Election 2019 HIGHLIGHTS: Congress releases second list of 21 candidates for Lok Sabha polls

INC COMMUNIQUE

Announcement of seat sharing for Karnataka Lok Sabha seats. pic.twitter.com/FvRW7tht8x

— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) March 13, 2019

Congress Central Election Committee announces the second list of candidates for the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha. pic.twitter.com/apUjzhWyjq

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 13, 2019

Karnataka BJP President B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said the party would finalise its first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls on March 16 and that virtually all the 16 sitting party MPs were likely to get tickets to contest.

Calling the Congress-JD(S) rule in Karnataka as "Tughlaq Darbar", he said the alliance would benefit the BJP in the polls, as they "lack" understanding between each other.

"I'm confident that because of the state government's failures and achievements of the central government, we will win at least 22 Lok Sabha seats. I have this confidence and we are all working unitedly in that direction," he said.

Congress and JD(S) arrived on a 20-8 seat share deal in Karnataka today

Congress-JD(S) seat sharing deal clinched. @INCIndia to contest in 20 seats. JD(S) to contest in 8 seats. Congress to leave sitting seat of Tumkur to JD(S). @IndianExpress

— Manoj C G (@manojcg4u) March 13, 2019

In his first public rally to launch the UPA poll campaign in the southern state, Gandhi said: "today, the government in Tamil Nadu is controlled by the Prime Minister's Office."

The Congress chief launched a frontal attack on the AIADMK-BJP alliance in Tamil Nadu, alleging that the state government was controlled by the Prime Minister's Office, something that has never happened before.

In a scathing attack on the Congress party's first family, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said if a forensic audit of their "capital creation" is conducted, the facts will speak for themselves, reports PTI. Referring to a report on a web portal on "unjust enrichment of the extended Gandhi family", Jaitley said while conventionally many may have relied on straightway corruption through bribery, a new methodology has now been established. "Wheeler-dealers and fly-by-night operators give you the privilege of 'sweetheart deals'. With very little investment, windfall profits are thrust on a few privileged ones to enable them to create a capital. " 'Political equity' results in buying goodwill. It enables you to influence decisions," said Jaitley who heads the BJP's publicity committee for the ensuing general elections.

Delhi: Bihar Mahagathbandhan leaders meeting underway at senior Congress leader KC Venugopal's residence

— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2019

Meerut: Congress General Secretary for UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra meets Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar who is undergoing treatment at a hospital. pic.twitter.com/e4QPUJolzW

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 13, 2019

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Wednesday met Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad at a hospital where the Dalit leader was admitted a day earlier. Chandrashekhar Azad was taken into custody by police on Tuesday for violating the model code of conduct, officials were quoted as saying by PTI.

While talking to reporters after the meeting, Priyanka said that this was just a solidarity visit and need not be politicised. She said she understands the struggle of Dalit leader. 

Azad was detained while leading a procession that included cars and motorcycles, but was shifted to the hospital when he took ill. The code violation was allegedly over the number of vehicles in the political rally.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has given Priyanka Gandhi the charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing a rally at Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi said that today, the government in Tamil Nadu is controlled by Prime Minister's Office. Hitting out at the PM, the Congress chief said Modi feels he can capture any Indian institution, control any state by blackmail, pressure states from Delhi.

LIVE: Congress President @RahulGandhi addresses public meeting in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. #VanakkamRahulGandhi https://t.co/0hd73f49qu

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 13, 2019

INC COMMUNIQUE

Press release by @rssurjewala, I/C, AICC Communications, on failures of Modi government. pic.twitter.com/q4YXQVTwUE

— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) March 13, 2019

Congress President Rahul Gandhi is addressing a press conference now.

#WATCH Rahul Gandhi on #PulwamaAttack: The architect is a man called Masood Azhar, released by the BJP - sent to Pakistan and sent to Kandahar by the BJP. National Security Advisor was involved in that deal. So the BJP needs to explain exactly why they sent that criminal back. pic.twitter.com/HpicTlwUH1

— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2019

Congress President Rahul Gandhi will formally launch the party's poll campaign in Kerala on Thursday when he will address a huge rally of workers at Kozhikode on March 14, reports PTI. Gandhi will arrive in Thiruvananthapuram this evening after his programmes in Nagercoil and Kanyakumari in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

He has no official programmes in the state Wednesday and after reaching here, would board a special flight to Kochi and spend the night at a guest house in Thrissur, KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran said.

The Congress chief would attend a series of programmes on March 14, beginning with the "fishermen's parliament" at Triprayar in Thrissur.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the UPA will reserve 33 per cent seats for women in government jobs if voted to power in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Reiterating his support to the long-standing issue of Women’s Reservation Bill, Gandhi told reporters in Chennai, “Not just in Parliament and state legislatures, Congress will reserve 33 per cent of all posts and vacancies for women in central govt, central govt organisations and CPSUs. We also want to increase the expenditure on education (in the budget) and are discussing with the manifesto committee to make it 6 per cent.”

The Congress announcement comes days after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that his party, the Biju Janata Dal, would allocate 33 per cent of its Lok Sabha tickets to women. READ MORE

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deleting_message

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday made another attempt to form an alliance with the Congress, this time in Haryana. He said the two parties along with Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) can win all 10 seats in the state if they come together. The state goes to polls in one phase on May 12. Read More

"The new facts which have come to the fore clearly establish a relationship between Rahul Gandhi and arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. Hence, the nation has come to a conclusion, that Rahul Gandhi's intervention in the defence preparedness of our country stems from his pursuit not only of individual politics but his personal commercial interests, his personal family interests," Irani said.

"It's Rahul Gandhi who is hiding behind Robert Vadra now, saale sahab khud janata ko bataein ki raksha saudon mein unki(RG) itni ruchi kyun hain,vo bataein ki kya desh ki suraksha ko chand rupayon ke liye,land ke liye,Rahul Gandhi ne kya shaheed karne ka prayas kiya? In connection with Rafale files, involvement of Sanjay Bhandari has been found in how documents are stolen from Defence Dept & info is provided to defence contractors. Relation b/w Sanjay Bhandari&Robert Vadra were established in relation to benami properties in London," Irani added.

Smriti Irani said, "Reports have suggested that HL Pahwa was suitably financed and supported by CC Tahmpi. Investigation have found money trail between CC Thampi and HL Pawa amounting to Rs 54 crore. CC Thampi is a name that figures in the probe with regard to not only a petroleum deal under UPA but also financial violation with regard to land transaction in Delhi NCR amounting to Rs 280 crore. A relationship between CC Thampi and arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari is publicly known. Sanjay Bhandari, an arms dealer with close links to Robert Vadra is also under investigation for defence deals and his desperate desire to be a party to the ill-gotten fruits of corruption during UPA regime."

When @RahulGandhi broke protocol to greet the students of Stella Maris College. #VanakkamRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/Yov7PYbj65

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 13, 2019

"He is the leader of the future" - students from Stella Maris College after their interaction with Congress President @RahulGandhi #VanakkamRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/reuWnhvo2V

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 13, 2019

Meanwhile, BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior Wednesday.

??????, ????? ???????? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ?????? ???? https://t.co/RyQuycapHO

— Office of Shivraj (@OfficeofSSC) March 13, 2019

Rahul Gandhi also said, "Not just in Parliament and state legislatures, Congress will reserve 33% of all posts/vacancies for women in central govt, central govt organisations and CPSUs."

Smriti Irani said, "In the past 24 hours, the facts that have come out in news, indicates how Gandhi-Vadra family has described "parivarik brashtachar".

Talking about the education sector, the Congress president said, "NEET issue is resolvable. It is something that is discriminatory towards the state (Tamil Nadu). We want to increase the expenditure on education (in the budget). We are discussing with the manifesto committee to make it 6 per cent."

Rahul Gandhi on the case related to the assassination of his father Rajiv Gandhi: The personal issue we have dealt with. The legal issue needs to take its course. It is for the court to decide. We don't have any animosity towards anybody.

On the question about who is the PM face from the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi said, "Who will be the Prime Minister (from the opposition) is for the people to decide. It is very arrogant for us to talk about it. The entire opposition is united in defeating PM Modi, BJP and RSS."

Talking about the Rafale deal, Rahul Gandhi said, "We do not think there are questions about the capability of the Rafale aircraft. The only question we are raising is about Narendra Modi and Anil Ambani. There should be an investigation, the people should be punished."

Meanwhile, BJP leader Smriti Irani is addressing a press conference in New Delhi. Watch below:

LIVE : Smt. @smritiirani is addressing a press conference at BJP HQ. https://t.co/E0JsUEZreL

— BJP (@BJP4India) March 13, 2019

Rahul Gandhi said, "This country is not going to be ruled from Nagpur. After 2019, there will be nobody in India below the minimum income line. This is a revolutionary idea that we are studying. BJP differentiates between states where they are in power and where they are not. That's anti-national. The BJP does not see all states similarly. I believe in decentralisation. I don't think the country should be run from the PMO. I also don't believe that a state should be run from the CM's office. I believe in the powers of all offices, including panchayats."

Rahul Gandhi said, "45 people were killed in the Pulwama Attack. The question is what did the govt do to protect these 45 people? BJP needs to explain why they sent Masood Azhar back to Pakistan."

Rahul Gandhi said, "The job creators are under attack. Mr Modi has attacked them through demonetisation and GST. We will give access to SMSEs, will make entrepreneurship easy and simple." "Everyone believes that Narendra Modi is a flop show when it comes to job creation and employment," he added.

Addressing a press conference in Chennai, Rahul Gandhi said, "Alliances in a number of states are firmed up. Bihar is almost concluded. People who don't have alliances are the BJP. The first thing our government will do is to bring back harmony in the nation. Culture should not be under attack, languages should not be under attack. India belongs to everybody."

Ravi Shakar Prasad also said, "We've requested EC to take action against Rahul Gandhi for levelling unverified allegations against PM yesterday in Ahmedabad, when the Model Code of Conduct is already in effect."

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad after BJP delegation meeting with Election Commission in Delhi today: We've requested EC to take action against Rahul Gandhi for levelling unverified allegations against PM y'day in Ahmedabad, when the Model Code of Conduct is already in effect. pic.twitter.com/aCiM0aOgUI

— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2019

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is holding a press conference in Chennai. Follow this space for LIVE updates

After BJP delegation meeting with Election Commission in Delhi on Wednesday, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "We have demanded that the state of West Bengal should be declared as super-sensitive state. We've also demanded that central forces should be deployed at all polling booths."

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad after BJP delegation meeting with Election Commission in Delhi today: We have demanded that the state of West Bengal should be declared as super-sensitive state. We've also demanded that central forces should be deployed at all polling booths. pic.twitter.com/PQSp60dIQl

— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2019

BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj on his letter to Mahendra Nath Pandey,UP BJP Chief:I haven't given any warning to the party. I was&I am with the party. There's no if or but, I know I'll get the ticket from Unnao. In case,I don't get it then I'll campaign for party for #LokSabhaElection2019 pic.twitter.com/q8yH7xCH5F

— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2019

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Wednesday said the government has every right to investigate his brother-in-law Robert Vadra and the law must not be selectively applied. The Congress president made the remarks during an interaction with students from Stella Maris College in Chennai. “What about him (Vadra)? The government has the right to investigate anyone. The law must apply to everybody and not be applied selectively,” Gandhi said in response to a question on why he did not mention Vadra while speaking on Nirav Modi, an accused in the PNB fraud case. Read full copy here

Rahul Gandhi said, When we came to power in 2004, policies of Vajpayee govt had set fire in J&K. We decided to fight terrorism strategically. Firstly, we isolated Pakistan all over the world and then we engaged with the population of J&K. The moment Mr. Modi came to power, he made a mistake of forming alliance with PDP. Today, his policies are actually setting fire to J&K. His policies are pushing people away and allow Pakistan to carry out terrorism in India."

The moment Mr. Modi came to power, he made a mistake of forming alliance with PDP. Today, his policies are actually setting fire to J&K. His policies are pushing people away and allow Pakistan to carry out terrorism in India: CP @RahulGandhi #VanakkamRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/sWXzirHBOK

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 13, 2019

Meanwhile, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor sought blessing at Karamana Muthumariamman Temple in Thiruvananthapuram ahead of election campaigns. "Enjoyed the festivities and hummed to the nadaswaram at the Karamana Muthumariamman Temple, on the day of its pongala. A million such small temples pocket Ananthapuri's neighbourhoods and nurse the faith of her residents. Wonderful!"

Enjoyed the festivities and hummed to the nadaswaram at the Karamana Muthumariamman Temple, on the day of its pongala. A million such small temples pocket Ananthapuri's neighbourhoods and nurse the faith of her residents. Wonderful! pic.twitter.com/cPV35O8Z4c

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 13, 2019

The occasional diversion enlivens the campaign trail! pic.twitter.com/eEOAvxkp11

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) March 13, 2019

Rahul Gandhi said, "South India is significantly better than North India in the way women are treated. Tamil Nadu is one of the leaders in how it treats its women. However, there is still a lot of improvement required in TN as well."

Tamil Nadu: Congress President Rahul Gandhi being felicitated at Stella Maris College in Chennai where he interacted with students today. pic.twitter.com/Mh5elZrpxW

— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2019

Senior Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee leaders are to meet tomorrow to decide on seats for allies in the state and several other issues related to upcoming Lok Sabha polls. — ANI

Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP Chief BS Yeddyurappa confirmed that Dr Umesh Jadhav will contest elections from Kalaburagi against Mallikarjun Kharge. "Final decision will be taken by the High Command," said Yeddyurappa.

We are convinced that India is spending very little money on education. We will increase the allocation to education to 6%: CP @RahulGandhi #VanakkamRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/repCZf6EkH

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 13, 2019

Rahul Gandhi asked the students of Stella Maris College: "How many times have you seen the Prime Minister of India standing in the middle of 3000 women like this? How many times have you seen him standing here like this being open to any question from anybody?

"How many of you have had the opportunity to ask him 'Mr Prime Minister what do you think about education? What do you think about this? What do you think about that?' Why doesn't Prime Minister have the guts to stand in front of 3000 women and be questioned by them?" he asked.

On being questioned about Robert Vadra, Rahul Gandhi said, "Govt has every right to investigate every person. Law must apply to everybody, not be applied selectively. PM has his name in govt documents that say he is directly responsible for negotiating parallelly with Dassault on Rafale. Investigate everybody, be it Mr Vadra or PM."

R Gandhi: Govt has every right to investigate every person. Law should apply to everybody equally,not selectively. PM has his name in govt documents that say he is directly responsible for negotiating parallelly with Dassault on Rafale. Investigate everybody, be it Mr Vadra or PM pic.twitter.com/oa4lRWwY9V

— ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2019

Rahul Gandhi said, "Congress will change the mood of the country, make people feel happy and empowered" On being asked what he learnt from his mother Sonia Gandhi, Gandhi said his mother taught him humility and love.

You can't have a fearful atmosphere and expect economic growth, which is directly related to the mood of the country: Rahul Gandhi to Chennai students.

Rahul Gandhi at Stella Maris College, Chennai: There is currently an ideological battle going in India. It's sharply divided between two ideologies. One ideology is a unifying ideology which says that all people of the country should live together and shouldn't be dominated by one idea. The other ideology represented by the current govt and PM where they believe that one idea should be imposed on our country. They have a particular view about the role of women in our society, different languages and cultures are inferior to one centralising culture and idea."

Rahul Gandhi said, "Will push for 33 per cent women's reservation. Don't see enough women in leadership positions, cannot have women in power in India until attitude towards women changes."

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, in a reply to Prime Minister narendra Modi's appeal, said he was happy that PM Modi is also appealing to the 'mahagathbandhan' for 'mahaparivartan'.

??? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ?? #MahaGathbandhan ?? #MahaParivartan ?? ???? ?? ??? ???? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? https://t.co/8BsWOdClud

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) March 13, 2019

Krishna & her classical dance group from Stella Maris College can't wait to welcome Congress President @RahulGandhi with a traditional dance. #VanakkamRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/UXdBEZalV9

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 13, 2019

Congress president Rahul Gandhi interacts with students of Stella Maris Women’s College in Chennai

LIVE: Congress President @RahulGandhi interacts with students at Chennai. #VanakkamRahulGandhi https://t.co/qB0MUXETYG

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 13, 2019

YSRCP Party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is all set to start his election campaign through “Bus Yatra” from March 16, 2019 at 10:26 in the morning from Idupulapaya. Reddy will pay tributes to his father Late YS Rajasekhar Reddy and start the “Bus Yatra” with his blessings. As the process of joinings is still in process, Jagan decided to announce the list of the candidates on the same day from Idupulapaya.

Watch what the students of Stella Maris College have to say about Congress President @RahulGandhi. They're thrilled to welcome him to this morning & can't wait to start an engaging conversation. #VanakkamRahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/X9voTszdMW

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 13, 2019

Less than a month away from polls, Kakinada MP Thota Narasimham switched sides from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party. His wife Thota Vani also joined YSRCP, news portal Sakshi Post reported. Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections will take place simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. The state goes to polls on April 11. Read More