Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Amit Shah takes swipe at Cong on Prajwal Revanna issue, says govt is yours

INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala, who is fighting the Lok Sabha polls from Kurukshetra, on Wednesday filed his nomination papers and declared his assets worth more than 45 crore, indicating he is fond of cars.

Himachal Pradesh minister and Congress candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha seat on Wednesday challenged BJP nominee Kangana Ranaut for an open debate over their vision for the constituency. While addressing a press conference, Singh said, "Ours is a healthy democracy...she should take part in a debate and tell the people about her vision. I will also tell the people about the work which I have done for Mandi as well as my vision for the constituency

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is frustrated, disappointed and stands defeated and a government of the opposition INDIA bloc is going to be formed at the Centre. In a post on X, he said, out of fear of losing in these elections, Modi has forgotten the dignity of the post he holds and is talking all kinds of things.

Taking a swipe at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his remarks that the BJP wants to change the Constitution, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday said it was the grand old party which has amended the statute book "more than 100 times".

Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district on Tuesday, Gandhi had warned that if the BJP returns to power at the Centre, it will "tear apart" and "throw away" the Constitution which granted rights to the poor, Dalits, scheduled tribes and other backward classes.

Stringent punishment must be given to those who commit such crimes, says Amit Shah on Prajwal sex scandal.

Heinous criminal has fled the country due to Congress: Amit Shah on Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna sex scandal

Congress leader and Party's candidate from Kangra Lok Sabha seat of Himachal Pradesh, Anand Sharma says, "I am from Himachal, and I am in politics due to the blessings of the people of the state. Today, the party's organization has taken a decision for me and I accept this challenge. Kangra is not a new place for me, I have been there hundreds of times. When I was the union minister, I didn't forget the state.I have been asked and hence I am going amongst my people."

During a public rally in Hubballi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, " Right now we have an alliance with JD(S) and then Revanna's case came up. I want to make it clear, BJP will never stand with atrocities against women. Listen Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, govt is yours, of Congress, it was you who was supposed to take action. You did not take any action until the election of Vokkaliga belt was over, you did politics and let him escape (Prajwal Revanna). If you have guts, say the truth, because of you a person who committed a heinous crime escaped...even though they're (JD(S)) our ally, our stand is clear, those who commit such crimes, need to be given harshest punishment..."

Election Commission of India bans former Telangana CM and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours, starting 8 pm today, 1st May for making "derogatory and objectionable statements" against Congress in Sircilla.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy said, "They (BJP) have set up a university for lying and whichever students pass out from that university...Vice Chancellor of the university is PM Modi, the Registrar is Amit Shah, there are some lecturers and students. Looking at WhatsApp University needs to be stopped.PM Modi and Amit Shah have said in Telangana that they will end the 4% Muslim reservation...they're directly attacking the Constitution...(Atal Bihari) Vajypayee constituted Venkatachaliah Commission, what do they (BJP) have to say on this?

While addressing a rally Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath said, "Today India is safe in every way.If any crackers burst today in India, Pakistan is up to give excuses saying they are not behind it as Pakistan knows that it's new India. A new India does not poke, however, if somebody does then it (India) does not also spare. This is not India of Congress period where after one slap, they used to say wait..If anyone dares to slap, today we dare to punch back with all our strength."

"The BJP is on the backfoot in Chhattisgarh and the entire nation after the two phases of polling. We (INDIA bloc) are moving ahead strongly. I am confident that the Congress will win more seats than BJP in Chhattisgarh," says Congress leader Sachin Pilot

Gujarat: In Banaskantha's Deesa, PM Modi said, "I salute the people of Gujarat that they never made an unstable government here. You never fell for any short-term allurements... In many states, political instability did not let the industries develop or work with a broader vision. Once you removed the Congress from Gujarat, you did not let them step in again. The Congress does not have issues, vision or passion to work. In 2014, the Congress mocked me that I was a 'Chaiwala', Gujju. They said I only understood Gujarat, not the country... They used to bring tea kettles in their rallies to mock me. But the country replied in such a way that those who once had 400 seats are now at 40 seats."

I have already prepared a list of works to be done in first 100 days of my third term, says PM Modi at rally in Gujarat's Dessa.

Congress spreading false narrative that we will change Constitution and scrap reservation, says Modi

ECI revises protocol for handling & storage of Symbol Loading Unit of EVM and VVPAT"

In Banaskantha's Deesa, PM Modi says, "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..."

Kunal Ghosh removed as Trinamool Congress Bengal gen secy for making statements that don't align with party, says TMC

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah writes to PM Modi requesting him to direct the Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs to cancel the Diplomatic Passport issued to Hassan MP & JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna and ensure his return to face the law

On West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury's reported statement "If not for Congress then vote to the BJP but not to the TMC", party's leader Jairam Ramesh says, "I haven't seen the video and don't know in which context he has said this but I want to make it clear that Congress party has just one aim that is to heavily decrease the number of seats of the BJP that it has got in 2019. This is not assembly elections but Lok Sabha. Left parties and Congress are in the INDIA alliance, Mamata Banerjee has also said the TMC is a part of the alliance, however, we couldn't do the seat-sharing with TMC."

On 'obscene videos' case involving JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah 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."

There are apprehensions of manipulation of results by BJP, several EVMs missing, says CM Mamata Banerjee at Farakka rally in West Bengal.

Sudden poll percentage jump in Election Commission's latest figures is worrying: Mamata at Farakka rally

Sitting MP from UP's Ayodhya and BJP candidate from the constituency, Lallu Singh files nomination in the presence of Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says, "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."

"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," says BRS president KT Rama Rao on Prajwal Revanna

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav says, "... 'Ek May aur BJP gayi'... Think about what the people who have the certificate and have taken vaccines must be going through. Those who have given them the vaccines, the govt, action must be taken against them. They have put the lives of common people in danger. If scientists and experts are saying that the vaccine may cause heart and other health issues, who should be held responsible for it? BJP has done a bigger crime than violating the model code of conduct..."

"I congratulate him on this new inning of politics. I also want to give him an advice, he has committed a political suicide (by joining AAP). Instead of talking about this and that, he should say that this party (Congress) made me capable to the extent that the CM (Bhagwant Mann) is making me join his party," says Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on party leader Dalvir Singh Goldy joining AAP.

- West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the wavelengths of the BJP and people of the state are "completely different".

- She termed BJP leaders as "migratory birds" and accused them of spreading lies about West Bengal.

- "Bengal and BJP are not a good match as their wavelength is completely different from ours. While we uphold our culture & tradition, the migratory birds from Delhi do nothing but spread lies on Bengal, in Bengal," Banerjee said on X.

Here's what astrologer Ameya Joshi said after joining the BJP.

"It was dream to do something for my nation since long but I was not having any opportunity and this is a platform where I can do something for my nation. The biggest motivation to join (BJP) is PM Modi."

Here's what Union minister and BJP candidate from North Mumbai Lok Sabha seat Piyush Goyal said on BJP's prospects in the Lok Sabha elections. "The enormous support of people being witnessed across the country and Mumbai shows that the country is ready to move further under the leadership of PM Modi. People trust PM Modi, people have hope from PM Modi."

PM Modi far away from reality of common people, he has no understanding of their miseries as he has become egoistic: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Congress National General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "There is 'mafia raj' in Assam...There were serious charges against your CM when he was in the Congress party. As soon as he switched to BJP, all charges against him were washed off. BJP has developed a washing machine where corrupt people are put...Your CM was the first one in this regard..."

Here's what BJP candidate from North-East Delhi Manoj Tiwari said during his roadshow. "We are grateful to people for their love. We are grateful for the support and we will continue the development work."

'Mafia raj' going on in Assam, alleges Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Dhubri

A plea was mentioned before the Delhi High Court on Wednesday against circulation of deepfake videos during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora agreed to list the matter for hearing on Thursday, if the petition is in order.

- Senior advocate Jayant Mehta, while mentioning the plea for an urgent hearing, said it was being filed by a lawyers' body seeking directions to the Election Commission of India (ECI) to stop the circulation of deepfake videos during elections. Explaining the urgency, the lawyer said general elections are going on and deepfake videos are being circulated and they have also given a representation to the ECI.

- The bench said social media platforms now have grievance redressal officers and sought to know whether the petitioners have approached them. The counsel said they have done whatever they could.

PDP workers stage protest against the Election Commission of India in Srinagar over the decision to postpone the polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat to May 25.

Actress Rupali Ganguly joins BJP at the party headquarters in Delhi.

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

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat Piyush Goyal holds a roadshow in Mumbai, he says, "...Today, on the occasion of Maharashtra Day we have the opportunity to take a resolution of making Maharashtra a Viksit state. It is our belief that when BJP and NDA will come back to power, there will be new opportunities in the field of startups, MSME. PM Modi thinks about the welfare of the youth of the counbtry..."

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says, "Congress, which is the oldest political party of the country, unfortunately after independence, it became directionless and today it has also become leaderless. The adverse effect of directionlessness is that several leaders of the Congress Party continuously made efforts to curse, insult the civilization and culture of India and defame Sanatana in every way. The same unfortunate situation was seen during the UPA government when a senior Congress leader and the then Union Home Minister tried to insult the culture of India in the name of saffron terrorism and also made an attempt to defame it in front of the world...Today, under the leadership of PM Modi, India's civilization and culture are gaining respect in the world. India's pride has been restored..."

Here's what Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said while attending a public meeting with BJP candidate from North-East Delhi Manoj Tiwari in the constituency.

"After seeing the crowd here, I believe that you have decided to make Manoj Tiwari victorious from here. You've seen Manoj Tiwari speaking, he raises your voices in the Parliament. India has now changed. It is progressing under the leadership of PM Modi. The country has become a global power."

BJP candidate from Porbandar Lok Sabha constituency, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya says "I have been doing elections campaign for a month now. We are getting love from the people. The public's trust can be seen in BJP as they want Narendra Modi to become the Prime Minister once again...."

Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva says, "BJP will win all 7 seats of Delhi and AAP-Congress will be wiped off..."

Union minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday said the Congress was using all types of tricks -- fear, confusion, rumour and now deepfake -- for its propaganda. Thakur refuted the Congress' charge that democracy was under threat or that reservations will be taken away by the BJP government.

- Representatives of 18 political parties from 10 countries will interact with a host of BJP leaders, including party president J P Nadda and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during their visit to India on the ruling party's invitation to get a first-hand experience of the Lok Sabha polls. The 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. Australia's Liberal Party, Vietnam's Communist Party of Vietnam, Bangladesh's Awami League, Israel's Likud Party, Uganda's National Resistance Movement, Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapinduzi, and Russia's United Russia Party are among the political parties whose representatives are visiting India.

- Even as a BJP wave swept through Uttar Pradesh in the last general elections, the Mainpuri constituency elected Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. With the saffron party determined to conquer the SP citadel this time, the fight is between 'Modi ki guarantee' and Mulayam's legacy.

- Around 220 km from the state capital Lucknow, Mainpuri is a pocket borough of the SP with the party retaining the seat for nearly three decades. It was among the five seats that the SP won in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, which it had fought in an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).

Here's what BJP candidate from East Delhi Harsh Malhotra said on the Lok Sabha Polls.

"We are receiving the blessings of people because of the work of PM Modi in the last 10 years. BJP will win all the 7 seats in Delhi and NDA will get 400 seats."

Congress' North East Delhi candidate Kanhaiya Kumar to meet Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal at CM's residence in the afternoon.

- Former Bihar assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary has entered the fray on a RJD ticket from Siwan, the lone parliamentary seat where the party did not formally announce its candidate.

- Choudhary, who has been a multiple-term MLA from Siwan, filed his nomination papers on Tuesday in the presence of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, son and heir apparent of party supremo Lalu Prasad.

- Choudhary, who is a few months shy of 70, had lost the Speaker's post in February after he was voted out following a no-confidence motion moved by the NDA upon realignment with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the JD(U) president.

Former Congress MLA Nasseb Singh resigns from the primary membership of the party.

He writes, "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..."

State IT Minister, Gudivada Amarnath says, "The people have a lot of confidence in YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his manifesto. We treat our manifesto as the Bible, the Quran and the Bhagavad Gita...2019's promises made to the people of Andhra Pradesh have been fulfilled up to 99.99%...We are coming up with new welfare schemes and development projects..."

Here's what Congress leader Surendra Rajput said on PM Modi's 'Congress manifesto bearing imprints of Muslim League' remark.

"Mallikarjun Kharge wrote a letter to PM Modi and asked for his time to explain the Congress' manifesto. You will get to know that the Congress manifesto talks about 29 lakh jobs for youth, rights for women and farmers."

- Hundreds of BJP supporters conducted havans in various US cities over the weekend to pray for the victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the Lok Sabha elections.

- Organised by Overseas Friends of BJP-USA, the havans were held in New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Maryland and Chicago on Sunday, a statement from the organisation said on Monday. These sacred rituals evoke spiritual strength and symbolise our collective determination to support BJP's vision for a prosperous India under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, it said.

- Jannayak Janta Party's national secretary Ashok Sherwal along with two other party leaders joined the ruling BJP in Haryana on Tuesday. Others to join are JJP state general secretaries Kusum Sherwal and Harpal Kamboj.

- They joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at the party office in Panchkula in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. Earlier on Monday, JJP's Haryana unit chief Nishan Singh, who quit the party recently, had joined the Congress.

- Speaking on the occasion in Panchkula, Chief Minister Saini welcomed the three leaders into the party fold. He said several leaders from other outfits have been joining the BJP. He said the works done by the Narendra Modi government during last 10 years have benefitted various sections, particularly the poor and the weaker sections of the society.

The district administration in Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur organised a 'sky lantern' programme on Tuesday evening to create awareness among voters ahead of the polling day.

Mandsaur will go to polls on May 13.

- The Election Commission on Tuesday postponed polls to the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat to May 25, citing logistical issues due to adverse weather conditions.

- There are 20 candidates in the race including former chief minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and noted religious leader Mian Altaf. The election was earlier scheduled to be held on May 7.

- Except for the poll date, there are no changes in any part of the schedule, officials said.

- The Congress, CPI(M) and the TMC on Tuesday criticised the Election Commission over the delay in publishing the final voter turnout figures for the first two phases of the Lok Sabha polls. The commission in the evening made public the voter turnout of the first and second phases of polling held on April 19 and April 26.

- Voting for the general elections is being held in seven phases, the remaining are on May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. Counting of votes will be taken up on June 4. "Finally, ECI (Election Commission of India) has put out the final voter turnout figures for the first two phases which are substantially, not marginally as is normal, higher than the initial figures," Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said on X.

- The PDP on Tuesday said the decision of Election Commission to postpone the polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat to May 25 was "another travesty of free exercise of franchise" in Jammu and Kashmir.

- PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is among the candidates contesting the elections from the constituency.

- The party was reacting to the EC's decision to postpone polling in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat from May 7 to May 25 due to logistic issues.

The Congress' women's wing on Tuesday called on the National Commission for Women to conduct a thorough probe into the allegations of sexual misconduct against JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna and ensure that all those involved are held accountable. In a letter to National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Rekha Sharma, All India Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba expressed "deep concern" and sought immediate intervention from the panel on the serious allegations of sexual misconduct involving Revanna. More here.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey said, "Election Commission released a press note that stated that 66% voting happened in the first & second phase of the election...It took around 10 days for the EC to release the data on the percentage of voting...After the first & second phases of the elections, the media said that there had been 60% voting. Now it is 66%, what is happening?..."

- Andhra Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Mukesh Kumar Meena on Tuesday said 49 Lok Sabha candidates and 318 Assembly candidates have withdrawn their nominations for the May 13 simultaneous elections in the state. Consequently, the number of candidates contesting the 25 Lok Sabha seats got pruned to 454 and the 175-member Assembly to 2,387 candidates, the CEO said.

- "Following the withdrawal of nominations on Monday, April 29, 454 candidates will contest from the 25 Parliament constituencies and 2,387 from the 175 Assembly constituencies, said Meena in a press release. After the scrutiny of nominations on April 26, the Election Commission rejected 183 out of 686 Lok Sabha nominations and 939 out of 3,644 Assembly nominations.

- Former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday claimed there is panic in the Congress after sensing their defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. Khattar said the Congress is in panic mode and added the grand old party leaders have due to this resorted to making statements that mislead the public.

- The BJP leader said that two phases of the seven phase elections have been held and there are indications of good results in favour of the NDA. Khattar was addressing the 'Vijay Sankalp' rally in Adampur, about 40 km from here.

- A voter turnout of 66.14 percent was recorded in phase one and 66.71 percent in phase two of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission said on April 30.

- 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 percent. In the 2019 polls, the turnout in the first phase stood at 69.43 percent.

- 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 percent. As many as 23.86 per cent of the registered third-gender voters came out to vote. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in phase two, the turnout was 69.64 percent.