Elections 2024: PM Modi Says 'India Will Begin A New Journey After June 4', Claims 'Jihadis' From Across Supporting INDIA-bloc

On BJP's performance in the ongoing polls, Union Minister and BJP leader Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday said, “The people of the country have decided that they will make PM Modi the Prime Minister for the third time to develop the country. This is the voice of the public. In all the phases that have taken place till now, BJP has been successful, and we have already crossed the threshold (400-seat mark) that we had set for ourselves.”

The sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections on Saturday registered a voter turnout of 61.76 per cent which is the lowest among all phases, according to the data complied till May 26 morning in the Voter Turnout App.

In the sixth phase, 58 seats in eight states and Union Territories went to polls on Saturday.

Incidents of violence, including an alleged assault on a BJP candidate, minor clashes and protests were reported from West Bengal while there were instances of EVM malfunctioning at some places, including Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address election rallies in Mirzapur, Ghosi and Bansgaon in Uttar Pradesh today.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address two rallies in Bihar and one in Punjab.

BJP chief J. P. Nadda will address three rallies in Jehanabad, Bhojpur and Nalanda in Bihar.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will hold two rallies in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge held rallies in Rohru constituency on Saturday.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, who was contesting from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat in Jammu and Kashmir, staged a sit-in outside Bijbehara police station on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway in Anantnag district against alleged detention of her party workers and polling agents. She also claimed outgoing calls on her mobile number were suspended.

Reportedly police said those detained were overground workers (OGWs) and the action was taken to ensure smooth conduct of elections.

Mehbooba's daughter and PDP leader Iltija Mufti alleged polling was deliberately slowed down at a booth in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, a charge denied by the administration.

As Jangal Mahal region went for voting in the 6th phase of Lok Sabha polls, BJP's Jhargram candidate Pranat Tudu claimed his convoy was attacked in Garbeta area of Paschim Medinipur district, following which security personnel escorting him were injured and had to be hospitalised. Tudu also received injuries on his forehead, which needed medical attention.

Minor clashes broke out between supporters of the ruling TMC and BJP in the Ghatal constituency over stopping polling agents from entering the booths.

In the Midnapore constituency, BJP candidate Agnimitra Paul faced "go back" slogans from TMC activists. Subsequently, a scuffle broke out between BJP and TMC activists, following which central forces reached the spot to disperse the mob.

A group of people shouted slogans against BJP candidate and former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay when he reached the polling booth in Tamluk.

Addressing an election rally on Saturday in the Karakat Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, whose party is not a part of the opposition coalition, vowed to ensure that Modi did not get a third consecutive term in office, which would lead to "scaremongering in the name of Hindus and Muslims, temples and mosques".

"Modi spoke a lie when he said Muslim women beget more children. He has also been insulting the community again and again by saying Muslims want to lay their hands on 'mangalsutras'. A true Muslim will always protect his sisters and their mangalsutras," said the Hyderabad MP, at the rally held in Nasriganj sub-division of Rohtas district.

Owaisi, whose party has fielded candidates in several seats in the state including Karakat, said, "Vote for our sister Priyanka Chaudhary. It is my promise that my party will ensure that the next PM of the country is not Narendra Modi or any other leader of the BJP."

He claimed that if Modi returned to power, nobody would listen to the problems of the people.

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday said after a record polling percentage in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar and Baramulla, the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat too has "shattered" the voter-turnout record with 54.46 per cent voters exercising their franchise, the highest in 40 years.

This was the first major election in the Union Territory following the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution by the Centre in August 2019.

The high voter turnout in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat was in sharp contrast to the poll percentage of 9 registered in the 2019 election.

Even the militancy-infested Zainapora Assembly segment, which registered a turnout of 2 per cent in 2019, recorded a poll percentage of 41.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday claimed that the prospects of BJP's defeat have "scared" Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a reason why he has been issuing "veiled threats".

He also reminded the PM that "Bihar was not Jharkhand or Delhi", in an allusion to leaders like Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal who have been arrested by ED in corruption cases.

The former Bihar deputy chief minister made the remark in response to a speech of Modi at an election rally in the state where the PM had said, without mentioning Yadav by name, "Once the season of helicopter rides is over, there will be jail. Then the 'shehzada' (crown prince) will get busy protecting his inheritance (amaanat) and seeking bail (zamaanat)."

When Yadav's attention was drawn towards Modi's remark, he said, "It means he got scared that I will defeat him. So, he is trying to issue threats. But I am not going to get cowed down. A 34-year-old Bihari is not going to be scared of a 75-year-old Gujarati. He must remember that Bihar is not Jharkhand or Delhi."

Highlighting the "incomparable development" of the last 10 years and the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday urged the people of Punjab to elect Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a third time in the Lok Sabha elections.

"Today the whole world is looking towards India. All this has been possible only due to the tireless efforts of Prime Minister Modi," said Dhami.

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

Voters would be required to select their state and then enter their EPIC Number provided on the voter card to check the voter list.

Voters can also enter their details or mobile number to check if they are mentioned on the electoral roll.

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The Diamond Harbour poll battleground encapsulates an intense dynamic in West Bengal's political landscape where the TMC, led by its de facto number two Abhishek Banerjee, touts the seat as a 'model constituency' while the opposition paints it as a 'laboratory of violence'.

A victory with an enhanced margin compared to 2019 will surely bolster Banerjee's leadership credentials and consolidate his influence in the party at a time when sharp intra-party fractures have cost the TMC influential leaders like Tapas Roy and Arjun Singh ahead of the ensuing polls and ace organisers like Suvendu Adhikari three years ago, all to the BJP.

Nestled between Kolkata and the South 24 Parganas district, Diamond Harbour stands as a strategic stronghold for the Trinamool Congress. The stakes are high, with outcomes poised to influence both TMC's inner dynamics and West Bengal's politics at large in the days ahead.

- PTI

BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain reacting on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled visit to Arrah, Bihar on May 27, said, “His visit will only harm his alliance. Wherever he goes, he makes things tough for himself and his party. He went to Amethi last time and then to Raebareli. His visit to Arrah means that (BJP Lok Sabha candidate) RK Singh is going to win with a huge majority.”

Addressing a public meeting in Patna, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar says, "Earlier, even if they (RJD) got the opportunity before we (NDA) come to power in 2005, what was there? Was anyone getting out of their homes, there was fear. No one has this courage. Fewer children had access to education... They got the opportunity but they did nothing, we have done so much work be it in health, education or any other sector..."

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal says "You all know that the voting results will be out on the 4th June. I want to make the public and the political parties aware of what you should do when the machines (EVMs) open. So I have made a chart for all the parties and all the counting agents. In this chart, the CU (control unit) number, BU (ballot unit) number and VVPAT ID will be present...The third column is very important. 4th June 2024 is written in the third column and the time when the machine will be opened is written below. If there is any difference in this time then you will know that the machine has already been opened somewhere...Then, the serial number of control unit will also come here in written format, you have to match that too...When the total poll vote comes, then look at it carefully so that when there are more votes in the counting, the problem may come again...Keep in mind 2 things, do not press the result button until the verification is done in the above column and if there is a difference between that timing and the timing of the result then there is something wrong. I would like that all political parties and all the candidates who are sitting there should carefully check the first column and get it opened only then..."

Election 2024 LIVE News: PM Modi Addresses Rally In UP's Mirzapur

Addressing a public meeting in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "...The INDI alliance partners are saying that there will be 5 Prime Ministers in 5 years. Can such a big country run like this?...can a PM run the country who will be busy saving his post...So the country has decided to bring in a strong PM to build a strong country, and that is why NDA is getting massive support... No one wants to waste their vote on SP..."

PM Modi also said, “Six phases of the Lok Sabha election have been conducted. The people of India have decided to form the Modi government for the third time because of its good policies and intentions. My nation comes first.”

He also claimed that the people of India "have understood that 'INDI alliance' is communal, casteist".

"People associated with SP use to release arrested terrorists, mafia was seen as vote bank," he added.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday addressed farmers at a rally in Himachal Pradesh's Nahan where he claimed, "PM Modi handed over all storage facilities to one person to control prices of apple."

Rahul Gandhi then promised MSP and farm loan-waiver, says poor families would get Rs 1 lakh annually till they are brought above poverty line.

Slamming the PM further, Gandhi said, "PM Modi waived loans worth Rs 16 lakh-crore of 22 people in 10 years but couldn't give Rs 9,000 cr for HP monsoon disaster".

He said, "Share prices of Adani companies rise whenever Narendra Modi is sworn in."

Rahul Gandhi announces 'Pehli Naukri Pakki Adhikar' programme to give one year assured jobs to youths completing graduation

"We have identified 30 lakh vacancies in govt depts, will give those jobs to youths of India", said Rahul Gandhi at Nahan rally.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressed ‘Nyay Sankalp Sabha’ in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab.

She said, “Remember your life struggles. Remember that there is no surety of PM Modi. The laws they (BJP) thought of implementing would have affected you badly. Look what they have done to the farmers of Himachal Pradesh. Farmers there used to produce and export apples but they (BJP) gave all the cold storage to Adani.”

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal while addressing a public meeting in Firozpur, Punjab said, “I came to Punjab one year ago and met many traders. I and (Punjab CM) Bhagwant Mann discussed with them and wrote down their every issue. A lot of work has been done and a lot is being done. I won’t say that everything has been done. It’s been two years since our government was formed and the condition of the industry here was very bad back then. However, the situation has changed now.”

Union Minister Amit Shah on Sunday addressed a rally in Bihar's Karakat where he stated, "Rahul Gandhi goes abroad for vacations, PM Modi celebrates Diwali with Army jawans".

Speaking of security threats and unrest in borders, Shah said, "PoK ours and we will claim it, Congress scared of Pakistan's atom bomb, but we aren't."

PM Modi addressing rally in UP's Mau, said families of SP, Congress had turned it into a region of mafia, poverty and helplessness.

"People who embolden rioters and shed tears for mafias should not be allowed to set foot in Purvanchal," he said.

PM Modi alleged that INDIA bloc wants to turn majority community into country's second-class citizens.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge slammed PM Modi for his 'mujra' jab on Saturday and said that it was an insult to Bihar.

Kharge also said, "PM Modi hugs rich people, not poor."

"I respect Narendra Modi as he is PM, but he does not respect Congress leaders", said Kharge.

He added, "In this elections, it is people vs Modi and not Rahul vs Modi."

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Sunday said, "Mamata Banerjee gave Muslims entry to the OBC list illegally; Sandeshkhali exposed her nefarious politics."

In his reaction to record voting in Valley in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Sunday said, "Kashmir ballot boom mandate for Article 370 abrogation."

During his rally in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said, "India will begin a new journey after June 4."

He also said, "Jihadis from across border supporting SP and Congress; these parties are appealing for 'vote jihad' here."

He added, "Purvanchal will launch an assault on INDIA bloc in seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls."

"Congress created roadblocks for countries that wanted to purchase BrahMos missile," he said.

He said he is "opposing reservation on basis of religion and 'INDI jamaat' is abusing him for this."

"Palaces of mafia built on public land during SP rule are being torn down to make houses for poor," he said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while addressing an election rally in Himachal Pradesh's Una on Sunday said, "The PM was asked about rich getting richer and poor getting poorer, he responded by saying that should he make everyone poor. He should give the same opportunity to farmers, labourers, unemployed youths as he gives to 'Arabpatis'. An affluent minor kills a person by his Porsche car. He was asked to write essay by a court. The court doesn't say this to poor drivers. Modi ji waived money amounting 24 years of money of MNREGA of 22 'Arabpatis'. He gives airport to Adani, the inquiries end. If a youth wants to start his business, the banks do not give them loan. I want to know what has he done for farmers. He calls farmers terrorists. I wasn't allowed to speak in the Parliament."

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Sunday said, "No religion-based was done campaign by BJP."

He said, "if speaking on Article 370, UCC, Muslim quota is religious-based campaign then we will do so."

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi during a rally in Chandigarh on Sunday said,"While unemployment is the most important national issue, inflation is the second most important national issue. Have you (people) ever listened to PM Modi talk about this? He talks about women empowerment and says that he provided 33 per cent reservation to women. But does he talk about inflation?"

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Sunday said, "People across the entire nation are tired of BJP's politics and they know that the Congress wants to work for the people."

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mujra' remark, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said, "When the self-confidence is shivering, the speech also shivers. There is a decrease in his confidence. And as a result, he is using such language. The people of BJP know that the public is going to remove them this time. In the 7th phase, people's anger would be at its peak... All their promises are false... "

In response to a query on BJP attacking him and his family, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday said, "Let them (BJP) do it. People of Bihar will give them a befitting reply."

Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday said, "... These people (BJP) should talk about the issues like unemployment, inflation and poverty. They should talk about how investment can come to Bihar... how migration can be stopped... the public wants freedom from their lies and illusions..."

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah during a rally in Punjab's Ludhiana on Sunday said, "Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is ours, we will take it."

Madhya Pradesh CM and BJP leader Mohan Yadav on Sunday said, "Congress and its allies hate Bhagvad Gita. The Supreme Court agreed that this place is of Lord Ram. The whole world knows that India is the land of Lord Ram and Lord Krishna. But, Congress and its allies are not aware of this... PM Modi is the one who gave us the opportunity to witness the beauty of Ram Mandir."

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Sunday said, "... The people are seeing that the INDI allaince wants to make one PM every year and change policies every year... They are trying to destroy the Constitution and Sanatana. Vote bank policy is only appeasement politics for them... PM Modi was the first to worry about the poor... Were Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav not in power earlier?... 100% is reaching the bank account of the poor. How can you abuse such a person? The people of India are seeing how 20-25 people are abusing PM Modi every day and they will answer it..."