Elections 2024: TMC Not To Attend INDIA-bloc's Delhi Meet On June 1

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday said, "On one hand, we all BJP people are working dedicatedly under the leadership of PM Modi, on the other hand, Congress is only interested in its personal greed. Before 2014, there used to be scams every day, at that time there was a rain of corruption. But in the last 10 years, not a single scam has happened under the leadership of PM Modi..."

As per the latest reports, the INDIA bloc is all set to meet on June 1, which is also the last phase for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The meeting will reportedly be held to review the general elections and to discuss the coalition's future course of actions ahead of the results on June 4.

For Phase 6 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on May 25, the approximate voter turnout stood at 61.75 per cent, according to the Election Commission of India. This number is slightly less than the turnout for the same 58 seats in 2019, which stood at 64.73 per cent.

Ahead of the final phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, top leaders from the BJP and the Congress will once again make a beeline to Odisha. Odisha has been voting for the Lok Sabha as well as its assembly elections simultaneously.

PM Narendra Modi will visit Odisha on May 29 and address three public meetings in Baripada, Balasore and Kendrapara, as per BJP’s Odisha unit vice-president Golak Mohapatra.

Ahead of PM Modi's visit, Home Minister Amit Shah will address three rallies in Chandbali, Korei and Nimapada on May 28.

As per the official press release issued by the Election Commission of India, the voter turnout for Phase 6 stood at 61.20% as of 11:45 PM on may 25.

However, as per the latest data from the EC's Voter Turnout App, the voter turnout stands at 63.36% with the highest turnout from West Bengal - 82.71%

On May 25, during Phase 6 of the general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a rally in Bihar, stated that the opposition INDIA bloc will perform 'mujras' in order to please their vote banks. In response to the prime minister's comments, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged PM Modi to maintain the decorum of his post.

The seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is scheduled to be held on June 1. For the final polls, a total of 57 constituencies will be voting across eight states.

Once the June 1 polls have concluded, ECI will then work towards the result declaration for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on June 4.

The Odisha assembly elections, which were held simultaneously with the general elections, will also conclude on June 1, 2024. The Odisha Vidhan Sabha elections were held in four phases from May 13 to June 1. The results of the Odisha elections will be declared on the same day as the Lok Sabha polls - June 4.

With his interim bail ending on June 1, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party leader has sought an extension. Moving the Supreme Court, the Delhi CM is seeking an extension on his bail by seven days. As per Aam Aadmi Party, the leader has sought for an extension on health grounds.

Polling for by-election to the Telangana Legislative Council from Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Graduates’ constituency was underway on Monday with voters standing in queues to exercise their franchise.

Polling began at 8 am and will end at 4 pm, according to officials.

The by-election was necessitated following the resignation of sitting BRS MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy who won the Assembly polls from the Jangaon constituency on November 30 last year.

The Congress party has nominated Chinthapandu Naveen alias Teenmar Mallanna and BJP fielded G Premender Reddy, while A Rakesh Reddy is BRS’ contestant.

(With PTI inputs)

• The most recent incident - PM Modi accused the INDIA alliance of performing "mujra" to appease its vote bank. PM Modi's statement were made during Phase 6 of the general elections during a rally in Bihar

• Rahul Gandhi's "two types of soldiers" remark also sparked controversy. The Congress leader stated that PM Modi has created two types of soldiers in the country - "One is the son of a poor, Dalit, minorities and the other is from a rich family."

• PM Modi sparked another controversy earlier in the elections when he referred to Muslims as "infiltrators" and "those who have more children" while attacking Congress' wealth redistribution scheme.

A total of 57 parliamentary constituencies will head to the polls on June 1 for the final phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. These are -

• Bihar: Patna Sahib, Pataliputra, Arrah, Buxar, Sasaram, Karakat and Jahanabad

• Chandigarh: Chandigarh

• Chhattisgarh: Bastar

• Himachal Pradesh: Mandi, Hamirpur and Shimla

• Jammu And Kashmir: Baramulla

• Jharkhand: Dumka and Godda

• Karnataka: Udupi Chikmagalur

• Odisha: Balasore, Bhadrak, Jaipur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur

• Puducherry: Puducherry

• Punjab: Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Anandpur Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Firozpur, Bathinda, Sangrur and Patiala

• Rajasthan: Tonk-Sawai Madhopur

• Uttar Pradesh: Gorakhpur, Kushi Nagar, Deoria, Bansgaon, Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur and Robertsganj

• Uttarakhand: Tehri Garhwal

• West Bengal: Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin and Kolkata Uttar

Punjab's Jalandhar parliamentary constituency is likely to witness an interesting political bout as a former chief minister and three turncoats are vying to win the seat reserved for Scheduled Castes.

Considered a Congress citadel, the Jalandhar seat was once represented by Inder Kumar Gujral who served as the country's 12th prime minister.

To ensure no political rival could breach its fortress, the Congress has placed its bet on Dalit leader and former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, who had an MLA from Chamkaur Sahib seat in Rupnagar district.

The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded two-time former Akali MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu who joined the state's ruling party in April.

The BJP has placed its trust on sitting MP Sushil Rinku, who was first announced as the candidate by the AAP. However, Rinku left the AAP and joined the saffron party to fight from the Jalandhar seat. Rinku had last year quit the Congress and joined the AAP.

The Sukhbir Singh Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has fielded former Punjab Congress chief and former MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee from the seat. Kaypee jumped the ship from the Congress to the SAD last month.

(PTI inputs)

Former Rajasthan CM & Congress leader Ashok Gehlot speaking to media on Monday regarding the ongoing elections and PM Modi's allegations against Congress, said, "No matter what govt says, nothing will happen. We have given reservations on the recommendations of the OBC Commission. Not all Muslims avail reservations but those who are backwards do... The PM's language isn't taken lightly by the people and what Priyanka Gandhi has said is a befitting reply to the PM. PM Narendra Modi has no right to demean the dignity of the PM's post. What he has been saying will also be a reason for his defeat..."

Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel spoke about the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, he said, "The voting for the seventh phase is remaining. It was seen in all the phases, people want change. He does not have a vision and in the last 10 years, people have only experienced loss. People are afraid of a likely dictatorship if Modi comes to power."

Priyanka Gandhi during her address in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba said, "All BJP leaders starting from PM Modi have just one purpose -- to grab power at any cost."

She also alleged, "Modi govt's policies aimed at millionaires, PM can waive their loans but has no money for old pension scheme."

Gandhi stated, “They (BJP) only want to stay in power and will do anything to remain in power. Agniveer Scheme is the result of this politics and for this, they need a lot of money. This money comes from billionaires and therefore, they have only made schemes for these billionaires.”

"For a long time politics meant divide and rule but now politics of development is going on", JP Nadda stated as he began to address the public at a rally in Varanasi.

Nadda offered prayers before he joined the rally on Monday

Taking a jab at PM Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "After June 4, if ED asks Modi about corruption, he will say, ‘I don't know anything...I was sent by God’" referring to the prime minister's recent claim where he said he doesn't think he is 'biological but sent from the universe for a mission'.

Rahul Gandhi speaks about the promises by the INDIA bloc, said, "When INDIA block will form govt, Agnipath scheme of recruitment in defence services will be removed."

He added, "Govt formed by INDIA bloc will deposit Rs 8500 in every woman's account each month," and "open all closed industries, fill up 30 lakh job vacancies."

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal addressing a public gathering in Amritsar, Punjab said, "The money that went on corruption, we have saved that money and provided free electricity to you. In the entire country, only two states are getting free electricity, Delhi and Punjab."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah attacked Congress at the Kushinagar rally in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, he said, "Cong president Kharge going to lose his job after LS polls; Rahul, Priyanka will not be blamed for defeat."

"On June 4, Rahul Gandhi's people will do press conference saying they lost due to EVMs," added Shah.

He also claimed that in 5 phases of LS polls, "Modi has crossed 310 seats; Rahul will not cross 40, Akhilesh will not get even 4 seats on June 4".

During an interview with news agency PTI, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has issued another tough message when it comes to Jammu and Kashmir. As per PTI, the minister said that no family member of any terrorist nor close relatives of stone pelters will get government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir.

"In Kashmir, we have taken a decision that if someone joins a terrorist organisation, their family members will not get any government job," Shah told PTI.

Accusing the opposition of planning to give reservation based on religion, BJP national president JP Nadda has said - "It is clearly written in the Constitution that there will be no religion-based reservation.”

"As long as PM Modi and BJP are in power, there will be no such reservation. We will not allow anyone to encroach on the reservation of our Dalit, tribal, backward and extremely backward classes. You will see what will happen to the opposition on June 4 (the vote counting day)," stated Nadda while talking to reporters in Varanasi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, contesting from Varanasi, and Actor Kangana Ranaut, contesting from mandi, will be among the key candidates for the final phase of the Lok Sabha Elections.

Phase 7 Key Contenders -

• Varanasi: PM Narendra Modi, BJP

• Baramulla: Omar Abdullah, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference

• Jadavpur: Saayoni Ghosh, TMC

• Mandi: Kangana Ranaut, BJP

• Gorakhpur: Ravi Kishan, BJP

• Diamond Harbour: Abhishek Banerjee, TMC

• Udupi Chikmagalur: K. Jayaprakash Hegde, Congress

As per the Election Commission of India, the oarliamentary constituency of Anantnag-Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir made history during the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections.

The Jammu and Kashmir seat recorded its highest turnout in the last 35 years at 51.35%.

Independent MLA Rakesh Daulatabad from the Badshahpur assembly constituency died of a heart attack on Saturday morning, police said.

After casting his vote for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, the 45-year-old MLA suffered a heart attack in his farm house in the morning, a senior police officer said. He died during treatment at Manipal Hospital in Palam Vihar here, they said.

Later in the evening, he was cremated with state honours at Swarg Ashram in Daulatabad village, an official said. Daulatabad had won the Badshahpur seat in the 2019 assembly elections as an independent candidate and later supported the BJP government. He had also contested from Badshahpur in 2009 and 2014 but lost.

(via PTI)

Addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar, Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah said NDA's victory is certain on June 4, the counting day for Lok Sabha elections 2024.

"On 4th June, NDA's victory is certain and on the same day, Rahul Gandhi's team will hold a press conference and start blaming the EVM for their loss. Mallikarjun Kharge needs to understand that these siblings (Rahul-Priyanka) won't be blamed and that he will be blamed for the loss and will be sacked from his job," Amit Shah said.

Rahul Gandhi on Monday addressed a rally in Bihar's Paliganj where he said:

"When INDIA block will form government, Agnipath scheme of recruitment in defence services will be removed"

"Government formed by INDIA bloc will deposit Rs 8500 in every woman's account each month"

"Government formed by INDIA bloc will open all closed industries, fill up 30 lakh job vacancies"

"PM Modi has not done anything good for poor and farmers in 10 years"

"BJP, RSS people openly saying they will change constitution; we will not allow this to happen"

Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah said on Monday that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will lose his job after the Lok Sabha poll results are announced on June 4 but Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will not be blamed for the "defeat".

Shah said Rahul Gandhi's people will also do a press conference post polls, saying they lost due to EVMs. "I have the details of the first five phases. In five phases of the Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi has crossed 310 seats. Rahul will not cross 40 and Akhilesh Yadav will not get even 4 seats on June 4," he said at an election rally in UP's Kushinagar.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that the leaders of opposition bloc 'INDIA' have indicated their "intention" to implement "Talibani rule" in the country and confine women to their homes.

At an election rally in the Ghosi Assembly constituency in favour of BJP ally and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party candidate Arvind Rajbhar, UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that the Congress and Samajwadi Party have a negative mindset.

"They stand against Lord Ram and the nation, denying Dalits and backward communities their rights. Now, they have set their sights on reservations for OBC castes," news agency ANI quoted Adityanath as saying.

"There is talk of taking away reservations meant for the OBCs and allocating them to Muslims. But we will not allow this to happen. These rights belong to the OBC caste and we will not permit them to be usurped," he said.

"We must be wary of the INDI alliance, as they proclaim that if they come to power, they will impose inheritance tax. This tax is akin to Aurangzeb's 'Jizya tax'. Moreover, they declare that if they assume power, they will enforce personal laws, indicating their desire to implement Talibani and Sharia law in the country," the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.

Karnataka Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna, who left the country after his sex tapes surfaced and subsequent sexual harassment cases were filed against him, has announced that he will appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on May 31.

"Don’t mistake me, on the 31st at 10 am, I will be in front of the SIT and I will cooperate. I trust the judiciary and these are false cases against me. I trust the law," Prajwal Revanna said in a video message.

The 33-year-old Hassan MP has been accused of sexually abusing several women over the past few years. Along with sexual abuse charges, Revanna, the grandson JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, is also facing rape allegations. READ FULL STORY

Due to inclement weather in Jharkhand's Sahibganj, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's chopper could not land near the public meeting. He then addressed the public meeting by mobile phone.

Rajnath Singh was scheduled to address a public meeting for candidate Tala Marandi of Rajmahal Constituency.

A portion of the stage set for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's rally in Bihar's Paliganj collapsed on Monday as he arrived with other party leaders. No one was harmed in the incident.

On his plea in the Supreme Court seeking an extension of his interim bail by seven days, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday that he has lost a lot of weight drastically, adding that it is concerning. He said he has been prescribed severam medical tests for which he has sought one-week extension.

"...My weight has fallen a lot. If a person's weight falls by 7 kg in a month without any reason, then it is a very serious problem. So the doctors have prescribed several tests. I have asked for seven days so that I can get all my tests done within a week. There could be some serious disease going on inside...The doctors said that if all the tests are done then at least we will know whether some serious disease is going on inside or not…," Kejriwal said.

Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal, who was in jail in connection with the excise policy case, was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court till June 1 for election campaigning.

Reacting to support for Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from a Pakistani leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a "very serious matter of investigation". In an exclusive interview with news agency IANS, he, however, added, "I don't think I should comment on such topics from the position I am in, but I can understand your concern".

Former Pakistan minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain -- who recently shared a video of Rahul Gandhi and praised him -- praised Arvind Kejriwal also with a post on microblogging platform X of a photo of Kejriwal and his family at the polling booth on May 25 when Delhi was voting for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Asked about it, PM Modi told IANS, "I don't know why only a few people are liked by those who have enmity with us, why there are only a few people in whose support voices are raised from there".

Chaudhry, a minister in Imran Khan's cabinet, had earlier also shared a post on social media over Kejriwal, giving him a thumbs up when he got interim bail from the Supreme Court. "Modi G Lost another battle #Kejriwal released... good news for moderate India," he had said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath on Monday said, "Think of the time before 2017, what was the situation in Kashi. Extortion was normalised, the mafia was dominating and they interfered in everything. Anarchy was at its peak... There was 'mafia-raj' across the whole state. The central government was on its knees in front of Naxalites and the state government was on its knees against the mafia. Today, everyone can see New India and New Uttar Pradesh. You are the leaders of this transformation because you supported the BJP and PM Modi..."

TMC on Monday said it will not attend the Opposition INDIA-bloc's meet scheduled on June 1 in Delhi.

On Odisha Assembly polls and Lok Sabha elections, Assam CM and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said, "We have nearly formed the government in Odisha, and we have already won more than 16 seats in Lok Sabha elections in the state."

BJP national president JP Nadda on Monday said, "On June 4, PM Modi is going to become the Prime Minister for the third time and this will be a big news for the world....Nobody can stop India from moving ahead now."

Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday said,"Rahul Gandhi is dreaming a lot... Rahul Gandhi is comparing himself with PM Modi's integrity. PM Modi's image is clean... You (Rahul Gandhi) is 'Daagdaar'... All his partners are in jail or convicted... He is disappointed... He keeps coming up with new words like 'Khata Khat' and 'Pata pat'. On June 4, people will do 'Chatachat'..."

West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on Monday said, "There will be surprising results for our opponents. People have faith in Prime Minister Modi, not Mamata Banerjee. People will bless Prime Minister Modi... People have rejected Congress, TMC... BJP is going to win and come back to power ..."

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday said, "You just hype them up. BJP people do not stay on the ground... We are forming the government and Rahul Gandhi is right about it..."

Union Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Monday said, "Our nukkad meetings are bigger than the rallies of Congress. This shows the enthusiasm and love of people for PM Modi. People are appreciating the work that has been done by the Bharatiya Janata Party."