Elections: No party neglected Ambedkar more than Congress, says PM Modi

Rahul Gandhi released the Congress party's Lok Sabha elections 2019 manifesto today

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Rahul challenges PM to debate him on security, corruption and foreign policy

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to debate with him on national security, corruption and foreign policy. Gandhi, while addressing a gathering at its manifesto release event at the party headquarters here, claimed that the prime minister was "scared" and did not want to have a "real debate". Asked about BJP's pitch on issues pertaining to "Hindus" and nationalism, the Congress chief said: "We all are Hindus, but the country needs employment, there is a need to help the farmers in the country, the country needs NYAY, there is a need to take care of women, give reservation to women."

Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Photo: @INCIndia

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares a light moment with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, during an election rally, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, in Gaya | Photo credit: PTI

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BJP supporters hold cutouts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah as they gather for a roadshow Amit Shah for the Bengaluru South Constituency candidate Tejaswi Surya, in Bengaluru | Photo credit: PTI

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BJD fields women candidates on 33% seats; Tathagat Satpathy steps aside

The ruling BJD has kept its promise of fielding women candidates in 33 per cent seats for the coming Lok Sabha elections in Odisha.

 

"The BJD has fielded 33 per cent women candidates for the state's 21 Lok Sabha seats. We stand by our promise made in this regard," BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters after announcing the candidature of Chandrani Murmu as the party's nominee for Keonjhar (ST) seat.

File photo of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

10:34 PM

AAP may discuss pre-poll alliance prospects with Congress

Amid Congress president Rahul Gandhi's remarks that his party was flexible and open to alliances, the AAP on Tuesday said it will discuss the prospects of a pre-poll tie-up with the grand old party with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and party leaders.
 

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal

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10:08 PM

BJP releases candidates list for constituencies of Gujarat, Kerala

9:37 PM

Congress manifesto pack of lies, says Amit Shah

BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday dubbed the Congress's election manifesto a "pack of lies" and said it was an insult to the country's people and its brave soldiers. In a statement, he hit out at the opposition party over its promise to repeal Section 124A (sedition law) and review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, saying it is bringing a smile to terrorists and separatists while lowering the morale of the armed forces.

National president of BJP Amit Shah

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Will reverse illegal interference by BJP in RBI functioning: Congress

The Congress said the party will "reverse the unwarranted and illegal interference by the BJP government into the functioning of the RBI" if voted to power. It also promised to review and replace the current Goods and Services Tax laws with "the GST 2.0 regime", which will be based on a "single, moderate, standard rate of tax" on all goods and services.

 

"The Congress will respect the autonomy of the RBI in matters reserved to the RBI under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1939, including the formulation of monetary policy," the party said in its election manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls.

8:20 PM

Will review AFSPA Act in J&K if voted to power: Congress

The Congress said if voted to power it will review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Jammu and Kashmir, and made it clear that nothing will be done to change the constitutional position on the state, a clear reference to Article 370 which the BJP has been long promising to scrap.

 

Releasing its manifesto for Lok Sabha polls with a dedicated section on J-K, the Congress articulated positions on key issues of the AFSPA, Article 370 and dialogue with stakeholders in Kashmir very divergent from the BJP, which accused the opposition party of making "dangerous promises" and compromising on national security.

FILE PHOTO: Congress President Rahul Gandhi

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PM Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Bihar

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Cong manifesto bundle of lies: Adityanath

UP CM Yogi Adityanath Tuesday dismissed the Congress manifesto as a bundle of lies and also targeted the opposition over its handling of national security. Read more

6:11 PM

Modi to address six rallies in Karnataka from April 8

PM Modi will address six election rallies in Karnataka, including two on April 18, the day 14 Lok Sabha seats in southern districts will go to polls in the first phase. Read more

5:17 PM

PM Modi, Mamata to launch poll campaign in West Bengal tomorrow

The battle of Bengal is all set to heat up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee kickstarting their campaign Wednesday in the state that sends third largest number of Lok Sabha members to Parliament. Read more

4:31 PM

Mayawati slams both BJP & Congress, dubs them corrupt

Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) chief Mayawati Tuesday mounted a blistering attack on both BJP and Congress and accused them of betraying the dalits and the minorities while benefitting the rich. Read more

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Governance in reverse gear when Congress and its allies come to power: PM Modi

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Terrorism, prices, violence, corruption, black money rise when Cong is in power; country's prosperity, credibility decline: PM Modi at Bihar rally

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BJD govt did not cooperate, 'chowkidar' transformed Odisha with central schemes: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday slammed the Naveen Patnaik government of Odisha for "not cooperating" with the Centre for the speedy development of the state and said he used central schemes as a tool for the welfare of the Odiyas. Read more

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Cong does not deserve even single vote for promises like doing away with sedition law, says Arun Jaitley

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Arun Jaitley slams Congress manifesto over its promises on Kashmir

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Rahul Gandhi making unimplementable and dangerous promises: Arun Jaitley

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Tejashwini, wife of late Union Minister Ananth Kumar, appointed Vice President of Karnataka BJP

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Congress was involved in Bofors and now BJP govt is involved in Rafale: Mayawati

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Capex at 14-year low amid political uncertainty ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Capex on new projects halved in the March quarter of FY2018-19, compared to the same period last year even as a new government is set to be elected at the Centre.

 

The total value of new projects for the last quarter was Rs 1.99 trillion, a decline of 54.4 per cent from the Rs 4.36 trillion spent during the corresponding period in the previous financial year, shows data from CMIE. Read more

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Notification for phase 4 of Lok Sabha polls to be held on April 29 issued

The Election Commission Tuesday issued notification for phase four of Lok Sabha elections to be held on April 29 in which 71 seats across nine states will go to polls. Read more