LS polls highlights: Congress does not want to include Lingayat, Maratha into OBC list, says PM Modi

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

7:56 PM

FIR against Congress' Salman Khurshid & SP leader Maria Alam Khan

FIR lodged against Congress leader Salman Khurshid and SP leader Maria Alam Khan under sections 188 and 295A IPC in Kayamganj PS in Fatehgarh district for allegedly asking for votes on religious lines.

6:27 PM

Congress does not want to include Lingayat, Maratha into OBC list, says PM Modi

Addressing a public rally in Zahirabad, PM Narendra Modi said, "In Telangana, people of the Lingayat and Maratha community have 26 castes who are demanding to be included in the OBC, but the Congress does not want to include the Lingayat, Maratha, and the 26 castes into the OBC list, but they included Muslims in the OBC list overnight."

5:41 PM

When whole world was progressing, India was suffering from policy paralysis under Cong: PM at Telangana rally

When whole world was progressing, India was suffering from policy paralysis under Cong rule: PM Modi at rally in Telangana

5:01 PM

False slogans, false promises, vote bank politics are markers of Congress: PM Modi at Telangana rally

 "Wherever Congress forms government, they have five markers of their governance. False slogans, and false promises, vote bank politics, encouraging mafias and criminals, dynasty, and corruption. These five markers make the Congress hand. People in Telangana can also experience these traits of the Congress," PM Narendra Modi said today at a public rally in Zahirabad. 

4:42 PM

Lok Sabha polls 2024: 3 JJP leaders join BJP in Haryana ahead of polling on May 25

Jannayak Janta Party's National Secretary Ashok Sherwal along with two other party leaders joined the ruling BJP in Haryana on Tuesday. Others to join are JJP state general secretaries Kusum Sherwal and Harpal Kamboj. They joined the Bharatiya Janata Party at the party office in Panchkula in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

4:40 PM

Haryana to rope in musical bands to encourage young voters

Musical bands will encourage people to cast their vote on the day of polling and also promote awareness and education regarding the election, Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Agarwal said. "Soon we will be doing the first band play, hopefully in Panchkula. The band will perform and election-theme music will be played," he said.

 

4:28 PM

PM Modi asks LS candidates to speak out against Congress' 'regressive politics'; Union minister shares letter

Prime Minister Modi wrote to the BJP candidates for the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls and requested them "to spread the word against the regressive politics of Congress and INDI alliance including their agenda to give reservations to Muslims by snatching it from SC/ST and OBC."Union Health Minister and BJP leader Mansukh Mandaviya shares the letter on X today.

4:05 PM

Under Modi government's tenure, India can protect its borders well: Prime minister

"Before 2014 there would be announcements warning of unattended objects. In the whole country, 24 hours a day, such warnings were issued in important places. Where did these unattended objects disappear after Modi became Prime Minister? Newspapers had headlines informing about bomb blasts every other day, but today India can protect its borders well,"  PM Narendra Modi said at a public rally in Latur. 

3:55 PM

I dream that the 2036 Olympics be held in India: PM Modi at Latur rally

"In Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and University Games, Indian players are breaking decades-old records. This confidence among Indian citizens will take us towards a developed India. It is my dream to host the 2029 Youth Olympics in India. I dream that the 2036 Olympics be held in India," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a public rally in Latur. 

 

3:29 PM

In another jolt to Congress, 6-time MLA from Vijaypur Ramniwas Rawat joins BJP

In another setback to the Congress, veteran lawmaker Ramniwas Rawat from Vijaypur joined the BJP today. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rawat was nominated by the Congress party to contest from the Morena constituency. Despite his efforts, he faced defeat at the hands of Narendra Singh Tomar from the BJP.

3:06 PM

Mamata Banerjee skipped Ram temple event to not offend her vote bank: Amit Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah today claimed  that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee did not attend the Ram temple inauguration ceremony in Ayodhya, as she was afraid of offending her infiltrator vote bank. Shah, while addressing a rally at Memari in Purba Bardhaman district, said this Lok Sabha election is about deciding whether people want "parivar raj or Ram rajya" in the country.

3:03 PM

BJP 'protecting rapists': RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Karnataka sex scandal

RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav today slammed the ruling BJP at the Centre over the alleged sex scandal in Karnataka and accused the saffron party of "protecting rapists and helping them get away". "Why PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah are maintaining a stoic silence over the Karnataka sex scandal? The BJP government at the Centre helped the accused (Prajwal Revanna) escape to Germany. The accused is involved in abuse of around 2,500 women in Karnataka. What happened to their (BJP leaders) 'Beti Padhao and Beto Bachao' slogan? They (BJP) are more into protecting rapists and helping them get away," he said

2:32 PM

BJP wants to throw away the Constitution which granted rights to people: Rahul Gandhi

At a rally in Bhind, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today stated that the BJP wants to throw away the Constitution which granted rights to people. Gandhi also went on the offensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that  If PM Modi can turn 22-25 industrialists into billionaires, then Congress will turn crores of people into 'lakhpatis.' 

2:23 PM

Congress has tried to strangle Constitution since beginning: UP CM Yogi

"The Congress' history has been to strangle the Constitution drawn up by Babasaheb Ambedkar. The Constitution came into force in 1950 and the Congress continuously worked to trample the freedom of expression. Even after that, there were continuous efforts to use the Constitution in its (Congress') own way," he said.

1:58 PM

Amit Shah fake video: Gujarat police arrests 2 in connection with doctored video on reservation

Gujarat Police has arrested two people, including Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani's PA Satish and an AAP worker, for allegedly sharing an edited video of  Home Minister Amit Shah, news agency ANI reported.

1:52 PM

India will go back 15 years if BJP wins, says SP leader Dimple Yadav

Accusing the party of practising "divisive politics" to divert attention from real issues, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav has said India will go back 15 years if the BJP wins the Lok Sabha elections. "They incite people on caste lines, play with their sentiments and divert attention from core issues," Dimple Yadav, the wife of SP president Akhilesh Yadav, said.

1:49 PM

Congress has only one identity - Betrayal: PM Modi in Dharashiv rally

1:48 PM

Modi works day and night to change lives, INDIA bloc is putting all efforts to change Modi: Prime minister

1:14 PM

General Elections 2024: 16.68% turnout recorded in repolling in Outer Manipur till 9 am

A voter turnout of 16.68 per cent was registered till 9 am at six polling stations in Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seat, where repolling is underway today, poll officials said. No untoward incident was reported so far and voting, which began at 7 am, is underway under tight security arrangements.

1:04 PM

Why is PM Modi nervous even in BJP bastions, says Congress post Indore setback

The Congress today claimed that its candidates in both Surat and Indore were threatened, intimidated and bulldozed into withdrawing their nominations, and asked why is Prime Minister Narendra Modi "so nervous" and "afraid" even in traditional BJP bastions. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Since 1984 the Congress has not won Surat and Indore Lok Sabha seats. Yet in 2024 Congress candidates in both seats were threatened, intimidated and bulldozed into withdrawing their nominations."

12:08 PM

People are seeing difference between 10 years of Modi govt and 60 years of Cong rule: PM Modi in Madha rally

12:02 PM

General Elections 2024: BJP's New Delhi constituency candidate Bansuri Swaraj files nomination

BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj filed her nomination for the Lok Sabha polls today. Union minister and party leader Hardeep Singh Puri was also present on the occasion.

11:58 AM

In last 10 yrs, I have lifted 250 million people out of poverty: PM Modi in Maharashtra

11:34 AM

Karnataka sex scandal: Amit Shah accuses Congress government of skirting over Prajwal Revanna obscene clips

Home Minister Amit Shah accused the Congress government  of not taking any action over the obscene clips allegedly feature former prime minister HD Deve Gowda's grandson and JD(S) candidate Prajwal Revanna. Shah stated the BJP stands with the women of  the country. "The BJP's stand is clear that we stand with the 'matrushakti' of the country. I want to ask Congress, whose government is there? The government is of Congress Party. Why they have not taken any action till now? We do not have to take action on this as this is a law and order issue of the state, state government has to take action on it."

11:22 AM

Amit Shah hits out at Congress for fake video on reservations, plays real and doctored videos

Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday slammed the Congress after a deep-fake video of him saying he would remove reservations went viral. A Congress worker, Reetam Singh, from Assam's Guwahati was taken in custody yesterday for allegedly making and sharing the deep-fake video of the Home Minister.

The deep-fake video showed Mr Shah talking about scrapping all reservations, when he was emphasizing o removing quota only for Muslims on religious grounds in Telangana.

11:15 AM

News update: BJP in favour of implementing UCC across India, says Amit Shah in Guwahati

11:04 AM

General Elections 2024: Union minister Piyush Goyal to fill nomination for Lok Sabha polls today

Ahead of filing his nomination papers today, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency, Piyush Goyal offered prayers at the Shree Pushtipati Ganesh Temple.

11:02 AM

Lok Sabha polls 2024: BJP's manifesto has vanished without a trace, says P Chidambaram

Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday stated that the manifesto of the BJP for the General Elections has vanished without a trace after it was announced. On the other hand, the Congress manifesto has been read extensively due to its promises. In a post on X, Chidambaram said, "Congress' manifesto is based on three driving principles: work, wealth and welfare. There is nothing in the BJP's manifesto that is comparable to the Congress' Manifesto. That is why PM Modi and other BJP leaders do not speak about their manifesto. The BJP's manifesto vanished without a trace. The Congress' manifesto has left a deep impression on the minds of the people and has become a talking point among millions of people of the country."

11:01 AM

AAP-Cong alliance credit goes to Arvinder Singh Lovely, says Sanjay Singh; Cong leader snaps back

AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh praised Arvinder Singh Lovely on Monday for the party's Lok Sabha poll alliance with the Congress, a day after he resigned as the Delhi unit president of the grand old party criticising the tie-up.

Responding to the remark's of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader, Lovely said when the INDIA opposition bloc was formed, he was not the Delhi Congress chief and added that Singh is suffering from "trauma" after coming out of jail.

10:15 AM

General Elections 2024: 37 candidates in contention for May 13 elections to 4 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha

Thirty-seven candidates are in contention for the elections to four Lok Sabha seats in Odisha for which voting will be held on May 13, poll officials stated on Monday. The nomination process for Nabarangpur, Berhampur, Koraput and Kalahandi Lok Sabha segments began on April 18 and the last date was April 25. The papers were scrutinised on April 26, while Monday was the last day for withdrawal of nominations.

 

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