LS polls highlights: EC takes note of alleged MCC violations by PM Modi, Rahul; seeks response

General Elections 2024 news updates: Catch all the news updates on the announcements related to Lok Sabha polls here

4:56 PM

We will end Muslim reservation imposed by BRS and Congress: Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Medak rally

"BJP has decided to end the Muslim reservation imposed by BRS and Congress. BJP will bring the reservation for SC, ST and OBC. The holistic development of Telangana can only happen when the BJP government will be formed in the centre," Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Medak rally.

4:52 PM

'Yaduvanshi' are performing aarti of those who made fun of Shri Krishna: PM Modi

 "I went into the sea with great devotion, I went there to seek the blessings of Lord Shri Krishna but Congress 'Shehzada' made fun of it. I am surprised that in Uttar Pradesh, the contractors of SP (Samajwadi Party) who call themselves 'Yaduvanshi' are performing the aarti of those who made fun of our Shri Krishna,"  PM Narendra Modi said today.

4:51 PM

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhagel asks EC to take action against PM Modi

"There are just a few hours left for polls to begin. People in rural and urban areas are enthusiastic and the trends are favoring the Congress party. PM Modi was constantly talking about the things that are not in our (Congress) manifesto. The Election Commission should take immediate action on this", former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhagel said.

4:41 PM

Second phase of LS polls: Polling on Friday for 89 seats in 13 states

 Voting for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls will be conducted tomorrow for 89 seats in 13 states with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a second-straight term from Wayanad in Kerala. All 20 seats of Kerala will go to polls besides 14 of the 28 seats in Karnataka, 13 seats in Rajasthan, 8 seats each in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, 7 seats in Madhya Pradesh, 5 seats each in Assam and Bihar, 3 seats each in Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, and 1 seat each in Manipur, Tripura and Jammu and Kashmir.

4:10 PM

Polls a chance to completely free India from mentality of 1,000 years of slavery: PM Modi

 "This election is a chance to completely free the country from the mentality of 1000 years of slavery. This election will give new heights to India's self-respect," PM Narendra Modi said at the rally.

3:56 PM

Whole nation believes in 'phir ek baar Modi sarkar': PM Modi in Bareilly

3:53 PM

Bihar YouTuber Manish Kashyap joins BJP

Bihar YouTuber Manish Kashyap, who was arrested last year for allegedly circulating fake videos of Bihar migrants being harassed in Tamil Nadu, joined the BJP today. "I have joined the BJP to work under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. My mother, who fought for me when I was in jail for nine months, asked me to join the BJP," Kashyap told reporters.

3:25 PM

It is your habit to seize on a few words taken out of context, create communal divide: Kharge to PM Modi

Addressing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge told him that it has become habitual for the prime minister to seize on a few words taken out of context and create communal divide. Seeking time to explain the party's election manifesto, Kharge said the prime minister is being misinformed by his advisors about things not even written in Congress manifesto.

3:06 PM

Rajiv Gandhi scrapped inheritance law to save tax, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today claimed that former Prime Minister (late) Rajiv Gandhi had scrapped the inheritance tax since he didn't want to share his inherited property with the government. At a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Morena, PM Modi alleged that the Congress wants to impose the tax again.

3:03 PM

Congress will not play on the pitch prepared by BJP: Congress

The Congress today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of spreading "lies" to divert attention from real issues in the Lok Sabha elections and challenged him to point out where in the party's manifesto is "redistribution of wealth" mentioned. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that PM Modi "symbolises Asatyamev Jayate'.

3:00 PM

Kerala opposition leader complains to EC against Delhi Lt Governor for model code violation

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly VD Satheesan today asked the Election Commission to take action against Delhi's Lt Governor for allegedly visiting heads of churches in the southern state to "lure" them to take a stand in favour of BJP in the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. In a letter to the commission, senior Congress leader Satheesan, alleged "blatant violation of the model code of conduct" by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena through his meeting of church heads in Kerala.

2:04 PM

Appeasement politics has taken away rights of the truthful and honest: PM Modi

"Our country has seen a lot of appeasement politics, it has divided the country into pieces. Appeasement politics has taken away the rights of the truthful and honest," PM Modi said at the election rally in Agra. 

2:00 PM

Congress manifesto has imprint of Muslim League: PM Modi at Agra rally

The policy of appeasement divided the country; Congress manifesto has an imprint of the Muslim League, PM Modi said today at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh.

1:55 PM

Some powers do not want India's army to become self-reliant: PM Modi at Agra rally

1:52 PM

India's rising global stature not liked by some powers: PM Modi at Agra rally

India's rising global stature not liked by some powers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Agra.

1:37 PM

General Elections 2024: AAP launches Lok Sabha campaign song 'jail ke jawab mein hum vote denge'

 Focusing on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate, the Aam Aadmi Party today launched its Lok Sabha campaign song titled 'jail ke jawab mein hum vote denge'. The song penned and sung by AAP MLA Dilip Pandey was launched by party leaders at an event at the AAP headquarters.

 

1:34 PM

Lok Sabha polls 2024 update: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav files nomination papers from Kannauj

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav today  filed his nomination papers from Kannauj Lok Sabha constituency. Akhilesh replaced his nephew Tej Pratap Yadav as the SP candidate from Kannauj. Ram Gopal Yadav said that SP will win the seat with a huge margin. "The BJP candidate might lose his deposit in the seat," he said.

1:17 PM

EC takes cognisance of alleged poll code violation against a prime minister for first time

In its letter addressed to BJP President J P Nadda, the Election Commission asked him to respond by Monday to complaints filed by the Congress, CPI and CPI (ML) regarding the remarks made by Modi on April 21 in Banswara. At the same time, the poll panel also asked the Congress to respond to complaints filed by the BJP against the main opposition party's president Mallikarjun Kharge and its senior leader Rahul Gandhi regarding their respective remarks.

 

1:09 PM

Campaign speeches by those holding high positions are of more serious consequences: EC

Amid the political slugfest over PM Modi's speech, the Election Commission of India (ECI) asserted that political parties will have to take primary and increasing responsibility for conduct of their candidates and star campaigners.

1:04 PM

EC seeks reply from BJP on complaint by Congress, other opposition parties about PM Modi's Banswara speech

The poll body has sought responses from BJP on complaint by the Congress and other opposition parties about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Banswara speech. 

 

1:00 PM

EC takes note of alleged MCC violations by PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi; seeks response by April 29

The ECI on Thursday said it has taken note of alleged MCC violations by both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. 

The poll body has sought responses by 11:00 am on April 29.

12:16 PM

Congress hatching conspiracy to deprive tribals and backward classes since many years: PM Modi

The Congress has been hatching conspiracy to deprive tribals and backward classes of their rights for many years, PM Modi said today in Morena, Madhya Pradesh. 

12:09 PM

Nothing is greater than the country for BJP, but for Congress, it is family first: PM Modi at Morena rally

 "Nothing is greater than the country for BJP. But for Congress, it is family first. Congress' policy is to keep the one who makes the maximum contribution, hard work and dedication for the country at the back. Therefore, for so many years, Congress did not allow the demands of army personnel like One Rank-One Pension to be fulfilled. We implemented One Rank-One Pension as soon as the government was formed," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today addressing a rally in Morena, Madhya Pradesh.

12:01 PM

Congress put Madhya Pradesh in line with other Bimaru states in the country: PM Modi

11:58 AM

News Update: Congress is anti-development, says PM Modi at Morena rally

Addressing a rally at Morena, Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the Congress party is anti-development. 

 

11:41 AM

Who will be answerable if something happens to Kejriwal?:Sanjay Singh on reports of scuffle inside Tihar Jail

11:01 AM

News update: NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar releases party's manifesto for Lok Sabha elections 2024

10:56 AM

Lok Sabha polls 2024 update: Sunita Kejriwal may join AAP's campaign, to hold roadshows this weekend

Sunita Kejriwal is likely to hold roadshows in Delhi beginning this weekend, in the absence of her husband Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, party sources said on Thursday.

 

Sunita is slowly emerging out of the shadows to assume a bigger role to give a fillip to AAP's campaigning which has been affected by Kejriwal's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case in March. The Delhi chief minister's judicial custody has been extended till May 7.

10:13 AM

Home Minister Amit Shah to hold election rally in Odisha's Sonepur

Home Minister Amit Shah will hold an election rally in Odisha's Sonepur on Thursday. He will also be speaking in Banswada, a city in Zaheerabad constituency of Telangana, today.
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10:06 AM

BJP's stand on Constitution more important than individual comments, says Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Chavan

BJP Rajya Sabha member Ashok Chavan stated that an individual's opinion does not matter when it comes to narrative about the Constitution and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clearly stated the statute book will not be changed. The former Maharashtra Chief Minister and ex-Congress leader also asserted on Wednesday that a party colleague and sitting MP who talked about changing the Constitution has been denied re-nomination from his seat in Karnataka.