Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: NDA announces seat-sharing deal in Bihar; BJP to contest 17 LS seats, JD(U) 16, LJP 5

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Monday said the list of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates for Lok Sabha elections will be out in the next two to three days.

He also said the Congress has decided to field Vishal Patil from the Sangli parliamentary constituency.

Patole said Rahul Gandhi spoke about crucial issues concerning women and youth at the INDIA bloc rally on Sunday but the BJP is trying to divert the people's attention from these points.

In the excitement over the big INDIA rally at Mumbai Sunday to mark the completion of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, a remark made by the Congress leader regarding “Shakti” slipped by almost unnoticed. A day later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi picked it up to portray the coming election clash as one between “those who worship Shakti versus those who want to destroy it”.

With Modi repeating the same at different rallies Monday, it was clear that the BJP saw Rahul’s remark as reminiscent of controversies triggered by the use of words such as “neech” and “chaiwala” by Congress leaders.

Read our report by Liz Mathew

In view of ensuring fair elections in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration on Monday directed all banks across Noida and Greater Noida to keep special vigil on transactions of more than Rs 10 lakh.

The administration noted that money could be misused to woo the voters during the polls scheduled to be held on April 26 in Gautam Buddh Nagar also known as the financial capital of Uttar Pradesh. The district has a total of 43 banks and 590 branches.

Himachal Pradesh home and vigilance secretary Abhishek Jain was on Monday relieved of his charge with immediate effect after the Election Commission ordered large-scale transfers of bureaucrats in six states ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Seeking to ensure a level-playing field in the polls, the Election Commission ordered the removal of the home secretaries of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and also directed the shunting out of West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar.

The NDA on Monday announced its seat-sharing formula for Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, giving 17 seats to the BJP, 16 to the JD(U) and five to Chirag Paswan's LJP (Ram Vilas).

Two other NDA allies -- Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha -- will contest one seat each, Vinod Tawde, the BJP's in-charge for elections in Bihar, told a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Bihar.

After Telangana and Karnataka, PM Modi now reaches Tamil Nadu.

The PM will head to Coimbatore in western Tamil Nadu via a roadshow.

BJP has never had a presence in Tamil Nadu — it won a seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls but drew a blank in 2019.

"Talks with him ongoing," says Bihar BJP chief Samrat Choudhary after minister Pashupati Paras's LJP faction finds no mention in seat-sharing deal.

The NDA announced its seat-sharing deal in Bihar today. BJP to contest 17 Lok Sabha seats, JD(U) 16, LJP(Ram Vilas) five, two other parties one each.

BJP to contest 17 Lok Sabha seats, JD(U) 16, LJP(Ram Vilas) five, two other parties one each.

Under attack for his "fight against shakti" remark made at a rally in Mumbai, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has clarified that he was not talking about any religious power but the 'shakti' of unrighteousness, corruption and falsehood.

"Modi ji does not like my words, he always tries to change their meaning by twisting them in some way or the other because he knows that I have spoken a solemn truth. The 'shakti' (power) that I mentioned, Modi ji is the mask of that power and we are fighting against it. It is such a power that today it has captured India's voice, India's institutions, the CBI, I-T, ED, Election Commission, the media, Indian industry and the entire constitutional structure of India in its clutches," he said in post in Hindi on X.

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??? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ????, ??? ????? ?? ?? ??? ??? ???, ?? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ????

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— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 18, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of starting a "dangerous game of dividing the country" at a public rally in Karnataka's Shivamogga today.

Speaking at an election rally held at Shivamogga, the PM said, "The Congress has started a dangerous game of dividing the country. They have started talking openly about it. Recently, a Congress MP from Karnataka has issued a statement calling for the division of the country again. Rather than throwing him away from the party, the Congress is protecting him," he said.

This was his second election rally in Karnataka this month and the first since the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) came into effect. His remarks came in the wake of a recent controversial statement by the sole Congress MP from Karnataka D K Suresh.

Here's what PM Modi said about the Opposition including the Congress party in Shivamogga today:

- "Yesterday in Mumbai, INDI alliance announced they want to eradicate 'Hindu Shakti'"

- "Before every election, Congress becomes expert in lies; doing the same in Karnataka"

- "Congress's aim is to fill coffers by looting public. Congress can go to any extent to gain power."

- "Your role bigger in achieving 'Chaar June ko Chaar Sau Paar," he said to the people gathered at the public rally

Amidst speculation surrounding a possible pre-poll alliance between the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha, the state president of the saffron party, Manmohan Samal, left for New Delhi today for discussions with the central leadership regarding the list of potential candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

Accompanied by Odisha BJP's organisational secretary, Manas Mohanty, Samal carried the shortlisted list of candidates prepared by the state election committee, which had convened on Saturday for this purpose.

Seeking to ensure level-playing field in Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission on Monday ordered the removal of home secretaries of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, sources said.

It also ordered the removal of the West Bengal director general of police, they added.

Also, the secretary of the general administrative departments of Mizoram and Himachal Pradesh have been removed.

The poll panel under CEC Rajiv Kumar also ordered the removal of Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, additional commissioners and deputy commissioners. (PTI)

The Election Commission has transferred the Home secretaries of six states including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, ahead of the Lok Sabha Polls.

Alleging that the INDIA bloc's manifesto talks about finishing 'Shakti', Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the fight is between those who want to destroy 'Shakti' and those who worship them.

"On Sunday in Mumbai, there was an INDI alliance rally after the announcement of the schedule for elections. They announced their manifesto in the rally. In Mumbai's Shivaji Park, they said their fight was against 'Shakti'. For me, every mother, every daughter is a form of 'Shakti'. Mothers and sisters, I worship you as 'Shakti'. I am Bharat Maa's 'pujari',” he said.

"Our fight against Modi is not on a personal level. Modi is a ‘mask' who works for a ‘Shakti' (power). He is a shallow man who doesn't have a 56-inch chest," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said addressing the INDIA bloc rally in Mumbai yesterday. 

"It is BRS who has misused people's faith, formed government & then betrayed their trust. For 10 years, after its formation, Telangana was ruthlessly looted by BRS. And now, Congress has made Telangana its 'personal ATM'," claimed PM Modi in Telangana's Jagtial today.

#WATCH | Telangana: During his public address in Jagtial, PM Modi says, "It is BRS who has misused people's faith, formed government & then betrayed their trust. For 10 years, after its formation, Telangana was ruthlessly looted by BRS. And now, Congress has made Telangana its… pic.twitter.com/0eTiqWZdBQ

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024

'The INDI alliance in their manifesto said that their fight is against 'Shakti'. For me, every mother, daughter & sister is a form of 'Shakti'. I worship them in the form of 'Shakti'. I am the worshiper of Bharat Mata...Their manifesto is to finish 'Shakti', and I accept the challenge...'Main jaan ki baazi laga dunga',' said PM Modi in Telangana's Jagtial today.

"Can someone talk about the destruction of 'Shakti'? We dedicated the success of the Chandrayaan mission by naming the point where Chandrayaan landed as 'Shiv Shakti'...The fight is between those who want to destroy 'Shakti' and those who worship 'Shakti'...'Muqabla 4 June ko ho jaaega'," he said.

#WATCH | Telangana: During his public address in Jagtial, PM Modi says, 'The INDI alliance in their manifesto said that their fight is against 'Shakti'. For me, every mother, daughter & sister is a form of 'Shakti'. I worship them in the form of 'Shakti'. I am the worshiper of… pic.twitter.com/ccVUoEVVNb

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024

"As we head towards May 13 - the day when polling would be held (in Telangana); the BJP's wave will wipe out the Congress and BRS. The entire country today is saying 'June 4 ko 400 paar'," said PM Modi in Telangana's Jagtial.

VIDEO | Lok Sabha elections 2024: "As we head towards May 13 - the day when polling would be held (in Telangana); the BJP's wave will wipe out the Congress and BRS. The entire country today is saying 'June 4 ko 400 paar'," says PM Modi (@narendramodi) in Telangana's Jagtial.… pic.twitter.com/OHdChBx4Qp

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 18, 2024

Speaking during a public rally in Telangana's Jagtal on Monday, Prime Minister Modi said, “The biggest festival of democracy begins. On May 13 the voters of Telangana will script history. The support for BJP is increasing continuously, and the public gathering here in Jagtial is testimony to that."

VIDEO | Lok Sabha elections 2024: "The support for BJP is increasing continuously, and the public gathering here in Jagtial is testimony to that," says PM Modi (@narendramodi), addressing a public gathering in Telangana's Jagtial.

(Full video available on PTI Videos -… pic.twitter.com/0uUxUh7agN

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 18, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a public meeting in Telangana's Jagtial today. Jagtial is part of the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency in the state. 

Winning more seats from Telangana forms part of BJP's plan to make significant electoral inroads in the south.

Modi has already held a roadshow in the Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat in Hyderabad and addressed a public meeting at Nagarkurnool in the state last week.

#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends a public meeting in Telangana's Jagtial. pic.twitter.com/bl2j9PlhP5

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2024

TMC MP Saket Gokhale on Monday filed a complaint against PM Modi with the Election Commission of India for violating the Model Code of Conduct, which had kicked in after the EC announced the election schedule on Saturday.

“Filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Modi for using an Indian Air Force helicopter to attend an election rally in AC 96-Chilakaluripet in Palnadu, Andhra Pradesh yesterday,” he wrote on Twitter.

“EC rules prohibit the use of state machinery for campaigning. Indira Gandhi was disqualified in 1975 specifically for this reason,” he said.

“EC had said while announcing the elections that code of conduct violations will be dealt with strictly. Let's see if EC initiates a probe or any action against PM Modi,” he wrote further.

Complaint against PM Modi with ECI for violating code of conduct ?

Filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Modi for using an Indian Air Force helicopter to attend an election rally in AC 96-Chilakaluripet in Palnadu, Andhra Pradesh yesterday

EC rules prohibit… pic.twitter.com/vHp8ooE32Z

— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) March 18, 2024

According to the schedule released by the Election Commission of India, the voting in Shivamogga constituency will take place in the third phase of LS polls on May 7. 

B Y Raghavendra of the BJP is the current MP of Shivamogga. He had won from the constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by securing 56.86% of the total votes. 

Karimnagar Telangana Lok Sabha Election 2024 Details: 

According to the schedule released by the Election Commission of India, the voting in Karimnagar constituency will take place in the fourth phase of LS polls on May 13. 

Bandi Sanjay Kumar of the BJP is the current MP of Karimnagar. He had won from the constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by securing 43.42% of the total votes. 

? The PM will head to Coimbatore in western Tamil Nadu for a roadshow on Monday

? Coimbatore is one of the seats the BJP is eyeing to make inroads into the state.

? The party has never had a presence in Tamil Nadu — it won a seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls but drew a blank in 2019 — but has been actively campaigning over the last year. 

? The PM’s focus on the state is also visible; he has visited the state five times since January this year and addressed rallies in Chennai, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari.

? After the AIADMK snapped ties with it, the BJP has opened channels with AIADMK splinter parties led by Palaniswami and T T V Dhinakaran.

?  Modi on Monday will address a public meeting at Shivamogga, the home turf of former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa.

? This will be his second such meeting in Karnataka since the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates, forst being in Kalaburagi.

? Yediyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra, who is the current state BJP chief, is the BJP’s candidate for Shimoga.

? The party is also facing disgruntlement within its ranks in Shimoga. Senior party leader and former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa, who was denied a ticket, says he will contest as an Independent candidate from the seat.

? BJP has allied with the Janata Dal (Secular), and is hoping to repeat its 2019 performance, when it won 25 of the 28 seats.

? PM Modi will address a rally in Jagtial, part of the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency in the state on Monday.

? The meeting is also expected to have an impact on the neighbouring Karimnagar LS constituency as well.

? Both Nizamabad and Karimnagar are held by BJP in the outgoing Lok Sabha.

? BJP had won four out of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana in 2019 general elections and is looking to improve its tally in 2024, where it will be going solo.

After officially kicking off the NDA’s campaign with a rally in Andhra Pradesh’s Palnadu yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will continue to extend his southern outreach by holding public rallies in Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu on Monday.

The Congress leader claimed Modi can't win elections “without EVMs (electronic voting machines)”.

“We asked the Election Commission of India to count the VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) also. But our demand hasn't been accepted,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi also claimed that a leader from Maharashtra cried in front of his mother Sonia Gandhi, saying he felt ashamed that he could not 'fight this power any more and didn't want to go to jail”.

In a show of strength, leaders of several constituents of the opposition INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) grouping assembled here for the mega rally ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, which will be held in seven phases starting April 19.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, at the INDIA bloc rally, said he was compelled to launch his Bharat Jodo yatras to highlight rising unemployment, inflation and hatred in society.

Addressing the opposition INDIA bloc rally at Mumbai's Shivaji Park after the conclusion of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi won't be able to win the Lok Sabha elections without “EVMs, ED, CBI and Income Tax”.

“Modi is a ‘mask' who works for a ‘shakti' (power). He is a shallow man who doesn't have a 56-inch chest,” Gandhi said.

The former Congress president alleged that PM Modi had a “monopoly over corruption”.

"If INDI Alliance comes to power, all guarantees will be implemented without fail," says Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

"We have already implemented 5 guarantees in Karnataka. If we promise, we deliver," he says addressing the rally at Shivaji Park in Marathi.

"Modi's guarantee is for the rich; our guarantee is for the common man."

"Modi keeps says 'Modi guarantee'. What is it? At least take the party's name," Kharge hits out at the Prime Minister at the INDIA bloc rally.

"Today, Narendra Modi has the monopoly of corruption. Electoral Bond is nothing but national hafta vasooli," says the Congress leader.

"They give contract and take percentage. Second they threaten. Third they use Shell companies and fourth contract in terms of money. Mumbai airport is an example of it. CBI probe was initiated and then Adani was given the airport."

"Today Narendra Modi has the monopoly of corruption. Electoral Bond is nothing but national hafta vasooli," says the Congress leader.

"They give contract and take percentage. Second they threaten. Third they use Shell companies and fourth contract in terms of money. Mumbai airport is an example of it. CBI probe was initiated and then Adani was given the airport."

At the INDIA bloc rally, Rahul Gandhi claims late Arun Jaitley had asked me to not speak about Land Acquisition Act, threatening to jail him. Gandhi claimed after that the ED probed him and kept him for questioning for 50 hours.

He also said that later an ED officer told him: "Only you can defeat Modi because you fear no one."

"Narendra Modi's job is to divert your attention from issues. There will be China or Pakistan. He will tell you light the Diya, switch on mobile or will cry saying he is being insulted."

"Modi is merely is a mask, just like a Bollywood actor. He is getting orders like jumping into the sea or to fly a sea plane. He is Not with a 56" chest but with a hollow one."

He questions: "From media companies to business houses is there anyone from the backward classes?

"EVMs is the only reason why Narendra Modi is winning. We asked Election Commission to show us the machines. We asked them to count papers, they asked we will not. Why?"

"Modiji is scared of me because I've seen the system from the inside. I've sat in there for years. Nobody can hide or suppress me. Modi can be suppressed," says Rahul Gandhi about the "Shakthi" (power) that is running the country.

"Nobody can escape this Shakthi."

"Those you see on stage today belong to different political parties, we are not fighting as a single party."

"We are not fighting against Modi or the BJP."

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was necessary to grab the attention of the country.

"The communication lines of this country is skewed right now, this includes social media," he says talking about how we wouldn't have even thought about walking 4,000 kilometres across the country.

"Do not be mistaken that only I walked. Everybody walked for the country,"

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi takes the mic to kickstart the INDIA bloc's Lok Sabha poll campaign from Mumbai’s iconic Shivaji Park today. This also marks the culmination of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra which began in Manipur.

Here's what Uddhav Thackeray said to the massic gathering at the INDIA bloc rally at Shivaji Park:

"I thank you all for choosing Mumbai to give a call to oust Modi. Our identity is our country. Nobody can be bigger than country."

"This is the time when we all unite. Those who tried to divide us will be defeated. Those who are joining you is not the real electorate. They are sitting in front of me."

"The slogan I give today is Ab Ki Bar, BJP Tadipaar."

"Those who promise and do not fulfill it, then those need to be removed. We have to take lead. This is the city which Mahatma Gandhi used to give a call to British to quit the country we are giving the call to Modi to quit the power," says NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Sharad Pawar at the rally today.

"My husband was jailed as part of a conspiracy," says Jharkhand ex-CM Hemant Soren's wife Kalpana Soren at INDIA bloc rally in Mumbai.

"One line is famous in Jharkhand which says Jharkhand will not bow down. I want to tell that INDIA will not stop and will not bow down."

"The BJP is scared of you because of the name Gandhi. Today leaders from different ideologies have come together. But this is the beauty of India.  We have come together to safeguard the constitution."

"The BJP's call to 400 seats is to change the constitution. Modiji is trying to make the country in to China and Russia."

VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar continues to remain non commital on joining INDIA front.

"Whether we remain together or fight independently, we are going to fight the BJP...we are trying to fight together in Maharashtra," he says addressing the gathering at Mumbai's Shivaji Park.

"I want to tell Uddhav ji and Sharad ji, all those sitting in Maharashtra government are dealers and not leaders," says RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav at the rally in Mumbai.

"Modi ji talks about Guarantee. I want to tell him that forget about other guarantees, first give me the guarantee of my Chacha (Nitish Kumar)."

Talking about his uncle and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar who exited from the INDIA alliance to join the BJP, Tejashwi Yadav said: "Whoever left and went, it doesn't matter. Nothing can break us."

He also says: "I want to ask if PM Modi can tell if my chacha will flip again or no."

The results of the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar will stump everyone, he says at Shivaji Park

"I am here with a message from Lalu ji. He has said that he is ready to fight and even supply medicine to Modiji if needed."

"Modiji is a factory of lying. He is the manufacturer and distributor of lying. We are not going to get scared of these."

He also said: "We are here not only to defeat Modi but to defeat the divisive ideology. We have no personal enmity against Modi or Shah. Our main opposition is unemployment and poverty."

"We are not people who get scared. We are people who will fight for you," he says.

"I bring the message of Lalu (Yadav) ji." Lalu Prasad Yadav could not make it to the rally due to health conditions, Tejashwi said.

"We haven't united to defeat Modi. We are here to defeat the mindset which wants to divide the country," says Yadav at Mumbai's Shivaji Park.

He started off his address by extending his salutations to all INDI Alliance leaders.

VIDEO | Bharat Jodo Nyay Manzil: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin (@mkstalin) felicitates Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) at INDIA bloc's mega rally in Mumbai.#BharatJodoNyayManzil pic.twitter.com/OkMRynXPET

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 17, 2024

"The election dates have been announced and look, INDIA bloc is still here," says Delhi minister Satyendra Jain. He referred to the comments being made in the media about the 'unity' of Opposition leaders.

"The only common thing in the leaders of INDIA front is that none of us is scared of going to jail. It is important to fight, only then we can win. We have to counter the EVM game this time by ensuring that more and more people come out and vote."

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will not attend Rahul Gandhi's rally in Mumbai as he is down with viral fever, according to Congress leader and former Kerala LoP Ramesh Chennithala.