PM Modi being welcomed by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in Latur, Maharashtra. (Photo: Shiv Sena)
Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Highlights: Ahead of the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections Thursday, leaders across political lines have stepped up their efforts to garner votes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed rallies in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. In his rally in Latur, PM Modi slammed the Congress for ‘taking away’ Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s voting rights over two decades ago. Modi referred to Uddhav Thackeray, son of late Bal Thackeray, as his “younger brother”. He also lauded the Sena founder for not occupying the chief minister’s post and not
propping Uddhav in that post either.
In Coimbatore, the PM said “we were, are, and will always remain nationalists”. In Karnataka, the Prime Minister hit out at the Congress-JD(S) government, asking if their vote bank is India or Pakistan. Modi also addressed a public rally in Maharashtra’s Latur where he said Congress was responsible for the creation of Pakistan adding that ‘Congress manifesto and Pakistan speak the same language on Kashmir related issues.”
On the other hand, Congress president Rahul Gandhi held public meetings in Assam’s Hailakandi and Bihar’s Gaya district, where he took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he is “not only a thief but also a coward” who avoids having a direct debate. Party’s General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also held a road-show from Delhi-Saharanpur-Delhi.
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In an interview with news agency ANI, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said veteran BJP leader LK Advani was briefed on surgical strikes and the air strike on Balakot as he had first initiated ‘hot pursuit’ strategy. “Advani ji is very alert. He already knows everything,” he said. Meanwhile, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath hit out at the opposition, saying if they have “faith in Ali, we have faith in Bajrangbali”.
Barring Nizamabad and few places in Telangana, campaigning by political parties for the first phase of April 11 Lok Sabha polls came to an end today. Campaigning in Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency, where 185 candidates are in the fray, and 13 extremists-affected assembly seats covering five districts also ended today.
Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Live: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, display copies of election manifesto ‘Sankalp Patra’. (Express Photo by Neeraj Priyadarshi)
Dantewada Naxal attack: Election Commission said polling will go as scheduled in the Bastar constituency Thursday. Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh has taken an immediate Video Conference meeting of collectors & SPs of the affected districts covering Phase 1 and phase 2 in Chhattisgarh, & instructed them to take utmost precautions over the next few days
PM Modi in Coimbatore to first-time voters of 21st century: "Just like people devote their first salary for something pure and memorable, I urge you all to devote your first vote for a higher cause, for a better future of the nation, to strengthen the hands of all nationalists."
PM Narendra Modi in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: We were nationalist, we are nationalist, and we will remain nationalist: ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresed a rally in Coimbatore Tuesday. "Your own city saw a deadly terror attack in Feb 1998. Weak manner in which Congress in Centre & DMK in TN acted, is known to you. Today's India is different. Anyone who dares to attack India, will get a strong response. We'll pay back in the same coin & with compound interest," he said. Chief Minister and AIADMK leader E Palanisamy was also present at the rally.
Addressing a rally in Coimbatore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Tamil Nadu is with development oriented NDA, not the Mahamilawat."
In the first phase of the polls scheduled on April 11, people can vote between 7 am to 6 pm. However, in left-wing extremism (LWE) affected areas and North East states the timings may vary from 7 am-5 pm/ 7 am-4 pm / 7 am-3 pm.
Polling will be held in 91 out of 543 Lok Sabha constituencies spread over 20 states & UTs in the first phase.
The acerbic campaigning for the high stakes simultaneous April 11 elections to the Lok Sabha and the state Assembly ended in Andhra Pradesh Tuesday.
The fortnight-long electioneering had been anything but decent, with top leaders of the main contesting parties
TDP and YSR Congress often hurling the choicest expletives at each other.
Elections for all 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats will be held simultaneously in one go from 7 AM to 6 PM on
April 11.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an election rally Tuesday. Addressing a public meeting in Gaya, Bihar, Gandhi said the prime minister gave money to the rich, but he will give money to the poor. Gandhi said he will give 'nyay' to the poor in the country.
Visuals from Maoist attack on BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi. The MLA was returning from campaigning when the convoy came under attack
Poor do not hire chowkidar, it's a luxury only the wealthy have, Congress president Rahul Gandhi tells Bihar rally.
Addressing a rally in Mysuru, Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi "It's our resolution that in 2030, India will be in top three economies of the world. Our resolution is to develop the new infrastructure of new India. Our resolution is to double the numbers of functional airport in next 5 years."
Union Minister and Nagpur Lok Sabha candidate Nitin Gadkari: "I am 100% confident of winning, in fact I feel the margin will be even bigger this time."
KM Mani, widely considered the doyen of modern Kerala politics who led the most popular faction of the Kerala Congress in the state, passed away at the age of 86 at a private hospital in Kochi on Tuesday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday asked the first-time voters to dedicate their first vote to the Indian Air Force team that carried out the air strike in Pakistan’s Balakot and also to the CRPF personnel killed in the Pulwama terror attack. The PM, speaking at a rally in Latur of Maharashtra, said, “Can your first vote be dedicated to those who carried out the air strike in Balakot?”
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Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said the 'chowkidar' (watchman) is not only a "thief", but also a "coward" as he avoids having a direct debate with the opposition party chief.
Launching a volley of criticism, Gandhi said Modi and his schemes "benefited" only the rich businessmen like Anil
Ambani, Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi in the last five years.
"Chowkidar is not only chor, but also a coward. I told the Chowkidar to debate with me as he talks about corruption. He does not have the guts and fled away," the Congress president said at a public rally in Assam earlier today.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi addresses rally in Gaya, Bihar
Union minister Smriti Irani Tuesday attacked the Congress, alleging that the party can ally with anybody for the sake of power. Irani, who is the BJP's candidate for the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, is making a second attempt to wrest the seat from Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
In the 2014 polls, Gandhi had defeated Irani by a margin of one lakh votes. This time, besides his stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress chief is fighting the Lok Sabha elections from Wayanad, in Kerala.
"The Congress can hold anyone's hand for power. In Jammu and Kashmir, it joined those who talked of separating Kashmir from India," Irani said addressing a gathering here.
West Bengal: Election Commission of India has transferred Abhishek Gupta from the post of Superintendent of Police of Cooch Behar and has posted Amit Kumar Singh in his place: ANI
Seeking to set the record straight on the prime ministerial "ambitions" attributed to him by certain sections, Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari has said the saffron party would secure a majority in the Lok Sabha polls starting April 11 and Narendra Modi would become the prime minister once again.
The Minister for Road, Transport and Highways told PTI in an interview that in a democracy, the prime minister decides on allotment of portfolios.
"It is the right and privilege of the prime minister to give a department to a minister. I am confident that we will get a majority and Modiji will become the prime minister again," Gadkari said, replying to a query on whether he was harbouring prime ministerial ambitions if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was voted to power once again.
Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy: Modi wakes up every morning, applies makeup or wax to get a shine on his face and sits in front of cameras. But we take bath once in the morning and wash our face only the next day. Our faces don’t look good on cameras. That’s why even media shows only Modi: ANI
Addressing a rally in Meerut, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said: "Agar Congress, SP, BSP ko 'Ali' par vishwaas hai toh humein bhi 'Bajrangbali' par vishwaas hai. (If Congress, BSP, SP have faith in 'Ali', we have faith in 'Bajrangbali')
Mathura MP Hema Malini during the campaigning Tuesday (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)
Mathura MP Hema Malini during the campaigning Tuesday (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)
Mathura MP Hema Malini during the campaigning Tuesday (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)
Mathura MP Hema Malini during the campaigning Tuesday (Express photo by Gajendra Yadav)
Amit Shah addresses rally in Nagpur, Maharashtra
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday accused PM Modi of urging people to vote by highlighting achievements of soldiers, adding that the army is not fiefdom of Modi and BJP
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's roadshow in Saharanpur
In a press conference Tuesday, TMC's Derek O'Brien said the party will go to the Election Commission tomorrow and will answer questions then. "Today doing a BJP style press conference, won’t take any questions," he said.
The party will be among the top three in the Lok Sabha elections. He said there will be more press conferences after May 23 when the results of the elections are announced.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to ANI on UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s ‘Modi ji ke sena’ remark: "Nikal gaya hoga moonh se, un ke moonh se nikal gaya hoga.... Kisi bhi system ka politicization nahi hona chahiye. Aur hum log kabhi uska politicization karne ka sochte bhi nahi hain. (Must be a slip of tongue. No system should be politicised. And we don't even think of politicising them (army)."
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra holds a road show in Saharanpur.
Addressing a rally in Chitradurga, Karnataka, PM Modi said: "We attacked terror in Pakistan, but some people in India felt the pain. The CM here went a step further, he said talk of the valour of our forces should not be done, it damages his vote bank. I want to ask him, is your vote bank in India or Pakistan?"
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on reports that he or Gadkari can be Prime Minister if BJP fails to get full majority: These are all imaginary situations; it is ‘khyali pulao’ and nothing else. We will get clear majority or even 2/3rd, the PM will be Modi ji, no doubt about that"
Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Mayawati’s statement ‘Muslim vote shouldn’t be divided, if they vote for Congress it will be divided‘: Very unfortunate, politics should not be done on basis of Hindu-Muslim.Politics should not be done on caste or creed or religion. Cant accept this in a healthy democracy
When asked if BJP veteran LK Advani was briefed on surgical strikes and air strike on Balakot as he had first initiated ‘hot pursuit’ strategy, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told ANI, "Advani ji is very alert. He already knows everything. He has been in politics for a long time and is our source of inspiration," adding that Advani's 'Hot pursuit' was a different strategy.
"Advani ji's 'hot pursuit' strategy would mean us directly attacking the Pakistan army, wherever we like in Pakistan. That would have left many citizens of the country dead. But we took precaution. There was a fidayeen attack at our CRPF personnel in Pulwama. So we decided to strike specific targets without attacking Pakistan’s sovereignty."
On allegations that BJP is a 'two-man team' and one-man show, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told news agency ANI: "These are all baseless comments. Of course the people who are party president and PM will be prominent, when I was party president and Modi ji was PM candidate then our names were taken, it is but natural"
Addressing a rally in Guntur, Chandrababu Naidu said, "The Election Commission has surrendered to Narendra Modi. 70 retired officers went to the President and told him that the EC is working for the PM." He also said, "I want to tell my brothers, I will provide jobs to those who have passed their intermediate. Will provide laptops to those in intermediate."
"I request everyone that this election is for the betterment of the people. If you vote this time for KCR, he will not provide drinking water to you. Behind, Jagan, there is the hand of Narendra Modi and KCR. Don't trust him. He lies to you. Did I do all the work looking at the caste or creed of the people? I promise to provide drinking water, bypass road, degree college, township, hospitals. I promise all this to you, the people of Guntur," he said.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to deal Pakistan such a blow that nothing remains of it to mess with India. Addressing a poll rally here with Modi, their first since the Shiv Sena and BJP announced their tie-up for the Lok Sabha polls, Thackeray also welcomed the BJP's manifesto. He said the promises made in the BJP manifesto was the reason the two ruling parties joined forces ahead of the polls.
Congress general Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is holding a roadshow in Bijnor.
Amit Shah also says, "Due to fear of Owaisi, KCR government no longer celebrates Liberation Day on 17th September. After being elected, KCR wasn't able to form his cabinet in the state for more than two months. What do you expect from such a person and party?"
Amit Shah says, "I pay my tributes to all those who sacrificed their lives for Telangana. I have travelled across India and I see huge support for Modi ji. The people of India have decided to make Modi ji PM again. PM Modi inaugurated Hyderabad Metro and gave Rs 16,000 crore for its development. UPA govt only gave Rs 16,500 crore to Telangana. But BJP led UPA govt gave whopping Rs 2.45 lakh crore for the development of Telangana."
Actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan of Jana Sena Party (JSP) in Palakollu said: "I set up this political party with many hurdles. Your love is my greatest asset. Like Jagan's father, my father is not a politician. None of my relatives are politicians. I come from a very small family. I understand all your problems. Naidu grew because of the party that was set by his father-in-law. Jagan became a politician because his father set up the party. But I set up this party alone without the help since I am one of you. I was told you only work for 'Kapus'. But I am not like that. I work for every caste, creed, religion. I work for every single person. I am not a person who is in politics for votes. As Kanshi Ram Ji Garu said, politicians use the caste of the people to get votes. But we want to work for every caste, every creed. I only see if we are together as 'humanity' and not on the basis of caste."
The prime minister reiterated his allegation that the opposition parties that they were questioning the valour of the security forces post last month's Pulwama terror attack. Modi also hailed the manifesto of the BJP, released in Delhi Monday, and said the party was committed to national security and farmers' welfare among others. "Your trust is my biggest accomplishment in last five years," Modi told the crowd. He also said his objective is to rid India of naxal and Maoist menace.
PM Modi accused the Congress and its ally NCP of standing with those who want a separate Prime Minister for Jammu and Kashmir. Modi was referring to National Conference leader Omar Abdullah's remark in this connection. Hitting out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar on the issue, Modi asked if it behoved the Maratha strongman to join forces with the parties holding such a view.
Pakistan would not have born had Congress leaders acted wisely in the pre-independence era, Modi said, as he stepped attack on the Grand Old Party. "Had Congress leaders acted wisely during the pre-independence era, this Pakistan would not have born," Modi said. Modi said the Congress party's manifesto speaks the same language as that of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday held Congress responsible for the creation of Pakistan. Addressing a poll rally at this town in Latur district of Maharashtra, Modi also appeared to be treading sensitive ground by asking first-time voters to dedicate their first vote to those who carried out air strike in Balakot. "Can your first vote be dedicated to those who carried out the air strike," Modi said, appealing to first-time voters.
PM Modi said, "The small pension received by the farmers after 60 years will act as bigger support for them. Congress and their supporters were never able to understand the ordeal of the farmers. Every village has 5-10 small shopkeepers and they are fearful what will happen at their old age. We have decided to give them pension as well."
PM Modi also said that killing terrorists by entering their den is New India's policy. "To kill terrorists right in their dens is the policy of New India."
Asserting that the Congress responsible for the creation of Pakistan, PM Modi said, "Congress manifesto, Pakistan speak the same language on Kashmir related issues."
Addressing a rally in Latur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Your blessings, trust gave me the strength to do big works. Your trust my biggest accomplishment in the last five years."
YSR Congress Party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy also said, "When anyone asks where is Jagan's home, people say it is in Tadepalli. But when someone asks where is Naidu's house, they say it's in Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills. You've heard lies in the past 5 years. The climax to all this will come on the day of voting. I request you all to tell every person in your neighbourhood, don't get betrayed by Naidu. Tell every person, don't get betrayed by Naidu's lies. Let's make 'anna' (Jagan) their chief minister and not to worry about expensive studies or anything. Let's support 'anna'."
Addressing the public in Mangalagiri, YSR Congress Party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy raised the issue of education and employment in the state, saying, "I want you to think once who betrayed the school children. Naidu said he will give a job to every household. But why did he betray?"
telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's son KT Rama Rao will hold an election rally in Telangana's Nalgonda around 11 am.
A day after BJP released its manifesto for Lok Sabha elections 2019, Congress president Rahul Gandhi called it “short-sighted and arrogant.” Taking it to Twitter, Gandhi said, “the manifesto was created in a closed room.” Meanwhile, hailing his own party’s manifesto, he tweeted: “The Congress manifesto was created through discussion. The voice of over a million Indian people it is wise and powerful. READ MORE
Between speeches and brainstorming sessions at the gathbandhan election office in Muzaffarnagar, a Samajwadi Party leader addresses a batch of women, the fourth for the day. The leader delivers the same, short five-minute speech focussing solely on one issue: the election symbol. In his speech, Israr Alvi, the SP district president of the minorities cell, says: “Please remember. The candidate here is Ajit Singh of the RLD. To vote for him, you must press the handpump button (RLD’s symbol). Think like this, the handpump gives water and that water will wash away the BJP. There will be no haathi (BSP’s symbol) or cycle (SP’s symbol). Please remember.” READ MORE
Barring Nizamabad and few places in Telangana, campaigning by political parties for the first phase of April 11 Lok Sabha polls will come to an end by 5 pm Tuesday. Campaigning in Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency, where 185 candidates are in the fray, will end at 6 pm and in 13 extremists-affected assembly seats covering five districts will end at 4 pm on Tuesday, Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar told a press conference Monday.
There will be prohibition on transmission of unauthorised bulk SMSs during the period of 48 hours ending with the hours fixed for conclusion of the election, he said. He also said there would be ban on sale of liquor till the polls are over.
"No person holds or attends, joins or addresses any public meeting or procession in connection with elections and displays to the public any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus is banned from the prescribed time," the CEO said.
The BJP is clearly nervous as eight constituencies in western UP, Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar go to the polls Thursday. There is a lot riding on the outcome. Three Central ministers, General V K Singh, Mahesh Sharma and Satyapal Singh, and one former minister, Sanjeev Balyan, are fighting to retain their seats. Farmer leader Chaudhary Charan Singh’s son Ajit Singh and his grandson Jayant Chaudhary are battling equally fiercely to keep alive the legacy of the family’s leadership of the Jats. Read More