Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Imphal. (Twitter/BJP4India)
Lok Sabha elections 2019 HIGHLIGHTS: With the first phase of General Assembly polls less than a week away, major political parties in the country have intensified their campaigning. Addressing a BJP rally in Manipur’s Imphal city, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, “They (Congress) have played with your lives and respect. Manipur is known for football and it’s about time to show the red card to Congress for the foul”.
Earlier, while addressing a BJP rally in western Odisha’s Bargarh, BJP president Amit Shah also slammed Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for being unable to name the prime ministerial face of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ if it is voted to power.
“Rahul Baba (Gandhi) is not able to tell the people who is the leader of the Mahagathbandhan. He does not know who will be prime minister if the alliance wins the upcoming polls,” Shah said.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally in Srinagar, Uttarakhand on Saturday.
Asserting that joining the Congress was not an overnight decision, Shatrughan Sinha has said he is hopeful of a long-term association with the party as he is a “loyalist” who doesn’t do things in “josh” (impulsively) but “hosh” (consciously). READ MORE
Amid the ongoing debate about the transparency of electoral bonds, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said the scheme was aimed at cleaning political funding and curbing the use of black money as was sought to be achieved through electoral trusts proposed during the UPA-II regime. READ MORE
A complaint has been filed against actor and Congress leader Urmila Matondkar for anti-Hindu remarks. The complaint, filed by a Mumbai BJP worker, also sought action against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for allegedly instructing Matondkar to make the remark. READ MORE HERE
Lokesh, a member of the state legislative council, hasn’t given up the position even after the party announced his name from Mangalagiri. This has led to murmurs within the party circles that his father Chandrababu has hedged his bets in case Lokesh fails to win. READ MORE HERE
CPI Sunday said Congress president Rahul Gandhi's contest in Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala against the party candidate was a "wrong decision" and denied any match fixing between Congress and the Left parties.
"It is a wrong decision by Gandhi. It has sent a wrong signal among the people about the intention when both the Left parties and Congress were fighting against the BJP," CPI General secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said. (PTI)
Taking to Twitter, the Congress supremo said, "You can run Mr Modi but you can’t hide. Your karma is about to catch up with you. The country can hear it in your voice. Truth is a powerful thing. I challenge you to a debate on corruption." READ MORE
Addressing a public gathering in Imphal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Centre has created job opportunities for Northeast's youth through BPO's and Mudra Yojana.
"Around 1.25 lakh farmers of Manipur have started receiving financial assistance from the Centre. We changed the law around bamboo and now you can grow and sell bamboo," Prime Minister Modi said.
"They have played with your lives and respect. Manipur is known for football and it's about time to show the red card to Congress for the foul," Modi said.
Polling for the two Lok Sabha seats in Manipur will be held on April 11 and April 18.
Referring to Congres party manifesto, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Congress' hypocrisy document seems to blow the trumpet of Pakistan more than that of India".
Addressing a public meeting Manipur's Imphal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that for the first time, India carried out attacks across the border against the terrorist hotbeds.
"People trust the Armed forces but not Congress leaders. They are supporting divisive parties and people," he added.
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Sunday said the only 'contribution' of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre is that it had "decimated" the constitutional institutions in the country during the last five years.
Addressing reporters at the Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) on his arrival here to campaign for Congress-JD(S) alliance candidates in the coastal belt, he said the BJP MPs in the region had "failed" to address the problems of people in the region. (PTI)
Rahul Gandhi yet to announce the name of mahagathbandhan's PM candidate; Narendra Modi will become PM again as leader of NDA: Amit Shah at Odisha rally.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said if the Congress is voted to power, the middle class will be the most affected as it is preparing to levy more taxes on this section. “These parties are preparing to put a big burden on the middle class. Many parties including the Congress have started saying that more taxes will be charged on the middle class,” PM Modi told the crowd at Udaipur in Tripura. READ MORE
Amid growing speculation of a possible alliance between Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, the Grand Old Party on Sunday made it clear there were no such talks of a pact with the Arvind Kejriwal-led party in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab. Congress said it would soon declare its candidates in the two states. READ MORE
Senior Congress leader Rajeev Shukla said on Sunday no decision had been taken yet about general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting the election against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi, news agency PTI reported.
He claimed that under the leadership of Vadra, who is the party's incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, the Congress would do well in the Lok Sabha election and sweep the 2022 assembly election.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Sunday alleged that a vote given to the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections would only strengthen terrorism, Naxalism and separatist forces and obstruct development, news agency PTI reported.
Addressing a public meeting in Telangana's Peddapalli town in support of BJP's candidate, S Kumar, Adityanath termed both the Congress and TRS as 'anti-nationals.'
In her first joint rally with the Samajwadi (SP) and Rashtriya Lok Sal (RLD), Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Sunday launched a scathing attack on both the BJP over its ‘main bhi chowkidar’ campaign and the Congress over its proposed Nyunatam Aay Yojana (NYAY) scheme to give Rs 72,000 each to the poor. READ MORE
"The Congress and the Left are working together to oust Modi. They have stooped too low, singing paeans to Pakistan even when the NDA government was taking on the terrorists on the soil of the neighbouring country," PM Modi said while addressing a rally in Udaipur.
"Am I not doing the right thing by giving a befitting reply to the enemies of the country?" he asked the people who gathered at the rally. (PTI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to file nomination in Varanasi on April 26.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday released the manifesto for Odisha, which focuses on curbing crime against women, capacity building in agriculture, the creation of jobs, rights of tribals, boosting the economy and giving importance to the state’s history and culture. The manifesto was released by party president Amit Shah. READ MORE
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday released the manifesto for Odisha, which focuses on curbing crime against women, capacity building in agriculture, the creation of jobs, rights of tribals, boosting the economy and giving importance to the state’s history and culture. The manifesto was released by party president Amit Shah. READ MORE
"I was listening to Dharmendra Pradhan ji. He was speaking fluent Odiya. Will Naveen babu be able to speak even 5 lines in Odiya, without looking at paper? The man who can't speak Odiya even after being CM for 19-years can never work for the welfare of Odisha," Amit Shah said while addressing a gathering in Odisha's Bargarh.
Tripura govt is directly procuring from the farmers, benefiting the people. We have destroyed the ecosystem of corruption comprising of middlemen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing a rally in Udaipur city.
Congress released their manifesto, their 'dhakosla patra' three days ago, not even once 'dhakosla patra' mentions middle class, such hatred towards the middle class. They think middle class has made Modi win & that's why they're adamant on punishing the middle class, Modi said.
PM Modi in Tripura: Congress and other parties are planning to levy more taxes on the middle class. They are pushing the country towards license raj.
The TMC has been trying its best to make inroads into the Tripura, but people haven't allowed that; they tolerated the atrocities of the Left front, waiting patiently for the BJP to rise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while addressing the rally in Udaipur.
Addressing a rally in Tripura's Udaipur city, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the welfare of the poor has never been the priority of Congress or TMC. Going against their ideology, the Left parties have also neglected the poor and the labours, he said.
I am impressed by the people of Tripura. It's commendable that you've reposed your faith in BJP. You rejected TMC and the Left: PM Modi
Taking a swipe at PM Narendra Modi, RLD chief Ajit Sing on Sunday said, "What has Prime Minister Modi done in five years? He wasn't talking about your 'achche din', but his own 'achche din'."
Odisha Congress on Sunday released its manifesto for the upcoming polls making a slew of promises, including waiver of crop loans up to Rs 2 lakh per family and 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs, parliament and assembly.
With a focus on farmers, youth, women, tribals and Dalits, the 32-page document titled "Your Voice Your Choice" also promised to give Rs 72,000 each to five crore poor families under the 'Nyay' scheme as announced by the AICC. (PTI)
Taking on the present government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RLD chief Ajit Singh said that the government has not fulfilled its promises and the prime minister never speaks the truth.
(Source: Twitter/Samajwadi Party)
Addressing the joint rally of the gathbandhan in Uttar Pradesh, RLD chief Ajit Singh said corruption is at its peak in the country and the people will not forgive BJP.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav took on the BJP government saying, "BJP is the first government that promises benefits for the people, but works exactly opposite the promises." He attacked the BJP over the GST and pending dues for sugarcane farmers.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, addressing the rally, asked the people to question all the leaders, who hold rallies and make promises to them, about the work they have done.
(Source: Twitter/Samajwadi Party)
Addressing the public gathering in Deoband, BSP chief Mayawati said that the gathbandhan will be committed to the welfare of the farmers, women, unlike the BJP, whose agenda is pro-capitalist.
BSP supremo Mayawati took on the Congress saying that its rule was full of wrong policy decisions.
(Source: Twitter/Samajwadi Party)
Speaking the joint rally of the SP-BSP-RLD alliance, Mayawati said that the gathbandhan will win in the upcoming Lok Sab polls if there is no rigging.
(Source: Twitter/Samajwadi Party)
BSP chief Mayawati addressed the joint rally of the SP-BSP-RLD alliance in Saharanpur's Deoband. Calling out BJP for its 'drama of chowkidari', the BSP supremo said that it will not help the BJP government win the Lok Sabha elections this year.
BJP Chief Amit Shah took a dig at the BJD government led by CM Naveen Patnaik in Odisha, saying, "BJD has proved worse than Congress in Odisha. They haven't been able to live up to the expectations of the people of Odisha. In comparison with other states of the country, Odisha is lagging behind in areas of drinking water, houses, health, security for women, education and other fields. Despite being rich in resources, the people here are poor."
Congress state unit released the party's manifesto for Odisha on Sunday. blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Odisha: Congress party releases their election manifesto for the state, in Bhubaneswar. pic.twitter.com/EMy9DaKeKu
— ANI (@ANI) April 7, 2019
BJP chief Amit Shah, who is in Odisha to address public meetings, released the party's manifesto for the state.
“We brought in NRC in Assam to indentify the infiltrators. Didi and her friends tried to unsuccessfully stop it. Through citizenship bill we wanted to provide security to people who love our country. Didi is trying to mislead people through lies,” said Modi.
Congress finally has a campaign tagline – “ab hoga nyay”. After brainstorming for weeks and months, the Congress today released its campaign tagline, making it clear that the party is entirely banking on the minimum income guarantee promise to woo the voters. Sources in the Congress claimed that the internal surveys carried out by the party in several states show that the NYAY promise has gained some traction. “But we will have to keep talking about it, simplify it as much as we can, keep communicating it,” a senior Congress leader involved in drawing up the party’s campaign told The Indian Express.
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Blaming the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal for unavailability of various government schemes to the people of the state, he said, "Didi has put a break on free treatment for the poor under Ayushman Yojana and on financial assistance to farmers." He further asked the people, "Has Didi informed you why recommendations of 7th pay commission were not implemented? Has Didi told you why despite clearing exams no appointments are being done in Bengal?"
In reference to the Balakot air strike, carried out by the IAF last month, Prime Minister Modi claimed that the situation in the country has changed since 2014. "We now enter the homes of the enemies and kill them," he said. Targetting the previous Congress-led UPA government, he said, "Before 2014, terrorist used to strike every now and then. Then govt was aware of where these terrorists came from. However, they failed to take any strict action despite requests from the armed forces."
The prime minister alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was supporting people who are propagating divisive politics in the country and asking for two prime ministers. "For vote bank politics, Didi now stands with the people who want to break India. She is supporting people who want two PMs in India," he said.
“Didi is having sleepless nights now. Speed breaker Didi cannot sleep now. She is now realizing how it feels when the political ground beneath her feet shakes. That is why she is showering abuses against me. She is venting her anger on the election commission. She is feeling scared now,” said Narendra Modi at a public meeting in Coochbehar Rash mela ground. On Saturday, Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter of protest to Election Commission after police officers including Kolkata police commissioner and Bidhannagar police commissioner were replaced by ECI.
Odisha's Dr Shyam Babu Subudhi, 84, who has contested Lok Sabha, Assembly and Rajya Sabha polls as an independent since 1962 and faced loss each time said,"I fought elections 32 times. I've to continue the fight against corruption. My election symbol is a bat and has 'PM candidate' written on it."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Cooch Behar to hold a public rally.
YSR Congress Party's chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will address public meetings across Andhra Pradesh today. The party released its manifesto for the general elections Saturday, promising many cash doles and benefits for marginalised sections, with a focus on women, farmers, daily wage workers, elderly, SCs, STs, BCs and minorities.
According to senior party leaders, Deoband was chosen as the venue for the first joint rally after much thought. “This is quite central to four constituencies and Deoband area includes the four main communities that are part of the gathbandhan — Muslims, Dalits, Jats and OBCs,” the SP leader said. Deoband is also in Saharanpur, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally on Friday, drawing a huge crowd. For local BJP leaders, Sunday’s rally does not exactly come as a worry. “Prime Minister Modi has gone to Meerut too and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has addressed a couple of rallies; more are slated in the next few days,” a BJP functionary said.
The stage is still being set in Deoband. The roof has been built, the barricades completed, and chairs laid out. But it is the cutouts that draw the most attention on a field just a few kilometres from the prestigious Islamic seminary Darul Uloom. On the eve of the SP-BSP-RLD alliance’s first joint rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur Lok Sabha constituency, nothing seemed more important on Saturday than the display of unity. Read More