May 10 campaign roundup: BJP’s intemperate attack on EC is a sign of a big loser, says Congress

9:52 pm: Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje today exuded confidence of winning all the 25 parliamentary constituencies in the state.

9:43 pm: 

Report of Additonal CEOs from Amethi say he visited booth at 10.15am when EVM wasn’t working and no poll was taking place @indianexpress

— raghvendra_rao (@raghvendra_rao) May 10, 2014

9:42 pm: 

RahulGandhi in Amethi polling booth: EC gives him clean-chit @indianexpress — raghvendra_rao (@raghvendra_rao) May 10, 2014

9:10 pm: Winding up his eight-month-long campaign, Narendra Modi today said NDA is the only alliance that can bring about change in India where people are “tired” of false promises, corruption and political dynasty.

8:55 pm:  With less than a week to go for poll results, Congress today said it is on the path of “scintillating” victory and slammed BJP for its “desperate” attack on Election Commission saying it was sign of a “big loser” preemptively attacking the umpire.

8:54 pm: Narendra Modi today wrapped up his long election campaign addressing a series of rallies in eastern Uttar Pradesh during which he claimed that Congress would not even open its account in some states and many of its leaders will lose.

8:47 pm: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren today ignored the continued charge by the opposition that he led a “minority government”.

8:40 pm: Senior NCP leader Praful Patel today rejected reports that he is joining BJP and dubbed the suggestions as “mischevious”.

8:35 pm: As the high-voltage campaign for the last phase of polling on Monday ended in this temple town, Aam Aadmi Party today announced that it has deployed 250 spy cameras across the city to keep a tab on BJP workers, alleging they may try to influence voters by offering money and liquor.

8:20 pm: Congress today dared the BJP to challenge the clean chit given to Rahul Gandhi by the Election Commission on the allegation that he had violated secrecy of voting by entering the EVM enclosure in one of the polling booths in Amethi on May 7.

8:15 pm: BJP’s Narendra Modi today lashed out at Samajwadi Party, BSP and Congress saying that all the three parties were focusing only on stopping him from becoming the prime minister.

8:10 pm: BJP candidate Smriti Irani, who is pitted against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, has appealed to the Election Commission for appointing a special observer to ensure free and fair counting in the constituency.

7:33 pm: BJP-RSS will meet tonight to discuss future strategy. Modi and Rajnath will meet Mohan Bhagwat.

7:05 pm: BJP today accused other parties in UP, including Congress, SP and BSP, of playing communal cards as part of their “polarisation politics” as they were suffering from “depression” and demanded the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls.

7:02 pm: The campaign for the last phase of  Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal ended today with 17 constituencies going to the poll on May 12.

7:00 pm: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today laughed away BJP’s claim about collapse of his government after Lok Sabha polls and said for him the bigger challenge was to protect the country and not the chair.

6:30 pm: The Election Commission C looks into the evidence and makes its decisions. If a candidate wants to look into election arrangements they can, says Congress leader Salman Khurshid.

5:35 pm: As poll campaign drew to a close in this keenly-watched constituency, BJP President Rajnath Singh took a dig at Aaam Aadmi Party (AAP), saying there was no bigger ‘aam aadmi’ (common man) than Narendra Modi who used to sell tea made by his father.

5:30 pm: It’s now clear that Modi was not born in backward caste as he did not disclose his caste despite my repeated requests:
Mayawati.

5:29 pm: We urge EC to take steps to stop roadshows as they create inconvenience to public: Mayawati on Modi’s roadshow.

5:15 pm: Arvinder Lovely accuses BJP of manipulating votes in the recently concluded Ward Committee Elections in New Delhi Municipal Corporation.

4:55 pm:

CEC #VSSampath says that no case can be made out against #RahulGandhi on the charge of violating voting secrecy.

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) May 10, 2014

4:40 pm: BJP today made light of Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow here saying there is no “personal fight” between him and Narendra Modi and both had the right to campaign for their candidates.

3:40 pm: The result of 16th May is fast getting reflected in advance in the fear and frustration of the BJP and the shrillness of its attacks, says Singhvi.

3:39 pm: It is the typical propaganda of the BJP to confound and confirm, says Singhvi.

3:37 pm: In Varanasi, Modi-led party is a victim of its own hype, hence the intemperate and desperate attack on the EC. Surely the sign of a big loser, says Singhvi.

3:36 pm: BJP has become more frustrated, aggressive and fearful, says Singhvi.

3:36 pm: So called regional supporters are vanishing from the South , East, UP. No secular minded party is prepared to support a Moid-led, BJP-led NDA. Where then will this imaginative mission 272 will come from is only a question that Shir Mungeri Lal can answer.

3:36 pm: BJP is now finding that the so called ‘wave’ is a chimera, says Singhvi.

3:25 pm: Whatever decisions we take, we take collectively. We deliberated for six hours on this: CEC Sampath on HS Brahma’s allegations. 

3:24 pm: It is for everyone to see what the impact of this statement is: VS Sampath, CEC to ANI on HS Brahma’s statements. 

3:20 pm: Going by profile of leader, EC didn’t want to take chance with security. All 3 commissioners decided this: VS Sampath

3:00 pm: If I would have said anything ‘neech’ about Rajiv Gandhi, media would have lashed out at me, said Modi.  

2:47 pm: The mother-son government stands for Mar jawan, mar kissan, says Modi.

2:44 pm: I want to tell the youth who are into Maoism that the pistol on your shoulders will do no good. Leave the pistol and be a part of the democracy, says Modi.

2:40 pm: Modi addresses a rally in Robertsganj.

2.18 pm: Rahul Gandhi says – Modi ji, change your poster, say you will respect women…stop tapping phones of women and sending cops after them.

2.08 pm: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister begins roadshow in Varanasi.

1.58 pm: Rahul Gandhi addresses rally in Varanasi:

– If Congress wins, we will ensure right to health/treatment

– We gave the farmers a fair deal with land acquisition bill

1.45 pm: BJP leader Arun Jaitley,  on Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow said it (roadshow) is happening at a place where we were denied permission for holding a rally. This proves that there was no security reason and it was because of political reasons we were not allowed to hold the rally.

1.40 pm:

It’s 1.30 noon . Hottest sun . Unending crowd in AAP road show in Varanasi . Modi is losing . Badly .

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) May 10, 2014

AAP road show in Varanasi . pic.twitter.com/gwwMpjPLPB

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) May 10, 2014

1.28 pm: “If talking about upliftment of farmers, employment is ‘Neech Soch’, I am happy with my ‘Neech Soch’,” says Modi.

1.25 pm: Narendra Modi addresses rally in Kushinagar, says Congress couldn’t take it when Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar said country will progress of Modi become PM

1.19 pm:

Watch: Family of Ustad Bismillah Khan playing Shehnai for Rahul Gandhi in Varanasi https://t.co/CUKW47p8OO #KashiKiRaiAjaiRai

— INC India (@INCIndia) May 10, 2014

1.03 pm:

In Domariayaganj, UP for public meeting along with Party President. Came to Domariayaganj via Gorakhpur from Varanasi pic.twitter.com/FNwAvnM0Hz

— Ananthkumar (@AnanthKumar_BJP) May 10, 2014

12.40 pm: NCP leader Praful Patel denies media reports of his joining BJP, terms them as baseless and mischievous.

11.50 am: Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad expressed displeasure over roadshows performed by Arvind Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav. He said he had no problem from their roadshows but asked why BJP’s Prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was not permitted to do the same. He also said Modi will win by Lakhs of votes.

11.26 am: BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi says, “We have no problem if Rahul Gandhi conducts 50 roadshows…but denying permission to Modi and allowing Rahul is wrong.”

11.23 am: According to reports, the family of Ustad Bismillah Khan, which had refused to accompany Narendra Modi for nomination filing, his playing Shehnai as part of Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow in Varanasi.

11.20 am:

How can BJP even ask for votes in Varanasi in the name of development?Wasn’t a BJP MP serving Varanasi from last 5 years? #KashikiRaiAjayRai

— With Congress (@WithCongress) May 10, 2014

11.14 am:

अमेठी ज़िला प्रशासन ने राहुल गांधी जी को कमाल का walk-over दिया है। 7 मई की जिस तस्वीर में राहुल पोलिंग बूथ के… http://t.co/AGuPJ4zOrE

— Dr. Kumar Vishvas (@DrKumarVishwas) May 10, 2014

11.04 am:

Rahul’s “farewell road show”is happening in the area where Modi ji was not allowed to hold a rally.one more biased conduct of Varanasi RO..

— Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) May 10, 2014

10.49 am: Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley alleged that there was no security reason, but political reason because of which the Election Commission denied permission to Narendra Modi for his rally in Varanasi.

10.37 am:

RT @ANI_news: Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow passes through Lahurabir area of Varanasi pic.twitter.com/b2UBfQ8SGn

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) May 10, 2014

10.34 am:

Massive road show in Varanasi . Kejariwal is winning . Modi losing this crowd is proof . pic.twitter.com/0DVDvve9MA

— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) May 10, 2014

10.16: The BJP has again hit out at the Election Commission, saying the poll panel gave permission for Rahul Gandhi’s rally in the same area where Narendra Modi was denied the go-ahead.

10.12 am:

On the final day of the campaign will address 5 rallies across UP. Concluding rally will be in Ballia http://t.co/nwdEgjVEhj

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 10, 2014

9.46 am:

RahulGs Jan Sampark programme in Varanasi a huge success.Like the candidate,the participants are also local residents pic.twitter.com/pTOaRmHR5Z

— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) May 10, 2014

9.28 am:

Varanasi is wrapped with tricolour as #RahulGandhi greets thousands of people at his Jan Sampark Abhiyan pic.twitter.com/cUuqfTJO2Y

— INC India (@INCIndia) May 10, 2014

9.20 am: Congress leader Raj Babbar has said that the crowd in Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow is from Varanasi, and not brought from other states as done by AAP and BJP

8.56 am: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister is also slated to hold a rally in Varanasi today.

8.53 am: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi holds a roadshow in Varanasi, will address a rally shortly.