Lok Sabha polls highlights: Campaigning ends for 6th phase of general elections in 58 seats

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

7:59 PM

Campaigning ends for 6th phase of Lok Sabha polls in 58 seats

Campaigning ended on Thursday for the penultimate phase of Lok Sabha elections in 58 constituencies across six states and two Union territories, including all the seven seats in Delhi. Besides the national capital, polling for the sixth round of the marathon seven-phase elections will be held Saturday in 14 seats in Uttar Pradesh, all 10 seats of Haryana, eight seats each in Bihar and West Bengal, six seats in Odisha, four seats in Jharkhand and one seat in Jammu and Kashmir.

 

Till now, voting has been completed in 25 states and Union territories and 428 constituencies out of 543. The last phase of polling is scheduled on June 1 and counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.

7:59 PM

Congress did the partition of the country, says PM Modi

PM Modi said, "Congress did the partition of the country in such a way that for 70 years, we had to look at Kartarpur Sahib through binoculars... When the Bangladesh war was fought, more than 90,000 Pakistani soldiers had surrendered. Had Modi been at that time, then I would have taken Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan and then released their soldiers... I could not do that but I did as much as I could. Today, the Kartarpur Sahib corridor is active for the devotees to visit there..."

4:44 PM

You have to play your part in this fight: Sonia Gandhi urges Delhiites to vote

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi Thursday asserted that this Lok Sabha election is being fought on issues such as unemployment, inflation and attack on constitutional institutions. "This is a very important election. This election is an election to save the democracy and Constitution of the country. This election is being fought on issues like unemployment, inflation and attack on constitutional institutions. You have to play your part in this fight," Gandhi told the people of Delhi in her message.

4:40 PM

We have worked hard to wash off the sins of the Congress: PM Modi

At apoll rally in Bhiwani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that in the last 10 years, "we have worked hard to wash off the sins of the Congress". The prime minister hit out at the INDIA bloc, saying it has already started making grounds for whom to blame for their defeat.

4:33 PM

PM Modi is always 3X the next person; he is far superior to anybody in terms of mental attitude: Annamalai

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has shown during the poll campaign that he is always "3X" the next person, including much younger rivals like Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has said, asserting that one can discuss "what after Modi" only when someone better in hard work and popularity comes along.

"He (Modi) is far superior to anybody in terms of fitness, mental attitude. So he is there for a long time," the BJP leader said.

4:14 PM

General Elections 2024: Phase 5 turnout now at 62.2%; women outnumber men in casting vote

The voter turnout in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls held on May 20 has now climbed to 62.2 per cent, the Election Commission said on Thursday with women outnumbering men. According to an EC statement, 61.48 per cent of the registered male voters turned up at the polling stations as compared to 63 per cent of female electors.

4:03 PM

Saran violence: Lalu's daughter Rohini Acharya named in FIR

RJD chief Lalu Prasad's daughter Rohini Acharya has been named in one of the FIRs registered in connection with “irregularities” during polling in Bihar's Saran Lok Sabha constituency and post-poll clashes leading to the death of one person there earlier this week., officials said on Thursday. Acharya was the Mahagathbandhan candidate in Saran against BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy. The state government extended the suspension on internet services in the district by two more days till May 25.

4:02 PM

People's blessings are with PM Modi; NDA will get 400 plus seats in the Lok Sabha polls for sure: Piyush Goyal

"We will win all seven seats (in Delhi). INDI Alliance has completely failed, they neither have a leader nor are on the same page that who will be their leader. The trends we are seeing tell us that people's blessings are with PM Modi and, therefore, NDA will get 400 plus seats in the Lok Sabha elections for sure," Goyal said.Goyal, who held a roadshow in support of Praveen Khandelwal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha constituency.

3:32 PM

INDIA bloc talking about having 5 PMs in 5 years: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today alleged  that the INDIA bloc is talking about having five PMs over the next five years and said the fight over 'ghee' has broken out in the alliance, even before the cow has given milk. PM Modi at a rally in Haryana's Mahendragarh asserted that till he is alive, no one can snatch the reservation for Dalits and tribals.

3:26 PM

Congress struggling to get 40: Amit Shah at Siddharthnagar rally

 Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday claimed that in the first five rounds of polling, "BJP has crossed 310" and that the Congress is "not even getting 40 seats" this time. "INDI alliance has been wiped out in the first five phases. I am telling you, this time Congress is not even getting 40 seats and Akhilesh Yadav will not even get four seats," said Shah, addressing a poll meeting in Siddharthnagar in support of Domariyaganj BJP candidate Jagdambika Pal.

3:02 PM

Modi has implemented OROP in real terms, says PM at Haryana rally

 " '1962 mein, pandit Nehru ke aura ka gubbara jo phoot gya, China ke haathon jo hamari pitaayi huyi', they (Congress) held our military responsible for that defeat. That family even today keep looking for opportunities to demean our military. And in a sense of revenge, they have thrown Rs 500 and said that OROP (One Rank One Pension) will be done. Modi has told that what it means to implement OROP," said PM Narendra Modi in his address in Bhiwani.

2:53 PM

News update: On one side is your sewak; no one knows who leads INDIA bloc, says PM

In this election, you will not only choose country's prime minister but also decide its future, PM Modi said at a poll rally in Haryana's Mahendragarh.

2:41 PM

'Who made Haryana number 1 in unemployment': Congress takes jibe at BJP

The Congress today claimed that despite repeated promises, the BJP government has "failed" to provide permanent employment opportunities in Haryana and instead, it is promoting temporary contractual jobs through the skill employment corporation. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his rally in Haryana's Mahendragarh. "Outgoing PM. Now that we have his attention, here are today's questions for him in Mahendragarh: Who made Haryana Number 1 in unemployment? Why has BJP slowed down private investment in Haryana? Why are Bhiwani residents being forced to protest for clean drinking water and proper sewerage?" Ramesh said in a post on X.

2:15 PM

INDIA bloc is just blabbering, we will win 40 seats in Bihar: BJP leader RK Singh

"INDI alliance is just blabbering. The feedback that I have received, after five phases of elections, shows zero seats for them (INDIA alliance). Last time, we got 39 seats and this time, we will win 40 seats," says Union minister and BJP candidate from Bihar's Arrah Lok Sabha seat RK Singh

2:00 PM

Maharashtra Congress lawmaker PN Patil passes away

Maharashtra Congress MLA P N Patil has died at a private hospital in Kolhapur where he was undergoing treatment after falling in his house, sources said on Thursday. Patil represented the Karvir assembly constituency in Kolhapur district. Patil suffered a severe head injury on Sunday after falling in the bathroom of his house, according to sources.

1:58 PM

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Smriti Irani holds roadshow in Delhi's Chandni Chowk

Union Minister Smriti Irani held a road show Thursday in support of Praveen Khandelwal, the BJP candidate from Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat. The roadshow saw enthusiastic party supporters moving alongside Irani's procession, waving BJP flags and dancing to dhols.

1:11 PM

BJP holds protest over killing of woman party worker in Bengal's Nandigram

A woman BJP worker was killed in Nandigram in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, triggering large-scale protests by the saffron party activists there on Thursday, police said. BJP workers burnt tyres, blocked roads and pulled down shutters of shops in Nandigram, alleging that the TMC-backed criminals were involved in the killing of Rathirani Ari, who is a saffron party worker in Sonachura village.

1:09 PM

Election is fight to safeguard Constitution: Rahul Gandhi

"In this election, the fight is for safeguarding the Indian Constitution. It is not simply a book, our Constitution carries thousands of years of ideological heritage of Gandhi, Ambedkar and Nehru ji," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said.

 

12:25 PM

PM Modi's reply on income inequality was should I make everyone poor: Rahul Gandhi

"PM Modi was asked in an interview that in India rich people are getting richer, poor people are getting poorer, what is your opinion on this? PM Modi thought for 30 seconds and he said, should I make everyone poor?," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said today at a poll rally.

12:01 PM

Congress hits out at BJP for not fulfilling promises made to farmers

The Congress slammed the BJP today for not fulfilling the promises made to farmers' organisations and asserted that an INDIA bloc government will implement all its guarantees to the tillers, including the legal guarantee of MSP. In a video statement on X, he said the farmers' movement has been going on in Haryana and Punjab since five years and though the government took back the "three black farm laws", it has "not fulfilled the promises" it made to farmer organisations. 

11:49 AM

There is a wave against the BJP in Haryana, change will come: Priyanka Gandhi

"There is a wave against the BJP in Haryana. People are tired of their (BJP) politics. There is too much unemployment, inflation is at its peak. Change will come, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said today.

11:41 AM

What is their hesitation or problem?: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on EC putting out polling data

 Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said: "Why does the Election Commission not put this data on their website? What is their hesitation or problem?"

11:03 AM

Unfairly targeted despite his loyalty and hard work: Jayant Sinha

Hazaribagh MP hit back saying that he was being “unfairly targeted” despite his “loyalty and hard work”. Jayant Sinha was denied a ticket to contest the General Elections from Hazaribagh. The BJP, instead, fielded lawmaker Manish Jaiswal from the seat.

10:54 AM

General Elections 2024: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi holds roadshow in Haryana

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is leading a roadshow in Haryana's Sirsa.  Gandhi Vadra is campaigning in support of the party's Sirsa candidate Kumari Selja . Haryana votes on 25th May to elect 10 members of Parliament.

10:35 AM

BJP misusing religion for political purposes: Congress leader Rajeev Shukla

Congress leader Rajeev Shukla on Wednesday accused the ruling BJP of misusing religion for political purposes. According to a statement issued by the Congress here, Shukla said party leaders and workers have deep faith in Lord Ram and they don't need any certificate from anyone.

9:57 AM

Lok Sabha polls 2024: 45,576 EVMs at 20,031 polling stations in Haryana, says electoral officer

A total of 45,576 EVMs will deployed in Haryana for the General elections and the by-election of Karnal Assembly constituency, Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal said on Wednesday. Agarwal said 24,039 control units and 26,040 VVPAT machines will be used at 20,031 polling stations for the elections. Among the polling stations set up, 19,812 are permanent and 219 are auxiliary stations, he said.

9:15 AM

Making votes polled under Form 17C public could lead to chaos, Election Commission tells SC

 The poll body stated that there is no legal mandate to give Form 17C - which gives the number of votes polled in a polling station -  to anyone other than candidates and their agents. This may lead to mischief and vitiation of the entire electoral space as it increases the possibility of the images being morphed.