Lok Sabha Elections 2024: PM Modi Says Congress 'Promotes Violence To Hide Corruption'

BJP Candidate Mukesh Dalal is set to win the Surat polls unopposed. Nilesh Kumbhani, the Congress candidate against Dalal was disqualified over alleged discrepancies in paperwork. Along with this, all other independent candidates have pulled out from the contest for the Lok Sabha Seat

As the Election Commission stays silent after PM Modi's divisive remarks in Rajasthan, the opposition has called for the disqualification of candidates who are creating division amongst people. Congress, CPI(M) and CPI(ML)L are seeking action against PM Modi which would include a ban from campaigning.

The BJP on Monday announced that it had expelled the former Karnataka CM K S Eshwarappa for six years. As per the party, the former CM was expelled for violating party discipline and contesting the Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will continue his election rallies in Rajasthan. On Tuesday, he is scheduled to conduct rallies in Tonk and Sawai Madhopur. These rallies come amid his alleged "hate speech" on Sunday.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 are being conducted in seven phases. The first phase of polling was conducted on April 19 and saw a voter turnout of nearly 64 percent. Based on data from the ECI, Tripura recorded the highest turnout and Bihar the lowest.

The second phase of poling will be held on April 26 across 89 constituencies and 13 states.

After Manipur, the Election Commission of India has ordered repolling across eight polling stations in Arunachal Pradesh. Citing damage to EVM machines and violence, the EC has announced fresh polling on April 24 from 6 Am to 2 PM.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 kicked off on April 19 with polling across 102 constituencies in 21 states and Union territories. Over a 100 million citizens cast their votes across the constituencies. As per EC data, the estimated voter turnout stood at 63.89 percent till 9PM. Read more on the highlights of April 19 Polling here.

Union Minister and BJP Candidate Rajeev Chandrashekar was seen interacting with passengers at the Parassala Railway Station in Kerala. The Union Minister is contesting from the Lok Sabha Seat of Thiruvananthapuram and wil be going up against Congress' Shashi Tharoor

BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is all set to begin campaigning for the twin polls from April 24. As per PTI, party sources have stated that the canvassing will begin from his home turf Hinjili in Ganjam district.

Odisha wil be voting in the general elections and the legislative elections from May 13 onwards.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot has accused the BJP of diverting issues to emotional matters during the elections.

Speaking at a roadshow in Palakkad, Sachin Pilot said, “I think the response is fantastic. People have decided to vote for the UDF. In Kerala, UDF will get 20 out of 20 seats. Ten years of BJP rule we have seen this country, none of the promises are being fulfilled, all feel cheated. The promises of doubling the farmers’ income, and giving 2 crore jobs every year have not been fulfilled…People want development, people want peace and harmony, the gap between the rich and poor to go away…Our focus is on real issues, people’s issues. The BJP is trying to divert the issues to emotional matters. The people are very smart.”

Actor and BJP candidate from Meerut Arun Govil held a roadshow on Monday in his constituency which was participated by his co-actor from the television show 'Ramayana' Dipika Chikhlia.

Chikhlia told ANI, "Lord Ram has come to serve the country and we are supporting him. I urge the people to vote for Arun ji."

The Tihar Jail officials have reportedly confirmed that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal was given insulin on the advice of AIIMS doctors on Monday evening amid accusations by his wife Sunita Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party that the Centre is 'plotting to kill him'.

Telegu Desam Party Mangalagiri assembly candidate Nara Lokesh declares Rs 543 crore assets ahead of Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls.

AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi addressed a public meeting on Monday where he refuted the claims and remarks made by PM Modi against the Muslim community and said, "Are we (Muslims) infiltrators and people with many children?... Do you know how many siblings Atal Bihari Vajpayee had... Muslims are the people having many children and Vajpayee and his siblings were 7 in number... Yogi Adityanath and his siblings are 7 in number... Amit Shah and his siblings are also 7 in number. Narendra Modi and his siblings are 6 in number... We are those who have given the Taj Mahal, Qutab Minar, Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Char Minar to this nation. We have decorated this nation. We are not infiltrators. We belong to this nation. This nation is ours and will be ours."

Independent candidate from Purnea Pappu Yadav said that he's facing constant attacks from BJP leaders and aims to support the INDIA alliance, he said, "An idol is made by sharpening through hammer. They are like a scorpion, their job is to bite, but I am like a Saint who forgives every time. I was born to serve people, wipe their tears. I am not here to do the loot."

He added, "I want strengthening of INDIA alliance. They should learn patience from Lalu Yadav. They're like the kings and we are like the commons."

KS Eshwarappa was expelled from Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday for violating party discipline and contesting in Lok Sabha polls as an independent candidate from Shivamogga.

Eshwarappa held a press meet on Tuesday.

BJP Candidate and Union Minister Smriti Irani wil be conesting form UP's Amethi in the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024. With Congress yet to announce their for Amethi, Irani took a hit at leader Rahul Gandhi, whom she defeated in the 2019 polls.

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi and Robert Vadra, Irani stated - "Jijaji ki nazar hai, saale sahab kya karenge."

While addressing a gathering in Amethi, the union minister further added that "there was a time when people travelling in buses would leave their handkerchief to mark their seat so that no one sits on it. Rahul Gandhi will also come to mark his seat with a handkerchief because his brother-in-law is eyeing this seat".

For a third day in a row, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has attacked Congress and repeated the "minority" remark. Speaking at a rally in Rajasthan's Tonk, the prime minister once again stated that the Congress is "hatching deep conspiracy to snatch your property, distribute it among selected people".

BJP candidate from Chevella Lok Sabha constituency K Vishweshwar Reddy has emerged as one of the wealthiest contestants in Telangana after he declared his family assets worth Rs 4568 crore. As per PTI, Reddy filed his nomination on Monday for the Lok Sabha constituency and declared his movable and immovable assets and liabilities.

As per the affidavit filed, Reddy holds 17.77 lakh shares of Apollo Hospital Enterprises Ltd worth Rs 973.22 crore at Rs 6170 apiece and his wife Sangita Reddy holds 24.32 lakh shares worth Rs 1500.85 crore.

Asaduddin Owaisi, the leader of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, has called out PM Modi for his "blatant lies" amid the minority remark row.

Speaking at an event in Bihar, the AIMIM Chief stated that PM Modi's claim that Muslims have more children is a lie. The Hyderabad MP also condemned Modi for stereotyping the Muslim community and added that Modi himself has six siblings. Read more here.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan defended his recent recollection of Rahul Gandhi's "old name". As per PTI, the Kerala CM stated that his recollection was in response to certain statements made by the Rahul Gandhi during his campaigning in the state. As per the left leader, Gandhi's statements helped the BJP and agencies under its control.

Vijayan added further that such conduct from the Gandhi was "completely immature" and he should not simply repeat what his party's leaders in the state tell him.

"That is why I said he should not go back to his old name," stated Vijayan during a press conference, reffering to the nickname of "Amul Baby" coined by Marxist veteran and former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan a decade ago.

In Rajasthan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained unaffected by the opposition's backlash regarding his "minority" remark and continued to say that the Congress will "redistribute wealth to selected people".

Speaking at Tonk, after Banswara and Aligarh, PM Modi once again said - "I put forth the truth that Congress is plotting to snatch your property and distribute it to their special people...When I exposed their politics, they got so angry that they started abusing Modi...I want to know from Congress why are they so afraid of the truth?" 

Read more on PM Modi's 'Minority' Remark Row here

The second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will commence on Friday. During this phase, 13 states will head to the polls to cast their vote. These are -

1. Assam

2. Bihar

3. Chhattisgarh

4. Karnataka

5. Kerala

6. Madhya Pradesh

7. Maharashtra

8. Manipur

9. Rajasthan

10. Tripura

11. Uttar Pradesh

12. West Bengal

13. Jammu and Kashmir

When a citizen goes to cast their vote, they are met with various options on the EVM machines. A list of all candidates, political parties and their symbols will be presented on the machine. Along with this, a NOTA option is also made available to voters.

NOTA stands for 'None of the above" and is used by voters when they do not wish to vote any of the candidates mentioned. While NOTA votes show a person's rejection to support any of the parties, it is often considered a "wasted vote".

For instance, if NOTA gets the highest number of votes during polling, the candidate with the second highest votes is declared the winner. However, another theory suggests that NOTA votes are crucial as they deduct votes from political parties, resulting in the victory margins to shift or reduce.

Speaking at a rally in Tonk, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that under the Congress government's rule, listening to the Hanuman Chalisa and celebrating Ram Navami became crimes.

"In the rule of Congress, even listening to Hanuman Chalisa becomes a crime. Rajasthan has been its sufferer...For the first time on Ram Navami this time, Shobha Yatra procession was taken out in Rajasthan...In a state like Rajasthan where people chant Ram-Ram, Congress banned Ram Navami..."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated the his remark on Congress' plan for redistribution of wealth sent the opposition bloc into panic mode.

"The day before yesterday in Rajasthan I put forth some truth in front of the country and the entire Congress and INDI alliance went into a panic. I put forth the truth that Congress is plotting to snatch your property and distribute it to their special people...When I exposed their politics, they got so angry that they started abusing Modi," stated the PM at Tonk.

While PM Modi may have made the remarks at the rally in Rajasthan's Banswara on Sunday citing former PM Manmohan Singh's alleged statement that the minority community had the first claim on the country's resources, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks from a public meeting in Hyderabad on party's plan of "wealth redistribution" have gone viral amid the row over.

On April 6, a day after the Congress released its manifesto, Rahul Gandhi at a rally in Hyderabad had said if voted to power, the party will conduct a financial and institutional survey to ascertain the distribution of wealth among the people in the country.

Delhi Rouse Avenue Court has once again extended Arvind Kejriwal's judicial custody. As per the latest orders, the Delhi CM's custody has been extended till May 7. Along with Kejriwal, BRS Leader K Kavitha's custody has also been extended. Both leaders are lodged at Tihar Jail in relation to the Delhi liquor policy scam.

Kejriwal's judical custody extensions comes ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, which is scheduled for May 25.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath echoed PM Modi's "minority remark" aginst Congress and stated that the opposition was unable tackle overty despite coining the sloga "Garbi Hatao".

"Congress gave the slogan of 'Garibi Hatao' in 1970, poverty was not eradicated but one family got complete freedom to loot the resources of the country...The then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said while being the Prime Minister that Muslims have the first right to the resources of the country...So where will our Dalits, backward, poor, farmers etc. go?... Those who have come before you today in the form of INDI alliance have betrayed the country and have come before you with their manifesto to betray again...Congress says that if our government is formed then we will implement Sharia law... India will run by the Constitution made by Bhimrao Ambedkar and not by any Sharia law," stated the UP CM.

Addressing a public rally in Jharkhand's Khunti, Defence Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday that PM Modi dialed Russian President Putin and Ukraine President Zelenskky amid their war to get Indians evacuated from there.

"The war between Russia and Ukraine has been going on for more than two years. Both of them were firing bombs and missiles towards each other. Thousands of Indian children were there when the war started. Their parents here in India were worried about them... They met PM Modi and asked him to get the children back to India in whichever way possible. How was that possible amid the bombing?" Rajnath Singh said.

"PM Modi picked up the phone and dialled Russian President Putin and Ukraine President Zelenskky and spoke to them. The war was paused for four and a half hours and 22,500 of our children returned back to India...," Singh added.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the TMC-led West Bengal government over several issues such as corruption, infiltration, and CAA, asserting that only the BJP can end the misrule of the Trinamool Congress in the state.

Addressing a rally at Karandighi in Raiganj constituency, Shah said the party has set a target of winning 35 Lok Sabha seats from West Bengal.

"The Calcutta High Court yesterday gave a judgment cancelling thousands of appointments (made through the 2016 teacher recruitment test). It is a matter of shame that jobs were sold for lakhs of rupees. This cut-money culture and corruption must end in West Bengal. The TMC can never stop it, only the BJP can stop it," he said.

Hitting out at the Congress over remarks by its leaders that the CAA would be repealed if they are voted to power, Shah said, "Neither Congress nor Mamata Banerjee can dare to touch the CAA."

BJP on Tuesday announced the candidature of Tashi Gyalson from Ladakh Constituency, replacing its current MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal from this seat.

The victory of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Gujarat's Surat seat in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 has triggered a war of words between the Congress and the saffron party and a social media debate over NOTA (None Of The Above Option), with the former complaining to the poll body alleging that the election of the BJP candidate was done by exerting "wrong and undue influence" and demanding the poll process in the seat be restarted. Read More Here

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a roadshow in Meerut with party candidate Arun Govil, former TV star of Ramayan.

Meerut will vote on April 26.

Addressing a public rally in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "...Jis Congress se Delhi ka bharosa tak uth gaya ho, uspar Chhattisgarh bharosa kaise kar sakta hai?... [the Congress from which entire country's faith is lost, how can Chhattisgarh have faith in it]".

BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai on Tuesdai said after Phase 1 of the Lok Sabha elections was over, whatever little hope Congress had "got dashed".

"Even in the strong seats of Congress in Tamil Nadu and other parts of India, exit poll is projecting that NDA is going to win more than 25 extra seats than it got in 2019. So it is very clear that the INDI engine has failed in phase 1 and after that the INDI alliance will not even take-off...," Annamalai said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday during a rally in Chhattisgarh's Mahasamund, "We need a strong government to make India 'viksit' (developed). Therefore, the people trust only the BJP. On the other hand, we have the INDI alliance, who are fighting among themselves. Two days back, they held a rally in Jharkhand where they openly ridiculed each other."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he "will bear the cost of treatment of senior citizens above 70 years of age".

During a rally in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari, he also targeted Congress saying , "Whenever Congress was in power, it derailed the development. Wherever Congress was in power, violence and corruption reached their peak there. Violence never ended in Northeast when Congress was there (in power). Similarly, Naxalism continued to increase when Congress was in Chhattisgarh. What's the connection between Congress and violence? The answer is corruption. Congress promotes violence to hide its corruption."

He added, "It was due to Congress that a large section of our population remained backward."

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra while addressing a rally in Karnataka's Chitradurga said, "PM Modi brought a scheme - electoral bond. Under this scheme, anyone who would fund a political party, his or her name would not be disclosed. However, the Supreme Court said that this scheme would lead to an increase in corruption, and the names of those who have funded a political party should be disclosed."

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Brajesh Pathak

On Tuesday said, “Samajwadi Party will be wiped out of Amethi, Congress has already been wiped out. The BJP will win the Amethi Lok Sabha seat with a thumping majority.”

Congress leader SrikantJena on Tuesday said, "He (PM Modi) wants to communalise the elections, but people are not fool. They tried it earlier, but people are not fool. People know what he is trying to do. In the 2014 (Lok Sabha) elections, you had guaranteed 2 crore jobs every year, but how many people have been appointed (since then)? Have you doubled the income of farmers? Farmers are suffering and unemployment rate has also increased."

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Tuesday said for 70 years, Congress "pampered" Article 370 like an “illegitimate child”.

During his address at a rally in Maharashtra’s Akola he said, “We did not use our majority to change Constitution but to remove Article 370 in Kashmir”.

He also said, “Congress put hurdles in Ram temple construction but PM Modi ensured it was built”.

In his reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'mangalsutra' remark,Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said, "Although the election trends come later, however, just after the first phase (of voting), trends of election results are visible. Such remarks weaken our democracy. The Constitution and Election Commission prohibits everyone from making such comments."

Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday addressed a public gathering in Vizianagaram.

Bollywood actor and BJP leader Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday held a roadshow in Rajasthan's Bali.

TDP's candidate for Guntur Lok Sabha seat P Chandra Sekhar has captured headlines after he declared his family assets —both movable and immovable— at Rs 5,785 crore, in his election affidavit, potentially making him one of the wealthiest contestants in the current electoral race.

Congress leader P Chidabaram on Tuesday said, "We opposed the CAA when it was introduced in the Parliament. We stand in solidarity with those who protested against the CAA. The CAA is patently discriminatory, we are restrained because the matter is sub judice in the Supreme Court, but our views are quite clear. The CAA selects three countries and six religious groups; for example, it leaves out the Tamils of Sri Lanka and Myanmar, why?"

Andhra Pradesh Congress president YS Sharmila on Tuesday addressed a public gathering in Bapatla.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot while addressing a public rally in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday said, "In the last 10 years, BJP has got a full majority government and all they have done is play with the Constitution and institution of this country. The transparency, functioning and the credibility of institutions is under threat. I believe we, UDF (United Democratic Front) and INDIA bloc, have given a blueprint and framework for the next five years."

BSP chief Mayawati while addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh on Tuesday said, "Our party believes in talking less and doing more. The biggest proof of this is that our party, which formed government four times in UP without announcing a manifesto, did a lot of historic things for the public."

Union Minister and BJP leader Ramdas Athawale during a press conference in Bihar's Patna on Tuesday said, "From 2019 to 2024, the Modi government took the key decision to pass the Women's Reservation Bill. Besides, Article 370 was abrogated and Jammu and Kashmir has been fully integrated to India. Terrorism has also ended there 99 per cent, and tourism has increased there. The Modi government implemented the BR Ambedkar's Constitution there. This didn't happen under Congress."

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister Nisith Pramanik and West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday held a roadshow at Siliguri's Hill cart road in support of Raju Bista, BJP candidate from Darjeeling constituency.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday said the Congress wants to implement Sharia law across the country.

His remarks come days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed the party had promised to redistribute people's property to the Muslim community.

During his address at a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha he said, "The Congress and its allies have betrayed the country and have once again come to you with their false manifesto. If you look at the Congress' manifesto, they say that if they form a government, we will implement Sharia law.”

Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani interacted with locals in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi on Tuesday as part of her poll campaign.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi during a rally in Karnataka slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday saying, "When there was war, Indira Gandhi donated her gold."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday addressed a public gathering Buldhana.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday during a rally in Karnataka said, "My mother''s ''Mangalsutra'' was sacrificed for this country".

Her remarks in reaction to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'mangalsutra' remark.

Bollywood actor and BJP leader Kangana Ranaut on Tuesday during a roadshow in Rajasthan's Jodhpur said, "Ab ki baar, 400 paar."