Election 2024: Rahul Hits Back At Modi With ‘ED Probe’ Challenge On Ambani-Adani Charge

On Tuesday, the third phase of the high-octane Lok Sabha polls concluded with an overall voter turnout of approximately 62.82 per cent, according to the Election Commission. Polling took place at 93 constituencies across 11 states and UTs. The fourth phase of polling is scheduled on May 13 when 96 constituencies across 10 states will undergo polling.

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.

• Phase 1/April 19 - 21 states/UTs (concluded)

• Phase 2/April 26 - 13 states/UTs - (concluded)

• Phase 3/May 7 - 12 states/UTs - (concluded)

• Phase 4/May 13 - 10 states/UTs

• Phase 5/May 20 - 8 states/UTs

• Phase 6/May 25 - 7 states/UTs

• Phase 7/June 1 -  8 states/UTs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Wednesday address an election meeting in Andhra Pradesh's Annamayya district and hold a roadshow at Vijayawada in NTR district.

The meeting is scheduled around 2 pm at Kaliri near Rajampeta while the roadshow is expected to commence around 5 pm from the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium on Bandar Road in Vijayawada.

(PTI Inputs)

A bus carrying polling officials and electronic voting machines caught fire in Madhya Pradesh's Betul district, causing damage to a few EVMs, according to a senior official.

The fire broke out because of a spark in the bus, but no one suffered any injuries in the incident, the collector said.

However, no polling staff and the driver of the bus suffered any injury in the incident, Betul Collector Narendra Suryavanshi told PTI over the phone.

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), nearly 65 per cent voter turnout was recorded on Tuesday in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union Territories.

Assam recorded the highest turnout at 81.71 per cent followed by West Bengal at 76.52 per cent and Goa at 75.20 per cent, while Uttar Pradesh witnessed the lowest at 57.34 per cent, with Bihar at 58.18 per cent, Gujarat at 59.51 per cent and Maharashtra at 61.44 per cent doing slightly better, according to the figures from the Election Commission at 12.15 am.

The overall voting percentage was 64.58 per cent. According to the EC, the figures are an "approximate trend" and are likely to rise as data is being collected.

Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday claimed the BJP-led NDA wants a 400-plus seat mandate so that they can change the Constitution.

"For them (BJP) the Constitution of India is a burden. They think why should they follow the Constitution written by a Dalit? They want 400-plus seats so that they can change the Constitution written by Dr B R Ambedkar," Thackeray claimed.

Former Amritsar Deputy Mayor Avinash Jolly resigned from AAP and joined BJP, yesterday, in Amritsar.

While criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his wish to hand over 'Jal, Jungle, Jameen' belonging to tribals to industrialists, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said, "PM wants to hand over the 'Jal, Jungle, Jameen' of the tribals to 14-15 industrialists...Narendra Modi works for Adani, Ambani ...he made 22 people billionaires in his 10-year tenure... We will provide Rs 1 lakh annually to poor women if voted to power."

Addressing an election rally in Jharkhand's Chaibasa, Gandhi promised to make crores of people 'lakhpati' if voted to power.

Police in Maharashtra's Raigad district registered a non-cognisable case against a voter who made reels on his mobile phone while casting his vote on Tuesday and later published it on social media platforms, an official said.

As per reports, a voter, Prasad Sharad Gondhali, took out his mobile phone and made a reel of the process of casting his vote and also of the voting to a particular candidate, said the official.

After recording the video of the process and making reels of it, the accused allegedly displayed it on his Instagram account and also put it as status message of his WhatsApp.

In an attempt to increase voter turnout in the third phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, district administration organised a lucky draw yesterday at a polling booth in Bhopal.

According to Ritesh Sharma, Assistant Nodal Officer, "Keeping in mind the low voter turnout in the last two phases, this is an initiative from the Bhopal administration to encourage voters to come out and cast their votes. We are conducting a lucky draw and three voters at each booth are going to get gifts. At booth number 211, a voter won a diamond ring..."

Police have arrested an Army jawan, identified as Maruti Dhakne (42), in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city after he allegedly demanded Rs 2.5 crore from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve for manipulating the EVMs, an official said.

Danve, the leader of the opposition in the state legislative council, filed a written complaint with police after the accused allegedly demanded the money from him.

The accused made the claim in a bid to clear his debt. He knows nothing about the EVMs, the police said.

In connection to an incident where a bus carrying EVMs caught fire in Madhya Pradesh's Betul, District Collector Narendra Kumar Suryavanshi said, "We have sent a report to the Election Commission. We will further investigate after ECI's directions. Only the Commission will be able to identify the technical issues."

No polling staff and the driver of the bus suffered any injury in the incident. The incident took place near Gola village in the district around 11 pm on Tuesday.

Polling was peaceful in four parliamentary seats in Assam's third and final phase of elections on Tuesday with a voter turnout of 79.79 per cent recorded, officials said.

The final polling figure will be available on Wednesday, officials said. Dhubri recorded the highest polling percentage at 85.43, followed by Barpeta at 79.62, Guwahati at 75.67 and Kokrajhar at 75.55.

"An estimated 79.79 per cent of the 81.49 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the four parliamentary constituencies in Assam. Polling ended at 5 pm with no untoward incident reported during the day," an election official said.

A total of 965 Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) components -- control units, VVPATs and ballot units -- were replaced due to malfunctioning, another official said.

Karnataka on Tuesday logged an approximate voter turnout of 70.41 per cent in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024. In Karnataka, 14 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats were in the fray in the third phase on Tuesday. Voting in the other 14 seats have already taken place.

Holding a roadshow, former Haryana CM and BJP candidate from Karnal Lok Sabha seat, Manohar Lal Khattar said, "...This is the election of the largest Panchayat in the nation... The Congress party have not done any work. That's why they regret it. They have lost hope. You have to make us win all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana. This time, PM Modi has set a target to get more than 400 seats. The Congress people are asking when the BJP can form a government with 272 seats, then why do they need 400 seats? They are scared that if the government will be stronger, it will tighten the noose on corrupt people..."

"Hundreds of people have come here in support...In this area, the BJP is winning from the past 3 elections. This time, we will register a win with more votes than last time. We will win all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana...", Khattar added.

Addressing a poll rally in Telangana's Karimnagar, PM Modi said, "I am overwhelmed and fortunate that you all have come here to bless me. I am indebted to you all."

The stage is set for a riveting electoral battle in Haryana's Hisar Lok Sabha constituency where three members of the influential Chautala family, split along political lines, have locked horns.

Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) MLA Naina Chautala, and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) candidate Sunaina Chautala -- the two 'bahus' or daughters-in-law of the Chautala clan -- and BJP's Ranjit Singh Chautala are pitted against each other.

Ranjit Chautala is the brother of the fathers-in-law of Sunaina Chautala and Naina Chautala -- a relationship sometimes referred to as 'chacha sasur'.

(PTI Input)

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said her party's 100-year-old relationship with the people of Raebareli has entered a new era and the people of the constituency are once again ready for its leadership.

"The Congress relationship of 100 years of service' with the people of Rae Bareli has entered a new phase and the Rae Bareli family is once again ready for its leadership. Today, I will meet my family members through street meetings in various areas of Bachhrawan, Raebareli," she said in a post in Hindi on X.

While addressing a public meeting in Telangana's Karimnagar, PM Narendra Modi said, 'Shehzada' of Congress, since his issue of Rafale grounded, he started talking about '5 industrialists' all the time in the last five years...later he started saying 'Ambani-Adani', but after the elections were announced, he stopped abusing 'Ambani-Adani'. I want to ask him, 'Shehzada ye ghoshit karein ki Ambani-Adani se kitna maal uthaya hai'...What has been the deal that you stopped abusing 'Ambani-Adani' overnight..."

Only three women have made it to the Lok Sabha from Himachal Pradesh in the past 72 years and this time, just two are in the fray. Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Chandresh Kumari and Pratibha Singh, the three successful candidates till now belonged to royal families.

Only the BJP and the BSP have nominated women candidates for the June 1 elections for the four Lok Sabha seats in the state. While the BJP has fielded actor Kangana Ranaut from Mandi, Rekha Rani is contesting on a BSP ticket from Kangra.

Women constitute almost 49 per cent of the total voters in the state.

Reacting to PM Modi's Ambani-Adani remark targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, while addressing a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli, said "Today he (PM Narendra Modi) said Rahul ji is not taking Adani-Ambani names. But Rahul ji talks about Adani-Ambani every day, he puts the truth about them before the public. Every day we tell you that they (BJP) have a nexus with big industrialists. They waived off Rs 16 lakh crores of his friends. In UP, farmers are committing suicide but their loans were not waived off...."

For Phase 3 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the voter turnout was recorded at 64.4 per cent, as per the figures available at 11.40 PM on Tuesday.

In 2019, the same constituencies had recorded a turnout of 67.33 per cent.

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday held a roadshow in support of party's candidate from Berhampore Yusuf Pathan in West Bengal.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav during a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur on Wednesday said, "If the poor have mortgaged their gold ever, it's the most under the BJP rule, due to inflation and their personal issues. All those youths whose examinations have been cancelled are going to cool down the BJP and 1.80 cr people are against them... I appeal to people not to waste their votes, SP is directly contesting the BJP, and those who follow Babasaheb Ambedkar should help SP to protect the constitution, reservation, democracy and education."

Congress leader Deepender Hooda on Wednesday said, "JJP should write to the Governor immediate if there is no collusion. INLD and other MLAs who are saying that they are against BJP should also write to Governor. BJP is not having majority now."

Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah during his rally in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj on Wednesday said, "Yadav family denied the invitation for Ram Temple ceremony because of their vote bank. We don't fear the vote bank. Our vote bank is you. PM Modi not only built Ram Mandir but also built Kashi-Vishwanath Mandir which was demolished by Aurangzeb. The work is also going on at Somnath Mandir. We abolished Article 370 to make Kashmir part of India."

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah during a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj on Wednesday said, "Out of 2 Shehzadas, one is not seen. Rahul Gandhi lost from Amethi, then he went to Wayanad. Now as he fears defeat from Wayanad, he came to Rae Bareli. I want to tell him he is also going to lose from Rae Bareli and he should directly go to Italy, Congress will benefit. Akhilesh didn't go 500 meters to pay tribute to Kalyan Singh, but he went 500 km when Mukhtar Ansari died. They cannot do our good."

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said,"My assessment is that people are wanting change, and everywhere I go, I get the sense that people are fed up now of being lied to, they are fed up of the level of discussion that is taking place in the nation's media and political stages, they want their problems discussed. They want to know what has the government done for unemployment, to reduce the prices, what is it doing to help the farmer and labourer."

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday said, "I challenge the PM to raise the issue of unemployment, which is the worst it has been in 45 years. I challenge the PM to tell us which institutions the BJP has built. I challenge the PM to name one scheme that he has actually started himself, and is not a scheme that was started by the Congress, but he has renamed."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his rally in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday said, "Congress wants to take country in reverse gear. It wants to scrap CAA, lock up Ram temple."

Karnataka Police on Wednesday summoned BJP national president JP Nadda and party's Amit Malviya before Bengaluru's High Grounds Police Station within seven days in connection with a tweet posted by BJP Karnataka allegedly against SC/ST community.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in Andhra Pradesh's Rajampet on Wednesday said, "People of Andhra Pradesh made the YSRCP govt with a lot of expectation but they betrayed you (people). YSRCP did the development of mafia here not the poor people. YSRCP Minister is running 'Gunga Raaj' and everyone has seen it...I want to say to all these Mafias here that, countdown has begun for YSRCP govt to go, NDA will do proper treatment of these Mafias."

BJP national president JP Nadda during his rally in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi on Wednesday said, "In Congress' rule, politics of religion, caste, areas, appeasement used to happen. Now, Sam Pitroda has divided people of India on the basis of their skin. But PM Modi changed this narrative by his politics of development."

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Mohan Yadav during his rally in Jhabua on Wednesday said,"... Congress is sitting in a train which has no engine, either in front or in back, only coaches are standing on the track... What is the benefit of sitting in such a train?..."

Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday said, "When this government was formed in 2014, they said it is BJP government, but this is not BJP government. If this government was of a political party, it would have definitely worked. This government is a gang of capitalists, that has captured a political party, and that party captured the country."

In her reaction on Congress leader Sam Pitroda's 'South Indians' remark, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday said, "Congress even tries to divide people on the basis of their skin colour and the region where they live. The recent remarks by a Congress leader are not just condemnable, but also reflect the mentality of Rahul Gandhi and his family."

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday said, "They (BJP) should talk about the jobs that were provided by PM Modi, and why the poor are getting poorer and the rich getting richer. Why don't they talk about education, health facilities and development? They can only talk about Hindu-Muslim, Mandir-Masjid and Pakistan."

BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday held a roadshow in support of Dr RS Praveen Kumar, party candidate from Nagarkurnool.

Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra on Wednesday said, "BJP has said a thousand times that it needs a three-fourth majority to make amendments in the Constitution. Earlier, Mohan Bhagwat also said that there is a need for review. RSS and BJP are continuously saying that they need '400 paar' to make amendments the Constitution."

Election Commission of India(ECI) on Wednesday ordered repolling at four booths of Betul Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh after EVMs damaged in bus fire.

In his reaction on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Ambani-Adani and reservations, Rajasthan minister and BJP leader Rajyavardhan Rathore on Wednesday said, “It was PM Modi, who brought the electoral bond scheme to keep the influence of black money out of politics. The Congress used to attack Ambani and Adani earlier in their speeches, but suddenly they stopped targeting them. Maybe they must have got something from these industrialists. It is the same party that gave reservations to Muslims, so if there’s a threat to the reservation in the country today, it is because of the policies of the Congress government. Even if the Constitution is under threat today, it is due to the Congress party and its INDI alliance partners.”

In his reaction on three Independent MLAs withdrawing support from BJP-led Haryana government, former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupinder S Hooda on Wednesday said, “Congress party has the support of more than 40 MLAs in the state - 30 Congress, 10 BJP, 3 Independents and two others. The public sentiment is in favour of the Congress. The Chief Minister (Nayab Saini) is running a minority government in Haryana. We have demanded for President’s rule in the state."

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said Sam Pitroda stepped down as Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress of his own accord.

He said Congress chief has accepted his decision.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday canvassed for NDA at a roadshow in Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada.

Addressing a public rally in Raebareli, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said, "There was a time when you made sure Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were answerable to you... This was our political tradition. When you scolded the Prime Minister, he would patiently listen to you and assure you that your demands would be met. But now things have changed... BJP thinks that they can get votes by just taking the help of religion and god. If we go on like this, the future of your child will be uncertain..."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over money received from Ambani-Adani remark, saying: “Get ED, CBI to probe if Adani, Ambani sent money in tempo".

He also took a jibe at Modi, saying: “if it is PM's personal experience.”

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah during his rally in Maharashtra's Jalna on Wednesday said, "Uddhav Thackeray sitting with party that wants to bring back triple talaq and implement Sharia law in country."

He also said, "On one hand, we have Rahul Gandhi who goes on a holiday to Bangkok and Thailand during the summers, while on the other, we have PM Modi who has been continuously working for the nation for the last 23 years without a holiday. PM Modi has made this nation safe and developed, and increased our pride... The Congress and the INDI alliance never allowed the construction of Ram Temple. Meanwhile, PM Modi won the Ram Temple case, and performed Bhoomi Pujan and then Pran Pratishtha on January 22."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a rally in Maharashtra's Jalna said, "Making Modi PM for third time means giving bullet for bullet response to Pakistan."

In reaction on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ambani-Adani' Remark, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said, "Normally you talk about Adani and Ambani in a closed room, but this is the first time you spoke about them in the public. How do you know that they give money in tempo? Do you have a personal experience? Why don't you send the CBI and ED to them? You should not be afraid. The amount of money that PM Modi has given to them, we will give the same to the poor in India. We will make many 'lakhpatis' with the 'Mahalakshmi Yojna' and 'Pehli Naukri Yojana'."

In his reaction on Congress leader Sam Pitroda's resignation as chairman of Indian Overseas Congress BJP leader Prem Shukla on Wednesday said, "The Congress is even afraid to act against Rahul Gandhi's uncle and they were waiting for him to resign. This shows how important Sam Pitroda is for the Gandhi family. Sam Pitroda's remarks also reflects the mentality of Rahul Gandhi."

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday said, "I challenge them (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi) to pick time and date and the issue to debate on with BJP. Dono bhai-behen ek taraf aur BJP ka ek pravakta ek taraf, doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani ho jaayega...Congress is running away from the issues."

BJP on Wednesday released its 19th list of candidates for Lok Sabha polls. The party has also named its nominees for three Punjab seats.

The senior citizens casted their votes from home in Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora on Wednesday.

BJP leader Praveen Khandelwal on Wednesday said, "We will definitely cross (the 400-mark). 'Abki baar 400 paar' is not just a slogan... In the next five years, PM Modi wants to do something big for the nation, and he needs two-third majority in the Parliament. The kind of support we are receiving, we are sure that we will cross the 400 mark."

On Congress leader Sam Pitroda's 'skin colour' remark, BJP Telangana chief and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Wednesday said, “Rahul Gandhi’s political advisor and Congress’ senior leader Sam Pitroda today made objectionable comments on the people living in various parts of India. His comments are highly condemnable. I would like to tell the Congress party that maybe our colour, language and culture are different, but we are all children of Bharat Mata, and we are here to serve our motherland. I demand an apology from the party and its leaders for such remark."