Lok Sabha Elections: PM Modi Says Congress Wants To Take Away Reservation And Give It Away To Muslims Based On Religion

The suspense on whether top Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would contest the UP's Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seats continued, with only two days left for the nomination process to end.

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 chatter that Congress was "scared" in fielding Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, party on Wednesday said, "There is no delay. Has the BJP not announced its candidates in Raebareli? Smriti Irani is a sitting MP. Nobody is scared, discussions are ongoing, the Congress president has been authorised."

The Election Commission on Wednesday barred Bharat Rashtra Samithi president and former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours for his "objectionable" remarks against the Congress.

The EC said his remarks at a press conference Sircilla on April 5 were violative of the provisions of the model code of conduct and its advisories. READ FULL STORY

Following Supreme Court directions in the EVM-VVPAT vote cross-verification matter, the Election Commission of India (ECI) designed a new protocol for handling and storage of symbol loading units

While rejecting pleas seeking complete EVM-VVPAT verification, SC on April 26 had ordered that the machines should be sealed and secured in a container and stored in a strongroom along with the EVMs at least for 45 days post the declaration of results.

In a statement on Wednesday, the apex poll body asserted all state chief electoral officers have been directed to create the necessary infrastructure and provisions to implement the new protocols for handling and storage of the symbol loading units (SLUs). READ FULL REPORT

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

Jharkhand Congress's X account was withheld on Wednesday by the microblogging site over an alleged 'deepfake morphed video' of Home Minister Amit Shah that was posted on the handle.

Jharkhand Congress president Rajesh Thakur was also summoned by Delhi Police on Wednesday in connection with its investigation into the doctored video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a party spokesperson said on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Delhi Police's Special Cell registered an FIR after the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which is 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 ground in Telangana were changed to make it seem that he was advocating scrapping of all reservations.

Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Wednesday asked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge not “lie” for the sake of the Gandhi family. He warned that eventually Mallikarjun Kharge would be “sacrificed” by the Gandhi family for the poll loss after results are declared on June 4.

Amit Shah hit out at the Congress chief following his attack on the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Kharge ji, you do not know that they do not care for anyone... As Congress suffers a defeat on June 4 (when results of the Lok Sabha elections will be announced), the brother-sister duo (referring to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) will remain safe, but the 80-year-old Kharge ji will be blamed," Shah said.

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

All Indian citizens of 18 years and above can register themselves to vote in the general elections. To register, one must download Form 6 from the National Voters' Service Portal or receive one from your local Booth Level Officer.  

Fill in details such as your Aadhar details, address, educational qualification and other details. Attach all proof needed and submit the form.  

All Voting FAQs Answered Here

The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday increased the polling time for the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana by an hour in view of heat wave conditions prevailing in the state.

The new timing would be 7 am to 6 pm against the earlier 7 am to 5 pm. Polling for all 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held on May 13 in the fourth round of the seven-phase elections.

While the extended time for voting will be applicable in all assembly segments of 12 Lok Sabha constituencies, in the remaining five parliamentary seats, the timing will apply in certain assembly segments, according to a notification issued by the commission.

Addressing an election rally in Telangana, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said PM Modi and RSS were building "walls of hatred in the name of temples and mosques".

"What did the people of this country get in ten years? The youth is unemployed...For how long will you allow PM Modi and RSS to build walls of hatred in the name of temples and mosques...PM Modi says there is a vote bank in this country...," Owaisi said.

"There has never been a Muslim vote bank in this country, nor will there be one. There is only one bank in this country from which PM Modi gave a loan of Rs 6000 crore to his friends...," he said.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Wednesday announced former CM Hemant Soren's sister, Anjani Soren, as the party candidate from Odisha's Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha constituency.

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/

Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's alleged "anti-TMC remark" gas sparked a fresh row. Addressing an election event in West Bengal on Tuesday, Adhir said that it was "better" to vote for the BJP than vote for the Trinamool Congress.

Stressing that this election is to decide the future of the nation, Chowdhury said, “It is necessary for Congress and the Left to win. If they don't, secularism will be at stake. Voting for TMC means voting for BJP, so it's better to vote for BJP only. Don't vote for BJP, don't vote for TMC,” Chowdhury said during a speech in Bengali. READ FULL STORY

Hours after Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh shared a stage with a BJP Lok Sabha candidate and praised him, the TMC on Wednesday removed him from the post of state general secretary for making statements not aligning with the party.

Declining to spell out his next move, Ghosh said he would like to "continue in the party in future."

The former Rajya Sabha member who has been seeking more prominence for next-generation leaders, said he had already expressed his desire to resign as party spokesperson and state general secretary in March.

The party then accepted his resignation as spokesperson but asked him to continue with the other post.

BRS president K Chandrashekar Rao, who has been barred by the Election Commission from campaigning for 48 hours, on Wednesday said that no action was taken against Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy though he made objectionable comments on him.

Rao, who addressed an election rally in the Mahabubabad Lok Sabha constituency, referred to the 48-hour ban on him and said that lakhs of BRS activists would work tirelessly for "about 96 hours".

Aasif Yeliwad, 42, was sipping tea at his usual corner a few feet from his home in the Anandnagar area of Hubballi, the second largest city in Karnataka, on a warm March evening in 2021 when he was arrested. A carpenter by profession, Yeliwad was later booked under the Unlawful Activities and Prevention Act for what was initially a case of rioting on April 16 that year. A police station was mobbed, pelted with stones and vehicles were torched that day. Yeliwad’s 18-year-old daughter, Noor Bano, claims her father is innocent. “He was not even there (at the Old Hubballi police station) at the time of the incident,” she states. Noor, who is pursuing a degree in medical science from a private institute, now weaves lanterns, earning Rs 50 a day after selling around four of them. READ FULL STORY

Sunita Kejriwal, wife of jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, left for Gujarat from the Chief Minister's residence in Delhi on Wednesday. Sunita Kejriwal will campaign for Aam Aadmi Party candidates in Gujarat's Bharuch and Bhavnagar today.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said the Narendra Modi government has betrayed Maharashtra, and he apologises to the people for seeking votes for the prime minister in earlier elections.

uDDHAV Thackeray and his Maha Vikas Aghadi ally and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar spoke at a rally at Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur district of western Maharashtra in support of Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from Hatkanangale constituency, Satyajit Patil.

Thackeray said when no one was willing to join hands with the BJP, the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with it. The saffron party, however, brought down the government of a man whose family had given it everything, he said, referring to the fall of his government in June 2022.

"I apologise for seeking votes for Modi (in the past) because his government has betrayed Maharashtra," the Sena (UBT) chief added.

(via PTI)

Addressing a gathering, BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya said on Wednesday that he "will ensure development works worth Rs 25 lakh on those polling booths where not a single vote will go to the Congress".

Vijayvargiya was addressing a public gathering in Madhya Pradesh's Indore.

Shyam Rangeela, a 29-year-old comedian shot to fame mimicking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will contest as an independent candidate against the PM from Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi.

Rangeela said he has decided to contest the election against PM Modi to ensure that “democracy lives on" and is not merely symbolic, according to a report by The Indian Express.

Rangeela also said that he will contest “wholeheartedly" and will visit Varanasi this weekend to file his nomination papers, the report added.

“Hum at least ye kehne ke liye wahan par khade hue honge ke hum yahan par loktantra khatre mein nahin aane denge, logon ko vote ke liye yahan option milega (We will be standing there to at least tell the people that we won’t let democracy come under threat here, to provide an option to people to exercise their right to vote)… unlike Surat or Indore," The Indian Express quoted Rangeela as saying.

The election commission held a 'Voters Awareness Programme' in Karnataka's Belagavi using hot air balloons.

The suspense on whether Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would contest the Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh is expected to end today, just one day before the nomination deadline. 

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh announced on Wednesday that a decision on the matter would be announced within the next 24-30 hours. 

The two seats are considered traditional strongholds of the Gandhi-Nehru family, with family members having represented them for several decades.

READ FULL REPORT

Repolling was underway at a polling booth in Ajmer Lok Sabha seat of Rajasthan on Thursday. The repolling was necessitated by a misplaced voters' register at a booth in Ajmer.

The Election Commission of India had declared polling held at this booth in the second phase on April 26 void after 17-A register (of voters) got misplaced by the presiding officer and announced repolling.

LJP National President and party candidate from Bihar's Hajipur, Chirag Paswan, offered prayers at his residence in Patna ahead of filing nomination for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

The Congress on Thursday said that the BJP government has made Gujarat a hub for drug traffickers from Pakistan and asked what is Prime Minister Narendra Modi doing to confront the rise of drug smuggling in the state.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to Prime Minister Modi ahead of his rallies in Gujarat.

"Who is the PM protecting in the rampant drug smuggling trade into Gujarat? Who is responsible for the lakhs of families affected by inaccurate land records? Why is Gujarat still suffering from water shortage after all these years of BJP rule?" Ramesh said in a post on X.

Hearing in a 2018 defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged objectionable remark targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah will now be held on May 14 as no judge was assigned to the MP-MLA court.

As per Rahul Gandhi's counsel Kashi Prasad Shukla, the hearing was scheduled for Thursday but could not be held as a judge was yet to be assigned to the court.

The MP-MLA court fixed May 14 as the next date of hearing in the matter, he added. The defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra six years ago.

A fresh controversy has erupted after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's, during a campaign rally in Chhattisgarh, compared 'Shiva' in a candidate's name to Lord Ram.

On Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s “Ram vs Shiva” remark during the poll rally in Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says, "Divide and rule has been the tendency of the Congress. The Congress is carrying forward the legacy of the British on every issue. They divided the society in the name of caste, region, and language..."

Multiple reports suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to drop its Kaiserganj sitting MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexual harassment by women wrestlers. BJP might field his son from the seat, as per sources cited in an indiatoday.in report.

The above-mentioned sources said the BJP leadership had a phone conversation with Brij Bhushan over the Kaiserganj seat and his son, Karan Bhushan Singh, may be given the Lok Sabha ticket.

PM Narendra Modi addressed a public rally in Gujarat's Anand on Thursday. Gujarat will vote in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 7.

Addressing the rally, PM Modi said he guarantees to "work 24x7 to make India a developed country by 2047".

"In 10 years, we gave tap water connections to 14 crore houses, while Cong gave it to just 3 crore houses in 60 years," said PM Modi in Gujarat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a public rally in Gujarat's Anand on Thursday. Gujarat will vote in the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 7.

Top Quotes From PM Modi's Speech

• "Some powers in the world want a weak government to be at the helm in India"

• Congress party is a 'mureed' (follower) of Pakistan"

• "Congress is dying here and Pakistanis are crying; Pak leaders want to make 'shehzada' of Congress India's prime minister"

• "In 10 years, we gave tap water connections to 14 crore houses, while Congress gave it to just 3 crore houses in 60 years"

Addressing a public rally in Gujarat's Anand on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi challenged the Congress "to give in writing that they will not change Constitution to give reservation on religious basis."

The reservation row has been going on for some time now with Prime Minister Narendra Modi having made repeated remarks on Congress's poll promises, alleging that the party will redistribute country's wealth if it is voted to power.

Quotes From PM Modi's Gujarat Speech

• "Congress wants to change India's Constitution to give reservation of SC, ST and OBC communities to Muslims"

• "I challenge Congress to give in writing that it won't give backdoor quota to Muslims in states where it and its allies are in power"

• "Some powers in the world want a weak government to be at the helm in India"

• We had heard about 'love jihad' and 'land jihad', but an INDI alliance leader has now called for 'vote jihad'
  

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over letter to NDA candidates, saying desperation leading him to use language not befitting of PM.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked the BJP-led NDA candidates in the Lok Sabha polls to spread awareness among voters about the Congress's intention to snatch "reservation from SC, ST and OBC communities and give it away to their vote bank".

In a personal letter written to them, PM Modi accused the Congress and its allies of having divisive and discriminatory motives, even though reservation on the basis of religion is unconstitutional.

Addressing a public rally in Gujarat's Anand on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Look at the coincidence, today Congress is getting weak in India. The funny thing is that here Congress is dying and there Pakistan is crying. Now Pakistani leaders are praying for Congress. Pakistan is eager to make the prince the Prime Minister and we already know that Congress is a fan of Pakistan. This partnership between Pakistan and Congress has now been completely exposed."

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah filed his nomination papers for the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmi on Thursday.

Accompanied by NC's treasurer Shammi Oberoi and senior vice president of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee G N Monga, Abdullah filed the nomination papers before Baramulla Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa, who is the returning officer of the constituency.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said when the elections are over, people will only remember Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the PM who indulged in "divisive and communal speeches filled with lies" to avoid an inevitable defeat.

Kharge, in a letter, urged the prime minister to seek votes on the performance of his government over the last ten years instead of indulging in "hate speeches".

The Congress president made the remarks in a letter to Prime Minister Modi in which he rebutted the attack and charges levelled against his party in the PM's letter to NDA candidates after the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls. READ MORE

Addressing an election rally in Gujarat's Surendranagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told the people, "When I was at your service in Gujarat, I always used to present the report card on how the government is functioning and what it is doing. That habit is still there, and today your son has come to Gujarat to give his report card of 10 years."

Addressing an election rally in Gujarat's Surendranagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said a grand temple of Lord Ram was built, but Congress and its supporters rejected invitation for its consecration.

Addressing a public rally in Bihar's Saran, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "...As Defence Minister of this nation, I want to say that India's border is fully safe. India can hit within and if required then across the border as well..."

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday launched a signature campaign against the arrest of party supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi. Two whiteboards were put up in Lajpat Nagar for people to write their messages for Kejriwal, who is currently lodged at Tihar Jail till May 7.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.

AAP Jangpura MLA Praveen Kumar said the signature campaign will be conducted in different parts of the city to show the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that people of Delhi love their chief minister, news agency PTI reported.

Addressing an election rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday slammed the BJP over the alleged Prajwal Revanna sex tapes row. Prajwal Revanna, a now-suspended leader of BJP-s Karnataka ally JD(S) has been in the eye of a storm over alleged leaked 'obscene videos' of him. He and his MLA father HD Revanna are accused by their former cook and relative of sexually harassing her. She alleged that Prajwal made video calls to her daughter and spoke in an objectionable manner, which forced her to block him.

Prajwal is seeking a re-election from Hassan from the JD(S).

"Not sex scandal, but mass rape," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday on sexual abuse charges against JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna.

Every BJP leader was aware Prajwal Revanna is a mass rapist, yet they supported him, formed alliance with JD(S), Rahul Gandhi added.

Addressing a public rally in UP's Etah, CM Yogi Adityanath said, "Think of the time when Rajiv Pal was killed during Samajwadi Party rule, and a mafia killed Umesh Pal. But now every one knows how mafia is ruined to the ground... The BJP is working for your interests. In these elections, you do not have to look at the caste or religion. You only have to look at PM Modi before voting..."

Addressing an election rally in Chhattisgarh's Korba, Priyanka Gandhi of the Congress launched a scathing attack on BJP and said its leaders do not talk about challenges people face in their lives.

BJP plans to make people dependent by giving five kg of ration, ask them to give jobs instead, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said.

A lookout notice has been issued for JD(S) Lok Sabha candidate Prajwal Revanna, who is accused of featuring in obscene videos and photographs, allegedly involving the sexual abuse of several women.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the case, issued the notice at all immigration points across the world after Prajwal, who is also an MP from Hasan constituency, allegedly fled to Frankfurt, Germany on April 26.

READ FULL STORY

It is 2 pm on April 4 in Kakkuni, Vadakara constituency. A large number of people have gathered under the blazing sun for a public meeting of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate K K Shailaja. The crowd, particularly women, surround the former health minist er expressing their love and affection, chanting slogans and listening attentively to her brief speech.

On the other side, the United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate and sitting MLA, Shafi Parambil, the youthful face of the Congress, receives an equally enthusiastic response during his roadshow. Around 5,000 women—Shailaja’s mass base—are on the streets to display their support to Parambil. A member of the legislative assembly representing Palakkad, Parambil was a surprise addition to the UDF’s line-up. In 2021, he won against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, ‘Metro man’ E Sreedharan, and emerged as one of the most promising young leaders in the Congress. READ FULL STORY

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday addressed a rally while campaigning for party's Budaun Lok Sabha candidate Aditya Yadav.

Addressing a rally in Gujarat's Junagadh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said, "There is just one sentiment in my heart - My India, My family. With this sentiment, I have made several resolutions...24/7 for 2047."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said, "Election of 2024 is not for Modi's ambition but for Modi's mission."

Addressing a rally in Gujarat's Junagadh, he said, "These elections are not ordinary. In India, a strong and stable government is important, not just for the country but also for the world. These elections are not for my ambition as my ambition was achieved in 2014. The 2024 elections are for Modi's mission."

Addressing a rally in Gujarat's Junagadh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said, "Congress says that they will reinstate Article 370 - the one that I scrapped in J&K. Those who are dancing today with Constitution on their heads, had ruled the country from Panchayat to Parliament. They had their governments in Kashmir too. But they could never implement country's Constitution everywhere. Before Modi came to power, the country had two Constitutions - the country functioned through one, Kashmir functioned through the other. Was this not an insult to Babasaheb Ambedkar? An insult to the Constitution?...Had Sardar Patel been there, the Constitution of the country would have been implemented in J&K too. The son of this soil - this sevak - completed what was left incomplete. 370 gayi, 370 ko zameen mein gaad chuka hoon. I warn the 'shahi parivar' and 'shahzada' of Congress - step before the country and say that you will reinstate Article 370. Let me see your guts to insult Babasaheb Ambedkar."

In her reaction on Prajwal Revanna alleged sexual abuse case, BJP leader Malavika Avinash on Thursday said, "What is deeply concerning is the dignity of women who were exposed in these videos."

Addressing a rally in Gujarat's Junagadh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said, "The second agenda of Congress is CAA. Those who live in our neighbouring countries, those who have just one fault - that they follow Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism. So, atrocities are unleashed on them there. They are pushed out of there. They have just one refuge - Maa Bharati ki godh. Where will they go? I formed Citizenship Act for them, but they (Congress) say that they will scrap that too. I challenge Congress - you will neither be able to reinstate Article 370 nor scrap CAA."

Addressing a rally in Gujarat's Junagadh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said, "There used to be cross-border firing but our soldiers had to wait for Delhi (order) for retaliatory firing. Soldiers used to lose their lives in action but Delhi didn't give permission for action. Congress used to look at Pakistani opportunists, decisions for the country were made on the basis of their signal. That ecosystem is looking for opportunities today- that the Congress come to power and there be joy in their life once again. But will the country let such a day come again?...You can see their restlessness on social media. They are using all their strength to spread fake propaganda. Their own faces are not working, so they are using Modi's face to spread lies through Artificial Intelligence..."

The BJP is likely to drop its sitting MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh from Uttar Pradesh's Kaiserganj seat. Reportedly, the party is likely to give ticket to his son Karan Bhushan Singh.

The former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Singh has been accused of sexual harassment by several women wrestlers.

Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram candidate Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said, "...We have seen positive trends among the public in the first couple of phases. The public is increasingly disenchanted with the BJP government at the centre...As I said yesterday, I don't think '400 paar' is even going to be repeated by them; '300 paar' is impossible, and '200 paar' is looking challenging for them and we will see how it works out. At the moment, campaigning is going very well across the country and in the two phases, all indications from the turnout, voting pattern are that the BJP is losing ground."

Incumbent MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's son Karan Bhushan Singh was named BJP's candidate from Kaiserganj on Thursday.

TMC leader Sagarika Ghose on Thursday said, "The BJP giving (poll) ticket to Karan Singh, son of its former star campaigner Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, is shameful and disgraceful. Karan Singh is a proxy for his father. It shows that the BJP is not ready to condemn the sexual assault committed by Brij Bhushan."

The BJP has fielded Karan from Kaiserganj seat, which is currently held by his father and former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

AAP leader and Punjab minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said, "Today, thousands of people from Kurukshetra have come here to support us. I believe that AAP will win this seat by a big margin. People are voting this time to save the democracy and Constitution of this country. In Haryana, the INDIA alliance will win all 10 seats, and in Punjab, where we are contesting alone, we will win all 13 Lok Sabha seats."

On Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi's reported 'washing machine' remark, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said, "They have a bigger washing machine; Arvind Kejriwal was washed through which washing machine? ask Priyanka Gandhi. Earlier, they (Congress) were saying that Arvind Kejriwal looted money through liquor (Delhi excise policy case) and now they are saying he (Arvind Kejriwal) is a nice person. Now tell me which high-voltage washing machine they have?"

J&K National Conference vice president and candidate from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat Omar Abdullah on Thursday said, "Now they (BJP) are not talking about '400 paar'... They are just claiming to form the government again. They have forgotten the '400 paar'. As the number of phases will increase, their (BJP's) number of seats will decrease. I believe that it will be a big thing for them to even get a simple majority..."

Addressing a rally in Karnataka's Shivamogga, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said, "...Prajwal Revanna rapes 400 women and shoots videos. This is not a sex scandal, this is called mass rape. On the stage in Karnataka, Prime Minister is supporting a mass rapist. He tells Karnataka that if you vote for this rapist, it will be helpful for me. Every woman in Karnataka should know that when the PM sought your votes, he knew what Prajwal Revanna had done. BJP and every leader knew that Prajwal Revanna was a mass rapist. Still, they supported him and forged an alliance. PM should apologise to every woman in India, that he brought a mass rapist on his stage and spoke about supporting him. PM of India has insulted every woman in India...This is the ideology of the BJP, they needed alliance and wanted to come to power so they were ready to do anything."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during a rally Raichur on Thnursday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, "Don't run away from Karnataka, tell country about Prajwal Revanna."

Hitting out at the BJP, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday said, "This government is shutting down employment avenues."

"Under Modi government, poor has turned poorer in last 10 years," she added.

Addressing a public rally in Gujarat's Jamnagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said, "When Congress released its manifesto, I alerted the country, especially the intellectuals, that the Congress manifesto is a red alert for the country. I clearly said that I could see the image of the Muslim League in their manifesto, which many thought was a mere political statement... The narratives that had been imposed during the partition of the country by the Muslim League, unfortunately, similar scenes are being seen today. INDI alliance leaders, in their rallies, are asking Muslim voters to go for vote jihad. And these words came from a very senior Congress leader coming from a very well-educated family."

Addressing a public rally in Gujarat's Jamnagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said, "Congress is contesting these elections on two strategies. First, dividing society based on caste. Second, uniting their vote bank through politics of appeasement... Congress is now giving its all to its main motive in these elections. Congress wants to take away reservation from SC, ST, and OBC and give it away to Muslims based on religion, by changing the Constitution."

Addressing a public rally in Gujarat's Jamnagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said, "It has been 9 days since I have challenged the Congress, and they haven't given me a reply on the same... My first challenge is, will the Congress give in writing that they will not change the Constitution and give reservations to Muslims based on religion? Second, will they give it in writing that they will not compromise with the rights of the SC, ST, and OBC by giving away their share of the reservation to Muslims? Will they give in writing that their state governments and their leaders will not run a hidden agenda to give reservations to Muslims? They are quiet, which means something is fishy."

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi during a rally in Morena on Thursday said, "My father did not inherit wealth, but martyrdom."

Addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said, "Till the BJP workers are alive, we will not let anyone take away the reservation of backwards classes and give it away to Muslims... Congress has given a provision of 15% reservation in jobs for Muslims, they want to divide India into North and South India, they want to hold talks with terrorists, they want to revoke Article 370, and they want to bring back triple talaq."

BJP National President JP Nadda during a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha on Thursday said, "BJP came up with Ujjwala scheme, Ujala scheme for women. But now, PM Modi has decided to make 3 crore women 'Lakhpati Didi'... He has also decided to continue PM Kisan Samman Nidhi for the next 5 years... 11 crore families will benefit from the 'Har Ghar Jal Mission'... 'Modi ke Man mein MP hai, MP ke Man mein Modi hai'..."

AIUDF General Secretary Rafiqul Islam on Thursday said, "God know what has happened to Congress. BJP is winning by polarising the Hindus. In a country where there are 85% Hindus, the BJP is working day and night to unite them and Congress has some audacity when they are separating 15% Muslims. What will happen with this? Even if India's absolute Muslim population votes for Congress, how will it help the party? Congress should have gone to the Hindu belt and listened to their problems and won their hearts... If all Hindu votes will go to BJP, how will 15% of votes help Congress?..."

BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Thursday said, "...Rahul Gandhi doesn't even understand that Revanth Reddy is not following in his footsteps. Revanth Reddy is a CM of the Congress party. But he is following in the footsteps of PM Modi. For past several months, he is against the line of Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi says Chowkidar chor hai, Revanth Reddy says Chowkidar is his older brother. Rahul Gandhi says Adani is a fraud but Revanth Reddy says that Adani is a friend...There is a partnership going on between the 'bada bhai' and 'chhota bhai'. EC seems to be influenced by that..."

Telangana Congress Media Convenor Kamal Medagoni in his reaction on Congress workers arrested by Telangana Police in connection with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s fake video case said, "Five people including Telangana Social Media Convenor Naveen and Taslima have been arrested by Cyber Crime unit of Telangana police based on a complaint by Telangana BJP. Delhi Police has not arrested them."

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and DPAP chief Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday met locals in Poonch as part of the party’s poll campaign.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday got emotional as she remembered her father Rajiv Gandhi while addressing a public rally in Madhya Pradesh's Morena on Thursday.

"At the age of 19, when I brought home pieces of my martyred father, I was angry with this country. I had this feeling in my heart that I sent my father, it was your job to keep him safe. I understand the meaning of martyrdom. Today I am 52 years old, for the first time I am saying this publicly. But that anger of mine... gradually I understood that we get angry with those who we love. How do I explain my love for my country," she said.

Delhi Minister Atishi while addressing a ‘Jail Ka Jawaab Vote Se’ Sankalp Sabha in New Delhi on Thursday said, “Why have they put Arvind Kejriwal in jail? They say because he committed corruption. PM Modi says he will not spare any corrupt person. He actually meant to say that he will not spare any corrupt leader outside the BJP. He has washed all corrupt people in the BJP’s washing machine. Ajit Pawar, accused of corruption to the tune of Rs 70,000 crore, was made Maharashtra’s Deputy CM after joining the BJP.”

BRS Working President KT Rama Rao on Thursday said, "The EC is neither independent nor impartial; in fact, they have been extremely biased, they have been looking the other way when it comes to the PM and the CM of Telangana. Unfortunately, that is not the case with other leaders in the country. Today, when KCR was speaking about farmers of Telangana, where it was possibly a small emotional outburst, all they could have done was probably censure him and ask him to possibly not repeat but they go on to ban him for 48 hours."

The Election Commission on Wednesday reprimanded BRS president K Chandrashekar Rao and barred him from campaigning for 48 hours for his "objectionable" remarks against the Congress.

Hoardings featuring Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav being put up outside Congress office in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

The Congress is likely to announce its candidate for the high-profile seat today, since the last date of filing nomination is tomorrow (May 3).

BJP OBC Morcha National President Dr K Laxman says, "... Congress has always been against the OBC, right from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi and now Rahul Gandhi. From time to time, OBC reservations have been played with... Before implementing the Mandal Commission report, when VP Singh presented a proposal in the Parliament, Rajiv Gandhi outrightly opposed it saying if caste-based reservation is given in the country, the country will be divided on caste. He even said that reservation should be given based on financial status and not on caste... When PM Narendra Modi came to power, 27 OBC MPs were given places in his cabinet... For the first time, PM Modi gave 27% reservation for students in government-run schools... OBC community has been given its due by PM Narendra Modi..."

Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his "guarantees", saying, “Ten years have passed since he (Narendra Modi) became the Prime Minister. He had made promises to bring back black money, ushering in ‘achhe din’ (good days), doubling farmer’s income and pink revolution. What about all the promises or guarantees he made at that time?”

The BJP on Thursday reportedly fielded Dinesh Pratap Singh from the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat. The seat is considered a stronghold of the Congress. BJP's announcement comes even as suspense continues over the Congress candidate on the seat.

Singh is currently a Minister of State with Independent charge in the Yogi Adityanath government.

BJP Karnataka spokesperson MG Mahesh on Thursday said, “BJP has made its stand very clear and has insisted the state government to take strict action against Prajwal Revanna. BJP is very firm on its stand, and we always abide by the law of the land. It is for the Karnataka government to act against Prajwal Revanna. He has asked for a week’s time to appear before the investigative agencies, I hope wisdom prevails and he does appear."

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu addressed a public gathering in Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa on Thursday.

Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav while addressing a public rally in Saharsa on Thursday said, “A Bihari does what he promises. I promised jobs and delivered, while PM Modi took them away. We do not do ‘jumlabaazi’. We will work in favour of Bihar and fight against poverty."

On suspense over Congress' Raebareli and Amethi candidates, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister KP Maurya on Thursday said, "No matter who contests- be it from Congress, Yadav family or BSP, BJP will only win."