Lok Sabha Elections 2019 HIGHLIGHTS: Everyone believes SP-BSP ‘gathbandhan’ will win majority, says Mulayam

The Himachal Pradesh Congress has written to the Election Commission demanding strict action against a former Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officer who joined the BJP wearing his full uniform, PTI reported. "We have written to the ECI today to take action under Section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 against BJP leaders and retired ITBP assistant commandant Om Prakash who joined BJP wearing his full uniform in a public meeting in Dharamshala on Friday," state Congress president Kuldeep Singh Rathore said.

Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh Yadav in Lucknow: Gathbandan will get a majority, everyone believes it. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/0ZwibW6Wpg

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 27, 2019

Congress leaders are praising Jinnah, who has divided the country, says Amit Shah in Mayurbhanj

BJP's Amit Shah in Mayurbhanj, Odisha: Shatrughan Sinha has just gone to Congress. When he was in BJP he used to talk about nationalism. Now,he says that Jinnah was a great leader like Mahatma Gandhi & Sardar Patel.Congress leaders are praising Jinnah,who has divided the country. pic.twitter.com/PmwKn1ycQv

— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2019

Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav hold roadshow.

#LokSabhaElections2019 : Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav and Dimple Yadav held a roadshow in Kannauj, today; Polling in Kannauj will be held in the fourth phase of general elections on 29th April pic.twitter.com/hz446xJAPv

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 27, 2019

'Chowkidar Chor Hai' jibe: Case registered against Rahul Gandhi, Tejashwi Yadav

Bihar: Case registered against Congress President Rahul Gandhi for repeatedly asking the crowd to chant 'chowkidar chor hai' in a rally in Samastipur where RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was also present . Case registered in Ara Civil Court by an advocate against both the leaders.

— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2019

Priyanka Gandhi said PM and his government have forgotten that it was the public who had given power to them.

Priyanaka Gandhi Vadra in Barabanki:Jab satta hasil hoti hai ek insaan ko, uss satta ke moh mein usse ek bahut badi galatfemi ho jati hai, woh sochne lagta hai woh satta uski hai, bhool jata hai ki satta dene wala kaun hai, PM aur sarkar bhul chuki hai ki satta dene wale aap hain pic.twitter.com/zKMaPgQcY1

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 27, 2019

A rare moment of sibling banter between Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was on display when both of them bumped into each other at Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur airport. Both were headed to different directions to attend their respective meetings in the politically crucial state on Saturday. Read more...

Some moments of brother and sister from busy schedules.

Love , affection all in one photo @priyankagandhi @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/rajuxv3kMC

— UP East Youth Congress (@IYC_UPEast) April 27, 2019

Narendra Modi works 18 hours a day and hasn't taken leave in last 20 years. But Rahul Gandhi goes on leave every two months, says Amit Shah in Odisha.

PM Modi Saturday expressed doubts over Congress's ability to fight terrorism. In his rally in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, Modi said, "Congress is saying that they will reduce the presence of armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Congress wants to repeal sedition law too. Can people with such mentality remove terrorism and Naxalism?"

PM Modi in Sitapur: Congress is saying that they will reduce presence of armed forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Congress wants to repeal sedition law too. Can people with such mentality remove terrorism and naxalism? pic.twitter.com/SfDyMvzRe5

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 27, 2019

Rahul Gandhi said, "Narendra Modi has lied to the nation for the last five years. In his speech, he doesn't speak about employment, farmers or 15 lakh. He speaks by looking at the teleprompter and his speech is controlled by a controller from behind. Time is about to change."

BJP president Amit Shah Saturday said that Odisha can develop only if the "corrupt and inefficient" BJD government is thrown out. Addressing a rally here in the tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha constituency, Shah said people across the country have resolved that Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister again.
"I have already addressed election meetings in 261 Lok Sabha constituencies. From east to west and north to south, I could hear people chant Modi, Modi. It is clear that the whole country has resolved to make Modi the prime minister once again," the BJP chief claimed.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Raebareli: Not a single youth in the country can say "Yes, chowkidar gave me employment" because the unemployment rate in the country is highest it has been in 45 years. In 70 years nobody did something as foolish as demonetization & Gabbar Singh Tax.

LIVE: Congress President @RahulGandhi addresses public meeting in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. #??????Amethi https://t.co/Q2szg6oAEY

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 27, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Hardoi: Before I became Prime Minister, when there used to be a remote control government, there were only two mobile phone manufacturing companies in the country, now within 5 years there are more than 125 factories manufacturing mobiles in India.

Rahul Gandhi posted a video on Facebook in which he is meeting with hir sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Kanpur airport. He wrote: "Was nice meeting Priyanka at Kanpur Airport! We’re headed to different meetings in UP."

Delhi: 7 veteran officers join Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Lt Gen JBS Yadav, Lt Gen R N Singh, Lt Gen SK Patyal, Lt Gen Sunit Kumar, Lt Gen Nitin Kohli, Colonel RK Tripathi, WG Cdr Navneet Magon joined the party at the BJP HQ. pic.twitter.com/bA00JrWCKs

— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2019

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday slammed the SP-BSP-RLD tie-up, saying the alliance of "opportunists" wants a helpless government because its mantra is 'Jaat, paat japna; janata ka maal apna'.He was speaking at an election rally here, a day after filing his nomination from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat for a second term.

Without mincing words, he told the opposition parties that whatever efforts they make, they will fail in their mission. "Whatever efforts you (opposition) make, it will be..." the prime minister said, following which the crowd shouted in chorus "Modi again".He ridiculed opposition leaders for their "dream" of becoming prime minister and poked fun at BSP chief Mayawati for seeking support of the Samajwadi Party "just for the sake of power".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi slams BSP chief Mayawati for seeking the support of Samajwadi Party "just for sake of power". "Remember, in Tirwa, how the SP had insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar, the BSP has forgotten this. Remember, the BSP had named a Medical College in the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar. But the SP government had thrown away the strip of Baba Saheb's name."

Modi says: " 'Behenji' is happily asking for votes for the Samajwadi Party (SP), just for power, just to defeat Modi, you are hugging the people who abuse Babasaheb?"

Ridiculing opposition leaders for their "dream" to become prime minister, PM Modi says: "These are ones who seek evidence of air strikes, shed tears for Batla House encounter."

BJP will withdraw Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, if voted to power. Jawans were beheaded during the 10-year rule of the Congress-led UPA government. We cannot forget such incidents: Amit Shah in Daltonganj.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the opposition SP-BSP-RLD alliance for attacking 'chowkidar' and  Ram bhakts. He termed opposition alliance 'opportunist' and 'mahamilawati' at Kannauj election rally. He says: "Whatever efforts opposition makes, it will be Modi again."

#WATCH Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kannauj says, "Mahamilavat ke logon, saari koshish karlo lekin, ayega to......" People respond "Modi!" pic.twitter.com/tuBwQC9c0E

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 27, 2019

PM Modi addresses public meeting at Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh. Dial 9345014501 to listen LIVE. #ModiAaneWalaHai https://t.co/lg90RmQTfx

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 27, 2019

Amit Shah says: "The people of our country have already decided that they will make Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister yet again. Our country has attained PM Modi's kind of leadership after years. The country has got a prime minister who takes important decisions."

LIVE: Shri @AmitShah is addressing a public meeting in Palamu, Jharkhand. #ModiAaneWalaHai https://t.co/o5xAl1PGQn

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 27, 2019

Congress President @RahulGandhi will be in Amethi & Rae Bareli today. Watch him live on our social media platforms.

FB: https://t.co/nX8RdNUP9b

YT: https://t.co/g2POk7bvU1 pic.twitter.com/J4lJPILuEZ

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 27, 2019

Tejashwi Yadav says: " Raids are being held against Mayawati, against our family. BJP people are trying to frame opposition leaders. Because they know that in these polls, they're going to get defeated by 'mahagathbandhan' in respective states. CBI, ED, IT are working like IT cell of BJP. We are fighting against BJP on all 40 seats. Tanveer Sahab (RJD Begusarai Lok Sabha candidate Tanveer Hasan) is going to win Begusarai seat and that too by a huge margin. Whatever environment one creates, we aren't bothered, because the public has made its mind." — ANI

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Friday said Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is displaying the ‘desperation of a loser’ as the ‘fake’ narratives built by him over the Rafale jet deal and loan waivers to business houses have evaporated. In a Facebook post titled ‘Has the Congress Thrown its Hands Up?’, Jaitley wrote, “He (Gandhi) displayed the desperation of a loser.” “Rahul Gandhi, in the last one year, built up a fake narrative on Rafale and loan waiver to business houses, which was contrary to the truth. The fake issues evaporated and now strike no chord in the electorate,” Jaitley said. Read More

Rahul Gandhi, in his last election rally in Odisha on Friday, explained how the Congress party’s proposed NYAY (Nyuntam Aay Yojana) or minimum income scheme can spur economic growth and reduce unemployment in the country. Speaking in Balasore district, he also asked the crowd why is Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik doing “anyay (injustice) for which farmers in the state are getting Rs 1,200 in real prices per quintal of paddy”. He accused PM Modi and Patnaik of failing to create jobs and guaranteed 22 lakh government jobs for the youth. Read More

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday promised to introduce a separate “kisan budget” and bring a law to prevent farmers from being jailed for inability to repay farm loans. Mounting a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi said if the BJP-led government can waive huge debts of industrialists, why should the distressed farmers be punished. Read More

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that NYAY, the minimum income guarantee scheme his party has envisaged, will put the country’s economy back on track after it was allegedly hurt by the Centre’s decisions on demonetisation and GST. Speaking in Balasore district during his final election rally in Odisha, Rahul explained how the Congress’s proposed NYAY (Nyuntam Aay Yojana) would spur economic growth and reduce unemployment. He asked the crowd why Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was doing “anyay (injustice) for which farmers in the state are getting Rs 1,200 in real prices per quintal of paddy”. He also accused Modi and Patnaik of failing to create jobs and guaranteed 22 lakh government jobs for the youth. Read more

BJP president Amit Shah on Friday said the 2019 general election is to take revenge for the country’s slain soldiers and paramilitary personnel. Addressing a rally in Jalore, which votes on Monday, Shah said, “This is an election to ensure the security of the country; this is an election to raise the honour of the nation; this is an election to take revenge for the martyred; this is an election to teach a lesson to terrorists; this is an election to give a befitting reply to Pakistan. Tell me, can anyone else, other than Modi-ji, give terrorists a befitting reply? Can anyone (other than Modi) teach Pakistan a lesson?” Read More

A Delhi court Friday issued notice to the Delhi Police and sought to know whether any action was taken or an FIR has been registered on a complaint against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for allegedly making derogatory statements against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal directed Delhi Police to submit their “action taken report/if any FIR has been registered” pertaining to the statements in the aftermath of the 2016 surgical strikes. Read More

Senior Congress leader Raj Babbar Friday said that party president Rahul Gandhi was the only alternative to the BJP. “Congress will return to power and Rahul Gandhi is the only alternative to the BJP in the country,” Babbar, who is also president of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the grand old party, said at a press meet in Kolkata Friday. Read More

Wooing the middle class in Mumbai on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that tax, inflation and corruption have been brought under control during his five-year regime. In his 45-minute speech, Modi also took on the Congress, stating that it won’t get even 50 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. Read More

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Adolf Hitler. Targeting BJP’s ‘Phir ek baar Modi sarkar’ election slogan, Kharge, the Congress’s Leader in Parliament, said, “No other Prime Minister in India’s history has sought votes on his or her name. We live in a parliamentary democracy, not a dictatorship. Votes are sought on a party’s ideology.” Read More

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the “foxes, jackals and a parrot have become redundant” after the “lion and tiger” joined hands in the state, implying that the Congress-NCP stood no chance against the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “The tiger and lion have joined hands. So it is anybody’s guess what will be the outcome of the election… What could the foxes, jackals and parrots, who have come together, deliver,” Fadnavis said at a public rally at BKC Ground in Mumbai. Read More

In one of his campaign speeches, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged first-time voters to “dedicate” their votes to the “brave soldiers” who carried out the Balakot airstrike and the “braves martyred” in the Pulwama terror attack. But several first-time voters in Mumbai said that on April 29, when the city goes to polls, they would vote on the government’s performance and issues close to them, among them jobs. Read More

Suggesting there were difference in views over the timing of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Additional Chief Electoral Officer withdrew an urgent note within hours of sending it to all District Election Officers. The note sought information on district-level nodal officers for the “forthcoming Assembly elections, 2019” within the next two days. Read More

The Election Commission (EC) has clarified to the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) that BJP cannot sell NaMo products — election merchandise endorsing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s re-election — below market price, The Indian Express has learnt. The clarification was provided in response to BJP’s application last month seeking permission, under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), to run ‘NaMo Raths’ — merchandise store on wheels — in the capital. The ‘NaMo Raths’ sell products such as t-shirts, pens, badges and masks embellished with messages seeking votes in favour of Modi. Read More

Schedule of BJP National President Shri @AmitShah’s public programs in Jharkhand and Odisha on 27 April 2019.

Watch LIVE at
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— BJP (@BJP4India) April 26, 2019

???????????? ???? @narendramodi 27 ?????? 2019 ?? ????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ???????? ????????

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? NaMoTV pic.twitter.com/9YuT1YjYBA

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 26, 2019

Welcome to our LIVE blog. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address public rallies in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj, Hardoi and Sitapur on Saturday.  Follow to get the latest updates.