Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: Police detain TMC leaders protesting outside EC office in Delhi

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlight: Bihar has a lot of room for a new party, says Prashant Kishor

According to political strategist Prashant Kishor, Bihar has a lot of room for a new party because it has "maximum anti-incumbency" after nearly 35 years of government by formations with similar ideologies led by Nitish Kumar or Lalu Prasad Yadav.

His comments came when his ongoing Jan Suraaj' yatra is supposed to end by forming a political party ahead of the assembly polls in the second half of the following year.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlight: Cong President Kharge says party will remove Agniveer scheme if elected in upcoming polls

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge attacked the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the country's Lok Sabha elections, claiming that the Agniveer project is causing a great deal of ire and resentment among the youth. He stated that wherever the PM Modi government's BJP ministers are heading, they must declare that they would reevaluate this and make the necessary changes.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlight: TMC Gen Sec Abhishek Banerjee questions central govt's actions

TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee questioned the govt saying, "Why does the Election Commission not remove the NIA Director and NIA SP despite having all the evidence? ..If West Bengal DG can be changed only on the complaint of BJP leaders, then why are the NIA Director and NIA SP not removed when we are bringing out the facts?"

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlight: TMC leaders held meeting with WB gov

TMC members including General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a meeting with the West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose a Raj Bhavan.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlight: Home Min Amit Shah to attend grand rally in Lakhimpur

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend a grand rally in Lakhimpur and a roadshow in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, tomorrow.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: TMC leader Derek O'Brien says will continue the protest

On being detained by Delhi Police for protesting outside the Election Commission of India, TMC MP Derek O'Brien says "We are here to fight. We will carry on our peaceful protest...This is 100% dictatorship but we are from TMC, we will fight this..."

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: TMC leader Derek O'Brien explains his dismay at being detained during a protest

TMC MP Derek O'Brien 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..."

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE:Rahul Gandhi to stay overnight in MP due to bad weather after Lok Sabha campaign

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will stay overnight in Shahdol district in Madhya Pradesh as his helicopter could not take off due to inclement weather, a party functionary said on Monday. Gandhi is in MP for his party's Lok Sabha campaign and he addressed two rallies in Mandla and Shahdol, which will go to polls on April 26. "His helicopter could not take off due to bad weather in Shahdol. Gandhi was supposed to fly to Jabalpur from where he was to leave for Delhi," MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari told PTI. "Now, he will stay overnight in a hotel in Shahdol and leave at 6am on Tuesday," Patwari informed.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Rajnath Singh points fingers at Congress for insulting 'Hindu Religion'

"Does the INDI alliance of Congress and DMK want to say that they will destroy Nari Shakti and Matri Shakti. People of INDI alliance repeatedly and deliberately insult the Hindu religion. Udhayanidhi Stalin has also insulted the Hindu religion. Udhayanidhi had said that Sanatan Dharma is like dengue and malaria spread by mosquitoes and it has to be eradicated. Shouldn't DMK apologise for such statements?" said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Sachin Pilot praises Congress for its work towards MSP law
Congress leader Sachin Pilot addressed a public rally in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan saying, "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."

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Delhi HC stays conviction of Union Minister Dilip Ray

Delhi HC stayed the conviction of former union minister Dilip Ray in the coal scam case so that he could contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Sagarika Ghose, Derek O'Brien among TMC leaders protesting outside EC office

TMC leaders protesting in front of the ECI office in Delhi due to claims that the central government has misused the NIA, CBI, and ED were led by Sagarika Ghose and Derek O'Brien.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari elaborates on Delhi excise policy case

Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, "The scam is so big that investigating agencies will try to reach there. Arvind Kejriwal gave Atishi & Saurabh Bhardwaj's name in the liquor scam. During a press conference, Atishi named Durgesh Pathak & Raghav Chadha...My stand is that the accused should not be spared..."

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: TMC demands NIA, CBI, ED and Income Tax chiefs to be changed, party leaders protesting outside EC office in Delhi

TMC MP Dola Sen said, "...We have appealed to the Election Commission to change the chiefs of NIA, CBI, ED and Income Tax and we are sitting on a 24-hour peaceful protest with this demand."

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: TMC protest against BJP 'misusing' NIA to pull down opposition leaders

The 10-member delegation of the Trinamool Congress demands a 24-hour dharna in front of the Indian Election Commission. In the letter it sent to the poll body, the party brought up two points. It has filed a complaint against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for "blatantly misusing" the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to plot against the political rivals of the BJP and for requesting a waiver of the current embargoes in order to release additional funds to aid storm-affected residents of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: TMC leaders sit for Dharna outside EC office

TMC leaders are protesting outside the Delhi EC headquarters on a 24-hour dharna.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: NC leader Omar Abdullah clarifies NC and Congress' seat sharing

Congress candidates will contest from Udhampur, Jammu, and Ladakh Lok Sabha seats, and National Conference candidates will contest from Anantnag, Baramulla, and Srinagar Lok Sabha seats, stated National Conference leader Omar Abdullah regarding seat sharing.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: Congress leader Salman Khurshid feels saddened by PM Modi's 'Muslim League' comment

"We are deeply saddened by what the Prime Minister says in his speeches, what he has said about our manifesto is a bundle of lies, we are deeply saddened by this," states Congress leader and senior attorney Salman Khurshid. You can debate, analyse, and dispute with any other party as much as you like, but it is absurd to claim that a national party active in our national movement would include such a deceptive statement in its manifesto when one that is excellent has already been written, he said while expressing his displeasure over the matter.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: Govt doesn't have right to impose restrictions on freedom of speech like this, says Congress leader Pawan Khera

Congress leader Pawan Khera said, "We raised many issues, we lodged a strong objection to the way the Prime Minister gave the status of Muslim League to our manifesto. We also expressed our views on the Prime Minister's hoardings in universities...Since elections have just been declared, the Election Commission should recommend whoever it wants to remove or not, the ministry is currently a caretaker government, and they do not have the right to impose restrictions on freedom of speech like this."

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: Congress leaders arrive at the Election Commission of India office
The Congress has filed a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Election Commission, charging him for drawing comparisons between the party's manifesto and that of the Muslim League.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: Birender Singh to join Congress after quitting BJP

Former Union Minister and BJP leader Birender Singh will become a member of the Congress party on April 9 at the party headquarters.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: RaGa promises to provide 30 lakh govt jobs to people

The Govt of India has 30 lakh vacancies. The people in the BJP don't give them to you. They give you work on contract but don't give you govt jobs. We will grant you 30 lakh govt jobs as our first step after the formation of our govt, claimed Rahul Gandhi in his speech.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: Rahul Gandhi says he will work on people's order

"Two India are being created, one belongs to billionaires and other one belongs to poor people... In Delhi, I will be your sepoy who will work on your orders," said Rahul Gandhi while addressing the public in Madhya Pradesh.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: Cong leader Rahul Gandhi addresses public in Madhya Pradesh

During a public rally in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "Under Narendra Modi's leadership 22 businessmen have amassed wealth equal to what 70 crore people of India have."

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: PM Modi says BJP govt has separate budget, ministry for tribals

PM Modi also commented on tribals being insulted by the Congress. "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," the prime minister added.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: Modi cancelled Congress' license to loot the country after independence, says PM Modi

During his speech at a public rally in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, PM Narendra Modi said, "After independence, Congress thought that it had the license to loot the country but after coming to government in 2014, Modi has cancelled the loot license of Congress and Modi was able to cancel the license because you gave Modi the license.

"Now their shop has been closed, will they abuse Modi or not? So who will protect me? These crores of my countrymen, my mothers and sisters, have become my raksha kavach today," he continued.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: PM Modi points fingers at Congress' efforts to help the poor

Congress never understood the problems faced by the poor. Due to my government’s efforts, 25 crore people have risen above the poverty line, said PM Modi.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: PM Modi says will continue to provide free COVID vaccines, ration to poor people

During COVID, Modi provided free vaccines and free ration to poor people and this scheme has also been extended for the next five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated while speaking at a public event in Bastar.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: We are contesting elections with all our strength, says ​Congress leader Sachin Pilot

Congress leader Sachin Pilot says, "We are contesting elections with all our strength. Results weren't good for us last time but people have seen the report of 10 years of this govt. We will win the maximum seats in Rajasthan. BJP has always done politics of polarisation and emotional issues... Congress and INDIA alliance are fighting well and I believe on June 4, the results will be in our favour..."

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: Regional parties are important because they oppose the BJP, says DMK candidate from Thoothukudi Lok Sabha seat Kanimozhi Karunanidhi

DMK candidate from Thoothukudi Lok Sabha seat Kanimozhi Karunanidhi holds election campaign for Chennai South Lok Sabha seat candidate T Sumathy. She says, "Regional parties are important because they oppose the BJP. It is also important that the INDIA alliance wins. We dont need just voices to speak against the government, but we need to change the government..."

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: A ten-member AITC delegation arrives at Delhi airport

A ten-member AITC delegation arrives at Delhi airport. They will meet the the full bench of the Election Commission, in Delhi, today.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: AAP has always received love from the people of Assam, says Delhi Minister Atishi

Here’s what Delhi Minister Atishi said after arriving in Assam to campaign for the upcoming elections.

“AAP has always received love from the people of Assam. This time we are contesting on two Lok Sabha seats. I am sure the people of Assam will vote for AAP for good schools, hospitals and their basic rights.”

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: PM Narendra Modi developed Amethi and the people of Amethi will bless him, says Smriti Irani

Union Minister Smriti Irani says, "We 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..."

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: Modi-Shah's political and ideological ancestors supported the British and Muslim League, says Mallikarjun Kharge

On PM Modi criticizing Congress' poll manifesto, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge says, "Modi-Shah's political and ideological ancestors supported the British and Muslim League against the Indians in the Freedom Struggle...There is a stink of RSS in Modi ji's speeches, BJP's electoral graph is plunging day by day, therefore the RSS has started remembering its best friend-the Muslim League!"

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: Aam Aadmi Party launches 'Jail Ka Jawaab Vote Se' campaign for Lok Sabha elections 2024

AAP introduced the 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se' theme on Monday in anticipation of the Lok Sabha elections. The statement was made one day after the party observed a 24-hour fast in support of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

In addition, the leaders of the AAP challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is now in power at the Centre, to impose President's rule in Delhi, threatening to eradicate the saffron party from the nation's capital.

Numerous AAP activists and supporters participated in the fast, carrying banners with an image of Kejriwal in prison and singing patriotic songs.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: The kingpin in this whole scam is Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson, Sanjay Raut, says Former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam

Former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam says, "Today is April 8 and Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate from North-West Mumbai (Amol Kirtikar), 'Khichdi Chor' has been called by the ED. What ED does after the interrogation, I don't know, but action must be taken against him. The entire people from the North-West district should know, how dishonest their possible candidate is. When I started working on this scam, I came to know that the 'kingpin' was someone else. The kingpin in this whole scam is Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson, Sanjay Raut... in this scam, he has taken money in the name of his daughter, brother and partner...He has taken bribes through cheques in the name of her daughter Vidhita Sanjay Raut, who herself is innocent and unaware of these things..."

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: Out of the 64,523 booths, on 47,179 booths, 2,82,242 people have joined BJP, says Madhya Pradesh BJP President

Here's what Madhya Pradesh BJP President and party candidate from Khajuraho VD Sharma said about party's efforts being put in for Lok Sabha Elections 2024. "We should achieve the task given by PM Modi of getting additional 370 votes from the highest votes in an election received at every booth so far. Many people have joined BJP. Out of the 64,523 booths, on 47,179 booths, 2,82,242 people have joined BJP."

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE: It's surprising how serious Congress party and its workers are, says Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav says, "It's surprising how serious Congress party and its workers are and how they make fun of themselves when they put BJP's leader picture at the stage instead of their own candidate. It seems that they have accepted their defeat even before the elections are held. This is the world of social media, either they understand that they have already lost the election or they should see if they are serious enough."

Union Minister & BJP candidate Faggan Singh Kulaste's picture was there on the flex put up on the main stage before Congress MP, Rahul Gandhi's address today at the election rally in Mandla. Later, the photo of the BJP leader was replaced by the photo of Congress MLA Rajneesh Harvansh Singh.

Lok Sabha Polls 2024: This is my debut in political life, says RJD candidate from Bihar’s Saran Rohini Acharya

Here’s what RJD candidate from Bihar’s Saran Rohini Acharya said on her candidature.

“This is my debut in political life and I have received so much love and blessings (from the people). I have not seen something like this before. I was interested in joining politics earlier but my familial responsibilities kept me busy.”

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: We all are full-fledged prepared for the election, says Committee Convenor Pranajit Singha Roy On Tripura BJP Lok Sabha Management Committee

On Tripura BJP Lok Sabha Management Committee preparing for free, fair and peaceful elections, the Committee Convenor Pranajit Singha Roy says, "Given the upcoming Lok Sabha Election, a committee of 99 members has been made... All the members of our party are working very hard. We had prepared two committees for both the Lok Sabha seats, one for the West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency and another for the East Tripura Lok Sabha constituency... On April 19, our first phase and on April 26, our second phase of the election will be conducted. We all are full-fledged prepared for the election... The main message of PM Modi is to reach every person at the grassroots level and take blessings from them. Everything, including booth-level meetings and all work, has been completed, and we are all prepared for the election."

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Process of casting postal votes begins in Kanchipuram Constituency

Process of casting postal votes begins in Kanchipuram Constituency. The process will end on April 11 here. 15 teams with high security are involved in Postal vote collection work.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Congress will be finished in this election, says BJP candidate from Pilibhit LS constituency Jitin Prasada

Here's what UP Minister and BJP candidate from Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency Jitin Prasada said on upcoming general elections.

"PM Modi's track record in 10 years is in front of the people. India's stature has increased. New India has been made. There've been many beneficiaries of different schemes at the village-level. INDIA alliance leaders are opportunist. They will be finished. Congress will be finished in this election."

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: The people of Maharashtra have taken a solemn pledge of grand victory of BJP-NDA candidates, tweets PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets, "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."

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: BRS seeks revival through Vaastu and return to roots

The President of Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) and former Chief Minister of Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), firmly believes in Vaastu and has faced several setbacks since the state assembly elections in November 2023. Despite ruling the state since its establishment in 2014, the Congress defeated the BRS party. Following this, the BRS leader sustained a severe fall, which led to hospitalisation for back surgery. In subsequent events, numerous party leaders defected to the Congress or BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. More here.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Tamil Nadu has been a great focus for the BJP, says Anurag Thakur

Here’s what Union Minister Anurag Thakur said after arriving at the Chennai airport.

“Tamil Nadu has been a great focus for the BJP. Investments have been made here and priority to the state has been given. Now Tamil Nadu wants to look beyond the dravidian parties. They (people of Tamil Nadu) want to see the NDA do well in these elections and I am sure they are going to vote in large numbers.”

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: We are always ready for the elections, says BJP MP Maneka Gandhi

BJP MP and party's candidate from Sultanpur Lok Sabha constituency Maneka Gandhi says, "We are always ready for the elections. We never stop after the election, we are connected to the people and hence we try to work all five years and not like those who have done nothing for four years."

On Varun Gandhi, she says, "What should I say, it's about what party decides. Varun has been a good MP. Whatever he will be in life, he will do good for the country."

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Everything is well in MVA. Instead there're problems in opposition camp, says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut

Here's what Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said in a press conference about the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections today. "Everything is well in MVA. Instead there're problems in opposition camp. No seat-sharing has happened. PM Modi asking for votes with the government machinery is a violation of code of conduct."

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: Centre provided 'Y+' category security of CRPF to Madhavi Latha, BJP candidate from Hyderabad

Centre provided 'Y+' category security of CRPF to Madhavi Latha, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat. She has been provided the security cover only for Telangana: Sources

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: I am impressed by the policies of BJP, says Former DGP Vijay Kumar

Here's what Former DGP Vijay Kumar said after joining BJP.

"I am impressed by the policies of BJP. There's a lot of scope to work for the people. In politics, we need to be open to people whereas in policing there's a distance. I don't think I'll will have any problem. Law and order has improved."

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE: AAP candidate from Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha seat Malvinder Singh Kang starts his election campaign

AAP candidate from Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha seat Malvinder Singh Kang offers prayers in Gurudwara Sohna Sahib and starts his election campaign for Lok Sabha Elections 2024.