Lok Sabha Election 2024 Highlights: Election Commission to announce polling dates tomorrow at 3 PM

Senior BJP leader K S Eshwarappa announces that he will contest as an independent candidate from Shimoga Lok Sabha seat

Arindam Roy quits BJD and also resigns from the post of party's general secretary.

--Samajwadi Party declares 6 candidates from Uttar Pradesh for Lok Sabha elections: Party
--SP gives Bhadohi seat in UP to Trinamool Congress

Arjun Singh has earlier backed up his announcement of 'ghar wapsi' to the BJP with a sensational claim that Sandeshkhali's alleged kingpin Shajahan Sheikh owned large tracts of land and other properties in Naihati under active patronage of local TMC MLA Partha Bhowmik.

Bihar cabinet expansion to take place today evening.

In another setback for the Congress party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, senior leader Raj Kumar Chabbewal, an MLA from Punjab, announced his departure from the grand old party. Chabbewal made the decision to join the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), marking a significant shift in his political allegiance.

Alleging BJP's instruction to Income Tax authorities for this action. Kharge stated, "Our nearly Rs 300 crores are frozen. How can we go for elections in this? Our accounts are closed but their accounts are open. Where is the level playing ground? I demand an inquiry at the highest level into this. Unless the truth comes out, their accounts should also be frozen."

Alleging BJP's instruction to Income Tax authorities for this action. Kharge stated, "Our nearly Rs 300 crores are frozen. How can we go for elections in this? Our accounts are closed but their accounts are open. Where is the level playing ground? I demand an inquiry at the highest level into this. Unless the truth comes out, their accounts should also be frozen."

The Congress leveled allegations against the BJP on Friday, asserting that the electoral bonds data has unveiled the party's "corrupt tactics," including quid pro quo, soliciting donations for company protection, kickbacks, and money laundering via shell companies. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh responded to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's reported remarks regarding the link between ED/CBI/IT raids on firms and donations through electoral bonds, labeling them as "assumptions." Ramesh challenged Sitharaman to disclose the complete data of donations to political parties, aiming to put an end to the debate.

Ramesh highlighted Sitharaman's dual role in overseeing both the State Bank of India, which administers the Electoral Bond scheme, and the Enforcement Directorate, responsible for implementing the 'Pradhan Mantri Hafta Vasuli Yojana', in a post on X.

The Supreme Court declined to stay the appointments of new election commissioners (ECs) under a 2023 law, which excluded the chief justice of India from the selection panel. Justices Sanjiv Khanna, Dipankar Datta, and Augustine George Masih told petitioners who raised concerns about the pre-ponement of a selection meeting to file a separate application highlighting the issue.

The bench refused to stay the appointments made under the 2023 law, stating, "Normally and generally, we do not stay a law by way of an interim order."

The hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the appointment of two ECs under the 2023 law was deferred.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing petitioner Jaya Thakur, argued that there was a clear transgression in the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, following the passing of a judgment.

The Supreme Court has requested a response from the Election Commission regarding a plea filed by the Tamil Nadu-based unrecognised political party, Naam Tamilar Katchi. The plea challenges the allotment of free symbols to unrecognised political parties based on a first-come, first-served basis. A bench consisting of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra issued a notice to another unrecognised political party that received the poll symbol previously held by Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK).

Earlier, on March 1, the high court had dismissed NTK's petition challenging the allotment of free symbols to unrecognised political parties on a first-come, first-served basis. The court rejected NTK's argument that the Election Symbols Order in this regard was arbitrary and unconstitutional, stating that a contrary view would undermine the fundamental principle of providing free symbols.

Prakash Ambedkar stated that he has not received an invitation to the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) meeting yet and thus, will not attend it.

AAP requests that the Congress remove their candidates from Sonitpur and Dibrugarh in Assam, and withdraws its candidate from the Guwahati Lok Sabha seat.

As part of its tie-up with the K Chandrasekhar Rao-led BRS, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will contest two Lok Sabha seats in Telangana. The BSP will vie for the Hyderabad and Nagarkurnool constituencies, out of the total 17 constituencies in the state. This decision was confirmed in a release by the BRS, with KCR, also known as KCR, allocating the two seats to the BSP.

The SC postponed the hearing until next week, stating that applications for an interim directive regarding the appointment of Election Commissioners were not on file.

Hearings on petitions contesting the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Terms of Office) Act's provisions are postponed by the Supreme Court. Subject scheduled for March 21

The Lok Sabha election schedule will be released by the Election Commission on Saturday. The poll panel stated in a post on X that a press conference announcing the timing of the Lok Sabha elections and several state assemblies will take place on Saturday at 3 p.m.
The current Lok Sabha's tenure expires on June 16, and a new House must be established prior to that date.
The last Lok Sabha elections took place in seven phases starting on April 11 and were declared on March 10. May 23 was election day.

Election Commission to announce polling dates tomorrow at 3 PM.

Sanjay Raut, a member of the Shiv Sena (UBT), stated: "Seat-sharing (in Maharashtra for the Lok Sabha elections) has been nearly settled. Maha Vikas Aghadi is a group that Prakash Ambedkar belongs to. He attended the initial meeting. We have offered Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi a proposal for four seats. There will be discussions between NCP and Congress during today's MVA meeting."

Union Home minister Amit Shah addresses a public gathering in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

On Friday, the Supreme Court (SC) granted the Election Commission of India's (ECI) request to return the data for uploading to its website. The Supreme Court ruled that SBI failed to reveal the numbers of electoral bonds, a mechanism that allowed people and organisations to make anonymous donations to political parties.

The Supreme Court has directed the Registrar Judicial of the highest court to ensure that papers are scanned and digitised, and that after the operation is completed, the original documents be returned to ECI, which would subsequently publish them on the website on or before March 17.

AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, along with Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann, is set to launch the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold a roadshow in Hyderabad on Friday, followed by addressing BJP rallies in Telangana on March 16 and March 18, in anticipation of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu are set to commence their duties as Election Commissioners starting today. Their appointments were finalized yesterday by the selection panel, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In preparation for the 2024 elections, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has initiated a grassroots campaign. He commenced this effort in Raipur by visiting neighborhoods, interacting with residents, and meeting beneficiaries of several Central Government initiatives. Engaging in personal conversations with the people of Raipur, the Chief Minister actively listened to their concerns, aiming to assess the state's development and gather direct insights from grassroots beneficiaries.

On March 10, Trinamool Congress (TMC) declared its candidates for all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, resolving speculation surrounding its pre-poll seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress.

The list of TMC candidates brought forth some surprises, notably former cricketers Yusuf Pathan contesting from Berhampore and Kirti Azad from the Bardhaman Durgapur Lok Sabha seat. Additionally, the party retained veteran MPs such as Sudip Banerjee from Kolkata, Saugata Roy from the Dum Dum Lok Sabha seat, and Kalyan Banerjee from Serampore.

LIVE: Govt releases electoral bonds data

In the recent release of electoral bonds data, significant findings emerged upon cross-referencing donor information with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) database.

Biggest Donors: Among 1,260 companies and individuals contributing a total of ₹12,769 crore through electoral bonds, the top 20 companies alone accounted for ₹5,945 crore, nearly half of the total sum donated.

Ms. SN Mohanty emerged as the largest individual donor, contributing ₹45 crore, followed by Lakshmi Niwas Mittal with ₹35 crore in donations.

Companies with Minimum Capital: Out of approximately 500 companies cross-referenced with the MCA database, 43 companies met the minimum mandated capital requirement of ₹1 lakh. The top 10 among them were significant purchasers of electoral bonds.

Newly Incorporated Companies: Among 500 companies matched with the MCA database, 28 were established on or after April 12, 2019, coinciding with the inception of electoral bond purchases. The top 10 purchasers among these newly incorporated companies shed light on their early involvement in the electoral bond system.

Following the announcement by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) regarding the "major injury" sustained by its party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, she has been discharged from the hospital. Despite the initial concern, Banerjee was permitted to return home after receiving preliminary treatment. Tests conducted affirmed her stable condition.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) announced on Thursday that its party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sustained a significant injury. The news was disseminated through the party's social media platform along with an image depicting Banerjee with the injury.

Banerjee was subsequently admitted to Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial (SSKM) Hospital in Kolkata. Later, she was transferred to the Bangur Institute of Neurosciences at the IPGME&R – SSKM Hospital Centre in Kolkata for further treatment.

Ahead of the announcement of Lok Sabha election schedules, the Center has reduced the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas made the announcement on the social media platform X, stating that the revised prices would come into effect from March 15, starting at 6:00 AM.

According to the Ministry, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have implemented the price revision across the country. The reduction in prices is expected to stimulate consumer spending and lower operating expenses for a significant number of vehicles, including over 58 lakh heavy goods vehicles running on diesel, 6 crore cars, and 27 crore two-wheelers.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has announced four candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Assam. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has not yet announced the polling dates for the general elections. Mamata's party has fielded Gauri Shankar Sarania from the Kokrajhar seat, which is reserved for Schedule Tribe (ST), Abdul Kalam Azad from the Barpeta seat, Ghana Kanta Chutia from the Lakhimpur seat, and Radhashyam Biswas from the Silchar (SC) seat. The Election Commission of India is expected to announce the dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections soon. The poll panel recently reviewed the preparedness in Jammu and Kashmir, concluding its pan-India survey. There is strong speculation that the announcement of the Lok Sabha dates is imminent.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Mega Opinion Poll by Network18 suggests that the BJP-led NDA is poised to secure 77 seats, with the INDIA bloc projected to win just 2 seats, while Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party is expected to pick up the remainder. It's a crucial moment for both alliances in the state.

Moving to Bihar, the NDA coalition is anticipated to sweep with 38 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, leaving only 2 seats for the INDIA bloc.

In Delhi, the BJP-led NDA is expected to claim victory in all seven seats, marking a surprising turn for Arvind Kejriwal's AAP.

Meanwhile, in Punjab, AAP may secure just one seat, with Congress expected to win seven and NDA three seats, according to News18's Mega Opinion Poll.

In Haryana, the BJP-led NDA is forecasted to sweep all 10 seats with a substantial 62 percent vote share.

In Madhya Pradesh, the NDA coalition is projected to win 28 seats, leaving just one for the INDIA bloc, as per the poll findings.

According to Network18’s Mega Opinion Poll, the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is on track to secure a historic third consecutive term in India's upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The survey predicts the NDA to clinch a staggering 411 seats out of 543, with the BJP alone poised to bag 350 seats. The survey, conducted across 21 major states, suggests the NDA's dominance across key regions, while the opposition INDIA bloc, led by the Congress, is projected to secure significantly fewer seats.

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