May 9 elections roundup: Election Commission appoints special observer for Varanasi, issues notice to Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi gets EC notice over inflammatory speech in Solan (HP). Asked to explain stance by May 12 @IndianExpress

— raghvendra_rao (@raghvendra_rao) May 9, 2014

9.00 pm:

The Election Commission of India has made an unrecoverable and inexcusable error of judgement! What went wrong? Who goaded them to do so?

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) May 9, 2014

8. 45 pm:  In a tit-for-tat response to Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi will hold a roadshow in Varanasi on Saturday, the last day of campaigning for the Varanasi parliamentary seat.

8. 40 pm: As Trinamool Congress and BSP snubbed BJP over supporting it in government formation, Congress on Friday said it is  “impossible” for Narendra Modi to become Prime Minister as he will not have “adequate seats and allies”. READ FULL TEXT

8. 12 pm: Special observer to oversee Varanasi District Magistrate during polls

EC to send Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Praveen Kumar to Varanasi as Special Observer @IndianExpress

— raghvendra_rao (@raghvendra_rao) May 9, 2014

8. 10 pm: TN Chief Electoral Officer appointed as special observer for Varanasi

8.00 pm: The Election Commission on Friday said it is taking a decision on reports that Rahul Gandhi, a candidate from Amethi, had violated rules by going to the polling area inside some booths in theconstituency during balloting on May 7 and “not trying to avoid” it.

Rahul in poll booth: EC directs UP CEO office to conduct further inquiry. Matter to be proceeded on receipt of report @IndianExpress

— raghvendra_rao (@raghvendra_rao) May 9, 2014

7. 55 pm: The Election Commission said there was ‘nothing particularly wrong’ in the speech of BJP leader Amit Shah in which he reportedly described Azamgarh as ‘a base of terrorists’.

7. 52 pm:

Some people are talking about throwing Bengalis out of India. They do not even know the difference between refugee and infiltrator: Didi

— AITC (@AITCofficial) May 9, 2014

7. 50 pm:

Those who threaten to send people away from India, will be packed off from Bengal through ballots: Didi at Tala Park

— AITC (@AITCofficial) May 9, 2014

7. 30pm:

If I were in power at Centre instead of the Congress, i would have arrested him for threatening to send people away from India: Didi

— AITC (@AITCofficial) May 9, 2014

7.25 pm:

7. 15 pm:

Bengal is ahead of Gujarat in human development index: Didi at Tala Park

— AITC (@AITCofficial) May 9, 2014

As a Party President, using terms like “Unch” & “Neech” does not suit Madam. Is the fear of defeat so much that she has to say such things?

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 9, 2014

7. 5pm:

.@ArvindKejriwal and @DrKumarVishwas during AAP roadshow in Banaras. #AAPWaveInKashi pic.twitter.com/bVTRLWzELd

— Aam Aadmi Party (@AamAadmiParty) May 9, 2014

7. 00 pm:

In Siwan I asked people if they want those days to return when criminals were given a free hand, they answered NO! http://t.co/ege8IogsMG

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 9, 2014

6. 50pm:

If someone does politics of untouchability it is the Congress & those who made their political careers by following votebank politics.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 9, 2014

6.40 pm: After Maya, Mamata says won’t support Modi-led government at Centre. READ FULL TEXT

6. 35 pm: Mamata Banerjee attacked the Congress alleging it was ‘cocooned in fear’ and did not have the guts to act against the BJP and said had she been in Delhi she would have sent Narendra Modi to jail.

6.05 pm: I will always be with you. I will be always there for Kashi and be with you to help you. This time helicopter politics will not work: Arvind Kejriwal READ FULL TEXT

6.00 pm: Modi came by helicopter before elections for two hours, do you think he will come here after elections: Arvind Kejriwal

5.50 pm: Arvind Kejriwal holds roadshow in Varanasi, takes a dig at Modi’s ‘helicopter’ politics

5. 15 pm:  A group of people present at Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Deoria raised pro-Modi slogans of ‘Har Har Modi, Ghar Ghar Modi’ while he
was promising free housing, free medical care and pension for women to his audience.

4.45 pm: EC clarifies on Exit polls ban, says can go ahead after 6.30pm on May 12. EC has earlier banned telecast of Exit polls by any media house till May 16

4.47 pm: We have made a strong law to eradicate manual scavenging : Sonia Gandhi in Bihar

4.45 pm:

जब तक कांग्रेस क एक एक कार्यकर्त्ता ज़िंदा है, हम देश की एक़ता नहीं टूटने देंगे : श्रीमती सोनिया गांधी , बिहार मे pic.twitter.com/9ZaaRSy7e1

— INC India (@INCIndia) May 9, 2014

4. 33 pm: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal holds roadshow in Varanasi

4. 22 pm: Congress reacts to Modi’s ‘door is open for deal’ remark, says no regional party is willing to form an alliance with BJP

4. 20 pm: We brought MNREGA and Right to food Act for poor: Rahul Gandhi in Domariyaganj

4. 15 pm: Congress brought many welfare schemes for poor: Rahul Gandhi in Domariyaganj

4. 10 pm: Rahul Gandhi addressing a rally in Domariyaganj in UP

4. 03 pm:

Breaking now – H S Brahma Election Commissioner at IWPC- ‘NO EXiT polls till 16th May’!!!! Order comes tmrw! @IndianExpress

— Anubhuti Vishnoi (@anubhutivishnoi) May 9, 2014

3. 50 pm: Arvind Kejriwal’s family, BJP leaders Amit Shah and Arun Jaitley and others involved in campaign but not having voting rights in the city will have to leave the constituency after canvassing ends on Saturday evening in accordance with rules, officials said.

3. 40 pm: People from backward class have been hurt by Modi’s comments: Congress

3. 35 pm: Modi owes an apology to the people of the country: Congress

3. 32 pm: Congress reacts to Narendra Modi’s caste remark

3. 30 pm: BJP doesn’t believe in political untouchability: Amit Shah on BJP-BSP alliance

3. 25 pm: Congress complains to Election Commission about Modi’s road show in Varanasi

3. 18 pm: I was gagged from speaking in Varanasi: Narendra Modi in Ghazipur

3. 15 pm: Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Ghazipur

3. 07 pm: Why there has been no deployment of paramilitary forces in Azamgarh from where Mulayam Singh Yadav is fighting the election?: Amit Shah in Varanasi

3. 06 pm: EC should need to deploy paramilitary forces at all the 18 places in UP: Amit Shah  in Varanasi

3. 05 pm: Mayawati, Akhilesh supported Gandhi family on Robert Vadra issue: Amit Shah in Varanasi

3. 03 pm: NDA will get more than 300 seats and Narendra Modi will lead the country as PM: Amit Shah in Varanasi

3. 00pm: Amit Shah addresses news conference in Varanasi

2. 55 pm: Commotion broke out at Narendra Modi’s Bihar rally in Siwan

2. 52 pm: Raking up the caste issue, Narendra Modi charged Congress with starting the politics of “untouchability and hatred” and Sonia Gandhi of resorting to “unch aur neech” politics for salvaging the “lost political ground” in the ongoing elections.

2. 50 pm: Poor and middle class people have been mostly affected by the inflation and corruption: Mayawati

2. 46 pm: BSP chief Mayawati addresses rally in Varanasi

2.45 pm: Was the Central Govt sleeping all this while? What action did they take against chit funds?: Mamata Banerjee

2.40 pm: Had it not been for Trinamool, the Left could not have been ousted from power in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee

2. 35 pm: 

Trinamool stands for poriborton, development, people, unity of Hindus and Muslims: Didi at Baharampur

— AITC (@AITCofficial) May 9, 2014

1.43 pm: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has ruled out any possibility of support to a BJP-led government after elections. READ FULL TEXT

12.50 pm: Narendra Modi in Motihari, Bihar:

– Congress boycotted Amitabh Bachchan because he was a brand ambassador for Gujarat tourism

– Rahul Gandhi must understand the geography of a place before speaking

– The country needs a powerful government

– You give me a stable government, I will give you a powerful country

– Pehle matdaan, phir jalpaan

12.21 pm:

I am deeply grateful to people of Varanasi for their affection pic.twitter.com/aE5oOcOHCO

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 8, 2014

12.19 pm: Supreme Court stalls coercive actions against Baba Ramdev in cases lodged against him over his ‘Dalit’ remarks made against Rahul Gandhi.

12.05 pm: Arvind Kejriwal has attacked Narendra Modi, saying he will resort to anything from communalism to caste politics to gain votes, but will still lose from Varanasi.

11.44 am: Senior BJP leader has continued his offensive against Congress, saying the ruling dynasty cannot digest defeat at the hands of a commoner.

11.24 am: Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal has begun a roadshow in Varanasi.

10.50 am: Arun Jaitley: The fact that Narendra Modi belongs to the OBC community is a major cause of worry to the Congress Party. Though Narendra Modi has never made caste as his identity and his appeal cuts across castes and communities, the Congress worry is apparent. READ FULL TEXT

10.36 am: Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that while Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a statesman, Modi politics is full of vindictiveness and revenge.

On the lighter side:

10.05 am:

This is How Shri Modi lied about being from a backward caste Read:http://t.co/cluynZhonI #FakeOBCModi pic.twitter.com/LV3VCTPP3x

— INC India (@INCIndia) May 9, 2014

10.01 am:

One more lie of Modi is exposed that he is an OBC by birth.It is evident that with fabricated lies he is trying to fool one&all.

— Shakeel Ahmad (@Ahmad_Shakeel) May 9, 2014

9.42 am: Congress leader Anand Sharma has said that Narendra Modi must not forget that NDA was in power when Kargil took place.

9.36 am:

In fact it might be a good idea to publish a indian political dictionary. Words which convey everything, yet escape model code or the IPC?

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) May 9, 2014

9.00 am:

I have succeeded in my mission. Congi propaganda on OBC has fizzled out

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) May 9, 2014

8.50 am: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi is slated to address three rallies in Uttar Pradesh – Deoria, Domariyaganj and Gorakhpur – today.