Elections 2019: Congress hits back at BJP, says terror has no religion

The 10-day countdown for Lok Sabha elections 2019 has begun. The Congress has confirmed Rahul Gandhi, in addition to Amethi in UP, would contest from Wayanad

11:49 PM

PM insulting democracy by seeing Indians in terms of communities: Congress

The Congress on Monday accused PM Narendra Modi of dividing the country on the basis of religion and culture and demanded his apology even as it asked the Election Commission (EC) to take "decisive action" against him for violating the law. The opposition party also accused Modi of insulting democracy by trying to segment Indians in terms of castes and communities.

Randeep Singh Surjewala

 

11:35 PM

BJD declares 10 more candidates for Assembly, Lok Sabha polls

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday announced a list of 10 candidates including one for the Lok Sabha poll and nine for the Assembly elections.

11:30 PM

Delhi BJP unit to come out with separate manifesto: Manoj Tiwari

According to Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, the Delhi unit of BJP will be coming out with a separate manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls with special focus on local issues. The manifesto's content is yet to be worked upon but it will promise making Delhi pollution-free and cleaning Yamuna among others, he said.

10:25 PM

Congress to release manifesto for Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday

The Congress will release its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday. The manifesto document will be released by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and all top party leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, will be present at the party's Akbar Road headquarters. Gandhi has said that the manifesto will reflect the people's voice and not just one man's view, while making a clear reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

File photo: Congress President Rahul Gandhi

9:49 PM

EC seize over Rs 1,400 cr worth cash, liquor and drugs from states

According to news agency PTI, suspect cash, illegal liquor and drugs valued at over Rs 1,460 crore have been seized from across the country since parliamentary election schedule was announced by the Election Commission. The EC has deployed hundreds of general observers, expenditure observers and static and mobile surveillance teams in the country to keep a check on flow of black money and other illegal gratification so that the level playing field of holding fair polls is not disturbed.

 

8:53 PM

Real smart cities are built by good leaders: Rahul's swipe at PM Modi

Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'smart cities' project, saying real smart cities are built by good leaders. "Real smart cities are built by good leaders. "To improve quality of life in our cities we will move to directly elected Mayors with 5 year terms and elected councils", Rahul was quoted by PTI as saying.

8:14 PM

Hardik Patel moves Supreme Court against Gujarat HC

7:44 PM

BJP has given corruption-free govt under PM Modi's leadership: Rajnath

BJP has given a corruption-free government under PM Narendra Modi's leadership, besides setting the country on the path of becoming one of the largest economies of the world, Union Minister Rajnath Singh said at a series of rallies in Uttarakhand. Rajnath also said Modi has piloted the country steadily on the path of development.

7:25 PM

People trust PM Modi for country's development: Javadekar

Union minister Prakash Javadekar said people trust PM Narendra Modi for the progress of the country, exuding confidence that the BJP will win the upcoming Lok Sabha elections with a higher margin than 2014. "Key issues of the election are who will be the prime minister and under whose leadership the country will progress and will be more secure. The only answer to the issues is Narendra Modi," said Javadekar.

7:03 PM

6:39 PM

6:16 PM

Coalition govts have done better than PM Modi's: Chandrababu Naidu

Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu said that coalition governments have done better than Narendra Modi's one-man show and alleged that the prime minister is "killing the leadership" in politics, bureaucracy, media and corporate world by targeting those who question him.

 

In an interview to PTI, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief, who is eyeing the role of kingmaker at the Centre, said that any leader could be "a better prime minister than Modi" and that a PM should be a statesman and not a narrow-minded leader like him.

6:00 PM

Congress hits back at BJP, says terror has no religion

PM Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah on Monday accused the Congress party of trying to defame the community, saying it is a "sin" to link peace-loving Hindus to terrorism. The Opposition has hit back and accused Modi of speaking a lie, claiming that the term 'Hindu terrorism' was defined by his ministerial colleague, who was then a Union Home Secretary, an apparent reference to senior BJP leader R K Singh. Terrorism does not have any religion or caste and it needs to be fought, said Congress spokesman Manish Tewari.

5:45 PM

5:32 PM

BJP fields ally Thushar Vellappally against Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad

BJP president Amit Shah on Monday announced that Thushar Vellappally of Bharat Dharma Jana Sena, an ally of the saffron party in Kerala, will be the ruling NDA's candidate against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad.The Congress had already said that Gandhi will contest from the Kerala seat, considered a bastion for the party, besides his family pocket borough of Amethi.

5:12 PM

Reply to EC affidavit on VVPAT slips within a week: SC to Oppn leaders

The Supreme Court HAS asked 21 opposition leaders to file within a week their reply on the Election Commission's affidavit on their plea regarding Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips in Lok Sabha polls.

 

The opposition leaders led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had sought that VVPAT slips of at least 50 per cent of voting machines in each assembly constituency be checked randomly during Lok Sabha polls next month.

 

5:04 PM

PM Modi urges voters to punish Congress for Hindu terror slur, targets Rahul

PM Narendra Modi on Monday called on supporters at an election rally to punish the Congress party for coining the term "Hindu terror."

 

Hindus have not committed a single act of terror in thousands of years, said Modi at a farmer’s rally in Wardha, Maharashtra, launching the BJP and Shiv Sena alliance's Lok Sabha poll campaign in the state.

 

"The Congress tried to stain crores of the country's people using the term Hindu terror. Tell me, weren't you deeply hurt when you heard the term 'Hindu terror'? Is there a single incident in the history of thousands of years of Hindus engaging in terrorism?" Modi was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

FILE PHOTO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi | Photo: PTI

4:45 PM

Hardik Patel moves Supreme Court against Gujarat HC

Hardik Patel on Monday moved the Supreme Court against Gujarat High Court order rejecting plea to stay his conviction in 2015 Vispur rioting case

Hardik Patel. Photo courtesy: @HardikPatel Twitter handle

4:02 PM

'Nyay' money to be deposited in a/c of women: Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the Rs 72,000 money proposed to be given to the poor by Congress under the ' Nyay' scheme would be deposited in the bank accounts of women.

 

"This money would go to the bank account of the woman in a family. Every month, this money will directly go to the bank account of women. Crores of women will get power and India would stand on its own," said Rahul at an election rally today.

 

3:08 PM

Demonetisation was neither a fight against black money nor against corruption: Rahul

Demonetisation was neither a fight against black money nor against corruption. It was Narendra Modi's method to steal public money and give it to handful of crony capitalists: Rahul Gandhi in Telangana

2:02 PM

Ram Bhuwal Nishad, SP's candidate from Gorakhpur LS seat: There was a deal. Nishad Party chief, Sanjay Nishad took Rs 50 crore from BJP to become a part of the party. He had a deal with Adityanath.

1:47 PM

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor files nomination from Thiruvananthapuram Parliamentary Constituency.

1:45 PM

On BJP's criticism that Rahul Gandhi chose Wayanad as he feared defeat in Amethi, Reddy noted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi contested from two constituencies in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and the Amit Shah-led party puts forward "different type of argument" in such case.

 

But he said as far as Gandhi contesting from a second seat was concerned, people would naturally think he was not sure about winning in Amethi.

1:44 PM

The Congress announced Sunday that Gandhi would contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
 

The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala has fielded CPI's P P Suneer in the segment.
 

CPI is the second biggest constituent in the LDF.
 

"We are not worried about his (Gandhi's) candidature. We will fight. We will make all efforts to defeat him in this election," Reddy said.

1:43 PM

Left to go all out to 'defeat' Rahul in Wayanad, says CPI

The Left Front would make all efforts to defeat the Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad, and there was no question of withdrawing its candidate, CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said.

1:40 PM

Delhi High Court dismisses the PIL seeking stay on release of film 'PM Narendra Modi' during the period of Model Code of Conduct, ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

1:40 PM

Delhi High Court dismisses the PIL seeking stay on release of film 'PM Narendra Modi' during the period of Model Code of Conduct, ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

1:40 PM

Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi are likely to address election rallies in the state but the dates have not yet been finalized, Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) general secretary Chera Taya said.
 

"We are canvassing for our candidates in all the constituencies and also banking on social media to drum up support for our nominees," Taya said.

1:39 PM

Campaigning picks up pace in Arunachal Pradesh

With electioneering gaining momentum for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh, political parties are banking on star campaigners, social media platforms and door-to-door visits to woo voters in the northeastern state.
 

The ruling BJP as well as the opposition Congress have invited star campaigners to hold public meetings in the state.
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to speak at a rally at Pasighat in East Siang district on April 3 next.
 

Modi had addressed a public meeting at Aalo in West Siang district on March 30.
 

"Party president Amit Shah will hold another public meeting at Namsai on April 5 and Union Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to hold an election rally in the state later this week," BJP state unit executive vice president Tame Phassang said.

1:38 PM

There is "partnership" between TRS and BJP; remote control in Narendra Modi's hands, says Rahul Gandhi.