Lok Sabha Elections 2019 LIVE updates: On a recommendation from the Election Commission, elections in the state's Vellore Lok Sabha constituency stands cancelled over abuse of money power, whereas polling in East Tripura has been deferred to April 23.
Speaking to reporters in a late-night briefing, CEO Taranikanti said the Election Commission has deferred polling at East Tripura constituency in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on security grounds. The voting will now be held on April 23, and the state electoral authority has been instructed to ensure proper security conditions to build confidence among the voters.
“Everyone saw what happened during polling on April 11. I have travelled different districts. I have seen videos where activities were seen which were against the rules of Election Commission of India. We have forwarded those details to the Election Commission as well. We hope to develop law and order situation conducive for holding the elections April 23,” the CEO added.
Watch: Amit Shah's roadshow in Cuttack, Odisha
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PM Modi in Anand, Gujarat: Congress has said in its manifesto that it wants to remove the sedition law, so that stone pelting in J&K & Naxalism in rest of the places in the country can be strengthened, 'tukde tukde gang desh ke tukde karne ki apni shararatein khule aam kar paayein'
In order to stop BJP we were ready for an alliance with Congress, but Congress is not in a mood for any coalition. It is a matter of sadness, that even after so many efforts, Congress is not ready for any kind of compromise, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh said today.
Hours after formally joining the BJP and being declared the candidate from the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur—who is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case—said on Wednesday that one of the issues she would focus on in her campaign will be the Opposition linking Hindutva with terrorism.
Speaking to reporters, Thakur said, “They (Opposition) insulted the Hindu dharma, the Sanatan dharma and Hindutva. They insulted the bhagwa (saffron flag). It will be one of our major issues in the coming elections.” Read more
Madras High Court upholds the decision of Election Commission of India to cancel the election to Vellore Lok Sabha constituency, dismisses pleas moved by AIADMK Candidate AC Shanmugam and independent candidate K Sugumar.
Election to the Lok Sabha constituency of Vellore in Tamil Nadu was cancelled Tuesday, two days before the state votes, on a recommendation from the Election Commission in the wake of cash seizures, allegedly from the premises of DMK candidate Kathir Anand, son of party treasurer Duraimurugan. READ FULL REPORT
A week after actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha switched sides with Congress, his wife Poonam Sinha joined the Samajwadi Party Wednesday evening. Poonam Sinha will contest from Lucknow as the joint opposition candidate.
Addressing a rally in Odisha's Dhenkanel, BJP president Amit Shah said democracy is in jeopardy in the state. "The state is facing 'Babu Raj' under BJD rule," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said the then UPA government arrested BJP president Amit Shah and some police officers in Gujarat to topple the state government then headed by him.
Speaking at a poll rally, Modi also said this election will decide if nationalist forces will rule the country or those who want to help the "tukde tukde gang" by scrapping sedition law.
"From 2004 to 2014, there was a 'remote control government' and you know who was in control. In those 10 years, those sitting in Delhi tried to damage the interest of Gujarat and acted as if the state is not in India," Modi said.
"Our police officers, and even Amit Shah, were thrown behind bars. They (UPA) employed all means to break the Gujarat government," Modi said, alluding to the time when he was chief minister of the state.
Watch: BJP president Amit Shah attends a public rally in Dhenkanal, Odisha
The Election Commission of India (ECI) Wednesday concluded that the BJP-sponsored NaMo TV cannot display ‘election matter’ during the silence period prescribed in the electoral law in a particular phase of the poll, reported PTI. This phase is particularly called the ‘silence period’ as it allows a voter to make up his or her mind on whom to vote without being influenced by political campaigning. READ MORE HERE
The Election Commission Flying Squad conducted checking at the residential premises of All India NR Congress Chief and former Chief Minister of Puducherry, N Rangaswamy in Puducherry, today.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Himmatnagar, Gujarat: British relied on golis (bullets), Congress relying on gaalis (abuse). Addressing a rally, PM Modi said this poll will decide if nationalist government comes to power or "tukde tukde" gang
BJP released its list of four candidates for the Lok Sabha Elections2019 in Madhya Pradesh. Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, who joined the party today, will contest from Bhopal against Congress' Digvijaya Singh.
Addressing a rally in Gujarat's Himmatnagar, PM Modi said Gandhiji's Congress has become gaalibaaz today. Slamming the grand alliance, Modi said leaders of 'Mahamilavat' (Mahagathbandhan) are speaking such language which makes headlines in newspapers of Pakistan.
Watch: PM Modi addresses public meeting at Himmatnagar, Gujarat
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Himmatnagar of Sabarkantha district in North Gujarat to address an election rally.
Officials of the Election Commission, drawn from its model code and legal divisions, are likely to watch the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday on the directions of the Supreme Court.
The EC has asked the producers of the film to arrange for a screening for a committee set up for the purpose. The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Commission to watch the full biopic on Modi and take an informed decision on banning its pan India release by April 19. (PTI)
Sharad Pawar hit back at PM Modi for his comments on the NCP chief at a rally in Madha today. Pawar said, "Modi Ji says 'Pawar Sahab is a good man but has family issues. His nephews are out of his hands.' I wanted to ask him what does he have to do with issues at my home? But then I realised I've my wife, daughter; son-in-law, nephews visit us, but he has no one. How will he (PM Modi) know how to run a family? That's why he peeps in others' homes. I can say more also but I don't want to stoop to low-level."
BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters demanded an apology from Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for latter's remark on President Ram Nath Kovind appointment being a caste-based one. He also pleaded with the Election Commission to act against Congress and claimed that the Grand old party was anti-Dalit and anti-poor.
Amit Shah in Sangli: "For 10 years, the UPA government was ruling the country. To ensure vote bank, they put the security of this country at threat. Terrorists used to enter the country and cut the heads of Jawans, but the government did not do anything. Among first world countries, there were only two countries which would retaliate for the attack on their soldiers— Israel and United States. A third country has joined this list, thanks to the Narendra Modi government."
In a jibe directed at Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah said, "Rahul baba remembers the poor today. When Sharad Pawar ruled here for so many years, Gandhi family ruled the country for nearly five generations. They did not do anything for the poor then." He further said, "Maharashtra's progress is due to the BJP government. During the Congress-NCP rule, the state was lagging behind. The BJP-Shiv Sena combine has worked together to revive the state's pride."
Addressing his rally in Maharashtra's Sangli district, BJP president Amit Shah said that he had toured the entire country — East, West, North and South and he could hear Modi-Modi everywhere. It is the public's resolve to bring Modi to power once again, he added.
After meeting with senior BJP leaders in Bhopal party office, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur announces that she has formally joined the Saffron party.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who is on a campaign trail in Kerala, visited the ancient Thirunelli Temple and performed rituals at Papanasini river where his late father Rajiv Gandhi’s ashes were immersed. Rahul Gandhi, a candidate for the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat apart from his home turf Amethi, arrived at the temple Wednesday morning wearing a mundu, a traditional Mayali attire. He offered prayers and later performed rituals at the Papanasini river. Read the full story here
Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad: I am not here to tell you my 'Mann ki baat', I'm here to understand what is inside your minds and soul. I want to make you feel that I'm your brother, son and one of you. But I also want you to realise and understand that your way of life, your culture is a very valuable thing for India. I want to give this message to the rest of the world that there is a place called Wayanad where everyone lives happily. I'll stand with you as long as I am here!
A police complaint has been registered against Union Minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi for referring to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan as 'Mogambo', thereby violating the Model Code of Conduct. During a public rally in Rampur, he used the name of the popular Bollywood villain to refer to Khan for the latter's 'Khakhi-underwear' remark aimed at Jaya Prada. (ANI)
Kerala Congress President Oomen Chandy greeted party president Rahul Gandhi. Taking a dig at Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi said that the Prime Minister had everything revolving around 'one party, one person'. "Keralites are an example of peaceful co-existence. I don't say this lightly, there is a lot that rest of the country can learn from Kerala and Wayanad. You respect the ideas of others as much you repect the ideas of your own. You are polite and respectful and do not believe in violence and crushing others' ideologies and that is why I stand here speaking to you," Rahul Gandhi in his address in Wayanad.
Slamming former agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, PM Modi said, "Sharad Pawarji, who was the agriculture minister in the government, could have brought new and welfare schemes of farmers. But they were interested in running their own sugar shops; they had no concern for the farmers." Addressing farmer issues especially due to the drought conditions in the state, Modi promised a new water-scheme which will ensure adequate water supply for farming and irrigation purposes.
PM Modi in Madha: "They (Congress) ruled for the last 60 years, but they have not said anything. They do not speak on what they plan to do for the next five years. Everywhere, they only have one thing to say- 'Modi Hatao'. These naamdaars first said, 'Chowkidar Chor hai' but when that trick did not work, now they term the entire 'Chowkidar' community as thieves."
"After 26/11 attacks, Mumbai had become a heaven of terrorism and people remained quiet then. But, after Pulwama attacks, we entered their land and attacked them in their homeland. However, some opposition parties have an issue with this as well and are raising fingers at us. But your 'Chowkidar' will stand as a strong wall between such people and you. So I seek blessings from the land of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Bhavani Devi": PM Modi in Madha
Addressing a rally in Madha city in Maharashtra, Prime Minister Modi targetting the Opposition questioned the public if they wished for a strong (majboot) government or a helpless (majboor) government? He also took up the topic of Balakot airstrike and said that India had given the right kind of reply to Pakistan to terrorism.
PM Modi starts his address by expressing condolences for the families which suffered losses due to the unseasonal rains in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. He said that he had asked authorities to continue closely monitoring the situation in these areas and that he had offered help in every way possible to everyone.
The Prime Minister was greeted in Maharashtra's Madha city and was seen flanked by state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other BJP leaders Ramdas Athawale, Vijaysinh Dada Mohite-Patil and Chandrakant Patil.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted a condolence message for those who lost their lives in the unseasonal rains and storms in Gujarat yesterday. He also offered an ex-gratia amount of Rs 2 lakh for deceased and Rs 50000 for those injured and said that authorities were monitoring the situation. In a separate tweet, the Prime Minister wished people on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.
Congress President and party's candidate from Wayanad parliamentary constituency, Rahul Gandhi offers prayer at the Thirunelli temple.
Welcome to our live blog on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Through the day, we will bring you the latest news from across the country on anything election related. Stay tuned!