Lok Sabha Election | May 11 HighLights: 'I'm Fighting Against Dictatorship', Says Arvind Kejriwal In First Roadshow After Bail

The campaigning for fourth phase of the seven phase Lok Sabha elections will culminate on Saturday with the voting scheduled on May 13.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address rally in Jharkhand’s Chatra on Saturday.

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief who has been released on interim bail will participate in INDIA-bloc’s rally along with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday, AAP said.

BJP Leader and advocate Devaraje Gowda has been taken into custody by police near Hiriyur in a case of physical harassment and sexual abuse, officials said.

Hiriyur police took him into custody while he was traveling from Bengaluru toward Chitradurga, they said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has reportedly asked his supporters to gather at Hanuman Mandir in Delhi's Connaught Place on Saturday.

The party has said after taking the blessings from Lord Hanuman, the party chief Kejriwal will hold a press conference at the party office at 1 pm.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said he will participate in a roadshow in South Delhi today evening along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

This will be Kejriwal's first roadshow after walking out of Tihar Jail on Friday.

AAP chief Kejriwal was granted interim bail till June 1 by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.

Former Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray son Saturday said, "Modi ji's drama will go on till 4th June. After 4th June he will not be known as Prime Minister Narendra Modi but just Narendra Modi."

Union minister and BJP's candidate from Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur constituency Anurag Thakur on Saturday said performed 'kanya puja' at his residence in Hamirpur.

BJD Leader VK Pandian on Saturday performed 'Akhi Muthi Anukula' at Bijapali village of Brajrajnagar assembly constituency in Odisha's Jharsuguda district.

The occasion marks the commencement of agriculture works on the holy Akshaya Tritiya in Odisha.

Former Bihar CM and NDA candidate from Gaya Lok Sabha seat, Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday, "The one who is going to lose is the one who says that I will win next time. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi & INDI alliance have understood that they will be wiped out..."

In order to boost voting awareness among the public, the bike rally was organised in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich on Saturday.

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur Anurag Thakur on Saturday held a roadshow in the constituency.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being a monarch, and termed him a front for some financiers.

He said, "Modi ji is a king, I am telling the truth."

"He is not the prime minister, he is a king. He has nothing to do with the Cabinet, Parliament or the Constitution. He is the king of the 21st century and is the front for two or three financiers who have the real power," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address three public rallies in Odisha on Saturday. He will address the first rally in Kandhamal at 9.30 a.m., the second in Bolangir at 11.30 a.m. and another in Bargarh at 1 p.m.

In her reaction on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Bihar’s Chhapra on May 13, RJD leader Rohini Acharya said, “I want him to come and have tea with me. We will sit and discuss when 2 crore jobs will be given to people and when the AIIMS will be opened. I am also a daughter. He should do a roadshow for me too.”

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Saturday said, "...For Modi, everything is politics, everything is about winning elections. So, Modi's thinking is not right for the country. So, the country needs to be without BJP, without Modi now. They answer everything with 'Jai Sri Ram'. Pulwama incident is a classic example. They have failed. What is the IB doing? What is the Intelligence network doing? Modi ji attempted political benefit from the surgical strike after Pulwama incident. My question to him is - What are you doing? Why did Pulwama incident happen? Why did you let it happen? What are you doing about internal security? Why did you not use agencies like IB, R&AW? It is your failure...Nobody knows to date if a surgical strike actually took place. So, internal security is Congress' responsibility. We are not ready to leave the country in just anyone's hands."

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal who has been released on bail in Delhi Excise Policy case on Saturday announced that he will be hold road shows in the national capital.

Taking to micro-blogging site—X, he said, “With the blessings of Hanumanji, the prayers of crores of people and the justice of the Supreme Court judges, I am very happy to be back amongst you all. See you today-11 am - Hanuman Temple, Connaught Place, 1 pm - Press conference, party office, 4 pm - Road Show - South Delhi – Mehrauli and 6 pm - Road Show - East Delhi - Krishna Nagar. You all must come.”

Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday said, "...Communists don't have their own power only the Muslims are their power...Will the country run under the signals from Pakistan? The population of the Hindus have dropped & it is concerning. Democracy in the country will be safe till the time the population of people following Sanatan are in the majority...The Muslims need to stop calling themselves minorities..."

Haryana CM Nayab Saini on Saturday said, "The governor has asked to give in writing (that we want floor test as opposition claims the govt to be in minority). Just a month back we got the vote of confidence. They always used to say such things to deviate people because Congress is left nowhere, people don't trust them due to their corrupt policies..."

Delhi’s North West district administration organised a walkathon in Rohini on Saturday to raise voting awareness.

The polling on all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi is scheduled to be held on May 25.

BJP leader and the party's candidate from UP's Sultanpur Lok Sabha seat Maneka Gandhi on Saturday said, "In my election campaigns, I always talk only about local issues. It is just about work that has been done and will be done because that interests people much more than national issues."

The security was beefed up outside Hanuman Mandir at Connaught Place in Delhi ahead of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's visit on Saturday.

AAP chief Kejriwal was granted interim bail yesterday by the Supreme Court till June 1 in Delhi Liquor Policy case.

On interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Saturday said, "The way he was arrested without solid investigation, the way it was done to Hemant Soren ji and being done with others...We are happy that he has got bail, he will campaign also. If he (Hemant Soren) is also given bail then they will be wiped out from Jharkhand also..."

In his reaction to Supreme Court granting interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal till June 1.BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam on Saturday said, "He (Arvind Kejriwal) has been granted (interim) bail, he has not been acquitted. It is a good thing because when he will go to people, they will remember that he handed liquor bottles in our children's hands."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a public gathering in Odisha's Kandamal said, “I promise that I will repay the debt of your love and support by doing more hard work and serving the nation. Along with this, I will do everything to make Odisha a developed state.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a public gathering in Odisha's Kandhamal on Saturday said, “Congress always tries to scare its own people. They ask us to walk with caution saying that Pakistan has atom bombs. Congress always had the same attitude. Due to this attitude of Congress, the people of Jammu and Kashmir faced terrorism for 60 years and the nation witnessed several terror attacks. Nation will never forget that they used to have meetings with terrorists. They didn’t dare to initiate an investigation against them after the 26/11 attack because they ... the people of INDI alliance used to think that their vote bank will get affected."

Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi on Saturday said,"Not only the (election) campaign, but the entire country has also received a boost (by the release of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal from jail). There's a hope in the entire country that the end of this dictatorship is near."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi bowed down to seek blessings from Padma Shri awardee Purnamasi Jani during a public gathering in Odisha's Kandhamal on Saturday.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh on Saturday said, "Today is Saturday - the day of Lord Hanuman. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, along with his wife and family, is coming for 'darshan' and praying to God to save the democracy and Constitution of the country. May Lord Hanuman fulfill his wishes."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday offered prayers at Hanuman Temple in Delhi's Connaught Place, along with his wife Sunita Kejriwal, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and other Aam Aadmi Party leaders.

In his reaction on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's release, BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi on Saturday said, “Arvind Kejriwal has come out and is celebrating. Kejriwal has finally become a part of the ‘jail return club’ like Lalu Prasad Yadav, Jayalalithaa, and Shibhu Soren. One who used to say that they would send Sheila Dikshit and Sonia Gandhi to jail, are now a part of the INDI alliance because all of them are against Modi.”

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said, "Section 144 has been imposed in Pulwama district, which is unprecedented and has never happened before..The PDP workers are being detained...I don't understand if the Election Commission of India wants to repeat what happened in 87 then why this drama of elections is being created..All the government machinery is being used to support the proxy groups set upped by them..."

LJP (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan on Saturday said, "At the time of going amidst the people, they are still holding meetings. None of the top leaders came to Bihar, as far as I remember Rahul Gandhi came to Bihar just once. This is not the time to do any meeting, it is time to campaign, meet the people. The opposition is now tired, and they know that their defeat is near."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday claimed that the Congress will not win even 50 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and will not be able to get opposition party status after the polls.

Addressing an election rally in Phulbani in Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat in Odisha, he asserted that a “double engine” government will be formed in the state and “a son or daughter of the soil who understands Odia language and culture” will be made the chief minister of the BJP government.

BJP national chief JP Nadda on Saturday held a roadshow in Andhra Pradesh's Tirupati.

In his reaction on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's release, BJP leader Tarun Chugh on Saturday said, “He has been released on interim bail but is celebrating. It’s shameful that someone who has come out of jail is raising slogans like ‘Inquilab Zindabad’.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a public gathering in Odisha's Balangir on Saturday said, “After witnessing all the love I am receiving in Odisha, I can say that the countdown for the farewell of the BJD government has begun. Odisha has existed since a long but the Congress has always shown pictures of poverty (of the state). BJD never did anything for that and never questioned Congress.”

He also said, "I have come here to invite you all to Bhubaneswar on June 10. It’s because, on June 10, a BJP CM will take oath.”

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi addressing Nyay Sankalp Sabha in Maharashtra's Nandurbar on Saturday said, "They (BJP) are repeatedly attacking your culture, suppressing your voice. They are giving your land to big industrialists. Hemant Soren, who was the only Tribal CM in the country, was jailed at the time of elections."

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday was seen blowing a flying kiss to his supporters and party workers as he arrives at a party event in Delhi.

He was released from Tihar Jail last evening after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail till June 1.

Punjab CM and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said, "Whether I went to Assam, Gujarat or Punjab, I just said that Arvind Kejriwal is not a person, Arvind Kejriwal is a thought, you will arrest the person, how to arrest the thought?...In the first 3 rounds (of LS polls), PM Modi got to know that this time it is not going to be '400 paar'...

While addressing a rally in Odisha's Bolangir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said, "...Under Poshan Abhiyaan, for pregnant women, I send Rs 6,000 to the bank account of every sister of Odisha but they don't get this money because Odisha govt has halted this scheme. Is this govt needed which doesn't allow to serve the poor mothers and sisters..."

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said, "I am coming straight from jail to you. It feels great to be with you after 50 days. I just went to Hanuman temple with my wife and CM Bhagwant Mann. Bajrang Bali's blessings are on our party and us. It is by his grace that I am among you today..."

Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal addressing a press conference in the national capital on Saturday said, "They (BJP) sent top four AAP leaders to jail thinking the party will disintegrate. However, this (AAP) is not a party, it is a thought. The more they want to finish, the more it will expand. The PM wants to crush the Aam Aadmi Party. Those who go to meet PM Modi, some of them know us also, they tell us that PM Modi asks about the Kejriwal and AAP first."

Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said, "If PM wants to learn about fighting corruption, he should learn from Arvind Kejriwal; we sent corrupt to jail."

He also said, "The PM is saying that he is fighting against the corruption. However, he has included some of the country's most corrupt people in his party. He used to blame a few people saying they were involved in corruption of Rs 70,000 crore, but after a few days he made them deputy CM and ministers."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his rally in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday said, "BJP 'B' team means Babu (Chandrababu Naidu), Jagan (CM Jagan Mohan Reddy) & Pawan (Pawan Kalyan)."

He also said, "former CM Rajasekhara Reddy's foot march was inspiration to my Bharta Jodo Yatra."

Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said, "I will work tirelessly, campaign across country to finish 'dictatorship' and save India."

Delhi CM and AAP chief on Saturday said, "If they (BJP) win this election, I can give this in written on affidavit that Mamata Banerjee will be in jail after a few days. Tejashwi Yadav, Stalin, Pinarayi Vijayan, Uddhav Thackeray all opposition leaders will be in jail."

Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said, "INDIA bloc will form next government."

He said, "AAP will be part of govt at Centre."

He added, "I didn't step down as CM because conspiracy was hatched to force me to resign on basis of fake case."

He also said, "After release from jail, I talked to poll experts and people, BJP is not going to form govt after June 4."

Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said, "I want to thank the Supreme Court. They have given me 21 days. There are 24 hours in a day, I will work for 36 hours in a day. I will visit across the country to stop this dictatorship. I will sacrifice my everything for the country. Every drop of my blood, every minute of my life is for the country. I will travel across the country to save my nation."

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur Anurag Thakur on Saturday said, "I want to ask - have you received financial aid of Rs 1,500 which was promised by Congress? Senior leaders of Congress promised to provide Rs 1,500 from the first month itself after forming the government, now 15 months have gone. They just want to loot the people."

In his reaction on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's ‘140 crore people should come together against dictatorship’ remark after coming out of jail, Congress leader Mukesh Nayak on Saturday said, “This country has never been in support of dictatorship. The citizens of India are not liking the centralisation of administrative and political powers between PM Modi and Amit Shah. What Arvind Kejriwal is saying is correct.”

In her reaction on her son Varun Gandhi on being denied ticket by BJP from Pibhit, the party's leader Maneka Gandhi on Saturday said, "Varun should have been there but party has taken decision, that's it."

To a question whether writings critical of govt cost son Varun LS poll ticket, she said, "can't think of one other reason".

She also said, "I am sure Varun will do very well even without LS poll ticket".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in Odisha's Bargarh on Saturday said, "Naveen Patnaik has outsourced Odisha government." He said the state is run by outsider.

He also said, "In 25 years, one entire generation grows up and starts off their new lives. But, BJD has failed to lift Odisha from poverty in 25 years. There's anger against BJD leaders among people in Odisha."

During a press conference in Patna, Bihar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “Polling has been done in three phases of Lok Sabha elections on 285 seats. By 5 pm today, the election campaigning will end for the fourth phase which is scheduled to take place on May 13 on 96 seats. Yesterday, I was in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and I am happy to tell you that it’s tough for BJP to form a government again."

National Conference's Srinagar candidate Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi spoke on contesting Lok Sabha elections when he said, "By participating in the Assembly elections or being part of that degraded Assembly, I would be legitimising the status. That is something that I do not want to do."

Further on abrogation of Article 370, he said, "We need to fight it (abrogation of Article 370) politically. We need to encourage our people to express their opinion and then mobilise that opinion and create that political space where people can speak about it,"

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in Delhi and interacted with people over lunch.

West Benga CM Mamata Banerjee questions Bengal governor's action after the molestation accusations surfaced, she said, "C V Ananda Bose must explain why he should not resign."

She then added, "Bengal Guv released edited CCTV footage of Raj Bhavan, I watched entire video and its contents are shocking."

Further Banerjee claimed that she will not visit Raj Bhavan till "C V Ananda Bose remains Bengal Guv".

Andhra Pradesh Congress chief and candidate from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, YS Sharmila addressed a public rally in the constituency earlier today.

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, Telangana said, "The Telangana government has fulfilled only one promise that it did to party (Congress) high command that it will arrange the fund from state for the party to contest the (Lok Sabha) elections. (CM) Revanth Reddy has made Telangana Congress' ATM. For appeasement and vote bank politics, the Congress has reached to such a level that party leaders like Mani Shankar Aiyar and fellow leader like Farooq Abdullah are saying that Pakistan has atom bomb. By giving such statements, they are suggesting to ignore the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. I strongly criticise this approach. The BJP believes that we will never let go our right over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is a part of India."

Exuding confidence over BJP's performance in the ongoing elections, Shah stated, "BJP is confident of winning more than 10 LS seats in Telangana." He also added, "In South India, BJP will emerge as largest party winning more number of LS seats after June 4."

"Parties in the NDA have reached near 200 seats after the first three phases of voting. The fourth phase of voting (on May 13) is very good for the NDA. We will get more success in the fourth phase than we got in the first three phases, and we will definitely proceed towards '400 paar'", said Shah.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge began his speech with the statement that, "Modi could become PM of India only because Congress fought for its Independence," and added, "Indira and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for unity of India."

Further Kharge targetted PM Modi's recent allegation of Congress' connection with business tycoons Adani and Ambani, he said, "If Ambani, Adani were sending black money to Congress, why did Modi govt not take action."

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi while addressing a public meeting in Tandur, Telangana attacked the ruling BJP in Centre about high prices of LPG cylinders, she said, "Here (Telangana), a cylinder costs Rs 500, while in other states like UP, it costs Rs 1,200. In 10 years, the central government led by PM Modi has only worked to provide benefits to capitalists."

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav addressing rally in Uttar Pradesh's Kanauj, said, "These elections, in which we are going to participate, are not ordinary elections. These elections will decide our and upcoming generations' future. This is our responsibility to remove those who want to change the Constitution."

"The (BJP-led) central government is like a father to us, but they are showing a step-motherly attitude towards us. They are doing this because they don't have their government in Jharkhand," says JMM leader Kalpana Soren, addressing a public gathering in Jharkhand's Palamu.

-PTI

Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari while addressing a ‘Jan Sabha’ in Betul's Tigariya village said, “PM Modi had promised to make the country a $5 trillion economy. Today, India has the highest number of unemployed people. India has more inflation than Bangladesh and Pakistan. Farmers are under pressure.”

Speaking at a rally in Bihar's Patna, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated, "He (PM Modi) is misusing constitutional bodies which operate on democratic principles. He is oppressing and intimidating people. I don't think any Prime Minister has ever done such things."

As PM Modi began to speak at the rally in Jharkhand's Chatra on Friday evening he claimed, "Cong has already accepted defeat in LS polls."

Speaking of merging of parties in alliance, PM Modi said, "INDIA bloc leaders planning to merge small parties post LS polls to attain opposition status," and added, "NDA govts will be formed in Andhra, Odisha, Arunachal where simultaneous assembly polls taking place."

PM Modi also attacked the opposition as he said, "We need to save country from JMM, Cong which are involved in corruption." He alleged, "Congress will get fewer seats than the age of its 'shehzada'."

PM Modi addressing rally in Jharkhand's Chatra stated, "Jharkhand govt prevents ration from reaching people, indulges in corruption even in Jal Jeevan Mission."

Further calling jailed ex-Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren 'robber', he said, “JMM and Congress have raised mounds of money here. Just imagine if crores of rupees are found in the houses of employees, then how much black money will be in the employer’s safe? More than Rs 300 crore were found in the house of a Congress MP. This money belongs to the people of Jharkhand. Do you want the robbers to stay in jail or not?”

He alleged, "We worship tribals but JMM-Cong unable to digest respect shown to them."

PM Modi speaking at Chatra rally in Jharkhand reiterated his old claim, saying, "Congress took decision to handover country's assets to Muslims; they want to snatch SC/ST/OBC reservation."

Meanwhile Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge rallying in Bihar's Patna stated, "PM Modi lying that Congress will impose inheritance tax if voted to power."

Campaigning by political parties for LS and Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh have concluded ahead of polling on May 13.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal held his first roadshow since his interim bail along with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann in Mehrauli in Delhi.

Speaking to media on Saturday, AAP leader Sanjay Singh said, "Today, Arvind Kejriwal informed the people of this country that PM Modi will retire next year after attaining 75 years of age, and Amit Shah will become the Prime Minister. Who will complete the ‘Modi Guarantee’ after his retirement? It was BJP which denied tickets to leaders above the age of 75 years; why will the same rule not apply to PM Modi? PM Modi should come forward and give clarification in this matter."

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann during a roadshow along with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in Mehrauli stated, "The BJP thought the AAP will collapse if you jail Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. However, they did not know that the AAP is an idea, and you cannot end an idea."

Addressing his first roadshow since Supreme Court granted interim bail, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal attacked ruling BJP claiming that "They want to shut everything to paralyse Delhi government", he added, "I am fighting against dictatorship."

He further said, "My fault is I provided good health facilities to Delhi people; they stopped my insulin for 15 days in jail."

""They (BJP-led central government) arrested me. I used to wonder what was my fault. I am a small man and we have a small party, with governments in two states (Delhi and Punjab). They, however, are very powerful. I built quality schools and Mohalla Clinics for the people of Delhi - was this my fault? I am a Diabetes patient, but they stopped my medicines when I was in Tihar Jail," added Kejriwal

Former Punjab CM and Congress candidate from Jalandhar seat, Charanjit Singh Channi, participated in a door-to-door campaign in the constituency on Saturday.

Answering why Baba Dubey, former Samajwadi Party MLA from Jaunpur, left the party, he said, “I was unhappy with the Lok Sabha candidate (Babu Singh Kushwaha) that the party has announced from Jaunpur. He has several criminal records against him, and I can’t campaign for such a candidate. This has been my stand always and I will follow this in future too. I will keep serving the people without joining any party.”

In his second roadshow for the day Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said, ""We need to finish dictatorship (in the country). The BJP wants to win 400 seats (in Lok Sabha) polls, they say they want to do something big... Like Russia, where no elections are held, they want to change the Constitution so that PM Modi can stay the Prime Minister forever."

When asked about Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s remark that PM Modi was going to retire soon, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan said, “He should worry about himself, he is out of jail on bail. He has to surrender on June 2. Prime Minister has his whole cabinet to deliver on ‘Modi’s guarantees’. Kejriwal is taking the help of the same corrupt individuals to save him, whom he had opposed when he first came into politics.”

Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader Eknath Shinde on Saturday participated in a roadshow in Thane in support of party candidate Naresh Mhaske.

Ahead of the fourth phase of polling, the poll parties were airdropped by the Election Commission in Jharkhand's Maoist turf West Singhbhum.