PM Modi will address three rallies today in Jharkhand and West Bengal. (File)
Lok Sabha elections 2019 highlights: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday claimed that 40 Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLAs were “in touch with me” and that they would desert the party once BJP won the Lok Sabha elections. Reacting to PM Modi’s remarks, TMC leader Derek O’Brien said the party would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission with charges of “horse trading” against the BJP.
At his rally in Jharkhand’s Koderma, PM Modi said that he will fight against all dangers and overcome them when it comes to the country. He said, “Be it surgical strike or airstrike, we will overcome every danger.”
On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi, in Rajasthan’s Dholpur, said if Congress comes to power, they will implement a new law under which no farmer will be put behind bars for failing to repay their loans. “After 2019 elections, no farmer in India will not be put in jail for not repaying loans. We will make a new law. No farmer will be put behind bars for failing to repay their loans,” he said.
Meanwhile, the fourth phase for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections kickstarted today at 7:00 am. 71 constituencies across nine states will vote today.
PM Modi Saturday claimed that the opposition parties dragged him into a debate on his caste.
Addressing an election rally in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said no one would be allowed to play with the country's security under the Modi government. "In the five years of the Modi government, be it the issue of national security or internal security or the (economic) growth, the development is being seen everywhere. No one is being allowed to play with the security of the country today," he said.
Reacting to PM Modi’s remarks, TMC leader Derek O’Brien said the party would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission with charges of “horse trading” against the BJP. “Expiry Babu PM, let’s get this straight. Nobody will go with you. Not even one councillor. Are you election campaigning or horse trading! Your expiry date is near. Today, we are complaining to the Election Commission. Charging you with horse trading,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party has changed its candidate from Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency. The party has replaced Shalini Yadav with Tej Bahadur Yadav, the BSF constable who was dismissed from service after he had released a video last year on the quality of food served to soldiers.
Addressing a rally in Serampore in West Bengal, PM Modi said 40 TMC MLAs were in contact with BJP. "Didi (Mamata Banerjee), on May 23 when the results will come, lotus will bloom everywhere and your MLAs will leave you. Even today, Didi, 40 of your MLAs are in contact with me," he said.
Terming Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as his ideal, boxer-turned-politician Vijender Singh said he is impressed by the simplicity of the Congress general secretary in whom he sees glimpses of her grandmother Indira Gandhi. Singh is all set to make his electoral debut from south Delhi Lok Sabha seat and is pitted against AAP's Raghav Chadha and BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri. (PTI)
In his first rally after joining the party and filing his nomination from Gurdas, BJP candidate Sunny Deol showers support on PM Modi. "You do not need to be afraid of anyone. I am with you. Modi ji is with us. If Modi ji wins, it is a victory for you all," he says in his rally, which is also attended by local Akali Dal leaders.
Pragya Singh Thakur, BJP candidate from Bhopal, breaks down while speaking to union minister Uma Bharti.
"In Karnataka, the Chief Minister (HD Kumaraswamy) said people who are poor, who cannot afford two meals a day join the Army, Police or other military services. Do you think any person will take bullets just for two meals a day? They fight for the country": PM Modi in Koderma
"We have also decided that on May 23, when BJP will come to power again, the benefits of PM Kisan Yojana will be made available to every farmer family," says PM Modi in Jharkhand's Koderma.
Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bikram Majithia keep away from Sunny Deol's rally in Gurdaspur. Only local Akali leaders present including former Assembly Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon.
"Mission 'mahamilaawat' is a government at the centre which can do scams, can do anything they want, can run dynasty politics, but not work for the people. This 'mahamilaawat' was seen before also. Congress formed a 'mahamilaawat' so that Atal Bihari Vajpayee (former Prime Minister) could not be elected," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jharkhand's Koderma.
Actor and BJP candidate Sunny Deol Monday filed his nomination papers from the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat in Punjab. He will be addressing a rally at PUDA ground in Gurdaspur later in the day. The senior leadership of BJP and SAD will also be present in the rally.
"Youth will not be needed to take permission till 3 years if you want to start a business. Today, before starting a business, you need to take several permissions from different levels in the government. When we come to power, this won't be needed. Youth can start a business without taking the permission": Rahul Gandhi
"After 2019 elections, no farmer in India will not be put in jail for not repaying loans. Modi ji should first put Anil Ambani and Mehul Choksi in jail. We will make a new law. No farmer will be put behind bars for failing to re-pay their loans," says Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan's Dholpur.
"Congress will provide 22 lakh jobs within a year if we come to power. Narendra Modi lies wherever he goes. But we will not. We will definitely provide 22 lakh jobs for the youth of this country. The Rajasthan government will work towards empowering you. Your money will be used for your development," says Rahul Gandhi
"Since 45 years, India is the most unemployed country. But, as soon as our NYAY scheme will be implemented, you will start buying products, which will, in turn, give employment to your children": Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan's Dholpur
" PM Modi promised to give Rs 15 lakh to every citizen of this country, but this was a lie. Because you cannot put Rs 15 lakh in every person's account," says Rahul Gandhi in Dholpur.
"Narendra Modi took money from your homes and put it in the pockets of Nirav Modi and Anil Ambani. Modi put Rs 5,55,000 in the pockets of 15 rich people," says Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Dholpur, Rajasthan.
Aam Aadmi Party candidate Harmohan Dhawan files his nomination papers at District Collector office in Chandigarh's Sector-17. He is pitted against BJP's Kirron Kher and Congress' Pawan Kumar Bansal.
The Election Commission flying squad seized Rs 64,500 cash from a car parked outside poll campaign office of Shiv Sena candidate Rajendra Gavit in Maharashtra's Palghar district on Monday. The action was taken following a complaint by Bahujan Vikas Aghadi activists who alleged that cash was being distributed to lure voters. During enquiry, the police found Shiv Sena MLC Ravindra Phatak and his supporters at the poll campaign office. (PTI)
Supporters start to arrive at Sunny Doel's public rally. He is being fielded from Gurdaspur.
The venue for Sunny Deol's campaign is all set. He will address a gathering after filing nomination from Gurdaspur constituency.
Supreme Court agrees to hear a plea by Congress MP Sushmita Dev against PM Modi and BJP president Amit Shah alleging the violation of Model Code of Conduct by the leaders. She contended that the poll panel has failed to act against Modi and Shah despite multiple complaints lodged against their alleged poll violations. Read more
BJP candidate and actor Sunny Deol will file his nomination from the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency. After filling his nomination papers, Deol will be addressing a rally at PDA ground in Gurdaspur. Senior leadership of the BJP and the SAD will also be present in the rally.
Punjab BJP poll in-charge and Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu met actor Sunny Deol today morning before Deol left to file his nomination from Gurdaspur constituency.
Congress UP East general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Sunday, while speaking to the media in Bahraich, attacked PM Modi and said “Even today, I do not know his (PM Modi’s) caste." The statement came a day after PM Modi, in his rally, said that the opposition parties had dragged him into a debate by raising the issue of his caste. Read more
Congress also urged the people of the country to vote in the ongoing elections.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the voters across the nine states where polling is underway, to cast their vote and exercise their right. "Special appeal to young voters to head to polling booth and exercise their franchise," he wrote on Twitter.
Phase four of polling for 71 constituencies in nine states is underway. The states which are voting today are Bihar. Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi hold three public rallies in Rajasthan today. Starting at 11:00 am, Rahul will address his first rally in Karauli-Dholpur parliamentary constituency, followed by a rally in Churu and Kotpuli town of the Jaipur Rural constituency in the afternoon.
PM Modi will address three rallies today, one in Jharkhand's Koderma and two in West Bengal's Srirampur and Barrackpore, respectively. He will start campaigning at 12:00 pm.