Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: ‘Congress wants to give reservation to Muslims from OBC quota, RJD indulged in appeasement politics,’ says PM Modi in Bihar

Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Saturday alleged that the opposition parties are spreading lies and shedding crocodile tears.

Addressing election rallies in tribal dominated Koraput and Nabarangpur Lok Sabha constituencies Patnaik asked the people whether they are happy with his government.

Patnaik also asked the people whether Naveen Patnaik is a good person and whether welfare schemes beneficial for the poor and tribal people of the region are reaching them.

Congress candidate Deepender Singh Hooda and BJP nominee Ashok Tanwar on Saturday filed their nomination papers from the Rohtak and Sirsa seats respectively for the Lok Sabha elections.

Polling for 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana will take place on May 25.

Hooda was accompanied by his father and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan and party MLA BB Batra while filing the nomination papers at Rohtak.

AAP releases list of star campaigners for Haryana and Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal, Sunita Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh top five campaigners for both

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav claimed today the BJP is set to be wiped out in the third phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh scheduled for May 7 because of its "fake talks and false promises to all sections of society."

Days after he resigned as the Delhi Congress president in protest against the party’s alliance with INDIA bloc partner AAP and over selection of party candidates, Arvinder Singh Lovely joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday.

Lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who has been fielded by the BJP from the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha seat, on Saturday said the process to extradite accused persons to the country was a long and expensive one and emphasised the need to overcome the problem.

Talking to PTI on the sidelines of his campaign, Nikam also said the foray into politics was the second innings of his life and dubbed it a move from the court of law to that of the people.

"Extradition is a long and expensive process. Foreign courts decide on basis of their law on extradition after assessing and evaluating our evidence. There is need to overcome this. I am studying the issue and will speak more on it," he said.

Responding to the PM's ‘shehzada' jibe for her brother Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday called him a ‘shahanshaah' who lives in a palace but is cut off from the public.

“He calls my brother ‘shehzada'. I would like to tell him that this shehzada walked for 4,000 kilometres from Kanyakumari to Kashmir to listen to your (people's) problems, met my brothers and sisters, farmers and labourers and asked how we can resolve their problems,” she said.

“On the other hand is your ‘shahanshah', Narendra Modiji. He lives in a palace. Have you ever seen him on TV? Clean clothes with not a single speck of dust, not a single stray hair strand. How will he ever understand your hard work, your farming?” she said

Addressing a rally in Srinagar today, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah accused PM Modi of trying to create a fear psychosis among Hindus to stay in power and said he no longer talks about the issues of the common people that propelled him to the top post in 2014.

"Modi is trying to create fear among Hindus and to create that fear, he is telling them that your mangalsutras will be taken away and sold to give money to Muslims. Are we such bad people that we will snatch mangalsutras from our mothers and sisters?"

Speaking during his second rally for today in Jharkhand, PM Modi said that the Congress was solely responsible for the backwardness of tribal districts.

“Congress ruined tribal districts and are solely responsible for their backwardness. No force on earth can stop free ration delivery to the poor, this is Modi's guarantee,” he said.

“Modi ensured the poor get internet access, which was meant only for rich people during Congress rule,” he said further.

 In a veiled dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that “Pakistan wants Congress ‘shehzada‘ as prime minister” as they have been shaken by surgical strikes. ” Addressing a rally in Jharkhand’s Palamu Modi said that all the welfare schemes launched by the government were inspired by his life experiences.

“I have lived in poverty. I know how troublesome the life of a poor is. All the schemes launched in the last 10 years are inspired by my life experiences. When I meet the beneficiaries, I get tears of joy. These tears can only be understood by those who have seen poverty and struggle. The one who never saw his mother coughing due to smoke, cannot understand these tears… The shehzade of Congress is searching for his happiness in Modi’s tears,” he said.

Taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Modi said, “Shaken by surgical strikes, Pakistan leaders praying Cong 'shehzada' becomes prime minister of India.”

Till I am alive, will not now allow any design of Congress to succeed in changing the constitution for the reservation to Muslims, he said. 

Your one vote contributed to building the Ram Temple after struggling for 500 years.

I don't own a home or even a bicycle, meanwhile corrupt JMM, Congress leaders have amassed huge wealth for their children, he alleged.

There has been no blot of corruption on me in the past 25 years as chief minister and prime minister, PM said during a poll rally in Palamu.

Addressing a public rally in Jharkhand’s Palamu PM Modi said, 'I have lived in poverty. I know how troublesome the life of a poor is. All the schemes launched in the last 10 years are inspired by my life experiences. When I meet the beneficiaries, I get tears of joy. These tears can only be understood by those who have seen poverty and struggle. The one who never saw his mother coughing due to smoke, cannot understand these tears... The Shehzade of Congress is searching for his happiness in Modi's tears... These people are disappointed and hopeless...'

Participating in  AAP's East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar's roadshow today, Delhi Minister Atishi said, “It is evident from the crowd gathered here that Kuldeep Kumar Monu will become the MP of East Delhi. The people of Delhi have made up their mind to respond to Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by their votes.”

Addressing a public rally in Palamu, Jharkhand, PM Modi said, "In Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, every day from Pashupati to Tirupati, Naxalites were spreading terrorism. So many mothers lost their sons. Their sons used to take up weapons and run towards jungles, influenced by bad company. In 2014, with your one vote, the people removed the corrupt government of Congress," he said. 

Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra today said that there would be no impact of Prajwal Revanna issue on elections.

"There will be no impact of Prajwal (Revanna) issue on elections....Law and order have collapsed completely in Karnataka. There is a rise in cases of suicide, murder, rape and love jihad cases. This appeasement politics of Siddaramaiah Congress government may lead Karnataka toward a Kerala-like situation. Fear is created among Hindus here."

The JD(S) suspended Prajwal from the party on Tuesday in light of multiple allegations of sexual abuse against him. A case was registered by the Holenarasipura town police in the last week of April after pen drives with over 2,900 files went viral in Prajwal’s Hassan Lok Sabha constituency. A 47-year-old woman had earlier filed a police complaint alleging she was sexually abused by Prajwal and his father and Holenarasipura MLA H D Revanna.

Commenting on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Raebareli Lok Sabha seat, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, "People close to the Gandhi family have fought from Amethi previously...Why is the BJP so concerned?...I feel mercy and pity for Smriti Irani because now she will lose from Rahul Gandhi's PA...This is a well-thought-out decision. KL Sharma is a loyal worker of the Congress party. He has worked for several years with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in Amethi..."

Alleging that the Modi government dished out a "step-motherly treatment" to Jharkhand, Congress party's Jairam Ramesh on Saturday  claimed that the Centre owed Jharkhand lakhs of crores of rupees in coal royalties and central scheme benefits.

"Why is the PM not releasing 1.36 lakh crores due to Jharkhand? Why is the PM denying 8 lakh people of Jharkhand the homes they were promised? What happened to the Mandal Dam?" Ramesh said in a post on X.

The PM is scheduled to address two rallies in Jharkhand today.

In an interview with news agency PTI,  BJP’s Guna Lok Sabha seat candidate Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the Congress is heading towards its end and is like a "termite" gnawing at itself

"The Congress has become bankrupt in terms of ideology, human resources... Nobody wants to stay with the Congress and there is no honour and respect for anyone in the party," he said.

"People like him (Gandhi) want to lead the country. One should have a 56-inch chest to lead the country," Rajnath Singh said, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for India's growing economy and global power.

He mocked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for "running away" from Amethi and instead contesting from Rae Bareli.

The BJP mocked the Congress decision to field Gandhi from Rae Bareli rather than Amethi.

"Bhag Rahul bhag, Rahul bhag, Rahul bhag (run Rahul, run) -- this is what will go on now," BJP general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam told reporters in Delhi.

At a rally in West Bengal Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Congress “shehzada” (prince) who went to Wayanad after losing Amethi is contesting from Rae Bareli.

Union minister and Amethi MP Smriti Irani had earlleir filed her nomination papers from that constituency.

"The Gandhi family not being present in the election fray in Amethi indicates that the Congress has accepted its defeat in Amethi even before the polling on the seat."

Congress loyalist K L Sharma filed his nomination from Amethi Lok Sabha seat today.

Sharma filed his papers at the collectorate, accompanied by local Congress leaders. Earlier before the nomination, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot reached the local Congress office and urged the workers and public to vote for Sharma.

"It is BJP that has taken away so many jobs," she said on PM's assurance of help to honest candidates who lost jobs in SSC case.

"My heart bleeds for the woman molested at Raj Bhavan, it's a shame: Mamata Banerjee on the case of a woman contractual staffer at the Raj Bhavan accusing West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose of sexual harassment

"Bengal Governor misbehaved with a woman, he has no right to talk about women of state."

Hours before the deadline for filling nomination papers from Rae Bareli and Amethi seats, Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, in presence of Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi. 

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has left from a guest house in Rae Bareli and will shortly file his nomination from the Raebareli Lok Sabha seat. 

Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma has filed his nomination from Amethi on Friday.

Congress's Amethi candidate Kishori Lal Sharma on Friday said he would rather a Gandhi fight from the seat, but he cannot refuse the party's order which asked him to fight the election, reports PTI.

"Even today, I want the Gandhi family to contest the election from Amethi. But I consider it my duty to accept the order given by the family," Sharma told PTI at the Gauriganj Congress office. "I have always been a 'sevak' of the Gandhi family and whatever responsibility the Gandhi family has entrusted to its sevak, I will fulfil it," he added.

"No member of the Gandhi family contesting from Amethi in itself is an indication that Congress has accepted its defeat from Amethi even before elections", says Amethi MP and Union Minister Smriti Irani, reports ANI.

On Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Raebareli Lok Sabha seat, AAP National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar says, "This is Congress' decision, best wishes to him (Rahul Gandhi). Additionally, Rahul Gandhi encouraged a ground worker and gave him Amethi seat...The INDIA Alliance is standing strongly.."

The candidate chosen by the Gandhi family to carry the baton forward on their turf Amethi is a soft-spoken close aide going back to the time of Rajiv Gandhi, earning his stripes for his election management and coordination skills. Now, after decades of managing the family’s elections in both Amethi and Rae Bareli and acting as a mediator between the family and its constituents, 63-year-old Kishorilal Sharma will be fighting his first election.

Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi says, "Fearing defeat in Wayanad and Amethi, Rahul Gandhi decided to run from Rae Bareli."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi once against accused the Congress and INDI alliance of 'vote jihad', saying they are openly calling for and supporting it. He added, "Congress wants to loot reservations from SC, ST and OBCs and garner 'jihadi' votes from their vote bank."

Speaking from Bardhaman-Durgapur, PM Modi says, "TMC, Left and Congress lack vision for development. They have only looted and betrayed West Bengal. People are seeing the BJP as the only ray of hope."

On Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Raebareli Lok Sabha seat, Union Minister and BJP Hamirpur candidate Anurag Thakur says to ANI, "Sometimes back Rahul Gandhi used to say 'daro mat, daro mat' (don't be scared), now due to fear, from Amethi to Wayanad and Wayanad to Raebareli indicates his fear towards defeat...He was not able to serve justice to his sister (Priyanka Gandhi Vadra) as on one side Robert Vadra was also asking for tickets, and on the other side party's demand was for Priyanka Gandhi, however, her name was not mentioned in the party's list shows something is going on within Congress party."

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday hailed the candidature of Kishori Lal Sharma from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat, saying the Gandhi family has had a longstanding association with him.

Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, has been fielded from the seat to take on the BJP's Smriti Irani. Sharma was the key person who looked after the two prestigious constituencies on behalf of the Gandhis.

"Our family has a long-standing relationship with Kishori Lal Sharma ji. He has always been engaged wholeheartedly in serving the people of Amethi and Rae Bareli. His passion for public service is an example in itself," Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on X in Hindi.

"Today, it is a matter of happiness that Shri Kishori Lal ji has been made the candidate from Amethi by the Congress Party. Kishori Lal ji's loyalty and dedication towards his duty will definitely bring him success in this election," the Congress general secretary said.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot and Robert Vadra have arrived at Fursatganj Airport in Amethi. These senior leaders will be present at the time of Rahul Gandhi's filing of his nomination.

The Election Commission of India Thursday ordered the transfer of Sujata R Karthikeyan, wife of former IAS officer and BJD leader V K Pandian, from the Mission Shakti department to a “non-public facing department” with immediate effect, ECI sources said.

The ECI action followed a complaint of alleged misuse of public office, lodged by the BJP. Read our report here

Congress candidate from Amethi KL Sharma is slated to file his nomination today. Top Congress leaders are expected to be present during nomination filing.

Speaking to reporters on the occasion, he says, "I am grateful to the party, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi who have given a chance to fight election to a small worker. Rahul Gandhi was involved in decision-making."

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will hold a rally in Rae Bareli at 12 noon.

It will be after 25 years that no Gandhi will be in the fray from Amethi. Sonia Gandhi made her electoral debut from here back in 1999, a year after she took over as Congress president. In 2004, she shifted to Rae Bareli, making way for Rahul to make his electoral debut from the seat.

According to party leaders, the main reason behind Rahul shifting to Rae Bareli is that Amethi is no longer a family seat after the 2019 loss. Plus, should Rahul win from both Wayanad (the other seat he is contesting from, which voted on April 26) and Rae Bareli, it will be easier to give up the Kerala constituency citing the family’s even longer connection with Rae Bareli, plus that of Sonia personally. 

Continue reading

The BJP Thursday named Karan Bhushan Singh as its candidate from the Kaiserganj seat in Uttar Pradesh, replacing his father and sitting MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who has been accused of sexually harassing women wrestlers.

Kaiserganj votes on May 20 in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls.

On his son Karan Bhushan's candidature from Kaiserganj, BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh says, "Large number of supporters from Ayodhya, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Basti have gathered here. We will all leave for Gonda for filling of nomination."

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar has said that victory for his daughter Supriya Sule, his party's Lok Sabha candidate from Baramati, would reduce support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi by one MP in Parliament.

Campaigning on Thursday for Sule in Pune district's Purandar tehsil, which comes under the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, he also flayed the BJP over farmers' issues. Three-term MP Sule is pitted against NCP candidate Sunetra Pawar, her sister-in-law and wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

“We have given candidature to Supriya Sule so press the button next to her name on EVM in the election (on May 7). Your vote will not only determine her victory, but ensure that there is one more MP who is not supporting Modi,” the senior Pawar said.

The former Union agriculture minister said under the BJP government at the Centre, the condition of farmers has become miserable.

“If we want to change the scenario and have a farmers-centric approach in policymaking, then change needs to be brought,” he said. PTI

Rahul Gandhi is set to hold a roadshow in Rae Bareli, ahead of filling his nomination papers. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi will accompany him.

Prime Minister Modi is in Bengal. He stayed the night at the Raj Bhavan and will address election rallies in the constituencies of Krishnanagar, where the TMC candidate is Mahua Moitra, Bardhaman Purba, and Bolpur.

Reflecting the BJP’s push to make inroads into the south, the number of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trips to the five southern states saw a steady rise in the last two years of his second term leading up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which started on April 19.

Records available on the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) website show that Modi made 146 trips to the five southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu between May 26, 2014, and April 17, 2024. He made 73 visits each to these states in his first and second terms. More than one-third of these trips came in the last three years — 2022 (13), 2023 (23) and 2024 (23 till April 17). Overall, the share of southern states in domestic trips undertaken by Modi during this period rose from 14% in his first term to 18% in the second.

Read more

Ending days of suspense, the Congress has announced that Rahul Gandhi and Kishori Lal Sharma will contest from the traditional Nehru-Gandhi seats of Rae Bareli and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, respectively. The BJP has announced Dinesh Pratap Singh as its candidate from Rae Bareli. These seats are going to polls in the fifth phase on May 20.