LS polls highlights: INDIA bloc allies abuse each other in Punjab, says PM Modi

General Elections 2024: Catch all the latest news updates on the Lok Sabha polls here

8:36 PM

Sukhu must clarify if there is move to cut quota for SCs, STs, OBC in Himachal: Anurag Thakur

Union minister Anurag Thakur asked Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and other Congress leaders on Friday to clarify if there is any move to cut the quota in jobs and education for the SCs, STs and OBC in the state, on the lines of some other states ruled by the party. Addressing Lok Sabha poll rallies in Una and Bilaspur districts of the state, Thakur asked whether Sukhu had opposed it when the Congress government in Karnataka was preparing to kill the rights of the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) "at the behest of 10, Janpath"? If not, then is Sukhu going to kill the rights of the SCs, STs and OBC in Himachal Pradesh too by cutting their reservation, he asked. "The Congress has been anti-SCs, STs and OBC since its existence. On the other hand, the BJP has always been working for the uplift of the SCs, STs and OBC," the Union information and broadcasting minister said. He said over the last 10 years, the welfare of the deprived sections of the society has been the priority of the BJP-led Centre, which has launched various schemes for them, and that is the reason why hundreds of SC, ST and OBC families are joining the saffron party every day in the state, including in Hamirpur.

7:36 PM

Prayagraj: Activists see LS polls as fight to save Constitution, many voters raise local issues

Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj Lok Sabha constituency is expected to witness an interesting electoral battle with some sections of voters here raising local issues such as cleanliness and healthcare facilities, while many see the poll as a fight to save the Constitution and the unique "Ilaahabadi" culture. From the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati, to the Allahabad University and the high court,? Prayagraj has been a revered seat of education, spirituality and syncretic culture in Indian history. One of the largest and most populous districts of Uttar Pradesh, it also takes pride in giving India seven prime ministers. "The city has produced so many politicians, civil servants. It has three Bharat Ratna awardees within a radius of one km and has given seven prime ministers to the country. This city is a heritage. The Kumbh mela has been celebrated from ancient times, then it became a Mughal garrison town, then the British Empire came in," Zafar Bakht, a cultural activist, told PTI.

5:04 PM

Punjab CM cannot take decisions on his own, has to go to Tihar jail to take orders, claims PM Modi

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann cannot take decisions on his own, has to go to Tihar jail to take orders, said PM Modi in an attack on AAP's Kejriwal. The Congress' 'royal family' removed Amarinder Singh from chief minister's post when he refused to obey orders, PM Modi said at the Gurdaspur rally. 

4:58 PM

The Durbaris of Delhi are governing Punjab, alleges PM Modi

4:57 PM

PM's post an institution but Modi's poll speeches cause for concern: Sharad Pawar

“The Prime Minister's post is an institution. Modi occupies an important position. But there is no need to take cognisance of what he is speaking in election rallies,” NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday. The statements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi against the opposition in this poll season are a cause for concern, Pawar emphasised.

4:48 PM

Punjab knows the true nature of the INDIA bloc: PM Modi at Gurdaspur rally

4:42 PM

BJP telling lies about my health, I am fine: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on Friday asserted that he is in “very good health” and campaigning in the elections for the Lok Sabha and Assembly all over the state. His statement followed comments of BJP president JP Nadda and other party leaders that Patnaik should be given rest in the wake of his health and old age. “There is a limit to the amount of lies the BJP can tell people. As you can see, I am in very good health and have been campaigning all over the state for months,” said 77-year-old Patnaik.

4:39 PM

Like British, PM Modi govt looted water, forest and land of country in 10 years: Congress chief Kharge

Congress will undertake caste survey to deliver justice to people, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said today at a rally in Jharkhand. Like British, PM Modi govt looted water, forest and land of country in 10 years, Kharge added.

4:29 PM

Congress, Hemant Soren's JMM competing with each other on corruption: Home Minister Amit Shah

Congress, Hemant Soren's JMM competing with each other on corruption in Jharkhand, said Amit Shah at Jamtara rally.

4:16 PM

Our Agnipath remarks criticism of policy not of forces, within model code: Congress on EC's remarks

Days after the Election Commission asked the Congress not to "politicise" the armed forces, the party Friday said its criticism of the Agnipath military recruitment scheme was within the Model Code of Conduct, and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "taking the support" of the poll watchdog.

Congress' ex-Servicemen Department chief Col (retd) Rohit Chaudhry said the model code states that the "criticism of other political parties when made shall be confined to their policies, programmes, past records and work".

3:51 PM

Congress selectively distributed central funds sent for Himachal monsoon disaster victims: PM Modi in Mandi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh of selectively distributing central aid meant for victims of last year's floods and promised to find out where the money went once he returns to power. PM Modi also called Himachal Pradesh the "sankalp bhumi" for construction of the Ram mandir in Ayodhya, referring to the pledge taken by the BJP in Palampur to build the temple, Modi said during a poll rally in Mandi.

3:25 PM

Derogatory remarks by Congress leaders against Kangana Ranaut insult to Mandi: PM Modi

Derogatory remarks by Congress leaders against Kangana Ranaut insult to Mandi, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today, and asked voters to give a befitting reply. 

3:21 PM

Lok Sabha polls: INDIA bloc has got capacity to stop the BJP from coming to power, says Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said the BJP is running the administration by misusing the autonomous bodies, due to which people are upset with them and are supporting the INDIA bloc; hence, the alliance has a good opportunity. “There is every possibility of INDIA bloc getting majority. INDIA has got the capacity to stop the BJP from coming to power,” Kharge said. Talking to reporters here in his hometown Kalaburagi, Kharge said people have provided a good environment in favour of the INDIA alliance.

 

2:59 PM

General Elections phase 6: List of constituencies, key candidates

Polling for the sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections will take place in Delhi and seven more states and Union territories. Read here for more details.

2:30 PM

Lalu neither worked for welfare of backward classes nor Yadavs: Amit Shah in Bihar

While addressing an election rally in favour of senior BJP leader and Union Minister R K Singh in Arrah, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday hit out at Lalu Prasad, claiming that the RJD chief neither worked for the welfare of backward classes nor the people belonging to his caste ‘Yadav'. Shah said if Prasad, as part of the "arrogant" INDIA bloc, comes to power, "jungle raj, abduction, and gang war will return to Bihar".

2:23 PM

RJD chief Lalu Prasad promotes only his sons and daughters, says Amit Shah at Arrah rally

If the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) comes to power, gang war, 'jungle raj', abduction will return to Bihar, Amit Shah said  today at a poll rally in Arrah. RJD chief Lalu Prasad promotes only his sons and daughters: Amit Shah at Bihar poll rally.

1:58 PM

Lok Sabha polls in Delhi: What's open, what's closed on May 25

Voting for all seven parliamentary seats in Delhi is set for Saturday in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls. Read here for more details. 

1:51 PM

Bengal govt to move higher court to challenge Calcutta HC order on OBC certificates: Mamata Banerjee

Addressing an election rally in Sagar in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that her government will approach a higher court, challenging the Calcutta High Court order that cancelled all OBC certificates issued in the state since 2010. She said the state government would appeal to the higher court against the order after summer vacation.

Addressing an election rally in Sagar in South 24 Parganas district,

1:08 PM

AAP alleges BJP nominee Hiran's claims in affidavit not true, seeks candidature cancellation

The Aam Aadmi Party has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that BJP's Ghatal Lok Sabha nominee Hiranmoy Chattopadhyaya has provided "wrong" information about his educational qualification in the affidavit and sought cancellation of his candidature. The AAP also accused the actor-turned-politician of making a false claim that he is a research fellow at IIT Kharagpur.

12:41 PM

On one side there is Modi's guarantee; on the other side, there is Congress's model of destruction: PM Modi

12:35 PM

Modi said that India would no longer beg from the world, India would fight its own battle: Prime Minister

12:32 PM

Congress can never do any good to Himachal: PM Modi at Himachal rally

11:50 AM

Will PM Modi scrap Agnipath amid opposition from Himachal, asks Congress

The Congress on Friday said the people of Himachal Pradesh have repeatedly voiced their opposition to the Agnipath scheme and asked if Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commit to scrapping the "ill-conceived" military recruitment programme. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posed several questions to the prime minister ahead of his rallies in Himachal Pradesh.

11:12 AM

Modi would have taken back Kartarpur Sahib in 1971, says Prime Minister

Stating that more than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers had surrendered in the 1971 Indo-Pak War, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said that had he been in power at the time, he would have taken Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan before freeing their troops. “For 70 years, we could have a ‘darshan’ of the Kartarpur Sahib gurdwara only with binoculars. I tell the Congress that in Bangladesh war, 90,000 Pakistan soldiers had surrendered. Hukam ka ekka hamare hath mei tha (We had the trump card in our hands). Had Modi been there at that time, he would have taken Kartapur Sahib from them and then released their soldiers,” he said.

10:43 AM

Naveen Patnaik is in a 'hostage situation': Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma

In Sambalpur to campaign for Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took a jibe at Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, saying the BJD chief was in a “hostage situation”. Sarma told media personnel: “No one knows whether the CM of Odisha is fine or how he is feeling. The CM says whatever is given to him in writing by V K Pandian (Patnaik’s close aide). It is my request to senior citizens and eminent personalities of the state to speak to Naveen Babu to ascertain how he is. I personally feel he is under a hostage situation.”

 

10:41 AM

Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel hits out at EC for not releasing voter percentage

"When people used to vote through ballot paper, election commission used to release the data of voting percentage within 24 hrs. Today, in the digital era, the election commission doesn't give the data even after 8-10 days and when it gives, the percentage increases by 6-8%. It means the election commission is biased," Former Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said.

9:50 AM

PM Modi called as 'boss', 'great' by many world leaders : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

At a public rally in Palwal, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that earlier India's words were not taken seriously at international forums, but today, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks the whole world listens, adding that many world leaders refer to him as "Boss" and respect him.

9:08 AM

General Elections 2024: PM Modi to address rallies in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address election rallies in Gurdaspur and Jalandhar today. PM Modi will then address two rallies, one at Nahan in Shimla (SC)  constituency in support of Suresh Kashyap and the second at Mandi in support of actor Kangana Ranaut today.