PM Modi’s silence on Patnaik’s rule in Odisha fuels BJP-BJD reunion speculation
Even though BJP and BJD leaders in Odisha are denying a possible tie-up between the two erstwhile allies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on Naveen Patnaik’s rule at a rally in the eastern state on Tuesday fuelled the speculation. Modi targeted the Congress and the INDIA alliance over corruption, scams, governance and “parivarvad” (dynastic rule).
The Prime Minister, who addressed a “Modi Ki Guarantee” rally at Chandikhol in Jajpur district, his second this year, exuded confidence of a record victory in the upcoming polls. Modi said the enthusiasm and energy shown by people at the venue was an indicator that NDA would surpass 400-seats in Lok Sabha.
First Lalu, now A Raja: INDIA bloc keeps lobbing full tosses at Modi, BJP
Seizing on Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad’s jibe that he had no family, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday coined what seemed like an election slogan: “Mera Bharat, Mera Parivar (India is my family)”.
And, around the same time the BJP was trying to create a buzz around it with senior leaders and ministers adding “Modi ka Parivar (We are Modi’s family)” to their bio on X, the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh in an unconnected move announced a new scheme for women that was one of its poll promises in the hill state. Unsurprisingly, the scheme — as part of which the government will give Rs 1,500 per month to women between 18 and 60 years from the 2024-’25 financial year — was named Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojna. Another Congress scheme named after a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family, something Modi has often raised to target the party. When in power, the Congress names parks, streets, and squares after members of its first family, the PM keeps reiterating.
Congress first list of 39 candidates: 24 from SC, ST, OBC, minority communities
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said the first list has 15 general category candidates while 24 are from the SC, ST, OBC and minority communities. He also said there are 12 candidates below the age of 50 years, eight between 50 and 60 years, 12 between 61-70 and seven from 71-76 years.
Candidates for 6 out of 11 LS seats out today | Congress bid in Chhattisgarh
In Chhattisgarh, the Congress announced candidates for six out of 11 Lok Sabha seats.
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Four of them are from Other Backward Classes and one belongs to the Scheduled Caste community.
Besides Baghel (Rajnandgaon seat), the Congress fielded Vikas Upadhyay (Raipur), Tamradhwaj Sahu (Mahasamund), Shivkumar Dahariya (Janjgir-Champa), Jyotsana Mahant (Korba), and Rajendra Sahu (Durg).
Baghel, 62, the foremost leader of the party in the state, is a Kurmi which is an influential OBC community, and a sitting MLA.
A six-term MLA, he had unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha elections from Raipur in 2009 and from Durg in 2004.
Tamradhwaj Sahu and Shivkumar Dahariya served as ministers in the previous Baghel-led state government. Both lost the last assembly polls.
Tamradhwaj Sahu will contest from Mahasamund which is dominated by the numerically strong Sahu community. A four-term MLA, Sahu was elected to the Lok Sabha from Durg seat in 2014.
Dahariya, an influential SC leader, will contest from Janjgir-Champa, reserved for SC candidates. He had been an MLA thrice.
Vikas Upadhyay, a Brahmin who has been fielded from Raipur, was elected as an MLA for the first time in 2018 but lost from Raipur City West assembly seat in 2023.
Jyotsana Mahant, a sitting MP, will contest from her present Korba constituency. She is married to senior Congress leader and former Union minister Charan Das Mahant, who is now the leader of opposition in the state assembly.
Rajendra Sahu who will contest from Durg is a fresh face.
The BJP has announced candidates for all 11 Lok Sabha seats. In 2019 general elections, the BJP had won nine out of 11 seats in the state.
Congress announces first list with candidates for 8 states and 1 Union Territory
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi will contest from Kerala’s Wayanad seat, which he currently represents.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal will contest from Alappuzham, while sitting Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor will fight to retain the constituency.
The party has also decided to field former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon seat and former minister Tamardwaj Sahu from Mahasamund, while Jyotsna Mahant will contest from Korba in the state.
Here's the full first list of 39 candidates announced by Congress today
Cong leader Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad | Other top names
In the first list of 39 candidates released today, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been fielded from Kerala's Wayanad.
- Congress general secretry K C Venugopal will be contesting from Alappuzham.
- Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel will contest from Rajnandgaon
- Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthpuram
- Geetha Shivrajkumar from Karnataka's Mandya
Lok Sabha 2024 Elections Live Updates: Congress releases first list of 39 candidates
After the Congress Election Committee’s first meeting, the party has released its first list of 39 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls today, including Rahul Gandhi and Bhupesh Baghel.
Watch | Congress party briefing at AICC: First list of candidates for 2024 Lok Sabha polls to be out soon
Mehbooba accuses NC of reducing PAGD to a 'joke'
Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday accused the National Conference (NC) of reducing the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to a "joke" after the Farooq Abdullah-led party unilaterally decided to contest all three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir.
PAGD is an alliance of five political parties seeking the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir which was revoked by the Centre in 2019.
Addressing a press conference at the party office here, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the NC's decision was "disappointing" and a "setback to the hopes of the people of J&K".
"Omar (Abdullah) has himself said that the PDP is out of the alliance. You can see who has broken the alliance. We did not. This was a unique alliance, it is disappointing to see it shattered. They have reduced PAGD to a joke," Mufti said when asked if the NC's decision meant the alliance was broken.
The NC has announced the party would contest all the three seats in the Kashmir valley and asked the Congress to contest on two seats in the Jammu region. The party also said there would be a consensus candidate on the Ladakh seat. (PTI)
Gadkari's name will be first in list of BJP candidates from Maharashtra: Fadnavis
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said Union minister Nitin Gadkari's name would be the first in the list of BJP candidates once the ruling alliance in the state finalizes its seat-sharing agreement for the Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking to reporters here, the BJP leader pooh-poohed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's offer of a Lok Sabha ticket to Gadkari from the opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
"Gadkari is our prominent leader. He contests from Nagpur. When the first list of candidates (of BJP) was released, there had been no discussions among Mahayuti partners (BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP)....When the discussions take place, Gadkari's name would come up first (in the candidates' list)," Fadnavis said. (PTI)
BJP shortlists three candidates for Bengaluru Rural LS constituency
The BJP has shortlisted three candidates for Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency for the upcoming polls, Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka said on Friday.
“We have a strong candidate to contest from Bengaluru Rural. We have recommended three candidates. One among them will contest (on a BJP ticket),” the former Deputy Chief Minister told reporters.
He said the one contesting from Bengaluru Rural will be a surprise candidate.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's brother D K Suresh is representing this constituency for three consecutive terms.
Ashoka said the list of BJP candidates for Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka would be released soon as the discussions on finalising nominees have reached final stages. (PTI)
BJP, TDP have decided to work together for upcoming polls: TDP leader Ravindra Kumar
Senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP K Ravindra Kumar claimed on Friday that the BJP, the Jana Sena and his party have decided in principle to work together for upcoming polls and the modalities are being worked out.
A day after TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu held deliberations with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief J P Nadda, Kumar told PTI that preliminary discussions have taken place for the "purpose of alliance" for the Lok Sabha and state Assembly polls, which are held simultaneously in Andhra Pradesh.
"In principle the BJP, TDP and Jana Sena have decided to work together," he added.
Sources said the number of seats the BJP will get in such an alliance remains a sticking point. Andhra Pradesh has 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly constituencies. (PTI)
As far as tickets for Lok Sabha are concerned, we have discussed 50% (14 seats): Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said while talking to ANI "I met Mallikarjun Kharge as he is our national president. As far as tickets for Lok Sabha are concerned, we have discussed 50% (14 seats). Ultimately party high command will decide. Mallikarjun Kharge himself has to decide whether he will contest or not."
LS Polls: DMK finalises seat-sharing with allies VCK, MDMK
The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on Friday finalised seat-sharing agreements with allies VCK and MDMK, repeating the 2019 pact with both parties.
While the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) was allotted two seats, both reserved constituencies, the Vaiko-led MDMK was given one by the alliance's lead partner. In 2019, MDMK was also given one Rajya Sabha seat.
The founders of VCK and MDMK, Thol Thirumavalavan and Vaiko, respectively, finalised and signed the seat-sharing agreement with DMK President and Chief Minister M K Stalin at the ruling party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, here.
Thirumavalavan told reporters that the party will contest from Chidambaram and Villupuram, the two seats it represents in the current Lok Sabha. Thirumavalavan was elected from Chidambaram five years ago.
The party had sought at least three seats, including a general category one, but settled for two reserved constituencies considering the political situation in Tamil Nadu and India and keeping in mind the need to ensure the DMK-led alliance wins this time also, the VCK leader said. (PTI)
'Hope Congress will declare candidates, start campaign soon': Gopal Rai
Delhi Minister & AAP leader Gopal Rai said, "Today we have launched our campaign for 2024 Lok Sabha elections under the slogan 'Sansad Me Bhi Kejriwal To Delhi Hogi Aur Khushhaal'. The people of Delhi have given Arvind Kejriwal a huge majority and the Delhi govt has been working a lot for them. People have given seven Lok Sabha seats to the BJP but none of the MPs has done any work here hence BJP has to change its candidates. They (BJP MPs) always look to the Central govt or the LG to resist whatever Arvind Kejriwal wants to do... We hope that Congress will soon declare their candidates on the three seats and start their campaign."
Kejriwal, Mann launch AAP's Lok Sabha campaign
AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann launched the party's Lok Sabha poll campaign here on Friday with the slogan 'Sansad mein bhi Kejriwal, to Dilli hogi aur khush haal'.
General elections are due in April-May.
The campaign was launched in the presence of other party leaders and workers from the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters on DDU Marg.
"I have made all efforts to serve the people of Delhi who are my family," Kejriwal said.
"Our slogan is 'Sansad mein bhi Kejriwal, to Dilli hogi aur khush haal' (Delhi will be more prosperous with Kejriwal in Parliament)," he said.
Delhi and Punjab are ruled by AAP and these are the only two states that have free electricity supply, he said.
Kejriwal said the BJP-led central government through the Delhi Lt Governor stalls every project launched by the AAP government and urged the people to "strengthen" him by sending all seven opposition candidates to Parliament.
"They hate you because you elected and brought an ordinary man to power in Delhi. They demolished Mohalla Clinics with bulldozers, they stopped door-to-door ration delivery scheme, tests and medicines in hospitals," he alleged.
AAP workers will distribute pamphlets describing work done by the party's governments during campaigning for the elections, he said.
Punjab chief minister Mann said his state is going to have a 13-0 result in the Lok Sabha polls in favour of AAP. He also accused the Centre of obstructing the work of the Kejriwal government in Delhi and withholding Punjab's funds.
"No one will dare to stop Punjab's funds and work in Delhi if the AAP has a good number of MPs in Lok Sabha," he said.
The AAP will fight the general election in collaboration with INDIA bloc partner Congress under a seat-sharing arrangement it has struck with it in Delhi, Gujarat, and Haryana.
In Punjab, however, both parties have decided to contest the Lok Sabha polls independently.
The AAP will contest four of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and Congress will field its candidates on the remaining three.
The party has also received two constituencies - Bharuch, Jamnagar – in Gujarat and Kurukshetra in Haryana under the seat-sharing deal with Congress.
Separately, AAP has also declared its candidates from Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Sonitpur Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam.
Congress to sound poll bugle on conclusion of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai
The Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will conclude in Mumbai on March 17 with a rally at Shivaji Park in the city, Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole has said.
The party will sound its poll bugle for upcoming Lok Sabha elections at the event, he said on Thursday.
The yatra will enter Maharashtra from Nandurbar on March 12 and preparations for it are almost complete, said Patole. “The concluding rally of the Nyay Yatra will be held at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on March 17,” he said. The party has got all permissions for the rally, he said.
Patole said leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP group led by Sharad Pawar, will attend the event.
“We (Congress) will sound the poll bugle for the Lok Sabha elections there,” he said.
Congress leaders on Thursday held a review meeting in the presence of the party's state in-charge Ramesh Chennithala ahead of the yatra. Patole said the BJP is “stealing leaders from other parties as it does not have competent candidates of its own”. He also took a swipe at the ruling party for not including Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who is from Nagpur, in the first list of candidates.
“The name of such a national leader (Gadkari) should have been on the first list of BJP but it hasn't been done. Congress has a capable candidate for Nagpur and this time the party will win,” he said, adding they will field a candidate in Sangli as well.
In the 2019 general elections, the BJP had won in 23 constituencies, followed by the undivided Shiv Sena, which bagged 18 seats. While the NCP had got four seats, one seat each went to the Congress, AIMIM and an Independent candidate. PTI
What's happening on the BJP-BJD alliance front?
Fifteen years after it broke a decade-long alliance with the BJP, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headed by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is set to return to the NDA fold and fight the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in alliance with the party that had emerged as its principal opponent in recent years.
Sources said the alliance talks were in an advanced stage and both sides have “more or less” reached a seat-sharing agreement for the polls. A formal announcement is expected soon, they said.
This comes little over a month after the JDU led by Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA in Bihar.
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Decode Politics: Why TDP is in Delhi for another shot at alliance with BJP
Almost six years after the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) walked out of the BJP-led NDA, in March 2018, accusing it of ignoring pleas to grant Special Category Status (SCS) to a truncated Andhra Pradesh post the formation of Telangana in 2014, the Chandrababu Naidu-led outfit is close to rejoining the alliance.
Naidu arrived in Delhi on Thursday, in what party insiders called a last-ditch attempt to convince the top BJP leadership for an alliance. He huddled with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J P Nadda in a late-night meeting. Sources said actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan, whose party Jana Sena Party (JSP) is already in the NDA and in an alliance with TDP in Andhra Pradesh, also attended the meeting. Sources said the two parties have agreed in principle to an alliance and seat-sharing details are being worked out.
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After CEC meet, Congress party likely to release first list of candidates
After the Congress Election Committee’s first meeting, the party is likely to release the first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls today. The CEC on Thursday met to clear names of 60 candidates from 10 states, including Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Delhi and Chhattisgarh, and cleared the name of senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the Wayanad LS seat.