The campaigning for fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections came to an end on Saturday.
Lok Sabha Election Updates: PM Modi held the first-ever roadshow by an Indian prime minister in Bihar's Patna and he was accompanied by CM Nitish Kumar and BJP's Patna Sahib candidate Ravi Shankar Prasad. During an election campaign on Sunday Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who was released from Tihar Jail on May 9 on interim bail, promised 10 poll guarantees for the citizens and also stated that if they bring the opposition INDIA bloc to power, he would not have to go back to jail. As the night rolls over India will be participating in the fourth phase of the 18th Lok Sabha elections. Assembly elections will also take place in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
The campaigning for fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections came to an end on Saturday.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has termed Narendra Modi “a weak, coward and an unfit” prime minister.
She has reportedly said he (Modi) was not even able to explain to the people the work done by his government in the last 10 years and what was in BJP’s election manifesto.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold four rallies in West Bengal on Sunday.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday said, "This is not a small election. This is a very important election which will decide the direction of the nation... Under PM Modi's leadership, the country has made a new way in the world... The Congress ruled the country for 55-60 years. The people faced problems and the Congress failed to solve them..."
In her reaction on Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's remark on the Pulwama attack, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Amethi Smriti Irani has said,"Only a Congress leader can question the valour of the Army. What can you expect from Congress, which can give a ticket to such a person who dreams of disintegrating India. We cannot expect to hear about the tale of India's bravery from them. The Telangana CM should worry about his chair. He is just an ATM for the Gandhi family. The Gandhi family will soon make a new ATM in Telangana."
Earlier, Reddy accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to reap "political benefits" from the Pulwama terror incident after the Indian Air Force carried out air strikes at terror camps in Pakistan.
In his reaction on Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s ‘India should give respect to Pakistan as it possesses an atom bomb’ remark, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has said, “This is Congress’ thinking. That party has an anti-national mindset. Sometimes, Mani Shankar Aiyar and Sam Pitroda blurt it out, but this is what the party actually thinks.”
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a 'dangerous mission' of 'one nation one leader' that includes jailing opposition members and sidelining veterans in his own party."
He added Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath was next in line.
AAP on Sunday organised 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se' cyclathon in Delhi. The event was organised by party's Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti.
Sikh community members on Saturday hold a bike rally in Delhi in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In his reaction on on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Rahul Gandhi stopped abusing 'Ambani-Adani' remark, former Rajasthan CM and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said,"The day PM Modi said this, Rahul Gandhi took the names of Ambani-Adani in his rallies. Rahul Gandhi's theme of elections is that 22 industrialists including Ambani-Adani have 70% of the nation's wealth. Our issue for elections is inflation and unemployment but the BJP is trying to divert the minds of the people of the country... If Rahul Gandhi had not been taking the names of Ambani-Adani, then what PM Modi said made sense, but Rahul Gandhi is continuously taking their names...Secondly, I want to say that CBI and ED should register a case against them (Ambani-Adani) and take a statement from PM Modi as he made such a big allegation that black money is sent through tempos.."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address public meetings in West Bengal and hold a roadshow in Bihar on Sunday.
He is scheduled to hold four public meetings in West Bengal including Barrackpur at 11:30 a.m., Hooghly at 1 p.m., Arambagh at 2:30 p.m., and Howrah at 4 p.m. From West Bengal, Modi will visit Bihar and hold a roadshow in Patna at 6:45 p.m.
Delhi Minister Gopal Rai on Sunday said, "AAP is regularly campaigning against the BJP's dictatorship in different ways in Delhi. First we did a walkathon, now we are doing cyclathon. We are taking the message to people about the importance to end the BJP's rule."
Earlier, AAP's Chhatra Yuva Sagharsh Samiti conducted a cyclathon in Delhi pressing 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se'on Sunday morning.
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Sunday said, "The youth has taken out a bike rally to show support of the Sikh community for PM Narendra Modi. He has made untiring efforts to strengthen our community, be it taking action against the 1984 riots accused, making the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, celebrating Veer Bal Diwas to remember the sacrifice of the four sons of Guru Gobind Singh, or rescuing the Sikh community from Afghanistan... Arvind Kejriwal has been frustrated ever since he came out of jail and that is why he has been lying. He was not in jail in 2014 or 2019..."
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will to hold a meeting with party MLAs followed by a press conference at 1 pm on Sunday.
In his reaction on Sandeshkhali episode, Congress leader Surendra Rajput on Sunday said,"The PM will have to apologise to the women of Sandeshkhali. Those women were insulted by BJP leaders for votes. It has now become clear that rapes did not happen, but they took signatures on paper for houses. Votes will keep on coming, but not the dignity of women."
On Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's statement, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Begusarai, Giriraj Singh on Sunday said, "Kejriwal is scared and has just come out on parole from jail...Arvind Kejriwal is the name of a person who doesn't stick to his words, when Ram Mandir was in dispute, he used to say that I won't go to the place that was built after demolishing a mosque, but then he became a Ram devotee, Hanuman devotee, but he is neither a Ram devotee nor a Hanuman devotee, he is a power devotee... Kejriwal should not become PM Modi's advisor, as long as the people of the country want PM Modi, he will give direction to the country, even after 2029, if the people of the country want, Narendra Modi will remain there."
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah has said, "India would take back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) if the BJP-led NDA returns to govt at the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi."
He added leaders like former Jammu and Kashmir CM Farooq Abdullah and Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar were talking about showing respect to Pakistan because it’s a nuclear power.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Patna, Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha on Saturday said, “PM Modi’s visit to Patna is an attack on the ones with corrupt and atrocious mindset. The people of Bihar are waiting to welcome PM Modi.”
Samajwadi Party leader and spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chaand on Sunday said, “We hope PM Modi will speak on issues like unemployment, inflation, and farmers. BJP is continuously talking about topics like Hindu-Muslim and 'Mandir-Masjid'. I hope when he visits Bengal and other states, he will tell people about his party's achievements.”
AAP MLAs arrive at residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday. Earlier, AAp chief Kejriwal had called a meeting with MLAs after being released from Tihar Jail.
Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva on Sunday said, "He is out on bail with very few days left. He knows he will be back in jail on June 2. His disappointment is evident... Unfortunately, Delhi has got a CM who cannot sign any papers, who cannot visit the Secretariat..."
In his reaction on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled roadshow in Patna, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary on Sunday said, "Common people of Patna will welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For the first time, a Prime Minister is going to do a roadshow in Patna. He is a 'Fakir'. He says he is a 'Fakir' today and will be a 'Fakir' in future as well."
Union Minister and BJP leader Kiren Rijiju on Sunday appealed people to vote for BJP. He was on a three day tour to Ladakh.
He said, "I am here in Ladakh region for 3-day tour. Many people joined BJP in Leh yesterday. First time a Union Minister has visited Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road. I am happy. Under the PM Modi's leadership, many development works related to roads, electricity and water have been done in border areas. It is all because of PM Modi. I hope everyone will support the candidate here. I appeal to everyone to unite and vote for BJP."
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah arrived in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Sunday.
He will inaugurate the BJP's media centre shortly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in West Bengal's Barrackpore on Sunday said, "We will get bigger success in this Lok Sabha polls than in 2019 in Bengal."
He also said, "I take your blessings. The BJP is going to get a bigger success than 2019. West Bengal is an important state for us. Congress ruled for 50 years, but people of Eastern India only got poverty despite the states being capable. These states have mineral resources, fertile land. These states have also tourism potential. I have decided to make these states an engine of growth for Viksit Bharat."
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said during a meeting with the party leaders at his residence said, “It’s a good feeling to meet you all after so long. I feel the order given by the Supreme Court day before yesterday wasn’t less than a miracle. I used to worry that if work in Delhi would stop or people would stop receiving medicines from the hospitals or any other issue related to electricity or water availability would come up then they (BJP) would get another chance… we would have lost the narrative in between the election. However, our party has been strengthened more after the arrest. Their (BJP) plan has failed to break our party.”
Addressing a public rally in West Bengal's Barrackpore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said, "Today I am giving 5 guarantees to Bengal. Till the time I am here, reservation will not be provided based on religion. Till the time I am here, no one can finish SC, ST, and OBC reservation. Till the time I am here, no one can stop you from worshipping Lord Ram and celebrating Ram Navami. Till the time I am here, no one can overturn the Supreme Court's judgement on the Ram Temple. Till the time I am here, no one will be able to abolish CAA..."
Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi on Sunday said, "Today, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal held a meeting with MLAs. All the MLAs expressed their happiness on his release. BJP's attempt to break AAP has completely failed. After Arvind Kejriwal's arrest, AAP has become stronger and has emerged as a family. AAP has fought this dictatorship together, and after Arvind Kejriwal's release, we will defeat this dictatorship."
Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Sunday campaigned for BJP candidate from New Delhi Bansuri Swaraj in Bapu Dham.
In his reaction on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Patna, RJD leader Manoj Jha on Sunday said, "I've not seen any excitement. People are asking about 2 cr jobs, special status to Bihar, no talks on basic issues, no Central University status to Patna University. I am saying that for the first time a Prime Minister had to come on road."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah while addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi on Sunday said, “By witnessing this huge crowd, I can say that the public has decided to make BJP win from Kaushambi. The people of Kaushambi will have to do three hat tricks- first to make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister for the third time, second- to not vote for Samajwadi Party and BSP, and third to make Sonkar (Vinod Kumar Sonkar) MLA from Kaushambi.”
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced to provide up to 200 units of free electricity to all the poor in the country if INDIA-bloc is voted to power.
He said, "Out of the 10 guarantees, the first guarantee is that we will provide 24-hour electricity in the country. The country has the capacity to generate 3 lakh MW of electricity but the usage is only 2 lakh MW. Our country can produce electricity more than the demand. We have done it in Delhi and Punjab, we will do it in the country also. We will provide up to 200 units of free electricity to all the poor. It will cost Rs 1.25 lakh crore, we can arrange it..."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in West Bengal's Hooghly on Sunday said, "Amid BJP's efforts of development, TMC is busy in its 'own work'. What is the work of TMC and its leaders? 'Yaha mafia raj chal rha hai. Modi kahta hai har ghar jal, TMC kahti hai, har ghar bomb'..."
Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said"...Today, the condition of our government hospital is not good in our country. Our third guarantee is better healthcare. We will arrange good treatment for everyone. Mohalla clinics will be opened in every village, every locality. District hospital will be converted into a Multispeciality Hospital. Every person born in this country will get free treatment. Treatment will not be done on the basis of insurance as this is a big scam. We will create infrastructure. Rs 5 lakh crore rupees will be spent on healthcare..."
Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Sunday said, "They (Congress and opposition) are scared of their vote bank. BJP is not scared of anyone... Not only Ram Mandir, PM Modi have also built the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, which was destroyed by Mughal Emporer Aurangzeb... PM Modi has revived all our 'Shraddha Kendra'... If the INDI alliance wins, then who will be their PM candidate... One of their leaders said that our leaders will become PM turn by turn..."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a roadshow in West Bengal's Barrackpore.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a rally in West Bengal's Hooghly on Sunday said,"...Who are the heir of PM Modi? It's you, the countryman, you are my family. I have nothing except you people in this world. Just like a guardian of the family who wants to leave something for the children, I also want to give a 'Viksit Bharat' in the hands of children of this family. On the other side, TMC and other parties are looting the people of the country and building bungalows and mansions for their heirs. 'agar wo apne waaris ke liye bana rahe hain to mai bhi to mere waaris ke liye bana raha hoon'."
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said "...Our fourth guarantee is 'Nation first'. China has occupied our land but our central govt is denying it...There is a lot of strength in our army. All the land of the country which has been occupied by China will be freed. For this, efforts will be made at the diplomatic level on one side and the Army will be given complete freedom to take whatever steps it wants to take regarding this...A scheme like Agniveer is harmful for the army and the youth are also troubled by it. The Agniveer scheme will be withdrawn..."
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says "...Our sixth guarantee is for farmers. You can give a life of dignity to the farmers, if you are paying them full prices for their crops. Based on Swaminathan report, farmers will be provided full prices for their crops based on MSP. Our 7th guarantee is that Delhi will be given statehood which has been the right of the people of Delhi for many decades. Our 8th guarantee is unemployment. Our 9th guarantee is to end corruption. BJP's washing machine is the biggest cause of corruption in this country. Our 10th and last guarantee for businessmen...GST will be simplified..."
Addressing a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Sunday said, "Priyanka Gandhi in her speech said that I am here to seek votes from my family. I want to ask her 5 questions today -after winning, how many times did Sonia Gandhi and her family come to see you?... 'Shehzada' is asking for votes here, you all have been voting for them all these years but did you get something from the MP's fund? But she has spent all the funds. If you didn't get it, where it has gone? It has gone to their 'vote bank' and you people are not her vote bank. Sonia Gandhi has spent more than 70% of funds on minorities."
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
PM Modi while addressing an election rally at Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district, slammed the "vote bank" politics of the Trinamool Congress and alleged that the party's goons are threatening the tormented women of Sandeshkhali, where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders have surfaced, to protect the culprits.
“All of us have seen what the TMC has done with the sisters and mothers of Sandeshkhali. The TMC goons are now threatening the women in Sandeshkhali as the name of the main culprit is Shajahan Sheikh. TMC is doing everything to protect the culprits of Sandeshkhali,” he said.
Claiming that PM Narendra Modi was continuing to "peddle lies" about Sandeshkhali, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday questioned why he was maintaining a stoic silence on the allegations of molestation against Governor CV Ananda Bose and not asking him to resign.
Addressing an election rally in North 24 Parganas' Amdanga, which is a part of the Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency, Banerjee said the PM should be ashamed that "BJP's conspiracy" about Sandeshkhali has become public.
People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti has accused the administration of detaining and harassing their party workers ahead of voting day to sabotage their prospects.
Mufti said: "They keep on detaining our workers. They have created an atmosphere of fear. The treatment is like what it is against Imran Khan's party in Pakistan. Raids are happening. Police say that they are acting on order. We have written to ECI. We need to unite. If this was to happen, then why election? They (BJP) are targeting PDP."
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In an effort to bolster voter turnout, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Sunday organised a bicycle rally in collaboration with the New Delhi District Election Office and Khan Market Traders Association.
The event, held at Khan Market, was attended by over 500 people, including the NDMC chairman Amit Yadav, senior officers and staff from various departments and traders from the market.
Yadav said the rally has been organised to raise awareness about the importance of voting rights among people. He urged all the eligible voters to cast their ballots on May 25, when the Lok Sabha elections will be held in the national capital.
-PTI
In the first parliamentary polls since the abrogation of Article 370, nearly 17.48 lakh people in Kashmir's Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency will on Monday decide the fate of 24 candidates trying their luck in the seat.
While the BJP may not be contesting any of the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir, the party is confident that the elections in the Valley will end the domination of the National Conference and People's Democratic Party in the region.
Supported by the India bloc, the National Conference has fielded influential Shia leader and former minister Aga Ruhullah Mehdi while the PDP has named its youth unit president Waheed Para as the candidate.
Even though the Srinagar seat is expected to witness a virtually head-on contest between Mehdi and Para, Apni Party's Mohammad Ashraf Mir and DPAP's Amir Ahmad Bhat are also in the fray along with 20 others, including two women.
-PTI
Attempting to take on the BJP are several parties, a couple of which have united under a bloc they have named 'INDIA' - The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.
'INDIA' bloc is a multi-party political alliance of 41 parties, led by India's largest opposition party the Indian National Congress.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a blistering attack on senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, accusing her of "spending more than 70 per cent of her MP funds on minorities" and the Gandhi family of being experts in lying.
"The 'shahzada' (Rahul Gandhi) has come here to seek votes. You have been voting for many years. Have you received anything from the MP fund? If you have not received it, then where did it go? It went to their vote bank. Sonia Gandhi has spent more than 70 per cent of the MP funds on minorities," Shah claimed.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the DNA of Congress, Samajwadi Party, INDIA bloc are similar to Pakistan where people are starving and there is lack of development.
"The poor used to die of hunger during the time of SP-Congress. And now people are starving to death in Pakistan, whereas 80 crore are getting free ration in India," he said during a public meeting at Gandhi Degree College in Sidhauli in the Sitapur Lok Sabha constituency.
"The DNA of Congress, SP, INDI alliance and Pakistan seem to be similar," he added.
-PTI
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow in Delhi on Sunday said if people choose Aam Aadmi Party on May 25, he won't have to go back to jail.
Accompanied by his Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal held a roadshow in Moti Nagar in support of party's New Delhi Lok Sabha candidate Somnath Bharti.
"I have to go back to jail after 20 days. If you choose jhadu (AAP's symbol), I won't have to go back to jail," the chief minister said. The AAP national convenor is out on interim bail till June 1. He has to surrender on June 2.
-PTI
PM Modi holds a roadshow in Bihar's Patna along with CM Nitish Kumar to support Patna Sahib constituency BJP candidate and senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has reached Anand Ashram in Maharashtra's Thane earlier today and laid a wreath on Dharmaveer Anand Dighe's statue.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Mukesh Kumar Meena on Sunday said 1.6 lakh new Electronic Voting Machines will be used in 46,389 polling stations for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state on May 13. Besides these, another 20 per cent more EVMs have been kept ready, he said.
In a release, Meena said, "Initially, it was estimated that 1.45 lakh EVMs would be sufficient for 46,165 polling stations. However, the addition of 224 auxiliary polling stations necessitated the procurement of another 15,000 EVMs."
He also noted that the Election Commission is striving to increase the polling percentage in the southern state to 83 per cent, compared to the 79.83 percentage registered during the 2019 polls.
-PTI
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said the DNA of Congress, Samajwadi Party and other allies of the INDIA bloc are similar to Pakistan where people are starving and there is lack of development.
Addressing a rally at Gandhi Degree College, Sidhauli in Sitapur, Adityanath said, "The poor used to die of hunger during the time of SP-Congress. And now people are starving to death in Pakistan, whereas 80 crore are getting free ration in India."
Sharpening his attack on the opposition, Adityanath said, "Congress had opportunity for 60-65 years to work for the development of India, but it did not. There was lack of medical facilities during the UPA government. They used to play with people's faith, allowed the poor to die of hunger and drove farmers to suicide."
MNS chief Raj Thackeray addressed a public gathering in Thane, Maharashtra after laying a wreath on Dharmaveer Anand Dighe's statue earlier this evening.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to take part in a bike rally in Odisha's Bolangir on May 15, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to lead a roadshow in Puri on May 20.
Congress candidate for Bolangir assembly segment Samarendra Mishra said Gandhi will participate in the bike rally on May 15 and also address a public meeting.
On the other side, state BJP vice-president Golak Mohapatra said that apart from leading the roadshow in Puri, Modi will address public meetings in Cuttack and Angul during his visit.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address rallies at Rourkela, Sorada and Kantabanji on May 15, he said.
-PTI
The BJP-led government at the Centre has a roadmap to meet the "aspirations and expectations" of the people of Ladakh, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Sunday.
He also sought support of the electorate for BJP candidate Tashi Gyalson for continuation of dialogue to address issues such as grant of Sixth Schedule to the region.
Rijiju was speaking to reporters in Zanskar after addressing an election rally. He also held separate meetings with local groups, including religious leaders.
He became the first Union minister to drive on the Nimmu-Padum-Darch Road and could be seen in a viral video pushing his vehicle along with others after it briefly got stuck due to a technical snag.
"I have come here with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee that all your demands will be met in the next five years. We have prepared a roadmap and we are promise-bound to fulfil all your demands. This is my message to the people of Ladakh," the Union minister said.