Lok Sabha Election 2024 Highlights: EC asks Nadda, Kharge, to direct parties to exercise restraint, follow MCC

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a women's conference in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi on Tuesday, said women were neglected under the rule of  Congress and the Samajwadi party and recalled SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav's 'boys will be boys' remark. In Prayagraj, he said the two opposition parties are anti-development and thewir coalition cannot digest India's praise.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, Tuesday said the Congress and the Samajwadi party are anti-development and are more concerned about their vote bank than Kumbh Mela. He said that India is now no known for its infrastructure and expressways but the INDIA bloc cannot digest India’s praise.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was heartbroken over women's plight in Sandeshkhali. However, she asserted that the BJP "should not have played with the dignity of women" there as the "saffron camp's conspiracy now stands exposed".

Addressing a rally in Basirhat, Banerjee slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for talking to BJP candidate Rekha Patra, who is also a Sandeshkhali protester, over the phone, alleging that the country has the "worst track record in terms of women's safety and security under the BJP rule".

In his speech in Bihar's East Champaran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made a reference to the feast Rahul Gandhi had enjoyed at Lalu Prasad's residence last year. 'Those who refused the invitation to the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya had no problems in sharing a meal with the corrupt,' he said.

Modi also referred to East Champaran as Mahatma Gandhi's 'karma bhoomi' and his own roots in Gujarat 'the janmabhoomi (place of birth)'. 'The Congress betrayed his ideals upon coming to power and devoted itself to promoting the interests of one family,' he alleged.

'I have spent my first 10 years in power filling the potholes left by the Congress. I intend to speed up progress in the next term,' said Modi as he spoke about his thrust on welfare measures like toilets for women 'who had to suffer physical ailments because of the absence of this very basic of all amenities'. (PTI)

Addressing a rally in Bihar's East Champaran, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that Congress wants to change the Constitution to "snatch" reservations from SCs, STs and OBCs, and hand it over to those who indulge in "vote jihad," news agency PTI reported.

"If Ambedkar was not there, Nehru would not have allowed reservation for SCs and STs," he claimed.

Modi also bristled at the opposition parties' criticism of welfare schemes run by his government, claiming his opponents had "bundles of notes stashed away in Swiss banks" and could not understand the plight of the common people "the way I do, having been born in a poor family". "They were opening accounts in Swiss banks, while the people of India were starving," he alleged. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday alleged that the INDIA bloc stood for corruption, appeasement politics and a "perverted anti-Sanatan mindset."

The PM also launched indirect attacks on leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, who he said were "born with silver spoons". "The nation cannot move forward with the sins of the INDIA bloc, which stands for corruption, appeasement politics, represents the 'tukde-tukde' gang and a perverted mindset that heaps scorn on Sanatan Dharma," he said. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally in Bihar’s Maharajganj on Tuesday asserted that the people of the country are his successors.

“I don’t have any successor, the people of this country are my successors,” he said. He came heavily on Congress and RJD governments in the state, and said, "Bihar is the land of Rajendra Prasad but RJD, Congress made it known for extortion."

Earlier in East Champaran, PM Modi alleged that the INDIA bloc stood for corruption, appeasement politics and a “perverted anti-Sanatan mindset”, all of which would receive a “big blow” when the Lok Sabha poll results are announced on June 4.

Former Jalandhar Cantt MLA Jasbir Singh Brar Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), news agency ANI reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a public meeting in Bihar's East Champaran, said, "Those who are born with a silver spoon do not know what hard work is. I have heard that someone here is saying that after June 4, Modi will have bed rest but I pray to God that there should not be a bed rest in the life of any citizen of the country. Every citizen of the country should be full of energy but what else can be expected from the successor of Jungle Raj? These people have no issue in this election except abusing Modi."

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president J P Nadda held a roadshow in Haryana's Rohtak, news agency ANI reported. BJP has fielded its sitting MP Arvind Sharma from this seat against Congress' Deepender Singh Hooda. Haryana will go to polls on May 25.

Around 1,100 villagers in Odisha's Balangir boycotted polling over their demand for school and hospital, news agency ANI reported.

"... We wanted to conduct the mock poll and wanted some polling agents to do the same, but we did not find any agent... We waited for our electors, but nobody has come to cast their votes yet. Till 2 pm, nobody had come to vote... we think that they boycotted their vote for some demands... Nobody has cast their vote yet," presiding officer at booth 15 told the news agency.

A day after Phase 5 of polling for the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stepped up its campaign for the sixth and the seventh phases of the polls.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to address rallies in Champaran and Maharajganj in Bihar, and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will be in Haryana, where he will address a public meeting in Yamunanagar of the Ambala Lok Sabha constituency.

The PM will also address a “Nari Shakti Samvad” in his Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Monday said that the higher voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir in phase 5 of the Lok Sabha elections was a reflection of the people's anger at the abrogation of Article 370, news agency PTI reported. She added that the voters were conveying a message to New Delhi through ballots. ""People are angry (with this government) for the 2019 development. They firmly believe that we are living in a democracy and can convey our message through ballots that what was done in 2019 was not acceptable to us," PTI quoted the former Jammu and Kashmir CM as saying.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer PK Pole on Monday said that the Baramulla had witnessed the highest voter turnout since militancy began in the constituency in 1984, news agency PTI reported. '“According to the data till 5 pm, around 55 per cent voting took place,' Pole said. He said that the polling percentage in 2019 was way lesser at 37 per cent, adding that this indicated a 59 per cent jump.

The Bharatiya Janata Party National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia cast his vote in Lucknow on Monday, saying that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister of the country for the third consecutive term. "“India is the largest and strongest democracy in the world. There is excitement in every citizen. PM Modi will become the Prime Minister for the third time on June 4 and the public has given their blessings to him," news agency PTI quoted Bhatia as saying. 

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday praised the party's West Bengal unit chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, calling him a 'ladaku sipahi' of the grand old party, news agency PTI reported. This comes after Kharge had snubbed Chowdhury after the latter's remarks on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Chowdhury, had said that the TMC supremo could not be trusted and she might support the Bharatiya Janata Party. A five-time Lok Sabha MP from Bahrampur, Chowdhury has also said that Mamata was using violence to crush the Congress in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal was attacking monks from Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha to appease their "vote bank". He added that the state's identity was at risk under the TMC rule. Addressing an election rally in West Bengal's Jhargram, Modi said that both the TMC and Congress were sinking ships. The Prime Minister said that when the world was taking giant strides, the Congress was busy creating records of scams, adding that the grand old party would snatch people's property and give it to people involved in 'Vote Jihad'. 

Ahead of polling day in Delhi, the Capital's West Delhi constituency recorded the highest number of voters availing home voting on Monday, as per data released by the Election Commission. A total of 969 people above the age of 85 and 179 persons with disabilities exercised their right to franchise from home in West Delhi, news agency PTI reported. The EC had, earlier, launched the  'Vote From Home' scheme, to ensure the participation of voters aged 85 and persons with more than 40 per cent disabilities.  The Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office started the 'Vote from Home' facility from  May 16, and it will continue till May 24.

Actor Aamir Khan, along with his ex-wife director Kiran Rao, stepped out to cast his vote in Mumbai. ""I want to appeal to all the Indians to come out and cast vote and be part of the big democracy. Everyone should vote," news agency PTI quoted Khan as saying.

Actor Ranbir Kapoor turned up at one of the polling booths to cast his vote in Mumbai, news agency PTI reported. In the second and final phase of polls in Maharashtra, the state is voting for 13 constituencies, including six in Mumbai.

Speaking on the low voter turnout in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that even workers from the Congress and other parties of the INDIA bloc were not turning up to vote for them. In an interview with news agency PTI, Modi said that poor campaigning on the side of the opposition parties could be the reason for the low turnout. As per the Election Commission figures, voter turnout for Phase 4 of the Lok Sabha polls stood at 69.16 per cent, higher than the 2019 elections for the same phase. The updated voter turnout for Phase 3 was 65.68 per cent. For the first and second phases, the polling percentage stood at 66.14 per cent and 66.71 per cent respectively. In the fifth phase, the polling for which is underway, the voter turnout recorded till 3 pm is above 47 per cent.

Congress leader and the party's Lok Sabha candidate from Rae Bareli Rahul Gandhi on Monday visited a Hanuman temple in the Uttar Pradesh constituency, news agency PTI reported. Polling is underway in Rae Bareli under the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Rahul later visited several polling booths in the constituency, a PTI video showed. 

Maharshtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday requested the Election Commission to look into complaints regarding the slow pace of voting in Mumbai, news agency PTI reported. In Maharashtra, 13 Lok Sabha constituencies go to polls today, with voting underway since 7 am. Fadnavis also asked the EC officials to take up the matter with Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban District collectors. 

Political parties in West Bengal lodged complaints with the Election Commission about malfunctioning EVMs, agents being stopped from entering polling booths, agents being attacked and voters being threatened or stopped from going to cast their votes in different constituencies.

Among the complaints, several were lodged against minor political clashes taking place in Bangaon, Hooghly, Arambagh constituencies.

Even before polling booths opened up for voters this morning, BJP MP and candidate from West Bengal’s Barrackpore Arjun Singh came forward to make allegations against TMC candidate Partha Bhowmick accusing him of distributing money on Sunday night ahead of polling. “A complaint has already been made to the Election Commission…If such things keep happening, it will not be good for Partha Bhowmick (TMC candidate)…We will try to have peaceful elections but if that doesn’t happen, government would be responsible for it…,” Singh was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

A meeting of senior BJP leaders, presided over party president JP Nadda, was underway in Delhi at the party headquarters on Monday.

The meeting is learnt to have been called to review the party's performance so far in the election, which is in its fifth phase, and devise strategy for the remaining phases, as per PTI.

WHO WERE AT THE MEETING?

BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, national general secretaries Arun Singh, Tarun Chugh, party IT department head Amit Malviya, national media in-charge Anil Baluni, and Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Actors Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone cast their votes at a polling booth in Bandra West, Mumbai.

Dr G G Parikh cast his vote in Mumbai today. He has been a freedom fighter and has cast his vote in the very first general election in 1951-52 as well.

The 100-year-old cast his vote for the 18th Lok Sabha today with the available assistance by EC officials at the polling booth.

Express photos by Amit Chakravarty

As of 1 pm, Phase 5 of the Lok Sabha polls across six states, J-K and Ladakh recorded a voter turnout of 36.73 per cent.

Here's a statewise breakdown:

Ladakh UT leads with 52.02 per cent, followed by West Bengal with 48.41 and Jharkhand with 41.89 per cent.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra continues to record low voter turnout with 27.78 per cent.

Further, Shiv Sena UBT leader Aadesh Bandekar has complained that EVM machines in booth number 57 and 58 in Powai had stalled and people were not able to cast their votes. The EC has now issued a statement that the EVM machines have now been replaced and voting has started smoothly.

Express photo by Sankhadeep Banerjee

“Odisha doesn’t need the BJD’s slow government. It will rather elect the BJP government with a full majority. BJP will take Odisha to new heights of development. People are now fed up with the corruption done by BJD. BJD has only given coal, sand, and mining scam to Odisha. In such a case, how development is possible here?” PM Modi who is touring Odisha ahead of Phase 6 on May 25 said in Cuttack this afternoon.

Uddhav Thackeray, his wife Rashmi and son Aaditya cast their vote in Mumbai.

"A lot of complaints from voters about the facilities outside the booths @ECISVEEP Atleast having the voter lines in shade/ fans could help. They don't want much, just basics to stay cool. Please look into it," Adiya Thackeray also said in a post on X.

Over 24 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 am today in the bypoll to the Gandey assembly seat in Jharkhand, officials said.

The bypoll is being held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections for three constituencies – Chatra, Hazaribag and Koderma.

Voting started at 7 am in the assembly constituency and will continue till 5 pm.

"I have cast my vote. All citizens of India should vote," says Actor Anil Kapoor after casting his vote 

A voter turnout of 23.66 per cent was recorded as of 11 am, according to the EC's Voter Turnout App

West Bengal has the highest polling percentage at 32.70%, while Maharashtra is the lowest at 15.93%

One seat (Baramulla) in Jammu and Kashmir recorded 21.37%. The other UT going to polls today, Ladakh recorded 27.87%

Voting which began at 7 am in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla has recorded a voter turnout of 7.03 per cent till 9 am. People were seen lining up outside the polling stations to exercise their franchise in some areas of the constituency, the officials said.

The constituency is spread over 18 assembly segments in the three districts of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora, and also includes two segments of Budgam that were included on the recommendations of the delimitation commission two years ago, they said.

Odisha recorded around 6.99 per cent voter turnout in the first two hours of polling in five Lok Sabha constituencies and 35 Assembly segments on Monday, officials said.

Police said there was no report of any untoward incident in any polling booths Odisha's Chief Electoral Officer N B Dhal Monday said that the voting was underway in all the 9,162 polling stations across peacefully in five Parliamentary Constituencies and 35 assembly segments under their jurisdiction with some reports of EVM glitches, as per PTI.

In a post in Hindi on X, Rahul Gandhi said, "Today is the fifth phase of voting! In the first four phases itself, it has become clear that people have stood up to protect the Constitution and democracy and are defeating the BJP." "This country is fed up with the politics of hatred and is now voting on its own issues. Youths for jobs, farmers for MSP and freedom from debt, women for economic independence and security, and labourers for fair wages.

"The people are fighting this election along with INDIA (bloc) and there is a storm of change in the country," the former Congress president said.

"I am appealing to the entire country, including Amethi and Rae Bareli, come out and vote in large numbers for the prosperity of your families, for your own rights and for the progress of India," Gandhi said.

As of 9 am, Maharashtra recorded a voter turnout of 6.33% in the fifth and last phase of polls in the state for 13 seats.

Prominent early voters were Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das, BSP chief Mayawati, Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran, Union minister Piyush Goyal and industrialist Anil Ambani.

Polling booths in many parts of Mumbai saw a good turnout, as per PTI.

Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar, Farhan Akhtar, Rajkummar Rao and Jahnvi Kapoor were also among the early voters in Mumbai.

As the voting started, Congress leader Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged voters to come out in large numbers.

Polling for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls commenced across seven parliamentary constituencies of West Bengal amid tight security on Monday, an official said.

Voting commenced in Bangaon (SC), Barrackpore, Howrah, Uluberia, Sreerampur, Hooghly, and Arambag (SC) Lok Sabha constituencies at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has made several allegations so far, claiming that three of its workers have been beaten by "BJP goons" leaving one severely injured. Further, it has said that it received 48 complaints from polling booths, most of which are related to EVM-related malfunctions.

Earlier in Barrackpore, BJP MP and candidate Arjun Singh levelled allegations against TMC's candidate Partha Bhowmick of "distributing money" for votes on Sunday night.

“I only hope that people would cast their vote. Their voice plays a vital role in democracy and for that, they will have to vote,” says JKNC vice president and party candidate from North Kashmir Baramulla parliamentary constituency Omar Abdullah

"If we want to protect democracy and the Constitution, we must vote. Before pressing the button on EVM, remember that we should vote for love and brotherhood, not for hatred." "We have to vote against unemployment and inflation, not to make a few capitalists richer. We have to vote for the protection of our fundamental rights, not for those who snatch our rights," Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on X as polling began in 49 constituencies for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.

As polling in phase 5 begins, political leaders across parties continue focus on phase 6 scheduled for May 25.

PM Modi who is Odisha today is holding a roadshow with the BJP's candidate from Puri Lok Sabha seat Sambit Patra.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief and former UP CM Mayawati cast her vote in Lucknow this morning.

On Monday, 695 candidates are in the fray. The BSP has fielded the most candidates at 46, followed by the BJP (40), and the Congress (18). 

"I appeal to the people to come out and go to their polling booths and cast their votes," she said after voting.

After casting his voter at a polling booth in Mumbai's Juhu, Hindi actor and Bollywood star Akshay Kumar said: "I want that my country remains strong and keeps growing and I have voted keeping it in mind. And more people should come to cast their vote to whoever they deem suitable."

Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla constituency is spread over 18 assembly segments in the three districts of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora, and also includes two segments of Budgam that were included on the recommendations of the delimitation commission two years ago.

Voting is scheduled to end at 6 pm.

More than 500 centenarians are among the 17.37 lakh voters eligible to exercise their franchise, with political observers expecting a high turnout on the back of the huge crowds that thronged election rallies and roadshows.

The first major political battle post the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 will decide the fate of Abdullah, the National Conference vice-president, and 21 others in the fray.

PTI

BJP's Arjun Singh accused TMC's Bhowmick of distributing money ahead of the fifth phase of elections. "A complaint has already been made to the Election Commission...If such things keep happening, it will not be good for Partha Bhowmick (TMC candidate)."

Barrackpore is among the seven constituencies in southern West Bengal going to polls today.

A look at 2019 Lok Sabha polls: In 2019, the parties constituting the current Opposition INDIA bloc and the ruling NDA won six and 34 of these 49 seats respectively. The BJP alone won 32 of these constituencies, with the Congress far behind at 1: its traditional Rae Bareli seat in Uttar Pradesh.