Prime Minister Narendra Modi dismissed "claims by pundits and planted reports from Delhi" that there is no "Modi wave" in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections as was the case in 2014 polls. The wave is coming out from each home, he said, addressing an election rally in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam.
BJP President Amit Shah Monday was denied permission to address a rally in West Bengal's Jadavpur. While addressing a rally in Joy Nagar, he challenged State chief minister Mamata Banerjee to arrest him for saying 'Jai Sri Ram.' " Mamata Didi says that no one can say Jai Sriram in Bengal. I am leaving this forum saying Jai Sriram and going to Kolkata from here. If Mamata Didi has the guts to arrest me, let her."
In phase seven, there are 59 constituencies spread over seven states and one Union territory.
Voting in this phase will take place for 13 seats each in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, 9 in West Bengal, 8 seats each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, all four seats in Himachal Pradesh, 3 seats in Jharkhand and the lone seat of Chandigarh.
The last and the final phase of voting will be held on May 19.
On Sunday, elections were held in 14 seats in Uttar Pradesh, 10 seats in Haryana, eight constituencies each in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, four in Jharkhand and seven seats in Delhi where votes were cast by a number of public figures, including President Ram Nath Kovind, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
The Election Commission (EC) said 63.48 per cent turnout across the states and Delhi, with West Bengal recording over 80 per cent polling and Delhi registering just 60 per cent.
PM Modi slammed Rahul Gandhi for his remark that he has told him (Sam Pitroda) he should be ashamed (for comment on 1984 riots). "'Naamdaar', you pretended to scold your mentor for what? Because he publicly said what had always been in Congress' heart? It's you who should be ashamed," said Modi.
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The Supreme Court Friday rejected a plea seeking a direction to the Election Commission (EC) to advance polling timing to 5.30 am from 7 am for seventh phase of the Lok Sabha election in view of searing heat and Ramzan.
Some regional parties are more keen to fight the Congress, rather than the BJP, said senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, stressing they can't keep "abusing" the grand old party and expect its support after the election results.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh Monday accused Congress of being responsible for lowering the political disclosure, adding that never has the chief of main opposition party hurled abuses like 'Chowkidar chor hai' at the prime minister. In an interview to PTI, Singh said, "Never before has the prime minister been called names by a president of a national party. 'Chowkidar chor hai' slogan was given by Gandhi. This was wrong as prime minister is a prime minister after all."
Telangana Chief Minister and TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao met DMK chief MK Stalin at the latter's residence in Chennai.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, while addressing rallies in Punjab, said that Sam Pitroda's remarks about 1984 riots were 'absolutely wrong' and that he should apologise publicly. "What Sam Pitroda said about 1984 is absolutely wrong and he should apologise to the nation for it. I told him this over the phone, I told him what he said was wrong, he should be ashamed and apologise publicly," Rahul said.
Priyanka Gandhi addresses rally in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh.
Narendra Nodi addresses public rally in Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi addresses public meeting in Hoshiarpur, Punjab.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra & Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Kamal Nath offer prayers at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain.
"Punjab being a green state, farmer's happiness is the most important. Today wherever Congress has formed the government, we have waved off loans of the farmers," Rahul Gandhi said.
Speaking about the Nyay scheme, Gandhi said, the poor will not be poor anymore. Every poor household will now be lifted above BPL"
Addressing a rally in Punjab's Luhdiana, Congress President Rahul Gandhi first clarified on Sam Pitroda's comment on 1984 riots. He said, " What Sam Pitroda said about 1984 is absolutely wrong and he should apologise to the nation for it. I told him this over the phone, I told him what he said was wrong, he should be ashamed and apologise publicly."
Taking a dig at Mamata Banerjee, Shah said, " If the Bengali language is to be re-established within Bengal, vote for BJP." He accused Banerjee of no development in the state. " There is no new factory in Bengal under Mamata Didi's rule. There are only bomb-making factories," he said.
While West Bengal government denied permission to Amit Shah's rally in Jadavpur, Shah addressed a rally in Joynagar. He challenged Mamata Banerjee to arrest him for saying Jai Sri Ram. " Mamata Didi says that no one can say Jai Sriram in Bengal. I am leaving this stage saying Jai Sriram and going to Kolkata from here. If Mamata Didi has the guts to arrest me, let her."
I am chanting Jai Shri Ram here today. If you have guts, Mamata didi, arrest me: Amit Shah in West Bengal
PM Modi in Ratlam: Targeting the Kamal Nath government in MP over its alleged failure to implement its loan waiver promise in the state, Modi likened people to God and said, "The Congress cheated God."
He said the Congress had a problem saying 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', but was happily abusing him. Modi also took a jibe at Congress veteran Digvijay Singh, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Bhopal, for not casting his vote.
Meanwhile, in Punjab, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal hit out at Congress saying the government had promised smartphones in every household, jobs to youth but what have they done so far. He urged voters to vote against lies.
Attacking Congress, Modi said that 4 generations of Congress party ruled the country but none of them thought of the tribals in Madhya Pradesh. But during Atal Bihar Vajpayee's tenure, there happened a separate ministry for Tribal development.
" It's Atal ji's government that thought of tribal development. And his inspiration continues amongst us and we will ensure education, medicine and employment for tribals."
Referring to Sam Pitroda's " Hua to Hua" comment on 1984 riots, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a jibe at Congress while addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district. He said, " A Congress-inspired family uses the country's battleship for a picnic, and when questions arise, they respond uncharacteredly to the answer saying "Hua to hua".
Accusing the West Bengal government of not allowing its president Amit Shah's rally in Jadhavpur, the BJP said Monday the Election Commission has become a "mute spectator" to the Trinamool Congress's alleged undemocratic means to target the saffron party.
BJP media head and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni said his party will hold protests and also move the EC.
Shah's rally was scheduled for Monday in Jadhavpur, which goes to the polls on May 19 in the last phase, but the permission for it was denied at the last minute by the state administration
Punjab AAP supporter gathers as AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal holds roadshow. (Source: AAP Twitter)
AAP National Convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal arrived in Punjab. He will do a roadshow in khanauri, Sangrur in support of AAP MP Bhagwant Mann. (Source: AAP Twitter)