Lok Sabha Election 2024: PM Modi Compares Congress To ‘Bitter Gourd’, Says ‘Can’t Be Sweet Even With Ghee Or Sugar’

The Lok Sabha elections 2024 will take place in seven phases, with the first phase on April 19. Phases 2 to 7 will take place on: April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.

The counting of votes is schedule for June 4.

Detailed Schedule Here

In the run-up to the elections, the latest flashpoint in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Opposition's faceoff is the alleged mob attack on an NIA team in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district as it was attempting to arrest two main suspects in a 2022 blast case.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged on Sunday that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) desires a free license for corruption and violence in West Bengal, which is why central agencies investigating such cases face attacks in the state.

While addressing a mega rally in Jalpaiguri in north Bengal, PM Modi also claimed that "TMC's syndicate Raj" prevails in West Bengal, and the party is only interested in protecting its corrupt leaders.

West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, on the other hand, alleged the agencies were “asking TMC leaders to either join the BJP or face action”.

The Trinamool chief claimed the BJP was booking all the rest houses, lodges and helipads for its leaders, depriving the TMC, which was affecting the level-playing field.

ALSO READ | NIA Calls Attack On Team 'Unprovoked', Rejects Allegation Of Mala Fide Intention In Bhupatinagar Case | Details

A stage collapsed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur on Sunday, leaving three people injured .

The incident took place on the Katanga-Gorakhpur road.

The injured were taken to a hospital.

The roadshow was held along the 1.2 km-route from Shaheed Bhagat Singh crossing and concluded at Adi Shankaracharya crossing in Jabalpur's Gorakhpur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing multiple election rallies for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today. PM Modi will be in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district, Chhattisgarh's Bastar today.

Over the weekend as well, PM Modi held back-to-back rallies in multiple states. On Sunday, PM Modi was in MP's Jabalpur and West Bengal's Jalpaiguri. PM Modi addressed held a mega roadshow in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad on Saturday.

Voting for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 will take place in seven phases, starting April 19, while the counting of votes will take place on June 4.

While voting for Phase 1 will take place on April 19, polling for Phase 2 to Phase 7 will take place on: April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.

A total of 102 constituencies from 21 states/UTs will vote in Phase 1, while 89 constituencies from 14 states/UTs will vote in the second phase. The third phase includes 94 constituencies from 12 states/UTs, 96 constituencies from 10 states/UTs will vote in the fourth phase, 49 constituencies from eight states/UTs in fifth, 57 constituencies from seven state/UTs in the sixth and 57 constituencies from eight states/UTs will vote in the last phase on June 1.

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge remark on Kashmir during a speech at a rally in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Saturday has sparked a political slugfest. While Kharge said at the Rajasthan rally that PM Modi should speak about Article 370 in Kashmir. Kharge said, "Yaha aake keh rahe hain Maine Article 371 ko nikal diya... are bhai yaha ke logo see kya waasta hai... thik hai aap jaake Kashmir me bolo, Jammu me bolo... [he is coming here and saying I removed Article 371... what has it got to do with people here... you say it in Kashmir, say it in Jammu]," Kharge said, while mistakenly referring to Article 370 as '371'.

Slamming Kharge, Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah "reminded" Congress that "J&K is an integral part of India, and every state and citizen has the right over J&K, just as the people of J&K have the right over the rest of India."

"And for the kind information of the Congress, it was not Article 371, but Article 370, that was abrogated by the Modi government. However, it is only expected of Congress to make such horrendous mistakes. Such blunders made by it have haunted our nation for decades now," Amit Shah said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday for remarks he made the day before in Rajasthan's Jaipur on Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at a rally in Bihar's Nawada, PM Modi said, "Modi gave a guarantee to scrap Article 370 in Kashmir. What was the result? We did it. They (INDIA bloc) talk about (saving) Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution, but you did not implement it in Jammu and Kashmir.”

"You sang in the tunes about the Constitution. But, this Modi took Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir after so many years," he added. READ MORE

The battle for Uttar Pradesh has heated up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself canvassing parts of western UP where voting is set to take place in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 19. The PM, who is contesting from the Varanasi seat, held roadshows and rallies in Ghaziabad, Sharanpur. Before that, he had addressed crowds at a massive gathering in Meerut. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also been at his side. Uttar Pradesh’s electoral importance is underscored by the fact that it sends 80 MPs to Parliament, the highest across the nation. But the electoral importance of the state is not in just the numbers. 

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Union Minister and BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia's son Mahanarayaman Scindia spoke about his vision and plans and said, "Our PM and CM are going to open many institutions including upskilling centres in the area. Bhutan prioritises Gross National Happiness over Gross Domestic Product. It is important to find time for the family and health. It is important."

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Kerala's upcoming election season is heating up as the BJP nominates Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar to contest from Thiruvananthapuram, a constituency held by senior Congress Leader Shashi Tharoor for three consecutive terms.

Chandrasekhar, speaking to local media during the poll campaign, stated, "I am ready to debate [with Shashi Tharoor] over ideas, development, and whose track record is better. I have been saying this since the beginning".

Tharoor, in response, accepted the "challenge" for an open debate, saying that voters in the constituency know who has been avoiding a debate. READ MORE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kickstart Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Maharashtra campaign for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, with a rally in Chandrapur district. PM Modi will be holding at least 10 rallies in the Maharashtra, starting today.

PM Modi will be campaigning for BJP's candidate from Chandrapur, Sudhir Mungantiwar, who is also the sitting forest, cultural affairs and fisheries minister of Maharashtra under Eknath Shinde's cabinet.

The Congress party has fielded Pratibha Dhanorkar from the seat.

In Madhya Pradesh, before Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's address on Monday at the election rally in Dhanora village of Mandla in favour of Congress candidate Omkar Singh, the flex that was being put up on the main stage had the picture of Union Minister and BJP candidate Faggan Singh Kulaste along with all the Congress leaders.

Later, the photo of the BJP leader in the poster on the stage was hastily changed and replaced by the photo of Congress MLA Rajneesh Harvansh Singh.

West Bengal: An altercation broke out between TMC and BJP workers during BJP MP Dilip Ghosh's Durgapur visit, today. The situation was later controlled by the police.

The BJP-led Centre provided 'Y+' category security of CRPF to Madhvi Lata, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat. She has been provided the security cover only for Telangana, news agency ANI cited sources as saying.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi , ahead of his visit to Maharashtra's Chandrapur today to kickstart party's Lok Sabha election campaign in the state, said in a post on X, "The people of Maharashtra have taken a solemn pledge of grand victory of BJP-NDA candidates in the Lok Sabha elections. Today in Chandrapur, will get an opportunity to seek the blessings of the people here."

Addressing a rally in Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar at a rally in the state brought up an old social media post by actor Kangana Ranaut and said Ranaut had once written on X that she liked and ate beef, adding that the saffron party has now given her a ticket for the upcoming general elections.

Responding to the same, the actor wrote on X, "I don’t consume beef or any other kind of red meat, it is shameful that completely baseless rumours are being spread about me, I have been advocating and promoting yogic and Ayurvedic way of life for decades now such tactics won’t work to tarnish my image. My people know me and they know that I am a proud Hindu and nothing can ever mislead them, Jai Shri Ram."

Many users on X have dug out an old post of Kangana Ranaut from 2019, in which she had written about her yogic lifestyle. While the post wasn't worded in first person, it said, “There is nothing wrong with eating beef or eating any other meat. It's not about religion! It's not a hidden fact that Kangana turned vegetarian 8 years ago and chose to be a yogi. She still doesn't believe in just one religion. On the contrary, her brother eats meat.” READ MORE

Kangana Ranaut is BJP' candidate from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Unaccounted cash of Rs 5.60 crore along with gold and silver ornaments worth Rs 2 crore were seized from a house here on Sunday, police sources told news agency PTI.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided a jewellery store owner’s house in Brucepet police station area, the above mentioned sources said.

The owner has a jewellery store in Kambali Bazaar area. Unaccounted cash and jewellery worth over Rs 7 crore were recovered from the house, the sources said.

An FIR has been registered in this regard, they said.

Fakkireshwar Mutt seer, Jagadguru Fakira Dingaleshwar Mahaswami, on Monday announced that he has decided to contest as an independent candidate from the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka.

"The Lingayat community has built and developed BJP in Karnataka. There is no social justice in BJP in ticket distribution. In the last Lok Sabha elections, 9 Veerashaiva Lingayat community leaders from our state entered the Parliament but none of them were given ministerial positions. There is no recognition of the Lingayat community even in the Congress party," said Fakkireshwar Mutt seer, Jagadguru Fakira Dingaleshwar Mahaswami.

Jailed Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday launched 'Jail Ka Jawaab Vote Se' campaign for Lok Sabha elections 2024. Arvind Kejriwal is lodged in Tihar jail as part of his judicial custody in the money laundering case linked to the Delhi excise policy.

Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforecement Directorate on March 21 in the case.

Raebareli, : Union Minister Smriti Irani said in Uttar Pradesh's Raebareli on Monday that they "have received this information that Rahul Gandhi took the support of terrorist organization PFI to contest his election in Wayanad."

"He insulted Amethi. PM Narendra Modi developed Amethi and the people of Amethi will bless PM Narendra Modi...," Smriti Irani said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was seen dancing with folk artists during local cultural activities at a public gathering in Bankura.

Addressing a poll rally in West Bengal's Bankura, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said 'Modi ki guarantee' means putting all Opposition leaders behind bars after June.

The BJP-led central government has been accused of devoiding the opposition of "level-playing field" by putting top leaders in jail and freezing bank accounts of parties.

Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP), in a bid to woo voters, has promised better quality alcohol in "reduced prices".

TDP supremo and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made the promise at a recent rally in Kuppam from where he is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, according to an indiatoday.in report.

"I am telling you, after 40 days (of TDP forming the government), not only quality liquor, we will take the responsibility for reducing prices (as well)," the report quoted Chandrababu Naidu as saying.

I have come to thank people for supporting my government in last 10 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as he began his rally in Chhattisgarh's Bastar on Monday.

Congress never understood the problems faced by the poor: PM Modi added.

Addressing a public rally in Chhattisgarh's Bastar on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The tribal community was always insulted by Congress, the daughter of the same tribal community is today the President of the country."

"BJP has given the first tribal Chief Minister to Chhattisgarh. BJP has created a separate ministry and a separate budget for tribals, the budget for tribal welfare has been increased five times in the last 10 years...," PM Modi said.

Congress has moved Election Commission against PM Modi for comparing its manifesto with the Muslim League, reports said.

Addressing a public rally in UP's Saharanpur on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, "...Yesterday the kind of manifesto released by Congress reflects the same thinking that was prevalent in the Muslim League at the time of independence. The Congress manifesto completely bears the imprint of the Muslim League and the remaining part of the manifesto is dominated by the leftists..."

PM Modi reiterated this on Monday as well at a poll rally in Chhattisgarh's Bastar. Congress manifesto for Lok Sabha polls has Muslim League imprint, PM Modi said.

Former Union minister Birender Singh has quit the BJP and said he is joining Congress.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said during Narendra Modi’s tenure as prime minister, India's borders have become safer and respect for the country has increased in the world.

CM Adityanath was speaking at a public rally at Hinganghat town in Maharashtra's Wardha district to campaign for BJP candidate Ramdas Tadas in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Under PM Modi’s leadership, the NDA govt wants to make make India a global power, CM Adityanath said. "During Modi’s tenure as PM, country’s borders have become safer, respect for India has increased in world," he said.

BJP chief JP Nadda on Monday said Congress’ manifesto reflects the ideology of Muslim League, while accusing the party of appeasement politics.

Congress on Monday said it is deeply saddened over the remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the party’s manifesto during his speeches at the election rallies.

The party on Monday moved the Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) office in Delhi against remarks made by Modi over the party’s manifesto.

After meeting the ECI officials, Congress leader Salman Khurshid said: “We are deeply saddened by what the Prime Minister said in his speeches, especially regarding our manifesto. You can disagree with a party, you can criticise it, but to claim that a national-level party would include blatant lies in its manifesto is disheartening. We have raised all these issues before the Election Commission and urged them to take it seriously."

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Monday said his party (NC) and Congress will each contest three Lok Sabha seats in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh.

He said Congress will contest Udhampur, Jammu, Ladakh Lok Sabha seats, while NC will contest Anantnag, Srinagar, Baramulla seats.

In his reaction to not being part of the party’s big rallies ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, BJP leader Anil Vij on Monday said he has realised his position and a “small worker of the BJP”.

Former Haryana Minister Vij said, “I have come to realise my position, and I understand it now. I am a small worker of the BJP, and I am working for Ambala Cantonment and fulfilling my responsibilities towards it."

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Monday said “UP will be free Samajwadi Party and BSP” following the elections.

"Uttar Pradesh will be free from Samajwadi Party and BSP following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Similarly, the country will be free from Congress, and the BJP will register a big win under the leadership of PM Modi,” he said.

RJD leader Misa Bharti on Monday said “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be removed from power”.

He said: "In 2014, Lalu Prasad Yadav warned people about his (PM Modi's) ideology. The people of the nation and Bihar have understood this and he (PM Modi) will be removed from power."

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Monday said “UP will be free Samajwadi Party and BSP” following the elections.

"Uttar Pradesh will be free from Samajwadi Party and BSP following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Similarly, the country will be free from Congress, and the BJP will register a big win under the leadership of PM Modi,” he said.

TMC leaders and workers on Monday were detained by police as they held protest outside Election Commission of India’s (ECI’s) office in Delhi.

TMC held its protest over alleged misuse of ED, CBI and NIA by the central government.

Claiming Congress is “source of all problems in the country”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is a “fight between stability and instability”.

During his address at a rally in Maharashtra''s Chandrapur, he said, “The 2024 Lok Sabha elections will be a contest between stability and instability. On one side, there is the BJP-led NDA which takes big decisions for the country, and on the other, there is Congress and the INDI alliance. The INDI alliance has only brought instability in the country”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday compared Congress to “bitter gourd”.

During his rally in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur, he said, “it (Congress) with ghee or sugar”.

He also added that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his Shiv Sena is taking late Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology forward with vigour.

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, TMC leader Sagarika Ghose on Monday alleged that the probe agencies including Enforcement Directorate(ED), Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI), Income Tax (IT) Department and National Investigation Agency (NIA) are “acting on behalf of the BJP”.

TMC on Monday held protest outside Election Commission of India (ECI) office in Delhi, following which several of the party’s leaders and workers were detained by the police.

"We have been protesting against the manner in which the central agencies - ED, CBI, IT, NIA - are acting on behalf of the BJP in the general elections of 2024. We have just met the full bench of the Election Commission, and we have demanded that the Election Commission urgently intervene and protect the sanctity of the election process," Ghose said.

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday said there are no differences between the constituents of Maha Vikas Aghadi(MVA).

He said: “There are no differences. All major parties will be present in tomorrow's joint press conference of Maha Vikas Aghadi. Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, all senior Congress leaders will be present, all our constituent parties will also be present."

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday targeted BJP, saying the saffron party has brought “demonetisation, GST and three black laws for farmers."

During his address at a rally in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, Pilot said, “Congress is the first party that has announced to make a law regarding MSP if it comes into power. In 2019, after winning 300 seats (in Lok Sabha polls), they (BJP) brought demonetisation, GST and three 'black' laws for farmers."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said Congress did not only declined the invitation of Ram Temple consecration ceremony, but also expelled its leaders who attended the event.

During his address at a rally in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar, he said: “But, Congress and the INDI alliance are very upset with the Ram Temple. The royal family of Congress rejected the invitation to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Mandir. Those Congress leaders who criticised this stand were expelled from the party. Few leaders who went there to take Lord Ram’s blessings, were expelled from the party for six years.”

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday he has a “special emotional attachment for Tamil Nadu”.

He said, "I will come back after the results to be with my younger brother (K Annamalai). I have a special emotional attachment for Tamil Nadu. Please look after my younger brother." Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai is BJP's candidate from Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat.

TMC MP Derek O'Brien on Monday said: "At 4:30 PM, we met the EC and at 5:45 PM when we were sitting on a peaceful protest. After that, they took us and told us that we were being taken to Mandir Marg PS but they drove us around Delhi for 1 and a half hours. Later, when we protested, we were brought to the Mandir Marg PS..."

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday said BJP’s impression about Congress’ manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is “wrong”.

Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely on Monday said Delhi Congress will release separate manifesto for three constituencies to address the local issues.

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the Congress will remove stop ‘Agniveer’ scheme.

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Tamil Nadu Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday addressed a public gathering in Dharmapuri.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi “rules the heart of the people of Tamil Nadu”.

He said: "If you look at the enthusiasm, the support from the crowd- it is writing on the wall BJP is going to create history in the state of Tamil Nadu...There is one clear sound that you can hear- My Choice Modi. (PM) Modi rules the heart of the people of Tamil Nadu. He has done a lot of development work..."