Elections

Lok Sabha Election | May 10 Highlights: Congress Too Made Mistakes, Says Rahul Gandhi; Kejriwal Out Of Jail

Lok Sabha Election | May 10 Highlights: In a major development, the Supreme Court on Friday gave interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till June 1. Kejriwal's release comes as a big relief to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had been campaigning without its key figure for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. In other news, Reacting to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's letter to INDIA bloc partners doubting voter turnout data, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday said "pattern in series of past, present irresponsible statements from Congress were disconcerting".

Arvind Kejriwal addressing AAP workers and supporters after release from Tihar jail on Friday Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
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Lok Sabha Election LIVE: Welcome To Our Live Blog

Welcome to our live blog, where we'll be bringing you all the latest updates and developments about elections on 10 May 2024. Stay with us!

Lok Sabha Election LIVE: Congress Files Complaint Against Modi For Using Kid In Campaign

The Congress has filed a complaint against PM Modi with the Election Commission of India(ECI) alleging that he violated the poll code by using a child during the election campaign.

Modi, while going from Mamnoor airstrip to Warangal public meeting on May 6, stopped his vehicle at Laxmipuram after seeing a child with her mother inside the gate of her house.

"He opened his car door and called the mother and carried the child in his arms and played with the child for a few moments," senior Congress leader G Niranjan said in his complaint to the ECI, as reported by The Times Of India.

He pointed out that parties have been explicitly directed by the ECI not to engage children in any form of election campaign.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Important Voting Days

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.

Voting for Phase 1 took place on April 19, second phase on April 26 and third phase on May 7. Polling for Phase 4 to Phase 7 will take place on: 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

Lok Sabha Polls: Colour-Coordinated Theme-Based Polling Booths Set Up In Srinagar

To create a “festival-like environment” on the day of voting, poll authorities in Srinagar district have prepared 32 theme-based polling booths that are colour-coordinated as per its message.

Polling booths in pink, red, blue have been prepared as per their theme i.e women voters, PwD voters and young voters. Eight polling booths have also been set up to go with its theme of environmental sustainability.

Srinagar will vote to elect its Lok Sabha MP in the fourth phase on May 13.

-PTI

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Voting Time

Polling for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 will begin at 7 am in all phases. The Lok Sabha elections 2024 are taking place in seven phases. The first phase took place on April 19, second on April 26 and third on May 7. Phase 4 to 7 will take place on: May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.

Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha Election: Voices Of Neglect From The Ground

On September 14, 2020, a 19-year-old Dalit girl, was allegedly gangraped by four upper-caste men. She sustained severe injuries in her spinal cord and her tongue had allegedly been cut off. She struggled for her life for about two weeks but later succumbed to her injuries in Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital.

Of the four accused, three were acquitted of charges and released in March 2023. The main accused, Sandeep, was sentenced to life imprisonment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. 

Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha Election: Repolling At 4 Booths In Betul Underway

Repolling at four booths in Madhya Pradesh's Betul Lok Sabha seat is underway.

Voting was conducted in Betul in the third phase of polls on 7 May.

The Election Commission on Wednesday ordered re-election at the four booths after a few electronic voting machines (EVMs) were damaged when a bus ferrying them and polling personnel post-voting on caught fire on Tuesday night near Sonora Gaula village in Betul.

Betul was among nine seats in Madhya Pradesh which voted in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections.

West Bengal Lok Sabha Election: EC Flags Over 3,600 Polling Stations As Critical For 4th Phase

The Election Commission has flagged 3,647 polling stations as critical out of the 15,507 designated for the fourth phase of polling across eight Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal on May 13, a poll official said on Thursday.

Bolpur seat has the highest number of critical polling stations at 659, followed by Birbhum (640), Baharampur (558), Burdwan-Durgapur (422), Ranaghat (410), Krishnanagar (338) Asansol (319) and Bardhaman Purba (301), he added.

Considering the sensitivity of the stations, the poll body has decided to deploy a total of 579 companies of central forces during the fourth phase of polling.

-PTI

Lok Sabha Election LIVE Updates: PM Modi To Address Rallies In Telangana, Maharashtra, Odisha Today

With just three days left for the fourth phase of the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address public rallies in Telangana, Maharashtra and Odisha on Friday.

To be noted, Odisha will hold both Lok Sabha and assembly polls.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Priyanka Gandhi's Rallies In Telangana Today

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is expected to address multiple rallies in Telangana on Friday.

Telangana has 10 Lok Sabha seats.

Lok Sabha Election Updates: Activists Urge Election Commission To Publish On Its Website Booth-Wise Votes Recorded

A group of activists, lawyers and retired civil servants on Thursday wrote to the Election Commission of India demanding that all votes recorded at every polling station where voting took place in the first three phases be disclosed.

A group of activists, lawyers and retired civil servants on Thursday wrote to the Election Commission of India. In a letter addressed to the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners, they alleged "large fluctuations" in the voter turnout figures in the first two phases of Lok Sabha elections.

The Election Commission last week said that constituency and booth-wise data of actual number of votes polled is available with the candidates.

Bihar Lok Sabha Election LIVE : Repolling Underway At Two Booths In Khagaria Seat

Repolling is underway at two polling booths in Bihar's Khagaria Lok Sabha seat, amid tight security arrangements, an official said. 

The voting began at 7 am at booth numbers 182 and 183, falling under the Beldaur assembly segment of the Khagaria parliamentary constituency, and will continue till 6 pm, he said. 

Repolling was ordered at these polling booths as voting was disrupted on account of the vandalisation of EVMs on May 7 during the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

-PTI

Lok Sabha Election Voting FAQs: How To Check Your Polling Booth

A voter can check the EPIC number on their Voter ID card to find out which polling booth they are supposed to vote at.

What is EPIC number

The Election Photo ID Card (EPIC), also known as the Voter ID card, has a unique 10-digit alpha-numeric code which is assigned by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The number is a proof that you are a registered voter.

On any Voter ID card, the EPIC code is on the front. One can also get the EPIC number from the National Voters' Service Portal (NVSP).

How to find EPIC number online?

  • Open the official NVSP portal.

  • Under ‘Services’, click on ‘Search in Electoral Roll'.

  • Select ‘Search by Details’ or ‘Search by Mobile’.

  • Fill the required details in to see the EPIC code.

How To Find Polling Booth With EPIC Number

  • Visit electoralsearch.eci.gov.in.

  • Enter the EPIC code, state, captcha code, and click ‘Search.’

  • The booth details will be displayed on the screen of your device.

Congress Targets Modi Over ‘Drain Of Wealth’ From Indian Families To Crony Corporates

A day after Prime Minister Modi alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had stopped “abusing” industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani and hinted at a deal, the Congress party stepped up its counter-attack on the BJP and Modi.

"On June 4, as the Congress-led government takes power, we will rapidly accelerate economic growth while ensuring that ordinary Indian families are the biggest beneficiaries. We will end the 'drain of wealth' from Indian families to crony corporates," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a statement.

"The 'Hum Do Hamare Do' effect: Net household savings fell by ₹9 lakh crores in the last three years. Real household savings are at their lowest since 2014. PM Modi has overseen a 'drain of wealth' - from Bharat ke Parivar to Modi ka Parivar," Ramesh also said in a post on X, while sharing his statement.

Jammu And Kashmir Lok Sabha Elections: Roar Returns To The Valley

After being emasculated, declawed and defanged since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the metaphoric lion is back in Kashmir’s political rhetoric.

At National Conference (NC) gatherings ahead of polling for the 2024 Lok Sabha, Dr. Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar are greeted with chants of  “Aaya, Aaya, Sher Aaya” (The lion is here). Recently, in Baramulla, Omar Abdullah, after filing his nomination, was cheered with the same fervour.

Similarly, supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Srinagar candidate Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra and People’s Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone chant,“Nakli shera yeti wat dera, asli shera aa gaya” (Fake lions should leave, for the true lion is here).

Reservation, democracy and the Constitution are in danger because of PM Modi. This is the truth.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav

'Respect Pakistan. They Have Atom Bomb', Says Mani Shankar Aiyar; BJP Lambasts Congress

Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar has triggered a row by claiming that India should “respect” Pakistan because it has an “atom bomb”. “They have atom bombs. We have them too, but if a ‘madman’ decides to drop a bomb on Lahore, it won’t take eight seconds for the radiation to reach Amritsar,” he warned. The statement was reportedly made last month. However, it went viral in May.

BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla reacted by saying: “Congress’ love for Pakistan is old. He’s the same Mani Shankar Aiyar who went begging to Pakistan to remove Narendra Modi as India’s prime minister. Many Congress leaders have been giving clean chit to Pakistan on 26/11, Pulwama and Poonch attacks. For them, the one who sends terrorists is respectable, while the Indian Army is ‘sadak ka goonda’.” 

Lok Sabha Election LIVE: Poll Surveillance Team Seizes Rs 47 Lakh Cash From Vehicle In Mumbai

A surveillance team deployed for the Lok Sabha elections seized cash of Rs 47 lakh from a vehicle in Mumbai’s Mulund suburb, an official said on Friday.

The members of a static surveillance team searched the vehicle on B R Road in Mulund on Thursday evening on the suspicion that it was carrying cash, the official said.

Police have also informed the Income Tax Department about the seizure, he added.

Elections to the six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai will be held in the fifth phase of the general election on May 20.

-PTI

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live: Jairam Ramesh Says 'Multiple Seat Contesting Is Common In Politics'

Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, Jairam Ramesh said, "Atal Bihari Vajpayee has contested on two seats. Lal Krishna Advani has contested on two seats. Sushma Swaraj contested on two seats. Narendra Modi himself contested on two seats. So contesting on two seats is not uncommon."

"Rahul Gandhi contested in south and he is also contesting in the north. We challenge the Prime Minister, let him pick any seat in the south and contest. In any case, Raebareli is a responsibility. It has been a seat which has been held by Sonia Gandhi. The people of Raebareli want to give a mandate to Rahul Gandhi. That is why, he has chosen to contest from Raebareli."

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: PM Modi In Maharashtra

Top Quotes:

  • Congress government in Karnataka included all Muslims in OBC category overnight and gave them reservation.

  • Congress engaged in conspiracy to eliminate Hindu faith.

  • Hidden agenda of Congress to rob you of your quota and give it to Muslims.

  • As long as I am alive, I will not let reservations of Dalits, adivasis, OBCs to be given to Muslims on basis of religion.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Voting: Do We Need Voter Slip To Cast Vote?

With the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 taking place, the Election Commission of India has issued voter slips and sent them to the houses of the eligible voters. However, not all eligible voters have received their voter slips.

With several voters yet to receive their voter slips, a common question arises - can I still cast a vote in the elections without a slip?

The answer is YES. Eligible voters can vote without the slips if their name is mentioned on the electoral roll.

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.

Lok Sabha Election LIVE: Case Against MP Navneet Rana Over 'Voting For Pakistan' Remark

Police registered a case against BJP candidate Navneet Rana Kaur for making comments during an election campaign meeting stating, 'voting for Congress means voting for Pakistan'. 

Navneet Kaur is contesting on BJP ticket from Amravati Parliament constituency in Maharashtra. 

Officials say that Kaur’s comments amount to violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in view of Lok Sabha elections.

(Inputs from media reports)

Lok Sabha Election LIVE: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh At Jharkhand Rally

Top Quotes:

  • PM Modi has done miraculous work to bring 25 crore people out of poverty. Earlier PMs like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi made hollow promises to alleviate poverty.

  • BJP won't allow anyone to snatch your reservation, party is committed to nation-building.

  • Corrupt JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand is exploiting people, betraying them.

  • BJP believes in politics of 'insaf' and 'insaniyat'; JMM-led alliance will be punished for atrocities.

Himachal Pradesh: 6 Cong MLAs Withdraw Pleas From SC Against Disqualification

Six former Congress MLAs, who were disqualified from the party due to cross-voting during Rajya Sabha polls this year, withdrew their plea from Supreme Court against their disqualification from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly.

Lok Sabha Election LIVE: Arvind Kejriwal Gets Interim Bail Till June 1

The Supreme Court today gave interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till June 1. Kejriwal had sought a release from jail to campaign for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the alleged liquor policy scam. He is currently lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody.

'Everybody Loves Their Religion, But...': Priyanka Gandhi Slams BJP In Amethi

While addressing a public meeting in Amethi, UP, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi took a jibe a BJP, saying: "God is dear to all and everybody loves and respects their religion. But, to use religion to win elections and bag votes is wrong. This frees the leaders from any responsibilities towards you."

She asked, "BJP has been ruling for the past 10 years but what have they done for you?"

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Where Are The Women?

Even as political parties continue to introduce welfare schemes and make grand promises that are exclusively catered for women, they only constituted around eight per cent of the total candidates in the fray for the first three phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. 

There were 135 women candidates in the first phase of elections, 100 in the second phase and 123 in the third – bringing the total to 358 out of 4,162 candidates – 8.6 per cent. The ongoing general elections come just over seven months after the Indian Parliament passed the historic and long-awaited women’s reservation bill or Nari Shakti Vandan Abhiniyam, that paved the way for the reservation of one-third of legislative seats for women. Yet, major political parties, barring the AIMIM, that overwhelmingly backed the idea of giving more representation to women, are still lagging behind in giving tickets to women.

I am very happy to see that Shri Arvind Kejriwal has got interim bail. It will be very helpful in the context of the current elections.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

Bihar Lok Sabha Election: A Filmy Incentive To Voters Of Patna

Cast your vote and then treat yourself to a movie at a theatre of your choice at half the price. The novel incentive is on offer in Patna, where improving voter turnout seems a challenge.

According to a statement issued by the district administration, the decision was taken at a meeting chaired by DM Shirsat Kapil Ashok, which was attended by owners and managers of cinema halls across the city.

According to the statement, the administration has been roping in "all stakeholders", including associations of cinema hall owners, schools, medicine shops, chambers of commerce etc. to improve the turnout in Patna Sahib Lok Sabha constituency.

Voting is scheduled on June 1 in the constituency which earned the dubious distinction five years ago of registering the lowest turnout of just about 45 per cent.

-PTI

Lok Sabha Elections News LIVE: EC Pulls Up Kharge

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's letter to opposition leaders on voter turnout data an attempt to push biased narrative, the Election Commission said on Friday.

Doubting the Election Commission of India (ECI)’s functioning, and criticising the panel for the delay in releasing poll turnout data and the non-publication of the final voters’ lists for the upcoming phases, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had written a letter to leaders of all INDIA bloc parties.

Kharge had called upon all INDIA parties to “collectively, unitedly and unequivocally” raise their voice against such “discrepancies” in a bid to protect the culture of a “vibrant democracy and the Constitution”.

Lok Sabha Elections News LIVE: EC Slams 'Irresponsible' Statements From Congress

Reacting to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's letter to INDIA bloc partners doubting voter turnout data, the Election Commission of India on Friday said "pattern in series of past, present irresponsible statements from Congress were disconcerting".

Arvind Kejriwal Bail News: SC's Conditions On Delhi CM's Interim Bail

The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise or liquor policy "scam". Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the case on March 21 and was subsequently sent to judicial custody.

Granting Arvind Kejriwal bail, the Supreme Court directed him to not make comments about his role in money laundering case related to excise policy scam.

The Supreme Court also said Arvind Kejriwal shall not visit chief minister's office and Delhi Secretariat during his interim bail period.

Follow Arvind Kejriwal Bail News LIVE Coverage Here

Arvind Kejriwal Bail News LIVE: Interim Bail To Delhi CM Not An Exception, Says SC

Granting bail to Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court on Friday said interim bail is granted in facts of each case and Arvind Kejriwal's is not an exception"

"Holistic and libertarian view is justified in view of Lok Sabha elections," said SC while granting interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal.

Arvind Kejriwal does not have any criminal antecedents and he is not a threat to society, SC said.

Lok Sabha Election News LIVE: Congress Is Against Hindus, Says PM Modi

Addressing a rally in Telangana on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Congress is against Hindus and wants to make Hindus second-class citizens.

"After coming to power, the Congress in Telangana became a photocopy of BRS, PM Modi said at a rally in Telangana. Whatever BRS had looted during its rule, Congress wants to do such corruption within a few months, PM Modi said.

"Congress knows that reservations based on religion is anti-Constitutional and Ambedkar opposed it," PM Modi said.

Lok Sabha Elections News LIVE: PM Modi Worried After 3rd Phase, Says Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were worried after three phases of Lok Sabha polls and were hence talking about non-election issues and abusing the Congress.

Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, Kharge said the BJP leaders, instead of seeking votes on "development," are distorting their (Congress) leaders' speeches and call Rahul Gandhi 'shehzada.'

"After three phases of polls, Modi and Shah Saab got worried. They stopped talking about their manifesto, but only are abusing the Congress," Kharge said.

Referring to the PM's comments that Congress has stopped talking about 'Adani-Ambani' after the announcement of polls, he said, "(If) money is going in tempo, you are just watching? Money is going from whose house, where is your CBI, where is your Income Tax."

Lok Sabha Elections News LIVE: Mamata Silent On 'Torture' Of Women In Sandeshkhali, Says Shah

Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Friday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of maintaining silence on the issue of Sandeshkhali, where complaints of sexual abuse have emerged against TMC leaders, and said the BJP "will not spare single culprit and will hang them upside down".

While addressing an election rally at Majdia in Ranaghat Lok Sabha seat in Nadia district, Shah alleged that Banerjee was "misleading" people on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) and slammed the TMC dispensation over alleged corruption cases in the state.

On the incidents in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders have been made, Shah said it is a matter of shame that "Mamata Banerjee, despite being a woman chief minister, tried to protect the culprits”.

Shah's statement comes amid a row over a purported sting operation video clip in which a BJP leader can be seen admitting that Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of opposition in the West Bengal assembly, was "behind the whole conspiracy".

In the "sting operation" video done by a news platform which was later shared by the TMC on X, the leader is heard saying sexual harassment complaints were filed at the behest of Adhikari.

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: Rahul Says INDIA Bloc Will Win At Least 50 Seats In UP

Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday asserted that the opposition INDIA bloc will win at least 50 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi was addressing a rally here in support of the Congress candidate from the Kanpur Lok Sabha seat Alok Misra.

"...June 4, 2024, Narendra Modi will not be the Prime Minister of India, you take it in writing," Rahul Gandhi said.

"Whatever we had to do, we have done. Now, you will see that in Uttar Pradesh, our alliance is going to get not less than 50 seats. We have stopped the BJP in other states," he said.

Kanpur goes to polls in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 13.

Arvind Kejriwal Bail News LIVE: Delhi CM To Walk Out Of Tihar Jail Shortly

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the excise policy case earlier today, will be walking out of Tihar jail shortly.

Security has been tightened outside Tihar jail for Arvind Kejriwal's release.

Arvind Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the case on March 21 and was subsequently sent to judicial custody.

Granting Arvind Kejriwal bail, the Supreme Court directed him to not make comments about his role in money laundering case related to excise policy scam.

Lok Sabha Elections News LIVE: Jailed Khalistani Separatist Amritpal Singh Files Nomination

Khalistani separatist Amritpal Singh, who is lodged in Assam's Dibrugarh jail, filed his nomination as an independent candidate for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 from Khadoor Sahib constituency of Punjab on Friday.

The nomination was filed by the Waris Punjab De leader's lawyer, Harjot Singh, his relative Sukhchain Singh and five others on his behalf at the office of the District Returning Officer in Khadoor Sahib, an indiatoday.in report said.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: BJP Announces Candidate For Punjab's Fatehgarh Sahib Seat

The Bhartiya Janata Party on Friday announced Gejja Ram Valmiki as its candidate from the Fatehgarh Sahib reserve parliamentary constituency in Punjab. With this, the party has now fielded its candidates on all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, which will go to polls on June 1.

Valmiki is the chairman of Punjab State Safai Karamchari Commission. He will be pitted against AAP's Gurpreet Singh GP, Congress party's Amar Singh and Shiromani Akali Dal candidate Bikramjit Singh Khalsa.

Currently, the Fatehgarh Sahib seat is represented by Congress MP Amar Singh.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News LIVE: Priyanka's 'Uncultured' Jibe At BJP

Slamming the BJP for its "clerk" jibe at Congress's Amethi candidate Kishori Lal Sharma, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Friday said it is the ruling party's mentality to talk in this "uncultured" way and asserted there is no better candidate for this constituency than Sharma.

In an interview with PTI, Priyanka Gandhi said Sharma was like family and had served Amethi for over 40 years.

She exuded confidence that the Congress will win both the constituencies of Rae Bareli and Amethi in the Lok Sabha polls.

While former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is contesting against BJP's Dinesh Pratap Singh in Rae Bareli, Gandhi family aide Kishori Lal Sharma is taking on BJP's Smriti Irani in Amethi.

Asked about the strategy behind the Congress fielding Rahul Gandhi from Rae Bareli instead of Amethi, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Both the seats are the same for us. In both the seats, our family has worked for generations. Kishori Lal Sharma has worked for over 40 years, he knows every nook and corner here.

Asked about the BJP's Rae Bareli candidate calling Sharma "Priyanka Gandhi's clerk" and the Gandhi family's "peon", Priyanka Gandhi said this is their mentality to talk in this "uncultured" manner.

"This is not right, this is uncultured talk, this is their mentality, their nature is 'asabhya (uncultured)'. At every level their views are 'asabhya'. Kishori ji has served a lot here," she said.

(via PTI)

Arvind Kejriwal Bail News LIVE: Delhi CM Released From Tihar Jail

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal walked out of Tihar jail on Friday evening hours after getting interim bail from the Supreme Court in the money laundering case linked to the alleged excise or liquor policy 'scam'.

Arvind Kejriwal Bail News LIVE: Delhi CM Addresses Party After Release From Jail

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addresses party workers after being released from Tihar jail. Arvind Kejriwal said Tomorrow at 11 am they will go to the Hanuman Temple at Connaught Place and at 1 pm, they will address a press conference at the party office."

The Supreme Court granted him interim bail in the Delhi excise policy case till June 1 on Friday.

IN OTHER NEWS | Delhi Court Orders Framing Of Charges Against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Over Wrestlers' Allegations 

A Delhi court on Friday, May 10, ordered framing of charges against ex-Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Singh in sexual harassment case lodged by six female wrestlers. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Priyanka Rajpoot also discharged Singh in a complaint filed by one of the six women wrestlers.

The court ordered framing of charge for criminal intimidation against Singh. It will formally frame the charges on May 21.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has been accused of sexually harassing female wrestlers by top athletes of India, including Sakshee Mallikkh, Vinesh Phogat etc., who have held long agitations demanding action against him. READ FULL STORY

Lok Sabha Elections News LIVE: Lotus Will Bloom Everywhere In Bengal, Says Shah

Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Friday took part in a road show in West Bengal's Asansol in support of BJP candidate SS Ahluwalia. As he waved from a flower-bedecked truck, supporters cheered him with slogans like 'Amit Shahji Swagotaom', 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', and 'BJP zindabad.'

Addressing the crowd, Shah vowed to end the alleged tyranny of the ruling TMC government headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her associates.

"You have had enough of the atrocities of TMC government led by Mamata Banerjee, her nephew Abhishek Banerjee and other leaders. Let us work towards dislodging the regime," he said.

(via PTI)

Lok Sabha Elections News LIVE: Kejriwal To Hold Roadshow In Delhi On Saturday

After walking out of jail on Friday, Arvind Kejriwal told his supporters, who had gathered in large numbers, "I had promised to come back soon, here I am."

Arvind Kejriwal further said, "Our country is more than 4,000 years old. But whenever anyone tried to impose dictatorship on this country, people never tolerated it. Today the country is passing through a period of dictatorship. I am fighting against it."

"But 140 crore people will have to come together and defeat the dictatorship," Kejriwal said and announced that he will go to theHanuman temple in Delhi's Connaught Place at 11 am on Saturday after which he will address a press conference at the party office.

In the evening on Saturday, he said he will participate in a roadshow in South Delhi.

Lok Sabha Elections News LIVE: Congress Too Made Mistakes, Says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said his party too has made mistakes and will have to change its politics in future. The remark came at an event in Lucknow where he accused the Narendra of being a monarch and not a prime minister, calling him a front for “two three financiers”.

Answering a question from a member of the audience at the event on the Constitution, the former Congress president said he was “100 per cent” prepared to take on Narendra Modi in a debate, but he knew that the prime minister will not agree.

"The Congress party will also have to change its politics in the coming times. This will have to be done. I also want to say that the Congress party has also made mistakes and I am saying this while being from the Congress party," he said in his speech.

(Via PTI)

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: TMC's Abhishek Banerjee Declares Total Income Of Rs 82 Lakh

National general secretary of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress, Abhishek Banerjee, who filed his nomination on Friday for re-election from the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat, declared in his affidavit a total income of a little over Rs 82 lakh in the 2022-23 financial year.

Abhishek Banerjee stated he earned Rs 71,52,200 in 2018-19, while in 2020-21, it had gone up to a trifle over Rs 1.51 crore.

The TMC leader, seeking a third term from the seat, declared a total income of Rs 82,58,360 in the 2022-23 fiscal, as per his income tax return. Banerjee said he has Rs 7.72 lakh as cash in hand.

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE News: Congress To Also Campaign For AAP In Delhi

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav on Friday said his party will not only focus on the three Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi where it has fielded candidates but will also campaign for the four seats where AAP candidates are contesting.

Congress and AAP candidates will conduct door-to-door campaigns, he said, adding that when the INDIA bloc comes to power at the Centre, the promises made to youth, women, farmers, the poor, the downtrodden, the marginalised and others will be fulfilled.

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