Elections 2024: Rahul Hits Back At BJP Over Manifesto Row; Complaint Against PM Modi Over Poll Code Violation

The whole country is gearing up as the scheduled date of the first phase of the seven-phase long Lok Sabha polls is coming closer. On March 16, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar along with the two newly appointed Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar, announced the detailed schedule of the seven-phase-long Lok Sabha polls.

As per the scheduled announced by the Election Commission of India, the first phase of polling will go live April 19 while June 1 has been declared as the date for the seventh and last phase. Counting of votes across the 543 Lok Sabha seats and result announcement will take place on June 4.

Urging for inclusive and participative Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission this year promised to provide home voting facilities for voters above the age of 85 and the ones with physical disabilities.

To make voting more accessible for Indian voters, the election Commission announced the facility of home voting for voters aged above 85 and for voters with physical disabilities of 40 per cent benchmark. Furthermore, the polling stations will also have volunteers to help the voters in need along with wheelchairs & transport facility for a seamless experience.

Amid debates over several pressing issues including Centre's desperate crackdowns on Opposition leaders, implementation of the contentious CAA and the electoral bonds row, the nation is waiting for a high-octane electoral battle between the NDA-backed alliance and the Opposition INDIA bloc.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Tuesday formally announced its candidates for all but one of the 23 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar where the party is contesting as a constituent of the opposition Mahagathbandhan.

Party president Lalu Prasad's daughters - Rohini Acharya and Misa Bharti - are among the RJD nominees.

Bharti, his eldest daughter who is enjoying her second term in the Rajya Sabha, will try her luck in the Patliputra Lok Sabha constituency.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public meeting in Ramtek and Nagpur today, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reviewed the preparations last night.

Thanking the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray for extending support, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said, "I would like to thank the MNS for supporting PM Modi's leadership and development. We are grateful for their support for the 'Mahayuti'."

On Tuesday, Raj Thackeray announced that his party would provide unconditional support to the 'Mahayuti' alliance formed by the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP in the state. Moreover, he also expressed his support for PM Modi which strengthened the ruling coalition's chances in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

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Commenting on the state's poll plan, Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary said, "We have outlined the plan regarding the work that needs to be done by the party before voting. BJP is a worker-based organisation. I am sure that Uttar Pradesh will contribute to PM Modi's aim of crossing 400 seats (in Lok Sabha polls)."

Tamil Nadu is gearing up for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Vellore today. All 39 seats in Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 19. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.

The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) on Wednesday announced the third list of candidates for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Tamil Nadu's Chennai and is slated to address an election rally. PM Modi will address two election rallies in Tamil Nadu, one in Vellore and another in Mettupalayam (Coimbatore), in support of NDA candidates, including BJP state president K Annamalai and Soumya Anbumani of ally Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK).

Commenting on PM Modi's roadshow in Chennai on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu BJP leader CR Kesavan said, "Yesterday's magnificent roadshow by Prime Minister Modi reflects the love and affection the people of Tamil Nadu have for our Prime Minister. I think this has rattled the DMK and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin...The people of Tamil Nadu look at Modi ji like a part of their family who will secure their future. They have realized this empty rhetoric of social justice and secularism of DMK is very different because the real social justice and secularism have been ushered in by Modi ji through non-discriminatory delivery of developmental programs worth Rs 11 Lakh crore to Tamil Nadu. And this has been corruption-free. So the people know that which is why they are reflecting the trust in Modi ji..."

Addressing public rally in Tamil Nadu's Vellore on Wednesday, PM Modi exuded confidence in the BJP's future in the state.

"...Those who are sitting in Delhi may not know that the land of Vellore, the land of Tamil Nadu is going to make a new history... BJP and NDA are getting immense public support in Tamil Nadu. The whole of Tamil Nadu is saying 'Ek baar phir Modi sarkar...", said PM Modi.

On Tuesday, PM Modi held a roadshow in Chennai.

A day after the Delhi High Court rejected Arvind Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest in the excise policy case, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is staging a protest in Delhi seeking the chief minister's resignation.

While addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Jitendra Patwari said, "Congress party is presenting the vision we have for the country for the coming five years. Rahul Gandhi met millions of people from different sects of life and tried to understand their needs. We have formed five guarantees based on the country's needs."

A Supreme Court bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta dismissed a plea seeking a breathalyser test of voters in queue at every polling booth during the elections.

The bench said, "What is this? It is for publicity. On polling day it is a dry day and police personnel are deployed everywhere. We will not entertain this. Dismissed."

The Andhra Pradesh unit of the Janavahini Party earlier had moved the court saying since the model code of conduct is imposed, no voter should be allowed to vote under the influence of alcohol.

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With little over a week left before the first voting phase to begin, the Samajwadi Party (SP) releases its poll manifesto today.

According to party supremo Ahilesh Yadav, the manifesto focuses on putting an end to the 'Agnipath' scheme and introducing regular recruitment in the armed forces.

After launching the party manifesto Yadav said, “Considering the suggestions we have received, we have named this vision document ‘Janta Ka Maang Patra’. This vision document says there shouldn’t be any delay in conducting caste-based census. We will conduct the caste census by 2025, based on which justice will be ensured to everyone by 2029.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday dropped Chandigarh's sitting MP Kirron Kher from the 10th list of Lok Sabha poll candidates. Replacing Kher, the BJP has fielded Sanjay Tandon, party's state president from Chandigarh.

BJP on Wednesday replaced its Asansol candidate Pawan Singh with SS Ahluwalia after the Bhojpuri singer-actor withdrew his name from the Lok Sabha poll contest in West Bengal on Sunday.

BJP National President JP Nadda on Wednesday released the party's polls manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in Arunachal Pradeshin presence of CM Pema Khandu.

As per reports, a lawyer filed a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi citing a violation of the poll code as the PM, during his speech, urged the public to pray for BJP's victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday ordered crackdown on anonymous political hoardings. The apex poll body also sought disclosure of publishers and printers for accountability.

Amid the BJP's repeated 'Muslim League imprint' barb over the Congress manifesto, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said history is witness as to who "joined hands with the forces that wanted to divide the country" and asserted that history does not change by "spewing lies" from political platforms.

Rahul Gandhi said that the 2024 Lok Sabha polls are a fight between two ideologies, with the Congress, which has always united India, on one side and those who have always tried to divide people on the other side.

"This election is a fight between two ideologies! On one side there is the Congress, which has always united India, and on the other side there are those who have always tried to divide people," the Wayanad MP said in a post in Hindi.

History is witness as to who joined hands with the forces that wanted to divide the country and strengthened them and who fought for the unity and independence of the country, Rahul Gandhi said.

The BJP on Wednesday released a new campaign video around its theme song of "tabhi to sab Modi ko chunte hain", which has been rendered in 12 different Indian languages to highlight the support of people with diverse background for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP said on X, "From every corner of the nation, people from diverse backgrounds, speaking in every language are saying one thing in unison - our collective dreams have taken flight."

The song highlights how Modi has fulfilled people's expectations since coming to power in 2014.

The video ends with people coming together to form a collage representing the prime minister.

Delhi minister and AAP leader Raaj Kumar Anand on Wednesday he has resigned from cabinet and party post. Raaj Kumar Anand's resignation came on a day he shared posts on his X handle of Sanjay Singh's press briefing on Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.

Raaj Kumar Anand alleged that Dalits did not have adequate representation in the party.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Anand, who was holding various portfolios including Social Welfare, alleged that there was no Dalit among the top leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He also alleged that Dalit MLAs, minister or councillors of the AAP were not given any respect.

Anand is an MLA from the Patel Nagar constituency.

Slamming opposition INDIA bloc, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused the Congress of creating a north-south divide to break the country. Addressing an election rally in Guraru block of Gaya district, he also accused the Congress and the RJD of indulging in the politics of appeasement.

“The Congress party is creating a north-south divide to break the nation which the NDA-led Central government and people of the country will not allow. Their leader Rahul Gandhi is maintaining a stoic silence on this,” news agency PTI quoted Amit Shah as saying.

People of this country have now made up their mind to give a befitting reply to such divisive forces in the Lok Sabha polls and will ensure 400 plus seats for the NDA, Shah added.

Addressing a public rally in Ramtek, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "...NDA's bumper win can be seen in the surveys that are shown...When Modi starts getting abused the trend is 'Abh ki baar 400 paar'. When they start abusing my mother or my later father understand that 'Abh ki baar 400 paar' and when questions are raised on the EVM, the trend is 'Abh ki baar 400 paar'..."

BJP leader and New Delhi Lok Sabha candidate, Bansuri Swaraj said, "Yesterday, Delhi HC has said that Arvind Kejriwal's arrest is legal. Today, Raaj Kumar Anand, who has been with Kejriwal ji since 2010, has tried to leave those who are corrupt. When will Arvind Kejriwal's conscience awaken? Today AAP has become a 'kickback to self' party."

Raaj Kumar Anand, the Social Welfare Minister of Delhi, announced his resignation from both the Cabinet and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today.

NOTA, the commonly known acronym for 'None of the above', is one of the options displayed on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), allowing voters to exercise the option of not voting for any poll candidate in the fray in their constituency. Since its introduction, NOTA has survived several political debates concerning its implications on poll results.

NOTA or None Of The Above option is available for people who do not wish to vote for any candidate of their constituency during an election, allowing voters to officially register a vote of rejection for all contenders.

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