Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: Election Commission uploads electoral bonds data with unique alphanumeric code on its website

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BJP releases 2nd list of candidates for the upcoming Arunachal Pradesh Legislative elections.

--The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on March 21 released its third list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. According to the list, K Annamalai will contest from Coimbatore, Tamilisai Soundararajan from Chennai South and L Murugan from Nilgiris.

--Vinoj Selvam will contest from Chennai Central, AC Shanmugam from Vellore, C Narasimhan (Krishnagiri), TR Paarivendhar (Perambalur), Nainar Nagendran (Thoothukkudi), Pon. Radhakrishnan (Kanniyakumari).

--Former Telangana Governor, Soundararjan rejoined the BJP in the presence of Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai on March 20.

Read more here

- State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman files compliance affidavit in Supreme Court saying that all details of Electoral Bonds, including the alphanumeric numbers, have been disclosed to the Election Commission.

- SBI has submitted complete details of electoral bonds including the ‘Unique alpha-numeric’ details of bonds to ECI.

- Congress leader Sachin Pilot said, "The policies of this government made the rich richer and the middle class who were poor have been left to fend for themselves. Now, just before the elections, the government is reducing some money on gas cylinders and petrol and diesel. After robbing the pockets of the poor for 9 years, if you do this kind of thing at the time of taking votes, then the public will understand."

- "I believe that the INDIA alliance is fighting this election very strongly. You know, we all were there in Mumbai a few days ago. All the leaders of INDIA were present there, so the opposition is fighting the elections strongly, but if Congress is targeted like this, then democracy is getting weakened somewhere," he added.

- Fifty three political parties had contested the first Lok Sabha polls in 1951. The number of political parties today stands at over 2,500. However, the national party count has gone down to six from 14 in over seven decades.

- Contesting the general elections in May to elect the 18th Lok Sabha will be six national parties. The journey of political parties all these years has been an interesting ride from mergers to emergence of new players while some of them have ceased to exist.

The Election Commission has instructed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to stop sending 'Viksit Bharat' messages on WhatsApp. The ministry had stated that although the letters were sent out before the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) period, there is a possibility that some letters may have been delayed due to system architecture and network limitations. However, the Election Commission has received complaints that such messages are still being delivered to citizens' phones.

Since the MCC period is now in effect, the Election Commission has directed the ministry to ensure that no further delivery of WhatsApp messages takes place during this period. The Election Commission has requested a compliance report in this regard to be sent immediately.

With most real estate regulatory reforms in place and strong International Monetary Fund (IMF) GDP growth predictions for India, the Lok Sabha elections 2024 could spur housing demand in the country, according to a report by ANAROCK India.

The report said that housing sales grew significantly in both the election years of 2014 and 2019.

In 2014, sales in the top seven cities scaled up to about 3.45 lakh units while new launches were the highest ever at nearly 5.45 lakh units. Likewise, in 2019, housing sales scaled up to about 2.61 lakh units while new launches increased to about 2.37 lakh units after a dip in the residential real estate market between 2016 and 2019. Read the whole story here

The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the State Bank of India (SBI), the country's largest lender, to divulge comprehensive information regarding the electoral bonds, including the unique bond numbers, before 5 pm on March 21.

A Constitution bench, led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna, BR Gavai, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, has ruled that the SBI will disclose all details and ordered the Election Commission of India (ECI) to immediately upload the details received from the state-run lender on its website.

Here is the timeline and likely impact of today's court proceedings

Supreme Court stays the operation of March 20 notification of the Fact Check Unit (FCU) by the Centre government under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules 2023 (IT Amendment Rules 2023).

Supreme Court stays the notification till the Bombay High Court decides the challenges to the Information Technology Rules Amendment 2023.

FCU was set up to monitor content on social media concerning its business under the recently amended IT Rules.

Lal Singh, who attracted controversy in the Kathua rape and murder case and a two-time MP, is back in the Congress camp days before the Lok Sabha polls to take on Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO, at the Udhampur seat.

The 65-year-old politician has returned to the party after a 10-year divorce. Lal Singh moved to the saffron squad after the Congress denied him the ticket to contest the 2014 general elections despite representing Udhampur since 2004. Read here

Just weeks before the biggest democratic exercise is set to take place in the country with Lok Sabha polls 2024, the Congress party has levelled serious allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, while addressing a press conference on March 21, said that a systematic effort is underway by the Prime Minister to cripple the Congress party financially.

Her statement came as the party says all its bank accounts have been frozen by the Income Tax (IT) department over a discrepancy in filing its 2018-19 tax returns.

Here are the accusations made by the Congress against the central government and PM Modi.

"Discussions are going on. There is no hurry. We will tell you once a decision is made...People of NDA need not worry. They should worry about themselves - whether they would survive in 2024 (Lok Sabha Elections) and 2025 (Bihar Assembly Elections)...BJP need not think, the public will teach them a lesson this time."

After Congress leaders' press conference on freezing of party accounts ahead of Lok Sabha elections, party's general secretary KC Venugopal says, "That is why we are going to the people directly. We are appealing to the people. We are appealing to the people to save democracy. Come what may, we will fight it out."

On freezing of party accounts ahead of Lok Sabha elections, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "This is a criminal action on the Congress party, a criminal action done by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister...So, the idea that India is a democracy is a lie. There is no democracy in India today. The idea that India is the world's largest democracy is a lie. A complete lie. 20% of India votes for us and we are not able to pay Rs 2 for anything. It has been orchestrated to cripple us in the elections. Even if our bank accounts are unfrozen today, huge amount of debt damage has been done to Indian democracy."

Congress treasurer Ajay Maken has also commented on the matter, saying that this is not only an attack on the accounts of the Congress party by the Narendra Modi government but also an attack on democracy in India. He questions why Congress is being penalised just before elections when every political party is exempt from income tax.

Rahul Gandhi states that all the bank accounts of the party have been frozen, which has prevented them from carrying out campaign work or supporting their workers and candidates. This has occurred just two months before the election campaign. The party has received two notices, one from the 90s and another from 6-7 years ago. The amount in question is Rs 14 Lakhs, and the punishment is the freezing of the entire financial identity of the party. Rahul Gandhi has expressed his disappointment that the Election Commission has not yet commented on this matter. As a result, the ability of the party to fight the elections has already been damaged, and they have already lost a month.

At the conference, Rahul Gandhi spoke about the dire consequences of financial identity being erased. He pointed out that this would cripple their ability to campaign and travel, and despite institutions existing to protect the democratic framework, nothing is being done. The ECI has failed to intervene in this matter, and party members are unable to advertise in newspapers due to the connivance of the PM and Union home minister.

Sonia Gandhi, during a press conference, expressed her concern over the government's freezing of bank accounts. She stated that this action not only impacts the Indian National Congress (INC) but also the fundamental principles of democracy. Sonia Gandhi further explained that there is a systematic effort by the Prime Minister to financially cripple the Congress party, with the possibility of funds collected from the public being frozen and money from party accounts being taken. Additionally, she criticized the use of electoral bonds, stating that they have benefited the BJP massively while the finances of the principal opposition are under a determined assault, which is undemocratic.

In reference to the electoral bond, Kharge states that the BJP is the primary beneficiary of electoral bonds, and has even received donations in cash. According to Kharge, the BJP has a strong hold over the media, corporates, and agencies. The Supreme Court has declared the electoral bonds illegal and unconstitutional, under this scheme, the current ruling party has filled its accounts with thousands and crores of Rupees.

"I don't want to mention how the BJP took money from some companies. As SC is probing the matter, I hope the truth will be before us soon. I appeal to the Constitutional institutions that if they want free and fair elections, then they should allow us to freely access our bank accounts. No political party comes under the purview of income tax."

"India always held free and fair elections, but questions are being raised on election process now. The party in power has frozen Congress’ accounts only to stop us from contesting polls. BJP is the main beneficiary of electoral bonds and it has received donations in cash also. The BJP has domination over media, corporates and agencies." Kharge also adds that the Supreme Court called Electoral Bonds illegal and unconstitutional. Under that scheme, the present ruling party filled its accounts with thousands and crores of Rupees. On the other hand, under a conspiracy, the bank account of the main opposition party has been frozen. So that, in the absence of funds there is no level-playing field in contesting the elections. This is a dangerous game by the ruling party which will have a far-reaching impact. If democracy in this country has to be saved, there has to be a level-playing ground."

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi address a press conference in Delhi.

Kharge says, "Lok Sabha elections have been announced. It is essential for a democracy that elections are conducted in an impartial manner and a level playing ground is provided to all political parties. It should not be that ED, I-T and other autonomous bodies are controlled. In the last few days, after intervention by SC, the facts about electoral bonds which have emerged have hurt the image of the country."

"Inflation and unemployment are breaking records of 40 years. In the electoral bonds, you are caught red-handed for getting funds from the companies where your government had been conducting raids... this is your government. You tell why SBI is running away. You (BJP) should tell the truth to the people."

"They (Maha Vikas Aghadi) have been having meetings since 2.5 months but they haven't reached a decision yet. We made 80% of the decisions in just one meeting. We will decide the remaining 20% in the second meeting."

Election Commission of India (ECI) issues transfer orders for non-cadre officers who are posted at leadership positions as District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) in four states namely Gujarat, Punjab, Odisha and West Bengal. Post of DM and SP in the district are for officers from Indian Administrative and Indian Police Service respectively.

The officers to be transferred are SPs of Chhota Udaipur and Ahmedabad Rural districts in Gujarat. SSPs of Pathankot, Fazilka, Jalandhar Rural and Malerkotla districts in Punjab. DM of Dhenkanal and SPs of Deogarh and Cuttack Rural in Odisha and DM of Purba Medinipur, Jhargram, Purba Bardhaman and Birbhum districts of West Bengal. Additionally, the Commission has also directed for transfer of SSP Bathinda in Punjab and SP Sonitpur in Assam in view of their kinship or familial association with the elected political representatives.

(ANI)

BJP leader and former Karnataka CM D.V. Sadananda Gowda holds a press conference in Bengaluru, he says, "I am upset with BJP as the election ticket (from Bangalore North seat) has been given to someone else in my place. Yes, I was invited to join the Congress party, but I will not join the Congress party...Narendra Modi should become Prime Minister again."

(ANI)

Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by Tamil Nadu Chief MInister MK Stalin announced its list of 21 candidates. It fielded 11 fresh faces and retained 10 sitting MPs.

The list was released days after Stalin finalised the seat-sharing pact with its partners in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in the state. The DMK list comprises 11 new candidates, 3 women, 12 individuals with master's degrees, 2 individuals with doctorates, 2 doctors, and 6 advocates. Read the whole story here

A flying squad team of the Election Commission seized a total of Rs 1.49 lakh in cash in two separate cases at Chatrapatti and Otthakadi village in Madurai district on 20th March, says a District election department official.

(ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, had conversations with the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine. During the talks, PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to peace, taking into account the ongoing war between the two countries.

According to media reportrs, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin of Russia invited PM Modi to visit their respective countries after the Lok Sabha elections.

On his social media account, PM Modi posted that he spoke with Putin and extended his congratulations on his re-election as Russia's President.

It has been reported that the Congress is considering pushing the Leader of the Opposition, Vijay Waddetiwar, to contest from Chandrapur. However, he is in favour of his daughter and youth leader Shivani being given a chance from the constituency instead.

Notably, the Congress party is yet to announce its formal seat-sharing formula with its Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners, including the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). A meeting between the MVA parties is scheduled for March 21, after which the third list of Congress candidates is expected to be released.

The Samajwadi Party declared candidates for six seats in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha elections.

Ziaur Rahman Burk will contest on SP ticket from Sambhal, Manoj Chaudhary will be the party candidate from Baghpat. Rahul Awana will contest from Gautam Buddha Nagar. The list released by the SP said Bhagwat Saran Gangwar will be the party candidate from Pilibhit and Rajeev Rai from Ghosi. Rajendra S Bind will contest on an SP ticket from Mirzapur, it said.

Congress has finalized the selection of 8-10 Lok Sabha candidates in West Bengal. There are indications that the party will form an alliance with the Left front in the state. The All India Congress Committee's (AICC) central election committee held a four-hour meeting to discuss candidates for Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northeastern states. However, discussions about the Rae Bareli and Amethi seats in Uttar Pradesh were not on the agenda for the Tuesday meeting.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its campaign by capitalising on Rahul Gandhi's recent 'shakti' remark, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticising the Congress leader's misunderstanding of Indian traditions. The controversy surrounding the 'shakti' comment continues as Shah addressed it during his speech at the CNN-News18 Rising Bharat Summit on March 20, saying, "Rahul Gandhi not only lacks awareness of our traditions but also lacks respect for them."

Furthermore, the home minister accused the Congress leader of being out of touch with the pulse of the nation and lacking respect for its cultural heritage. He emphasised the resilience and steadfastness of women in India, aligning their support firmly with PM Modi. Read the whole story, here

The Election Commission, on March 20, requested the Union and State governments to remove all unauthorised political advertisements such as posters, wall writings, hoardings, and banners from public spaces like railway stations, bus stands, airports, and government buses. The commission sent a letter to the Cabinet Secretary and Chief Secretaries of all States, asking for a compliance report on the removal of all unauthorised political advertisements from public spaces by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

The government informed the Supreme Court on Wednesday that it was justified in appointing two new election commissioners (ECs) under the recently enacted statute. The government stated that the new law aims to create a "democratic, collaborative and inclusive" regime. The government also added that the absence of a judge on the selection panel cannot be faulted. The Centre submitted the affidavit in the court a day before a pair of applications demanding a stay on the operation of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023. The matter is to be taken up by a bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

During a rally in Buldhana, Maharashtra, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Raut's statement drew a sharp response from the BJP, which stated that the people of the country would respond fittingly to such attacks on the Prime Minister. Raut highlighted that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha empire, was born in Maharashtra, while Aurangzeb was born in present-day Gujarat.

The main opposition party in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK, has finalised its seat-sharing arrangement for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls along with its allies DMDK, SDPI and Puthiya Tamizhagam. The announcement was made by AIADMK's general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami at the party headquarters. According to him, DMDK will contest from the Tiruvallur (SC), Central Chennai, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, and Virudhunagar Lok Sabha constituencies.

Bajrang Sonawane, who was previously aligned with Ajit Pawar's faction within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), made a significant move by joining Sharad Pawar's NCP on Wednesday. The event took place in Pune, with Sharad Pawar and State President Jayant Patil present.

Bajrang Sonawane hails from Beed district, Maharashtra, and is considered to be a loyalist of Ajit Pawar and Dhananjay Munde after the split in the NCP last year. When Ajit Pawar joined the Eknath Shinde-led Grand Alliance government, Bajrang Sonawane followed him while he was the president of the NCP from Beed district.

The BJP on March 20 lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Rahul Gandhi for his "fight against a shakti" remarks at a recent rally in Mumbai, and urged the poll panel to take "stringent action" against the Congress leader and issue directions for lodging an FIR against him.

With a few weeks remaining in the general elections, Congress has geared up the talks with its INDIA allies to finalise the seat-sharing deal. The Congress' Central Election Committee held a meeting on Wednesday and finalised 12 candidates in Maharashtra for the upcoming Lok Sabha Polls.

Good morning and welcome to Moneycontrol's LIVE blog on the Lok Sabha Electiosn 2024. Stay tuned to this space for the latest updates and developments across states and the nation on the upcoming polls.