Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 updates: Constitution country's DNA, but a blank book for BJP and RSS, says Rahul Gandhi

he upcoming Mumbai-Pune-Bengaluru expressway will reduce traffic snarls in Pimpri Chinchwad, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday.

He was addressing a rally for BJP's Shankar Jagtap, who is contesting from Chinchwad.

"We are building a expressway from Mumbai to Bengaluru, which will pass via the ring road here. It will reduce traffic jams in Pimpri Chinchwad. The cost of the expressway is Rs 55,000 crore," the Union minister for road transport and highways said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says "Always remember one thing, you neither have to divide nor divide others, the entire country has to stay together. We have to stay united. If we avoid division, we will move towards development and create a developed nation and a developed Maharashtra...'Apni mohabbat ki dukan mein Rahul Gandhi nafrat ka saamaan bech rahe hai'..."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh says, "I have great respect for late Balasaheb Thackeray. But the way Uddhav ji has put principles aside for power has pained me a lot. I want to say that Uddhav ji, forming a government is not a big deal. A man is one who does not waver from his principles in times of adversity. What have you done? Whoever embraces the Congress is sure to sink."

Maharashtra election live updates: Congress writes to EC, objects to potential reappointment of Rashmi Shukla as DGP

Maharashtra Elections 2024: "BJP leaders, especially Yogi Adityanath, are giving this slogan. We are strongly against this slogan and believe that it's an attempt to divide the society on the basis of religion. Why has the ECI not taken an action against this?" says Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi leader Sujat Ambedkar on UP CM Yogi Adityanath's 'batenge toh katenge' remark.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah says "I hope that Maha Vikas Aghadi will win in the majority of the seats and MVA will form its government in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra government has given an advertisement that the Karnataka government has not implemented 5 guarantee schemes. As a matter of fact, we have implemented all 5 guarantee schemes. We have spent Rs 56,000 crores on the first cabinet itself. We came to power on 20th May 2023 and in the first cabinet meeting itself, we implemented all 5 schemes..."

"I saw his (referring to PM Modi) speech in Mumbai. He was saying that Rahul Gandhi is against reservation, (former PM) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was against reservation. Pandit Nehru was the one who started reservation. Rahul Gandhi walked 4,000 km for 'Nyay' (justice). He always said that there should be a caste census and that the reservation cap of 50 per cent should be removed. Does PM Modi think that the people are not watching this?" says Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi), addressing a public gathering in Kolhapur.

A static surveillance team (SST) of the Election Commission seized Rs 5.55 crore cash from a vehicle in the Kalyan Rural assembly constituency in Maharashtra's Thane district on Saturday, an official said.

The team was deployed in the Shilphata area in the morning when it intercepted a vehicle and found cash of Rs 5.55 crore, returning officer Vishwas Gujar said.

He said the occupants failed to provide documentation or valid explanations for the large sum of money.

"Since the amount exceeded the permissible limit of Rs 10 lakh, the matter was referred to the Income Tax Department for further investigation," Gujar told reporters.

Maharashtra polls live: Rahul Gandhi relishes poha at Ramji Shyamji Pohawale shop in Nagpur

The BJP's onslaught on the Congress over Article 370 of the Constitution is aimed at weakening the opposition party and winning the elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said on Saturday.

However, the veteran leader said they will not allow the Congress to be weakened and expressed hope that the INDIA bloc will emerge victorious in the Assembly polls in both the states.

Talking to reporters after attending a private function here, Abdullah said he has no doubt about the return of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

Asked about the statements of Congress leaders that there is no mention of restoration of Article 370 in a recently-passed resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Abdullah said they have their own purpose because their party is under attack from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah "shouting repeatedly at them just to win the elections".

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said his party considers the Constitution to be the country's DNA, but for the ruling BJP and the RSS it is a "blank book".

Speaking at a campaign rally in eastern Maharashtra's Amravati ahead of the November 20 assembly elections, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said nowhere in the Constitution it is written that state governments can be toppled by "purchasing MLAs" as it happened in Maharashtra, and "Rs 16 lakh crore debt" of top businessmen can be waived.

"Congress considers the Constitution as the country's DNA, while for the ruling BJP and the RSS it is a blank book," he alleged.

His retort came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party claimed that the Congress leader was showing a copy of the Constitution with blank pages inside at his campaign rallies.

"My sister told me that these days prime minister Narendra Modi was speaking about the same issue that I have been raising. I told him in the Lok Sabha that a caste census should be conducted and the 50 per cent cap on reservations should be removed. Now he is saying in his election rallies that I am against reservation. He is suffering from memory loss like a former US president,'' Gandhi further said.

Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "My sister was telling me that she heard Modi ji's speech. And in that speech, whatever we say, Modi ji is saying the same thing these days. I don't know, maybe he has lost his memory. The former President of America, used to forget, he had to be reminded from behind. The President of Ukraine came and the President of America said that Russian President Putin has come. He had lost his memory, similarly, our Prime Minister is losing his memory..."

Maharashtra polls live: PM Modi lies from stage, says Rahul Gandhi

Maharashtra polls live: EC asks Congress president Kharge to comment on BJP's complaint

Maharashtra polls 2024 live: EC asks BJP President JP Nadda to comment on Congress complaint

The Election Commission has sought formal responses from both the Party Presidents by 1:00 PM on Monday, November 18, while reminding them of EC’s earlier advisory to them dated May 22, 2024 during Lok Sabha Elections, to keep star campaigners and leaders under check so that public decorum is not flouted and MCC is followed in letter and spirit during election campaign.

In the wake of complaints by BJP and Congress against one another in the ongoing assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, the Election Commission in separate letters to BJP President JP Nadda and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge today, asked each one to comment on the complaint of the other. Commission exchanged the complaints between the two parties while seeking their responses.

On the statement of Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis, he says, "I feel bad for Devendra Fadnavis. After passing class 12th he was again sent to class 10th, from Chief Minister to Dy CM. I feel bad for him. A lot of maulanas had extended support to Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha elections, did Mr Fadnavis, Mr Modi, Mr Nadda have a problem with that?..."

On the statement of Union Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda, Congress leader Pawan Khera says, "Does he even know his facts? They have been in power for 2.5 years, before that they were in power for 5 years. They are talking about 26/11 now. What we have achieved is for everyone to see. Our shortcoming was that we did not publicise all that we did. Here Mr Modi and Mr Nadda don't do anything but they keep publicising".

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said on Saturday that his party built Maharashtra brick by brick to make it India’s top state but its economy is now declining under the current Mahayuti government.

Addressing a news conference ahead of the November 20 assembly polls, he said Maharashtra was leading in the country in industry and services and was among the top-ranking states in agriculture. He said the state was and still is the commercial capital of India.

“But I don’t know for how long it will remain the commercial capital of India,” he said.

In the last eight to ten years, the Congress was not in power, barring the two-and-a-half year of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) rule, he said, adding that the government is now being helmed by BJP and its allies.

Mumbai: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, "Maharashtra is a very important and big state. This (Mumbai) is the financial capital of the country. It has deep cultural roots. Maharashtra made a great contribution to the history of the country. Several Railway projects are in effect for this important state. In a methodical way, the work of Railway modernisation is underway. The total investment of Railway in Maharashtra is Rs 1,64,605 Crores. With this investment, approximately 6000 km of new track are being built. 132 stations are being completely redeveloped under Amrit Bharat Station program. 318 flyovers and underpasses of Railway are being built in Maharashtra. 156 km of bullet train section comes under Maharashtra. 178 km of freight corridor is in Maharashtra. New projects for railway and metro have been sanctioned for Maharashtra..."

Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma says, "... The nation has faith that only PM Modi can develop the country. I am sure that a Mahayuti government will be formed with a huge majority. Congress spreads lies to win elections... But the people trust PM Modi and the double-engine government..."

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 Live: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra offers prayer at Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

Addressing a public rally in Shirdi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "I challenge PM Modi and HM Amit Shah to stand on the stage and declare that they will get the caste census done and remove the 50% cap on the reservation. They say that my brother is against the reservation. That person who walked from Manipur to Mumbai and demanded justice... They say that he is against reservation even when he walked from Kanniyakumari to Kashmir for justice and demanded for caste census. They lie because they are scared... How will we know how to provide reservation if we don't know who has how much population?..."

Mumbai, Maharashtra: On the Jhansi Medical College fire tragedy, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey says, "This incident is very unfortunate...Given elections in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, UP CM Yogi Adityanath is roaming in Maharashtra. The UP Health Minister and Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak are engaged in giving statements. It feels really sad that they are not able to keep the hospital safe...Where will the patients go?... The Uttar Pradesh government has become a government of criminals...UP CM Yogi Adityanath is busy doing dirty politics, giving slogans like 'batenge toh katenge' in Maharashtra but is not able to keep the people of UP safe..."

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat says, "In 2019, Maharashtra gave a clear mandate but MVA insulted that mandate and formed an alliance government which fell after 2.5 years... The projects started by the Mahayuti were closed down... Congress is making fake promises even when they know that they are not going to come to power, only to create turbulence..."

On UP CM Yogi Adityanath's 'batenge toh katenge' slogan, Congress leader Raj Babbar says, "My birthplace is Uttar Pradesh and two-thirds of my life has been spent in Maharashtra... I don't follow the ideology that believes in 'Batenge toh katenge'... We know what is the culture of Uttar Pradesh and what is the tradition of Maharashtra."

BJP MLA and former Maharashtra minister Babanrao Lonikar is under fire from the Marathas over his alleged remark during an election rally that the community's strength can be "counted on fingers".

Lonikar's remark at a rally in the Partur assembly constituency in Jalna on November 12 has invited the ire of quota activist Manoj Jarange, who criticised him for underestimating the community's strength.

The Partur assembly constituency will see a three-way fight between BJP's three-time MLA Lonikar, Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Asaram Borade, and Congress rebel Suresh Jethliya, who is running as an independent, in the November 20 state polls.

Jalna has been the epicentre of the Maratha quota stir and has witnessed massive protests by the community led by Jarange demanding reservation in education and government jobs.

Lonikar, during his rally in Ashti village, allegedly said the Maratha community's strength could be "counted on fingers".

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has intensified its campaign against dynasty politics in Sindhudurg, BJP MP Narayan Rane's stronghold, targeting his sons Nilesh and Nitesh, contesting assembly polls from Kudal and Kankavli, respectively. Uddhav Thackeray is striving to reclaim the south Konkan region, a former Shiv Sena bastion, after setbacks from defections and electoral losses. At a Malvan rally, Thackeray criticized the BJP for practicing dynasty politics despite Prime Minister Modi's stance against it.

"Do you think Konkan will allow the father (Narayan Rane) to sit on its head and his two sons (Nilesh and Nitesh) on shoulders? Isn't this dynasty politics? You don't want the dynasty politics of Shiv Sena or Shiv Sena pramukh (Bal Thackeray). I am taking forward the legacy of my family," he said.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis claims opposition is leveraging minorities for votes, in an exclusive interview with News18.

With the Maharashtra assembly elections approaching on November 20, the Mahayuti alliance is pulling out all stops to ensure a strong campaign. Key figures from within their own parties as well as NDA allies are actively participating. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address booth workers virtually on Saturday as part of the "Mera Booth Sabse Majboot" campaign. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu will visit Mumbai to campaign in Thane, while Telugu actor-politician Pawan Kalyan will hold rallies in Sholapur. Several Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Piyush Goyal, will also be active in the campaign across the state. BJP Chief Ministers, such as Gujarat's Bhupendra Patel and Rajasthan's Bhajan Lal Sharma, will focus on reaching out to key communities like Gujaratis and Rajasthani voters.

Leaders are highlighting the benefits of the "double-engine government" and focusing on the success of welfare schemes like the 'Ladki Bahin Yojana', which has already provided direct bank transfers to over 2.5 crore women. With a clear pitch of development, these leaders are confident of securing a victory. The election results will be announced on November 23.

Karnataka Deputy CM and Congress leader DK Shivakumar says, "We are going to win more than 165 to 170 seats. The Maha Vikas Aghadi will form the government. They (BJP) have confused people that we have not implemented our guarantees, but we assured people, we have held a press conference. Now people know that we have implemented all the guarantees... The whole country is following the Karnataka model. I am very happy that at least now they have realised that inflation is affecting the common people of the country."

"...we have all the records that it started during the BJP's time. But my Chief Minister and my ministers have already made it clear that land of any farmer will not be taken," he added, commenting on the Waqf issue.

MNS candidate from Nashik West seat, Dinkar Patil says, "So many people are standing here to welcome me and there is so much enthusiasm among the people...all castes and religions are with me. People want to elect a candidate like me who can ensure the development of the area and justice for the poor. That is why so many people are with me and I will be elected 100 per cent."

Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma says, "The changes you are seeing in the country after 2014, whether it is welfare schemes for the poor, development schemes, the end of terrorism and Naxalism, or the growing pride of India in the world, you have seen all this. And that is why I have come to make a request to you. Tell your relatives, friends that we have to make this country strong, we have to make Maharashtra strong and we have to make our country a developed India."

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urged citizens to participate in a "dharma-yudh of votes" to counter what he referred to as "vote jihad." His statement came in response to an appeal reportedly made by an Islamic scholar, calling for votes against the BJP-led Mahayuti government in Maharashtra.