Lok Sabha elections 2019 HIGHLIGHTS: With less than a week to the first phase of voting for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, all political parties have mounted a major campaign across India. Campaigning for the BJP in Odisha’s Sonepur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the Congress government on their Minimum guaranteed income scheme and said, ” Congress has planned to implement a policy that will lead to inflation.”
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Addressing a public meeting in Maharashtra’s Nanded, he compared the Congress to Titanic saying that like the ship the grand old party sank a little every day. In his address in Chhattisgarh, Modi slammed the Congress manifesto over AFSPA, alleging that they wanted to remove a “security shield” that “allows jawans to work without fear.”
Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his address at a rally in Srinagar, Uttarakhand said, “He (Modi) didn’t think for a moment when he took your money to give it to the likes of Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Anil Ambani. And now, when it has come to paying some money to the poorest as an income support, he is asking where will the money come from,” the Congress president said.
Earlier today, the TDP released its manifesto, N Chandrababu Naidu said his that if voted back to power his government would be giving out Rs 2 lakh to each family every year. The party also promised free higher education and a Rs 25 lakh grant for overseas education while every woman would be given Rs 15,000 a year for sending her children to school.
YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy also released their manifesto, Reddy promised 20 lakh houses for the poor in the next five years. Reddy also took a dig at the TDP government and said that its manifesto is just a document to fool people. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is expected to release its manifesto shortly.
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Stay tuned as we bring you the latest election news from across the country as the day progresses and some analysis of the events. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases, between April 11 and May 19. The results will be declared on May 23. Read less
Two days before top leaders of the BSP, the SP and the RLD are set to launch their joint campaign in Uttar Pradesh from Deoband in Saharanpur district, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked people of western UP to remember the “atrocities” committed against them and the “injustice” against their daughters during the 2013 Muzaffaranagar riots.
Priyanka was canvassing for Congress candidate Dolly Sharma.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the “Congress was fighting to weaken” the country’s army, and to give a “free hand to terrorists and separatists.” Speaking in Chhattisgarh’s Balod while addressing a BJP campaign rally, Modi emphasised the party slogan of a “majboot” government and accused the Congress of corruption.
Congress only works in the interests of its vote bank. They and their allies use caste and religion of the voters as political tools for their own greed. Congress and its allies want two PMs, one in Delhi, another in Jammu and Kashmir. To garner votes during Assembly polls in Karnataka what they did with the Lingayat community no one can forget: PM Modi in Nanded Maharashtra
The ruling Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh Saturday released its manifesto for the general elections promising doles to the tune of Rs 2 lakh to each family every year, with the monetary benefits starting from womb to tomb. Releasing his party manifesto, TDP president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said while Congress chief Rahul Gandhi promised Rs 72,000 per annum to each poor family, his government, if voted back to power, would be giving out Rs 2 lakh to each family every year.
The Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are being held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh which goes to the polls in the first phase on April 11.
Samajwadi Party candidate and sitting MP Dimple Yadav Saturday filed her nomination papers for Kannauj Lok Sabha seat in the presence of her husband and former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and BSP general secretary Satish Misra. Dimple Yadav, a two-time lawmaker from Kannauj, who has represented the Lok Sabha seat since 2012 when it was vacated by her husband after he became the chief minister, claimed that the victory margin will be "bigger" this time with the SP and the BSP entering into an alliance for the polls. (PTI)
Stung by the Election Commission’s latest order to transfer four West Bengal senior police officers ahead of the elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday wrote to the poll watchdog over its “biased” decision and accused it of acting “at the behest of the BJP”. “I strongly feel that the EC plays a neutral role to save democracy in India. But, it is very unfortunate that I have to write this letter today to raise strong protest against the transfer order dated April 5, 2019 issued by the EC by way of removing four senior officers from their existing positions,” Banerjee wrote in her letter, a copy of which was shared by news agency PTI.
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Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi Saturday discussed the issue of alliance with Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi with senior party leaders from the city. Delhi Congress president and former chief minister Sheila Dikshit, All India Congress Committee General Secretary and in-charge of the party’s national capital unit P C Chacko and some other senior leaders were present at the meeting held in Gandhi’s residence, a source said. The meeting comes days after the Congress decided to go it alone in Delhi and not have any alliances with the ruling AAP. Read more here
This is the battle of 2 ideologies, where on side is BJP-RSS who want to divide the nation, and on the other is the ideology of Congress, which believes that everyone should be treated with fairness. Aadivasis, Dalits and minorities are beaten and oppressed. This country belongs to everyone, and everyone has the right to live peacefully. Hindu Dharma doesn't teach us about hatred: Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Haridwar, Uttarakhand
In his election campaign rally in Balod, Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at Congress. He called AFSPA a "raksha kavach" (armour) of security forces and slammed Congress for their promise to review it. (PTI)
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said the concept of NYAY comes with the intention of eradicating poverty in the 21st century. It is a surgical strike on poverty.
When govt is strong, the country doesn't sit quiet after a terror attack. There are surgical and air strike when government is strong, the world listens to us. PM Modi at a rally in Balod, Chhattisgarh. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said that while the “chowkidar” has demonstrated courage to hit terrorist safe havens inside Pakistan, the Congress wants to dilute the powers of the armed forces. The prime minister has on several occasion said he’s the chowkidar (watchman) of the country and serves to protect its best interests.
“The chowkidar is fighting terrorists, while the Congress is working to dilute the powers of the armed forces,” he said at a rally in tribal-dominated Sundargarh, referring to the party’s plan to review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. “There were governments in the past too, but they could never think of undertaking surgical strikes. They did not have the courage to cross the border by aircraft and kill terrorists,” the prime minister said. Read more here
The Congress is trying to protect people who shelter terrorists and Maoists, he alleged.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Saturday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for calling the party a ‘virus’. “We met ECI to file a complaint in regards to claims made by UP CM and by Delhi MLA MS Sirsa. They called us terrorists, virus and all kind of things. BJP troll army is behind it. We have asked EC to file FIR, they are going to look into the matter and immediately respond to us,” IUML national secretary Khorram Anis Omer was quoted as saying by ANI.
On Friday, Adityanath, in an indirect reference to the green flags of IUML, made a comparison with pre-Independence Muslim League and alleged that the Muslim League had once led to Partition of the country. Read more here
Regressive forces have systematically dismantled our institutions. The current government has undermined the welfare architecture that was laid down over the last 65 years. We need to reclaim our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights and secure the life of dignity and security for our people: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi
Regressive forces have systematically dismantled our institutions. The current government has undermined the welfare architecture that was laid down over the last 65 years. We need to reclaim our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights and secure the life of dignity and security for our people: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi
Today we are being taught a new definition of patriotism. Those who do not accept diversity are being called patriots: Sonia Gandhi in Delhi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Saturday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "liar" and accused the BJP of trying to turn legal citizens of the country into foreigners in the name of NRC and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
"The BJP has to be defeated in order to save the people of this country. The TMC will lead the formation of the new government at the centre," she said addressing a public rally at Barobisha area of Alipurduar district. "Prime Minister Modi is a liar. He has been blabbering lies in the last five years. He has not fulfilled a single promises he made in 2014," she said.
"The NRC and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill are another ploy to turn legal citizens of this country into refugees," the fiesty TMC supremo added. (PTI)
All educational institutions in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar district will remain closed from April 9 to 11, officials said Saturday. Due to poll-related arrangements that are needed to be made, the educational institutions have been ordered to be shut, District Magistrate Ajay Shanker Pandey told reporters. Muzaffarnagar will vote in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 11. (PTI)
Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu releases Telugu Desam Party manifesto. During the press meeting he said, "Manifestos have become a farce nowadays. Some parties claim that they'll do many things, they don't even know intricacies. But we have clear vision. We have fulfilled many promises, more than the said ones." (ANI)
The first vote for the Lok Sabha elections 2019 has been cast from Arunachal Pradesh by DIG Sudhakar Natarajan, head of ATS Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Service voters cast their votes from 10 am Friday, five days before the first phase of the elections due on April 11.
A remote Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) unit located in the eastern tip of the North East, started the service voting by secret postal ballot on 5/4/19 at 1000 hrs at Lohitpur, Arunachal Pradesh, more than 2600 km away from Delhi. DIG Sudhakar Natarajan, the head of ATS ITBP, cast the first vote from Animal Training School (ATC) ITBP Lohitpur to many constituencies in India. Read More
Once our govt is formed in the state and the centre, Odisha will be recognized for tourism instead of migration of masses
Attacking Congress for its Minimum gurantee income for the poor, Modi said, "Congress has planned to implement policy that will lead to inflation."
"Generation after generations the Congress was able to give only slogans for the eradication of poverty. People got poorer and their ministers got richer,"said PM Modi
"This election is not about selecting a party or a leader, this election is about securing your development, your future and your interest, "he added.
"BJD and Congress find vote bank among the poor, it has obstructed the development. I say remove Congress, poverty will be eradicated," says PM Modi in Sonepur.
Addressing his second rally for the day in Sonepur, Odisha, Prime Minister Modi said there is a wave of change in Odisha and this Chowkidaar will bring that change. "I will work for the development of Odisha, I will fulfill the trust of people in me."
"Odisha's trust in BJP grew since we have developed railway lines for Odisha, when we gave free electricity connection to 24 lakh people in every region of Odisha, "he added.
After joining the Congress, Shatrughan Sinha confirmed that he will contest from Patna Sahib.
Shatrughan Sinha joining Congress said, "there was no progress in BJP, the only change or progress that happened in the party was the rise of dictatorship."
"BJP has kicked out all the good people with humble intention from the PARTY. Taking examples he named LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and Arun Shourie,
"Everyone is scared of Modiji in the BJP Party. Even the MPs are scared of the prime minister. There was no development in secularism or in the actions of the saffron party," Sinha added saying that he is happy to join Congress.
Veteran actor, Shatrughan Sinha on Saturday joined Congress. Sinha is a two-term BJP Lok Sabha member from Patna Sahib Singh but was been dropped by the saffron party which has chosen to field union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from the seat.
Sinha has been openly critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, "Sinha is a brilliant leader and unfortunately he was part of the wrong party."
Calling BJP govt's intension evil and doubtful, Modi said: "The BJD govt has obstructed the implementation of financial assistance to farmers, free treatment to the poor under Ayushman yojana."
Assuring to work for the welfare of poor and the marginalised, Modi said, "We have well-thought policies and have good intentions. Because of this we have worked for the welfare of the poor, the deprived and the marginalized people of the society."
In Jharkhand, the development has reached every corner. Now, they don't have to migrate to other states. They have options to earn livelihood in their state. This is what happens when you have same govt in the state and the centre, says PM Modi
Attacking the BJD government, Modi said, "If BJD had good intentions, no poor would have left untreated. BJD would have utilised the Ayushman Bharat policy properly. "Calling BJD a lazy govt, Modi added, "BJD corrupted the money it received from the central government.
Calling BJP the largest democratic political party in the country, PM Modi said, "today, BJP has govt in all four corners of the country. People have embraced the BJP and it's in their heart. "
"People from all section of the society are becoming part of the BJP, we are now a strong option to Congress and other parties which were formed from within Congress in Odisha," he adds.
Speaking to the people of Sundarnagar, Modi said, "We are not family based, nor are we based on money. Some Parties are made of money. But BJP workers are made of sweat."
"In Kerala and West Bengal, our karyakartas are killed every now and then. However, it doesn't deter BJP karyakartas, "he adds.
Addressing a Rally in Odisha's Sundar Nagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "no prime minister has come to Sundarnagar yet. Even today, I have not come as a Prime Minister but as your supreme servant who is available to hear you and work for your development. "
The party offers to give state police weekly off. Rs 5 Lakh assistance to kin of deceased Muslim
Meanwhile, BJP chief Amit Shah holds a roadshow in his constituency Gandhinagar, Gujarat. See Pictures.
Express Photo by Javed Raja
YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday released its manifesto for Lok Sabha elections 2019. On the occasion of Ugadi, Reddy promised 20 lakh houses for the poor in the next five years. He also banned alcohol in three phases and said it will be allowed only in five-star hotels.
Addressing a presser in YSRCP office, Jagan Mohan Reddy mocked the TDP government and its 2014 manifesto saying its nowhere to be found, not even on their website. He said, " its nothing but a document to fool people"
Addressing a presser in YSRCP office, Jagan Mohan Reddy mocked the TDP government and its 2014 manifesto saying its nowhere to be found, not even on their website. He said, " its nothing but a document to fool people."
On BJP's Foundation Day, party president Amit Shah is set to lead a massive roadshow from Vanzar village of Gandhinagar from where he is contesting Lok Sabha elections.
Express Photo by Parimal Dhabi
Ahead of the 17th Lok Sabha elections, DMK chief MK Stalin on Saturday said that he has campaigned across 30 parliamentary constituencies and observed that the public is wanting a change both at centre and in Tamil Nadu.
With barely a week to elections in Andhra Pradesh, both parties TDP and YSRCP waited to release their manifestos on the occasion of Ugadi. There cannot be two contrasting personalities than Chandrababu Naidu of the TDP and Jagan Mohan Reddy of the YSR Congress Party.
Chandrababu Naidu is known to be efficient, with enormous attention to detail, a micro-manager, an e-governance enthusiast and tech-friendly. He is called the CEO of Andhra Pradesh, and he is partial to this narrative, a technocrat running the state.
Meanwhile, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s public persona and discourse are always about the farmers and the poor. Though tech-savvy, his speeches or his rhetoric has no place for tech-inspired utopias. It is very much grounded in farmers, students and unemployed youth. Read More
BJP president Amit Shah, who is contesting election from Gujarat's Gandhinagar will address rallies in Ahmedabad and Sabarmati today.
The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is celebrating its 39th foundation day Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday greeted and thanked the BJP family saying the party has become India’s preferred party. “39 years ago on this day, BJP was born with an unwavering commitment to serve society and take the nation to new heights. Thanks to the efforts of our Karyakartas, BJP has become India’s preferred party. Greetings to the BJP family on the Party’s Foundation Day,” the Prime Minister tweeted.