Elections 2024: Congress Candidate List To Be Out On Friday, Rahul Likely To Get Wayanad

The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 or General Elections to elect members of the 18th Lok Sabha in India are expected to take place in April and May, however, the schedule for the same is yet to be announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The ruling BJP-led NDA alliance is pitched against the newly formed opposition bloc of INDIA alliance.

With curiosity increasing over the dates for the Lok Sabha elections due this year, sources indicate that the ECI top brass is heading to states for final checks and is likely to announce the poll schedule after the first week of March.

In the 2019 General Elections, the BJP-led NDA emerged victorious, securing 353 out of 543 seats. The Indian National Congress (INC) saw a marginal increase in seats but fell short of claiming the leader of the opposition status.

The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 are due this year and political developments are already taking place back-to-back in the run up to the same, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government targeting a 400-mark this time and the Opposition bloc 'INDIA' hoping to stay together to take on the saffron party.

With curiousity increasing over the dates for the Lok Sabha elections due this year, sources indicate that the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) top brass is heading to states for final checks and is likely to announce the poll schedule after March 9.

The entire country has been divided into 543 Parliamentary Constituencies, each one of which elects one member. The members of the Lok Sabha are elected directly by the eligible voters during the Lok Sabha elections which take place every five years. The President of India can nominate a maximum of two members as representatives of the Anglo-Indian community. Some seats are reserved in Lok Sabha for the members of the Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Full List Of State-Wise Lok Sabha Seats Here

As per information in multiple reports, the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) is expected announce the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 after the first week of March.

In 2019, the Lok Sabha election schedule was announced on March 10. Polling was done in seven phases between April 11 and May 19 while the counting of votes took place on May 23.

The BJP on Saturday released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha election in 2024. The list includes 34 ministers who will be contesting for seats in the parliamentary polls.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to run from Varanasi, Smriti Irani will also be contesting again from Amethi. Additionally, Bansuri, the daughter of the late Sushma Swaraj, will be making her debut in electoral politics.

Click HERE for full list of BJP candidates for Lok Sabha Elections 2024

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on February 27 announced the names of candidates some seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024. Kuldeep Kumar will contest from East Delhi, Somnath Bharti has been fielded from the New Delhi constituency.

Click HERE For Full List Of AAP Candidates For Lok Sabha Polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today is making his first visit to Kashmir after his government abrogated the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special rights to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil multiple development projects and address a public meeting in Srinagar today.

The BJP-led Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

According to an official statement, Modi will attend the "Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir" programme at Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium and inaugurate initiatives worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore for boosting the agri-economy in the Union Territory.

Massive security arrangements have been put in place to ensure that Prime Minister's Narendra Modi's visit Srinagar visit takes place smoothly. Stringent security arrangements have been put in place to ensure an incident-free visit as Bakshi Stadium, the venue of the prime minister's rally, has been draped in tricolour, officials said.

Security personnel have been deployed in large numbers all along the routes to be taken by PM Modi during his stay in Srinagar, while barricades have been established at many places to prevent movement of the people during his visit, officials said.

Drones and CCTV cameras are being used for surveillance while foot patrolling by the security forces has been intensified in a two-kilometre radius around the venue.

Marine commandos have been deployed in Jhelum river and Dal Lake to prevent the use of these water bodies for any subversive activities, the officials said.

Prime Minister took to microblogging platform X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday and wrote that he will be in Srinagar on March 7 to take part in the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir’ programme.

"Various development works will also be dedicated to the nation. Notable among them are works worth over Rs. 5000 crore relating to boosting the agro-economy. Various works linked with tourism will also be dedicated to the nation," PM Modi said in his post.

Tamil Nadu Congress President K Selvaperunthagai on Wednesday denied that seat-sharing talks with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) were "dragging on", and expressed confidence that Chief Minister MK Stalin would allot them the desired number of seats for the upcoming Parliament elections.

Selvaperunthagai described Stalin as the "conscience" of the INDIA bloc and the "soul and conscience of the people of Tamil Nadu".

"Talks are not dragging; they are going on smoothly. Tamil Nadu CM is the soul and conscience of the people of TN and he is also the conscience of the INDIA alliance...an amicable decision will be arrived at (regarding seat-sharing)," news agency PTI quoted Selvaperunthagai as saying.

Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Tapas Roy, who had quit West Bengal's ruling party two days ago, joined the BJP on Wednesday. Tapas Roy had resigned as TMC MLA on Monday, citing "disillusionment" with the party leadership.

"I have joined the BJP today, as I want to fight against the misrule and atrocities of the TMC," Roy said, after being handed over the party flag from BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar and Suvendu Adhikari here.

The TMC, however, said Roy has abandoned his principles and ideologies in his quest for personal gains.

Residents of Tirumangalam Municipality, a town in Tamil Nadu's Madurai, say that they have decided to boycott the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections over Kappalur Toll Plaza.

The Residents, Traders Association and motorists allege that the toll plaza has been set up in violation of regulations.

Heavy security arrangements have been put in place in Jammu and Kashmir's in Srinagarfor PM Modi’s public meeting today. PM Modi is set to unveil multiple development projects worth more than Rs 6,400 crore in Srinagar.

Posters welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi put up in Srinagar ahead of his visit to Jammu and Kashmir today.

The Congress will promise the youths "right to employment" as part of its poll manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and is mulling stringent punishment for those responsible for paper leaks in examinations.

The Congress' manifesto committee on Wednesday handed over a copy of the draft manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Delhi.

The draft manifesto was reportedly finalised by the panel members after lengthy deliberations. The panel, headed by former Union minister P Chidambaram, handed over the draft to Kharge in the presence of committee members Shashi Tharoor, K Raju, Gurdeep Sappal and Imran Pratapgarhi.

In a post on X, Kharge said, "From Green Revolution and White Revolution to building PSUs, from telecom and IT revolution to liberalisation, from inclusive governance to rights-based paradigm -- the Indian National Congress has always been committed to the welfare and development of India."

Here's what all Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to do in his Srinagar visit today:

-PM Modi will dedicate to nation about Rs 5,000 crore worth programme for boosting agri-economy in Jammu & Kashmir.

-PM Modi will dedicate to nation and launch 52 tourism sector projects worth more than Rs 1,400 crore under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD Scheme.

-PM Modi will dedicate to nation the project for ‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine’ Srinagar.

-PM Modi will announce tourist destinations selected under Challenge Based Destination Development Scheme.

-PM Modi will launch ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice 2024’ and ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign’.

-PM Modi will distribute appointment orders to new Government recruits of J&K.

As the latest development right ahead of the high-octane Lok Sabha polls, Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) spearheaded by Naveen Patnaik has dropped hints at a possible handshake with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after fifteen long years since quitting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) . Speculations intensified on Wednesday as the leaders of the BJD held an extensive meeting at the official residence of the chief minister.

Read Full Report

NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule, in a reference to Ajit Pawar, said if one member of a large family takes a different stand, it does not mean there is a split within the family. Sule also noted that BJP leaders these days do not talk about alleged corruption of her party.

Sule, however, did not name Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who parted ways with his uncle and Sule's father Sharad Pawar last year to join the Shiv Sena-BJP government.

"Our family has around 120 to 125 members, including small kids, and in such a big family, if one person puts forth a different opinion, it does not signify a split," news agency PTI quoted Sule as saying.

The top leadership of the Congress met in Delhi on Thursday to finalise the party's candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections amid speculation that Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may contest from Uttar Pradesh

On Congress CEC meeting, Party's General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh said on Friday, "CEC will discuss all seats. Final decisions will be taken wherever possible...CEC is the highest body that deliberates on and finalises candidates."

People in huge numbers were seen heading towards Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir' programme.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation of projects worth around Rs 18,000 crore during his two-day tour of Assam beginning Friday.

Addressing a press meet in Guwahati, CM Sarma said that Modi will, for the first time, visit UNESCO heritage site Kaziranga National Park and undertake a safari.

PM Modi will arrive in Assam on Friday late afternoon and will spend the night at Kaziranga National Park, he added. "The next day, he will inaugurate the 125-foot tall statue of Ahom general Lachit Borphukan in Jorhat, following which he will address a public meeting," Sarma said.

From the venue of the public meeting, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation of various infrastructure development projects worth around Rs 18,000 crore, he added. After the function, he will leave for West Bengal, Sarma added.

Huge crowd has gathered at Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium to attend the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir' programme in which PM Modi will also participate.

PM Modi will dedicate to nation about Rs 5,000 crore worth schemes for boosting agri-economy in Jammu and Kashmir.

This is PM Modi's first visit to Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.

On Lok Sabha elections and his Parliamentary constituency Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said BJP has to be "taken seriously", adding that it will be a fair and "gentlemanly electoral contest".

"First, it is a three-cornered contest because the Communists have already named their candidate. Don't forget that I took the seat from the Communist Party and the gentleman who is the candidate now, was the sitting MP when I came into the fray. He did not contest again at that time and it has now been 15 years that he is out of the fray...BJP has come second in the last two Lok Sabha elections. So, they have to be taken seriously...," Tharoor told news agency ANI.

"I am hoping it will be a fair and gentlemanly electoral contest. I don't think that I have needed, in my 15 years in politics, to ever attack any of my critics. I welcome them all, I welcome the opponents. Let the public decide who they want to represent them in Delh," he added.

PM Modi has landed in Srinagar to launch multiple projects worth thousands of crores in his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Srinagar on his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since his government scrapped Article 370.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will shortly attend the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir' program at Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium to attend the 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir' programme.

PM Modi is in Srinagar on his first J&K visit since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Srinagar on Thursday and shared glimpses from there a short while after.

"Upon reaching Srinagar a short while ago, had the opportunity to see the majestic Shankaracharya Hill from a distance," PM Modi said in a post on X on Thursday.

"I had been hearing for days that PM is coming here. So, I thought of singing something for him and composing something for him. I am his fan. It took me one week to finish composing the song...I am very happy there he is here. I have a lot of hopes and expectations from him," he told news agency ANI.

"There are a lot of challenges in Kashmir - there are issues of unemployment, there are issues of hospitals in Anantnag and the youth is stuck in the drug menace. We hope that everything will be fine...If God is willing, I will be able to meet PM Modi...He is not just India's but the leader of the entire world," he said.

Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the development of J&K has been PM Modi's priority, adding that today the valley is "shining with pride"

"For the last 3 decades, the valley of Kashmir was bled to death by terrorism and injustice and today the flag of peace and development is flying high here under your leadership," PM Modi said.

Formet Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday. Abhijit Gangopadhyay had on Tuesday announced that he will be joining the BJP, hours after he resigned as a judge of the Calcutta High Court. Read Full Report Here

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched and dedicates to the nation 53 projects worth Rs 6,400 crores in Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has distributed appointment letters at Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium. He is in the valley for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019

Making an address at the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the feeling of coming to the heaven on earth is beyond words."

PM Modi said seeing the happy faces of the people of Jammu and Kashmir the 140 crore people of the country are feeling satisfied. "I have been told that 1 lakh people from 285 blocks have joined us virtually. I want to thank the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It is that new J&K for which we have been waiting for decades. It is that new J&K for which Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee sacrificed his life. This new J&K has a bright future and the courage to overcome challenges...Seeing your happy faces, 140 crore people across the country are feeling satisfied," PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making an address in Srinagar on Thursday, said Jammu & Kashmir is not just a region but is the "forehead" of the country.

"Today, I got the opportunity to inaugurate several development projects related to tourism... The power of development, tourism possibilities, empowerment of farmers, and the leadership of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. The path to building a developed Jammu and Kashmir will emerge from here. J&K is not just a region, it is the forehead of India. Viksit J&K is the priority of Viksit Bharat...," PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the people of Jammy and Kashmir on Thursday that he has come to "win hearts" and he is doing his hard work for the same, adding that he has been able to achieve that as well.

"Whenever I came here after 2014, I have always said that I am making all these efforts, to win your hearts and I am seeing that I have been able to win your hearts. I will keep trying hard. This is Modi's guarantee...," PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address in J&K's Srinagar, said that the success story of Jammu and Kashmir will be the center of attraction for the world in the future.

Lotus are seen everywhere in the lakes here, PM Modi said, adding that the logo of the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association formed 50 years ago, also has a lotus.

"Is it a coincidence or a sign of nature that the BJP's symbol is also a lotus and Jammu & Kashmir has a deep connection with the lotus..." PM Modi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in J&K's Srinagar on Thursday that the Congress and its allies "misled" the people of the Valley for decades in the name of Article 370.

The Narendra Modi-led government in 2019 abrogated the Article 370 of the Indian Constitutionand bifurcated the erstwhile state into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

"This freedom from restrictions has come after the removal of Article 370. For decades, for political gains, Congress and its allies misled the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the name of 370 and misled the country. Did J&K benefit from Article 370 or were only a few political families taking advantage of it? The people of J&K have come to know the truth that they were misled," PM Modi said.

"J&K was kept in chains for the benefit of a few families. Today there is no 370, hence the talent of the youth of J&K is being fully respected and they are getting new opportunities. Today there are equal rights and equal opportunities for everyone here," he said.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi also invoked the ongoing 'parivar' (Family) debate, saying that Jammu and Kashmir has been a huge victim of 'Parivarvad' (dynasty politics) and "corruption".

"J&K has been a huge victim of 'Parivarvad' and corruption. The previous governments here had left no stone unturned to destroy our J&K Bank, by filling the bank with their relatives and nephews, these 'Parivarvadis' have ruined the bank. Due to mismanagement, the bank had incurred so much loss that all of you were in danger of losing thousands of crores of rupees," PM Modi said.

PM Modi said that he has treated the people of J&K as his family and the same has been reciprocated by the people as well, adding that "main hoon Modi ka parivar [I am Modi's family] is in the hearts of Kashmiris.

PM Modi's statement was in reference with the massive 'Modi Ka Parivar' campaign launched by the BJP in response to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Yadav's recent comment on the Prime Minister not having a family.

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Making an address in Rajasthan's Banswara during his ', Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the party has provided legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP).

Rahul Gandhi's statement comes in the backdrop of the farmers' protest over their demand for a legal guarantee on MSP.

"In our manifesto, we have provided a legal guarantee for the MSP... Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs and the Minorty constitute approx 90% of India's population. But, if we see the institutions and the budget, these people have no participation. The President is an Adivasi, and when the Ram Temple was inaugurated, did you see her face on television? No, because she is an Adivasi," Rahul Gandhi said.

He added: "Message was conveyed to her that you may be the President but you won't be allowed to enter the Ram temple... No poor, unemployed, farmer, or labourer was there at the inauguration. There are two India, one is of 5% and one is of the rest."

A woman who attended PM Modi's 'Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir' programme in Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium on Thursday said she was a 'Lakhpati Didi' from the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission (JKRLM), adding that "PM Modi has done good work for women."

The 'Lakhpati Didi' programme of the Modi government aims to catalyze economic empowerment and financial independence among women in rural areas. A Lakhpati Didi is a Self-Help Group member who earns an annual household income of Rupees One Lakh (Rs 1,00,000).

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday led a rally in Kolkata for women's rights.

The rally, themed 'Mahila Der Adhikaar, Aamader Angikaar' (women's rights are our commitment), was organised by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) a day ahead of International Women's Day.

The rally was organised amid incidents in Sandeshkhali, where women have accused TMC leaders of sexually abusing them.

On not contesting Lok Sabha elections this time, senior BJP leader Uma Bharti said that if she does content the polls then the responsibility of her constituency and the work for river Ganga "cannot be done together".

"I want complete independence for two years to complete the works related to Ganga. There is no dispute with Ganga regarding caste, community, or political parties. The whole plan is ready, all the permissions have been received, only the speed has slowed down... PM Modi is also dedicated to Ganga," Uma Bharti said.

She said she will participate in the campaign if needed but won't contest the elections. "We want BJP to win more than 400 seats... Earlier, I had declared that I would stand in the elections but now nothing matters to me more than River Ganga," she said.

In J&K's Srinagar on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi clicked a selfie with Nazim, who he called his "friend".

Nazim is a beneficiary of the Viksit Bharat programme who interacted with PM Modi during his Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir event in Srinagar on Thursday.

"A memorable selfie with my friend Nazim. I was impressed by the good work he’s doing. At the public meeting he requested a selfie and was happy to meet him. My best wishes for his future endeavours," PM Modi wrote on X.

Padmaja Venugopal, a Congress leader and the daughter of the late Congress veteran and former Kerala Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi today.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, general secretary K C Venugopal, and other senior leaders were part of the Congress' Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting to decide the first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

As per media reports Rahul Gandhi is likely to contest from his seat Wayanad.

The discussion is expected to focus on finalizing candidates for various states including Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Telangana, Lakshadweep, Kerala, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim, and Manipur.