's seven seats will be held in the sixth phase on May 25.

Devender Yadav, the interim chief of the Congress' Delhi unit, said the meeting was held for improved coordination between the two parties' workers.

"Today, we held a meeting in order to improve coordination between the workers of both parties. We took some important decisions. Seven coordinators have been elected," he said.

The meeting was attended by Yadav, along with senior leaders Subhash Chopra and Anil Bhardwaj from the Congress. AAP MLAs Durgesh Pathak, Dilip Pandey and others attended the meeting.

On Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Rae Bareli, former CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy said, "...he may lose the election in Wayanad. For that reason only, I think he contested from there also..."

Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said that Mallikarjun Kharge will have to embark on a "Congress Dhundo (Search for Congress) Yatra" after the results of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections are declared. Amit Shah's vieled jibe was in reference to the Rahul Gandhi-led march 'Bharat Jodo Yatra'.

Speaking at a campaign rally at Mapusa in North Goa constituency, Shah assured that the mining industry in Goa will start functioning in a full-fledged way in the next two years.

Congress undertook `Bharat Jodo Yatra' before the elections, the BJP leader said, adding, "they did not come to Goa because Kharge ji does not give importance to the small states."

"He says that BJP is forming governments in these small states....however small the state may be, it is the heart of the country and Goa is like the `bindi' on the forehead of Mother India," the Union minister said.