LS polls highlights: BJP's third Lok Sabha candidates list out

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

6:26 PM

BJP releases third list of Lok Sabha candidates, ex-Telangana governor to contest from Chennai South

The BJP has released a list of nine candidates for Tamil Nadu, a state where it is yet to gain a foothold. The party, which plans to contest 20 of the state's 39 seats, has fielded former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan from Chennai South, state BJP chief K Annamalai from Coimbatore, union minister L Murugun from Nilgiri and senior leaders Pon Radhakrishnan from Kanyakumari and Dr A C Shanmugam from Vellore.

5:03 PM

BJP has problems with those families that oppose it, says Omar Abdullah

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah today stated the BJP does not have a problem with dynastic politics but has issues with those families that oppose the saffron party. "BJP does not have a problem with dynastic families. They have a problem with those families which oppose them. And I am proud to say that I oppose the BJP," Abdullah told reporters here.

5:01 PM

Congress is fighting 'hate-filled asuri shakti', says Rahul Gandhi

The Congress is fighting a "hate-filled asuri shakti", Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday, days after his "fight against shakti" remark sparked a political and drew a strong response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Humari 'asuri shakti' se ladaai ho rahi hai, nafrat bhari 'asuri shakti' (We are fighting a demonic power, hate-filled demonic power)," Gandhi told reporters. The BJP hit back at Gandhi again for his remarks, stating when his comments created chaos in the whole country, he was talking about 'asuri shakti'.

4:59 PM

Transfer of 4 DMs again proves BJP targeting Bengal for electoral gains, claims Trinamool Congress

The Trinamool Congress today claimed that the transfer of four district magistrates in West Bengal by the Election Commission ahead of the Lok Sabha polls proves its stand that the BJP was using the poll panel after facing people's rejection in the previous state elections. The poll body today shunted out non-cadre district magistrates and police superintendents of several states on grounds that the posts were meant for IAS and IPS officers respectively. 

4:57 PM

LIVE update: Won't join Congress, will work for Karnataka BJP's purification, says former CM Sadananda Gowda

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and sitting MP D V Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday, who is upset with the BJP, said he is not quitting the saffron party to join the Congress. Alleging "Pariwarwad" in the Karnataka BJP, without taking any names, Gowda said he would work towards "purification" of the party's state unit. The former CM is "upset" over being denied the ticket to contest again in the Lok Sabha polls from Bangalore North.

2:23 PM

Congress is conveniently blaming its irrelevance on financial troubles, says BJP

 BJP chief J P Nadda on Thursday dismissed the Congress' talk of financial helplessness as "comical." Nadda's reaction came after former Congress president Sonia Gandhi demanded that the party be given access to its bank accounts to ensure a level playing field for the Lok Sabha polls. In a post on X, Nadda said that the Congress' bankruptcy is "moral and intellectual, not financial".

2:17 PM

Congress releases list of candidates for elections to the Legislative Assembly of Arunachal Pradesh

1:48 PM

General Elections update: Intermediate students protest outside JD(U) office

1:47 PM

BJP appoints election-in-charges for Rajasthan, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh

The saffron party on Thursday appointed party election in-charges and co-incharges in the states of Rajasthan, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

1:45 PM

Congress is fearing a historic defeat: BJP chief JP Nadda

"Congress is going to be totally rejected by the people and fearing a historic defeat, their top leadership addressed a press conference and ranted against Indian democracy and institutions. They are conveniently blaming their irrelevance on ‘financial troubles’. In reality, their bankruptcy is moral and intellectual, not financial.   Instead of correcting their own errors, Congress is blaming authorities for their troubles...Congress part-time leaders say India being a democracy is a lie- may I humbly remind them that India was not a democracy only for a few months between 1975 and 1977 and that time the Prime Minister of India was none other than Indira Gandhi," BJP chief JP Nadda wrote on a post on X.

1:43 PM

Party will issue final list of candidates in next 1-2 days: Maha Congress leader Patole on MVA meeting

1:40 PM

Congress' ability to fight elections has been damaged: Rahul Gandhi slams Centre of freezing of accounts

"We can do no campaign work. Our ability to fight elections has been damaged," former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said while launching a scathing attack on the government over the issue of freezing of the party's accounts due to an Income Tax returns issue.

1:36 PM

There is no democracy in India today: Rahul Gandhi

This is not a freezing of the Congress' accounts but a freezing of Indian democracy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said. "There is no democracy in India today and the idea that India is the world's largest democracy is a complete lie," Rahul Gandhi alleged, terming the freezing of accounts a criminal action against the Congress and a criminal action by the prime minister and home minister.

1:34 PM

Give Cong access to its bank accounts to ensure level playing field: Sonia Gandhi

 Money from the Congress' accounts were being taken away forcefully, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi said today. "Systematic effort is underway by prime minister to cripple the Congress financially," she said, slamming the government.

1:30 PM

Lok Sabha polls 2024 updates: Congress doesn't even have money to buy a train ticket, says Rahul Gandhi

1:29 PM

Grateful for love and support I get from people: Ex- Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

"Jahan Janata hoti hai, vahan Mama hota hai. I am grateful for the love and support I get from the people. I will work for them till my last breath," said former Madhya Pradesh CM and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan  while travelling in a passenger train for the campaign in Ganj Basoda Assembly of Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency.

12:53 PM

This (act) is freezing of Indian democracy: Rahul Gandhi

This is not freezing of Cong's bank accounts, it is freezing of Indian democracy,  Rahul Gandhi said at a press conference today.

12:51 PM

Systematic effort by PM to cripple Congress financially, says Sonia Gandhi

At a press conference, Former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a systematic effort to cripple the party financially. Sonia Gandhi said, "The issue we are taking up today is extremely serious. This issue affects not just the Indian National Congress, but our democracy itself, most fundamentally. A systematic effort is underway by the Prime Minister to cripple the Indian National Congress financially. Funds collected from the public are being frozen and money from our accounts is being taken away forcibly."

12:48 PM

Constitutional institutions should allow us to freely access bank accounts: Congress chief Kharge

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that those in power should not have direct or indirect control over constitutional bodies and resources.

12:47 PM

BJP froze party accounts to create hurdles for Congress, says Kharge

The party in power amassed funds through electoral bonds while freezing our accounts to create hurdles for us in fighting polls, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said.