Elections 2024: TMC Removes Kunal Ghosh From General Secretary Post, ECI Bars BRS Chief KCR From Campaigning For 48 Hours

The Election Commission on Tuesday released the final polling percentage of Phase 1 and 2 with 66.14 per cent voter turnout in the first and 66.71 per cent in the second. The delay in releasing turnout figures sparked questions by the Opposition, which asked EC the reason for giving polling percentages 11 days after the first phase.

Officially sharing the turnout figure, the poll panel said in phase one of the elections, 66.22 per cent of male and 66.07 female electors turned up to vote. The turnout for registered third-gender voters stood at 31.32 per cent.

In the second phase of elections held on April 26, the male voter turnout was recorded at 66.99 per cent, while the female turnout stood at 66.42 per cent. As many as 23.86 per cent of the registered third-gender voters came out to vote.

In the 2019 polls, the turnout in the first phase stood at 69.43 per cent, while that of Phase 2 was 69.64 per cent.

The Congress on Tuesday released a fresh candidate list for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, fielding actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar from the Gurgaon Lok Sabha seat of Haryana and former Union minister Anand Sharma from Kangra in Himachal Pradesh.

Satpal Raizada, a former MLA from Himachal Pradesh's Una, has been fielded by the Congress from the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh and will contest the general elections against BJP candidate and Union Minister Anurag Thakur.

The Congress also fielded local Mumbai Congress leader Bhushan Patil from the Mumbai North constituency in Maharashtra, who will take on Union Minister Piyush Goyal from the key seat.

Anand Sharma, who has been a prominent member of the G23 grouping within the Congres which raised questions on the Congress leadership, is pitted against BJP's state vice-president Rajiv Bhardwaj from the Kangra seat. The BJP had replaced its sitting MP Kishan Kapoor with Bhardwaj this time.

Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna, facing sexual abuse allegations, has been suspended from the party. The 33-year-old MP, who is the grandson of JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is the NDA candidate in the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency, which went to polls on April 26. READ FULL STORY

Many sex videos allegedly featuring him with multiple women have been doing the rounds in recent days.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing alleged sexual harassment case issued notices on Tuesday to Hassan MLA HD Revanna and his son Prajwal Revanna in the matter. The father and son duo have been instructed to appear before the SIT for further investigation.

The Congress' women's wing urged the National Commission for Women to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna and ensure accountability for all parties involved. READ FULL STORY

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.

While voting for Phase 1 took place on April 19, and the second phase happened on April 26, polling for Phase 3 to Phase 7 will take place on: May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.

• Phase 1/April 19 - 21 states/UTs - 102 constituencies

• Phase 2/April 26 - 13 states/UTs - 88 constituencies

• Phase 3/May 7 - 12 states/UTs - 12 constituencies

• Phase 4/May 13 - 10 states/UTs - 96 constituencies

• Phase 5/May 20 - 8 states/UTs - 49 constituencies

• Phase 6/May 25 - 7 states/UTs - 57 constituencies

• Phase 7/June 1 -  8 states/UTs - 57 constituencies

Lok Sabha Elections Full Schedule Here

Addressing a public rally in Telangana's Zahirabad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the Congress is "trying to fool the country in the name of the Constitution," adding that till the time he is alive he "won't let them give the reservation meant for Dalits, SCs, STs, and OBCs to the Muslims in the name of religion."

"The first constitutional amendment was made by the first Prime Minister which was to curtail free speech," PM Modi said, slamming the Congress on Tuesday.

"They once again tried to censor the press freedom. They have nothing to do with the Constitution. The royal family is happy only when they are in power, but when anyone else is in power, everything feels useless to them. They are the people who stop the functioning of the Parliament, they question the Election Commission, they question the EVM, and now for their vote bank, they are insulting the constitution...," PM Modi said.

PM Modi added: "Till the time I am alive, I will not let them give the reservation meant for Dalits, SCs, STs, and OBCs to the Muslims in the name of religion." READ FULL STORY

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Was it overconfidence among the BJP voters, and the cadres or overall public disillusionment against the political class that got reflected in the low voter turnout in Uttarakhand, a mountain state with five Parliamentary seats—all swept by the BJP in 2014 and 2019 riding a strong Modi-wave.

The state went to polls in a single phase on April 19 in the first phase of the 18th general elections posting a low voters’ turn-out of 57.22 per cent across five Lok Sabha seats. A notable decline of 4.66 per cent against 61.88 per cent in 2019 Parliamentary polls has left the parties guessing about the outcome of the polls on June 4—when counting of the votes happens in the state. READ FULL STORY

Amid questions over Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha's absence from the public eye, the party on Tuesday said the Rajya Sabha MP has undergone a major eye surgery in the UK and will join the party's Lok Sabha poll campaigning once he feels better.

Raghav Chadha, AAP's MP from Punjab, has been missing from the party's election campaigning. Social media has been abuzz with speculation around Raghav Chadha. READ FULL STORY

The Election Commission on Tuesday announced postponement of voting in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat to May 25 from May 7.         

This announcement came after requests were made by several leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir BJP unit chief Ravinder Raina, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari, People's Conference leader Imran Ansari, and others for the polls to be rescheduled due to adverse weather conditions in the Union Territory.

A voter turnout of 81.16 per cent was recorded at six polling stations in Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat, where repolling was held on Tuesday, April 30. No untoward incident was reported and voting, which commenced at 7 am, was held peacefully under tight security arrangements, officials said.

Repolling was necessitated as unidentified persons had damaged EVMs and VVPATs before the completion of voting at four of these six polling stations on April 26, while EVM malfunctioning was reported at one polling station, and voting could not be completed at another due to "threat and intimidation by unknown miscreants", officials said.

Amid suspense over Congress candidate for UP's Amethi Lok Sabha seat, the party on Tuesday released a fresh list of candidates. While the list featured candidates for four seats, the party did not name anyone from Amethi, keeping the suspense on.

Amethi seat was held by Rahul Gandhi till 2019, when he was defeated by BJP's Smriti Irani.

While there are questions whether Rahul Gandhi will return to the Amethi contest or not, his brother-in-law Robert Vadra has said people of Amethi expect him to represent their constituency if he thinks of becoming a member of Parliament.

Full Congress Candidate List For Lok Sabha Elections 2024

A delegation of senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders on Tuesday met the Election Commission (EC) over the Delhi poll panel asking the party to modify its campaign song, and asserted that there was "nothing objectionable" in its lyrics. 

The party on Sunday had claimed that the commission has "banned" its Lok Sabha campaign song "Jail Ka Jawab, Vote Se Denge", but officials of the Delhi poll body had said the AAP was asked to modify the contents of the song since it violated EC's guidelines and advertising codes.

India's mega Lok Sabha elections 2024 have commenced April 19 with the first of the seven phases of voting taking place to elect the 543 members of the 18th Lok Sabha and decide whether the Narendra Modi-led NDA government will come to power at the Centre for a consecutive third term or if the Opposition, which has united under a bloc called 'INDIA',  will remove the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led dispensation from the central government position. 

The Lok Sabha elections are taking place in seven phases. While voting for the first and second phase took place on April 19 and 26, Phase 3-7 will take place on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. Counting of votes is scheduled for June 4. READ FULL REPORT

Former Congress MLAs Neeraj Basoya and Nasseb Singh have resigned from the primary membership of the party. Nasseb Singh cited Davinder Yadav's appointment as party's Delhi unit chief as the reason.

Nasseb Singh wrote: "Today You have appointed Davinder Yadav as DPCC Chief. He as AICC (In-Charge Punjab) has run a campaign in Punjab solely based on attacking Arvind Keiriwal's false agenda and today, in Delhi he will be mandated to praise and support AAP and its Chief Arvind Kejriwal. Being deeply pained and humiliated at the recent developments in the Party, I resign from the party..."

Representatives of 18 political parties from 10 countries will visit India to get a first-hand experience of the Lok Sabha elections and interact with a host of BJP leaders, including party president JP Nadda and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

The BJP sent out invites to the political parties of several countries. BJP said the foreign leaders will also be given insights into the party's election campaign and will be briefed about its strategies and the overall electoral process.

They will meet Nadda on Wednesday and also interact with Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The vast stretches of the main road of Sarkhej, Ahmedabad, become narrower, the buildings smaller and more congested as you take a detour and enter into what is known as India’s largest urban Muslim ghetto. Surrounded by settlements of the riot-hit minority community, the lanes lead up to a towering brick wall with fencing on top, built with the sole purpose of separating the Muslim population from its neighbouring Hindu colony, Vejalpur. This is Juhapura, an area located just a few kilometres away from the heart of Gujarat’s largest city, Ahmedabad. While it was founded as a rehabilitation project for the flood-hit victims in 1973, the area took a whole new meaning with a series of communal tensions over the next few decades. READ FULL REPORT

On ECI revising the date of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency of J&K from May 7 to May 25, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said it was an "attempt to benefit the BJP".

"It is obvious that an attempt is being made to benefit the BJP and its allies, otherwise, there is no reason to postpone it. I had also said that Mughal Road is not just one way to reach there...This is not the first time that the Election Commission is helping the BJP, but no matter what they do, they can do as much conspiracy as they want, the BJP and its allies will face defeat in this election..."

EC has postponed the polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha citing weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir.

On being asked about suspense over Congress candidate from Amethi and Raebareli, Union Minister Anurag Thakur said: "This is the situation of the confused and corrupt party. Due to corruption, they sometimes change their clothes, sometimes they change themselves from UPA and become INDI alliance, sometimes they switch from one candidate to another. This is a state of confusion for the party..."

A day after quitting Congress, former Punjab MLA Dalvir Singh Goldy joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday. Goldy quit the Congress on Tuesday, days after expressing "displeasure" over being denied the party's ticket from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat.

In his resignation letter to the Congress' Punjab chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Goldy said he was "upset" by the state leadership and resigning from the party's primary membership.

Around 180 km from Mumbai—the commercial capital of the country—it’s a different world. Beyond the last concrete stretch of the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana, there are no motorable roads. One must walk. Apart from the silence and the salty breeze of the Konkan region—a respite from the climbing heat on an April noon—there is hardly anyone on the road. For quite a long stretch, there is dried grass, sand, dust and stone. But after a few minutes, one starts spotting mud huts. A few men peep out of the doors and stare at you curiously, as if asking—who are you and why are you here?

This hamlet in Wave Diwali village in Raigad district rarely finds a mention in the electoral map of the state. The Katkari community, which has been living here for centuries, is hardly counted as a ‘vote bank’. They form 11 per cent of Raigad’s population, and hence do have a considerable electoral significance, but the ground reality is contrary to the numbers. “The leaders throw money at them just 48 hours before the polls and take them away, but no one comes here after the elections,” says a local political activist. READ FULL REPORT

BJP candidate from UP's Sultanpur Lok Sabha seat Maneka Gandhi held a roadshow in the constituency ahead of filing her nomination.

Actor Rupali Ganguly, famous for her role in the Hindi daily soap 'Anupamaa' joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and others have sought more time for appearance before Delhi Police in connection with the alleged Amit Shah fake video case.

Delhi Police had issued a summons to the Telangana CM and others as part of the ongoing inquiry into the circulation of an alleged fake video in which the Home Minister is purportedly heard saying that the BJP stands against reservations.

Addressing an election rally in Assam, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said 'Mafia raj' was going on in the state. Hitting out at CM and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, Priyanka Gandhi said "rising unemployment is a major issue in Assam, while CM and his ministers are concerned only about their interests".

After joining the BJP on Wednesday, actor Rupali Ganguly said, "...When I see this 'Mahayagya' of development, I feel that I should also take part in this...I need your blessings and support so that whatever I do, I do it right and good...''

Rupali Ganguly is famous for her role in popular Hindi daily soap 'Anupamaa'.

Rajya Sabha MP and Maharashtra politician Milind Deora on Wednesday said for the first time in 20 years he won't be contesting Lok Sabha elections, adding that he was looking forward to campaigning for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

He also said that this was the first time that he and his father Murli Deora "will not be on the ballot box in South Mumbai".

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said after Congress became "directionless" post-Independence, it has now become "leaderless" as well and accused the party's leaders of attempting to defame Indian civilisation and culture.

"Unfortunately, the country's oldest political party (Congress) went directionless after Independence and today it has become leaderless too. The Congress leaders have constantly tried to abuse the Indian culture and humiliate the 'sanatan dharma'," news agency PTI quoted Adityanath as saying.

"During the UPA government, a senior leader of the Congress and the then Union Home Minister had tried to insult India's 'sanatan' culture in the name of saffron terror," he said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday countered Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Muslims have more children' statement, saying that the PM was frustrated after sensing that the opposition's INDIA bloc was heading for a majority in the Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking at a poll rally in Chhattisgarh's Janjgir-Champa district, Kharge on Tuesday said that this is the reason why the Prime Minister is now talking about "Mangalsutra and Muslims"

"He says we will steal your wealth and give it to those who have more children. Poor people always have more children. Do only Muslims have them?" Kharge said, adding that he himself has five children .

After joining the BJP, actor Rupali Ganguly said, "The one personality that attracts everyone towards BJP is PM Modi. His working style, personality and the way he has taken our country towards development, every Indian wants to join 'Modi Sena' and contribute to the country and I also felt the same and hence I joined BJP."

Rupali Ganguly, famous for her role in Hindi daily soap 'Anupamaa' joined BJP on Wednesday in Delhi.

Addressing an election rally in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah said speaking lies "loudly, publicly and repetitively is the formula of Congress".

Amit Shah In Chhattisgarh | Top Quotes

-"Under new BJP government in Chhattisgarh, 95 Naxalites were neutralised in four months"

"Naxalism will be uprooted in Chhattisgarh in 2 years if Narendra Modi becomes PM for third term"

"Speaking lies loudly, publicly and repetitively is the formula of Congress"

"We have been in majority since last 10 years, but we did not remove reservation, nor shall we do it: Amit Shah in Chhattisgarh"

Congress candidate from North East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, Kanhaiya Kumar, met Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of jailed Delhi CM and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday.

"This was a courtesy meeting. The kind of dictatorship going on in the country, anyone can be put in jail. I met her (Sunita Kejriwal) and said that we are together in this fight against dictatorship...We are not fighting elections on 4 seats but on 543 seats. Even in Delhi, we as INDIA alliance are contesting elections on 7 seats. We are fighting for the people of Delhi and not for a party or a candidate...," Kumar said after meeting Sunita Kejriwal.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said that the party will take a decision on its candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seats within the next 24-30 hours.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's statement comes amid suspense over the two seats which have been party bastions in the past. While Amethi was ruled by Congress till 2019, when BJP's Smriti Irani defeated Rahul Gandhi in the general elections, Sonia Gandhi retained Rae Bareli till she was moved to Rajya Sabha.

In his reaction on JDS leader Prajwal Revanna's alleged involvement in sexual abuse case, BRS president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday said, "Prajwal Revanna and the alleged dastardly act that he had committed... with sexual exploitation of hundreds of women is truly shocking and has left all of us in utter disbelief. The question is how did the local state government and the central government let this gentleman run away from Bengaluru to Europe."

BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya from Rajasthan on Wednesday said, "Congress and its 'thugbandhan' have neither any issue nor any agenda. They are just trying what they have done in the last 60 years, to divert people. PM Modi has clearly said that there will be no interference in reservations... If the country is one, the constitution is one, the law should be one as well. There have been some schemes to benefit some 'special people' and that should be changed..."

Senior BJP leader and the party's candidate from Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday said, "PM Modi has made it clear that there will be no tampering with the Constitution. Modi's government has given constitutional responsibility to the OBC commission...those people who imposed emergency, those who sent Nitish, Lalu to jail, talk nonsense"

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said, "...Congress Central Election Committee has empowered the party President to declare candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareilly seats. In the next 24-30 hours, the Congress President will finalise the candidates, and his decision will be announced formally. Till that is done, all information, tickers, and office orders are all fake."

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister and BJP's North Mumbai Lok Sabha candidate Piyush Goyal on Wednesday paid tributes to those who sacrificed their lives for the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement, at the Hutatma Chowk on the occasion of 64th Maharashtra Foundation Day.

BJP spokesperson Yamini Sharma Sadineni on Wednesday said, "We don't have to respond to Jagan Mohan Reddy's words because he has already lost his credibility. BJP, TDP and Jana Sena - we aim to establish a double engine government with BJP-led NDA government at the national level. The TDP-led NDA government in the state will focus on the aspirations of the state. The forthcoming NDA government (at the Centre) will extend its support to the state of Andhra Pradesh."

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused BJP of result "manipulation".

During a rally in Farakka, she said, "There are apprehensions of manipulation of results by BJP, several EVMs missing."

She also said, "Sudden poll percentage jump in Election Commission's latest figures is worrying".

Here is what JD(S) leader HD Revanna said on his son and expelled party leader Prajwal Revanna accused in sexual abuse case.

BJP MP and party's North East Delhi candidate Manoj Tiwari on Wednesday filed his nomination.

In his reaction to'obscene videos' case involving JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said, "HD Deve Gowda himself sent his grandson Prajwal Revanna abroad. Who gave him a visa? It is BJP only who gave the pass. Prajwal pen drives case is not related to DCM DK Shivakumar. Why did Amit Shah give a ticket to the accused of a sex scandal? SIT will conduct an investigation in a transparent manner."

Congress leader and the party's candidate from Mandi Lok Sabaha seat, Vikramaditya Singh on Wednesday said, "All the four seats have been announced in Himachal. Anand Sharma is fighting from Kangra and Satpal Raizada from Hamirpur. We have done a tour of 10 Vidhan Sabha constituency. I can say that there is a good response. It will covert into votes. We will be going to Bharmour, Pangi, Banjar. We believe in issue-based politics. We are raising them on priority and making a roadmap. Mandi is important for us."

In her reaction to postponement of election in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti's daughter and the party leader Iltija Mufti on Wednesday said, "We think this is a conspiracy to undermine democracy. BJP has delimited the seat because they wanted it. BJP is getting insecure as they don't want a leader like Mehbooba (Mufti) to be on the floor of the Parliament."

Addressing a public rally in Ambala, BJP leader and former Haryana minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said, "... I have been sidelined in my party, but sometimes, the 'begaane' work more than your 'apne'..."

On Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge's statement, BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on W, "He (Mallikarjun Kharge) is called a remote controlled President for a reason. A remote control needs two batteries. In Mallikarjun Kharge, those two batteries are Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. If a battery is removed, this remote-controlled President cannot speak a single word. He takes permission on stage whether to speak or not. And when he spoke, it was full of hate and venom..."

Samajwadi Party chief and party's candidate from Kannauj, Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday addressed a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Jaswantnagar.

On his resignation from the party, former Congress MLA Naseeb Singh on Wednesday said, "We, the senior leaders, around 30-35 ex-MLAs in Congress were opposing the alliance with AAP, but the high command didn't listen to us and got into the alliance. I think the alliance has been just on the one seat as the other two people don't belong to our ideology. Today, party workers are saying that we can't work for someone who ran false propaganda and has ended us. We can't see what is happening within the party after Sonia Gandhi left the leadership..."

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday addressed a rally in Lasudiya Khas.

Kunal Ghosh has been removed as Trinamool Congress's West Bengal general secretary, the party said on Wednesday.

The party said Ghosh has been removed for "making statements that don't align with party".

Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir on Wednesday said, "The BJP is not going to stay. The INDIA Alliance is coming in 2024. The Congress manifesto clearly says that SC, ST, OBC and other minorities will get their part based on their population. This is a guarantee... The people in Jammu and Kashmir are eager to vote against the BJP..."

BJP candidate from Azamgarh Dinesh Lal Yadav after filing nomination on Wednesday said, "People of Azamgarh have seen that the work we did... even though we lost (the constituency) in 2019, and we even worked after winning (by-elections) in 2022. People know that the Modi government will retain power, and they will not allow the development to stop here."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed a rally at Deesa in Gujarat's Banaskantha district.

He said, "Today is Gujarat Day. And this day is a day of new resolution and energy. Let's take a resolution today that to make a Viksit Bharat, we will not hold anything back in making a Viksit Gujarat..."

He added, "All of you sent me to Delhi in 2014 to serve the nation. Before 2014, there was news of terrorism, scams, and corruption, all policies were pending. The country was hopeless. The youth was worried about their future... But I worked hard... I made attempts to get the country out of that situation... Due to Maa Amba's blessings, I have been able to fulfil those expectations..."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said "Congress spreading false narrative that we will change Constitution and scrap reservation."

During a rally in Gujarat's Deesa he said, "Congress should give in writing that they would not give reservation based on religion."

"I have already prepared a list of works to be done in first 100 days of my third term," he added.

He said, "I challenge Congress and its ecosystem to declare they would not give reservation to minorities by altering Constitution."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday held a roadshow in Karnataka's Haveri.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in Gujarat's Banaskantha on Wednesday said, "INDI alliance is doing just anything out of nervousness. They opened a 'Mohabbat ki Dukan' and now they have opened a market of fake videos in it... They are spreading fake lies through fake videos. They don't have any truth to speak even after staying in power for 60 years... Their 'Mohabbat ki Dukan' is a fake factory... Congress' video, slogans, promises, and intentions are all fake... The fake videos may mislead people for some time but you will be punished for it... We already had the power of 400 in the Parliament in the last 5 years. But we did not commit the sin of withdrawing the reservation..."

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said, “Today in the meeting, we discussed the election strategy and campaign. Party workers and offices bearers from the constituency of Yamini Jadhav, Ravindra Waikar and Rahul Shewale came here to meet me. We had a very fruitful discussion, and we are confident that ‘Mahayuti alliance’ will win all six Lok Sabha seats from Mumbai. We will also win Kalyan and Thane seats."

Trinamool Congress on Wednesday accused Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury of being the "B-team" of the BJP, after a video, where he was heard saying that voting for BJP is better than voting for the TMC, showed up on the internet.

Commenting on the remark, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the goal of his party is to bring the numbers of the BJP down in West Bengal and that TMC is a part of the INDIA bloc.

The purported video showed Chowdhury, the sitting MP and candidate from West Bengal's Baharampur, addressing a public meeting and saying "it's better to vote for the BJP than to vote for the TMC."

The TMC, which has already been miffed with Chowdhury's repeated jibes against the party, responded to the video by blaming him for the failure of the seat-sharing talks with Congress and calling him "anti-Bengal."

In a post on X, the TMC said that after acting as "eyes and ears of BJP in Bengal," Chowdhury has now been promoted to be the "voice of the BJP in Bengal."

"Listen to how the B-Team member is openly asking people to vote for the BJP – a party that refused to release Bengal's rightful due and deprived our people of their rights. Only a Bangla-Birodhi can campaign for the BJP, which has repeatedly insulted Bengal's icons," the TMC said.

"On May 13, people of Baharampur will give a befitting response to this betrayal!" it added.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday addressed public during his roadshow in Gurdaspur.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday barred BRS president K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours for violating the Model Code of Conduct. The ban will begin from 8pm today.

The ECI took the action on the basis of a complaint filed by Congress leader G Niranjan, who accused the BRS leader of making “derogatory and objectionable” remarks against the party.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Wednesday during a presser in Raipur said,"Congress don't have an issue to raise. They looted the country for 55-60 years, and that's why they have lost the people's faith. This is the result of their strategy."

Addressing a public rally in Gujarat's Sabarkantha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, "When the terrorists were coming to India and doing attacks, the weak government at that time used to send dossiers... Today's New India does not send dossiers, it gives dose to terrorists... Our Muslim sisters were the biggest victims of vote bank politics... You (Congress) did not provide security to the Muslim sisters even after Supreme Court's verdict... The abolition of Triple Talaq provided security to families, not just the women... They (Congress) did not stop the practice of Triple Talaq for the vote bank... I did not worry about vote bank. I don't work for winning the elections. I wanted to make the lives of Muslim women easier and we made Triple Talaq illegal... The Shehzada of Congress gets a fever when I do all of this... He is saying that if Modi becomes PM for the third time, there would be fire in the country. The fact is, the dreams of the Congress have burnt and turned to ashes..."

In his reaction Prajwal Revanna sexual abuse videos case, Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah on Wednesday said Congress government did not initiate action till elections in Vokkaliga belt was over.

Union Minister and Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy on Wednesday said, "In Telangana, people are coming forward to show their support for the BJP. People in several villages across the state have passed a resolution to vote for our party. The people believe in PM Modi’s model of development and will vote for us to make PM Modi come to power for the third time."

Chhattisgarh Police on Wednesday held a flag march in Raipur on Wednesday, as part of security preparations ahead of third phase of voting on May 7.

Congress candidate from Hyderabad constituency Waliullah Sameer on Wednesday said, “How can Asaduddin Owaisi say that Congress didn’t give Lok Sabha tickets to Muslim candidates. I am a Muslim, and I got a Congress ticket from Hyderabad. If he cares so much about Congress candidates, he should come and join our party."

BJP national president JP Nadda, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday chaired a meeting at BJP headquarters in Delhi with representatives of eighteen political parties from ten countries.

The representatives have arrived in India on the invitation of the BJP to get first-hand experience and insights into the party’s election campaign.

The micro-blogging site-X has withheld the official handle of Jharkhand Congress in response to a legal demand.

A'deepfake morphed video' of Union home minister Amit Shah is said to have allegedly been posted on the handle.

Union Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said, "It was Indira Gandhi who had murdered the democracy, she was the one who imposed Emergency. Even today, Congress is trying to spread terror and rumours among the people. The leaders of the 'ghamandia alliance' are using the deepfake technology to spread lies. They have also made a deepfake video of the Home Minister."

BRS leader and former Telangana minister Allola Indrakaran Reddy on Wednesday joined Congress in Hyderabad in the presence of Telangana Congress In-charge Deepa Dasmunsi.

Union Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said, "The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are going to be historic. On one side, we have the Congress which did a corruption of Rs 12 lakh crore, while on the other hand, we have PM Modi against whom no allegations have been made in the last 23 years. On one side, we have a brother-sister duo that goes abroad on vacation during summers, and on the other, we have a person who celebrates Diwali with soldiers."

During a public rally in Korutla, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Wednesday said, "We asked for Metro Rail, but what did they (central govt) give us? They gave us 'Gadida Guddu' (Donkey's Egg)...When I ask what did PM Modi bring to Telangana state, you (people) should say 'Gadida Guddu'. Yesterday, PM Modi came to Telangana, what did he bring for us?... Say aloud, your (people) voice should be heard till Delhi...Should Telangana people vote for those who have brought this 'Gadida Guddu'?