LS polls highlights: BJP chief Nadda summoned by Karnataka police over Muslim reservation clip

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4:58 PM

PM Modi's chair shaking, he has started attacking his own friends: Congress

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge today claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chair is "shaking" after three phases of the Lok Sabha polls as he has started attacking his own "friends". "The times are changing. Friends are no longer friends…! After the completion of three phases of elections, today the prime minister has started attacking his own friends. It is becoming clear that Modiji's chair is shaking. This is the real trend of the results," Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X.

4:56 PM

No INDIA bloc member supports Sam Pitroda's 'racist' remarks: AAP leader Sanjay Singh

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh today stated that none of the members of the INDIA bloc support Congress leader Sam Pitroda's alleged racist remarks and accused the BJP of "hating" the Dalits. Pitroda triggered another controversy on Wednesday with his "people of the east look like the Chinese and those of the south look like Africa" remarks.

4:54 PM

BJP chief Nadda, IT cell head Malviya summoned by Karnataka police over Muslim reservation clip

 

The Karnataka Police has summoned BJP chief JP Nadda and IT cell head Amit Malviya over a controversial post on X put by the party's state unit. The post contained a video showing the Congress favouring Muslims for reservation at the cost of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes, an allegation that has been made by multiple BJP leaders in the course of the poll season.

4:35 PM

Countdown has begun for YSRCP govt to go, NDA will do 'proper treatment' of Mafias": PM Modi in Andhra rally

4:26 PM

BSP nominee from Hoshiarpur Rakesh Soman seat joins AAP

In a setback to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), its candidate from Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat in Punjab Rakesh Soman on Wednesday joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). "Today I am joining the AAP. I am impressed by the works like providing good education and health facilities to the poor done by the Mann government," he said.

4:18 PM

Lok Sabha elections 2024:Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee holds roadshow in Baharampur LS seat

TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee held a roadshow today in support of party candidate from Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency Yusuf Pathan.

3:47 PM

Will consult legal expert if we can sue against these remarks: Manipur CM on Sam Pitroda's 'racist' remarks

"This is very irresponsible and he exposed that he does not know the geographical composition of India. Congress has been doing this 'divide and rule' policy. How can he say that the people from the Northeast are like Chinese? We are a part of India, we do not belong to China. We are just Indians, all the Northeast people live together. How can he give such a racist comment? I highly condemn this type of racist words used by him. I will consult the legal expert if we can sue against the remark given by the Chairman of Indian Overseas Congress," Manipur CM N Biren Singh said, remarking on Congress leader Sam Pitroda's statement.

3:41 PM

Congress completely dissociates itself from these analogies: Jairam Ramesh on Sam Pitroda's 'racist' remarks

"The analogies drawn by Mr Sam Pitroda in a podcast to illustrate India's diversity are most unfortunate and unacceptable. The Indian National Congress completely dissociates itself from these analogies," Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a statement on X.

3:32 PM

Lok Sabha polls 2024: BJP has plans to break BJD, after elections, says party leader VK Pandian

BJD leader and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's close aide VK Pandian today claimed that the Opposition BJP is not fighting elections in Odisha to win polls but to increase its seat number with an intention to break the Biju Janata Dal after elections. "They (BJP) had a slogan of securing 120 assembly seats in 2014 but failed. I do not know their target for 2019. But, for 2024, they have been fighting elections to win 50/60 seats and aim to break BJD after the elections. This is their poll strategy," Pandian told reporters.

2:47 PM

Rahul Gandhi talks about Adani every day: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today replied to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attack on her brother Rahul Gandhi where he had questioned the Congress' silence on Adani-Ambani. "Today Narendra Modi said- Rahul Gandhi is not taking Adani's name. The truth is this- Rahul Gandhi talks about Adani every day, he puts the truth about Adani in front of you every day and exposes it. Rahul Gandhi tells you every day that Narendra Modi has a nexus with big industrialists. Narendra Modi waived off Rs 16 lakh crore of his friends but did not waive off a single rupee of the farmers. Narendra Modi should answer this," Priyanka Gandhi said in a poll rally.

2:43 PM

PM Modi 'cheated' Andhra for 10 years, PM Modi is "shedding crocodile tears" for state: YS Sharmila

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President YS Sharmila today stated Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "ineligible" to enter the state as he has allegedly "cheated" it for the past 10 years. Sharmila alleged that Modi is "shedding crocodile tears" for Andhra Pradesh because of the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.

2:30 PM

If INDIA bloc comes to power, it will put Babri lock at Ram temple: Amit Shah in UP

Slamming the INDIA opposition bloc, Home Minister Amit Shah today stated if it comes to power after the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, it will put a "Babri" lock at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Addressing a rally in support of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, Shah also accused the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of defaming the saffron party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying if he gets 400 seats in the ongoing election, reservation will be done away with.

1:12 PM

People of Rae Bareli are understanding towards leaders: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today stated that the entire BJP machinery is engaged in spreading lies against Rahul Gandhi. Campaigning for her brother Rahul Gandhi from the family bastion, she said the people of Rae Bareli understand leaders well. "When they did not like some policy of Indiraji (Indira Gandhi) they defeated her also. Indira did not get angry but did introspection. You elected her again. It is a speciality of the people of Rae Bareli that they understand leaders," she said while addressing a street meeting at Thulwasa .

1:08 PM

Why has Rahul stopped attacking Adani-Ambani overnight, asks PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "deals" with businessmen and asked if Gandhi had received huge sums of money from Ambani-Adani since he stopped attacking them suddenly. Read here for more details.

1:00 PM

'Will not move from Raebareli till May 18', says Priyanka Gandhi Vadra amid poll outreach

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is set to hold as many as nine nukkad sabhas today in Raebareli in a bid to galvanise voters. In a meeting on Monday, the 52-year-old leader told Congress workers that she "will not move from Raebareli till May 18". Both Raebareli and Amethi vote in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls on May 20.

 

12:55 PM

Cong leaders searching for seats using magnifying glass: PM Modi at Warangal rally

At an election rally in Warangal, Prime Minister Narender Modi slammed the Congress, saying its party leaders were searching for seats using magnifying glass, after the third phase of polls.

12:31 PM

PSUs not in disarray, but thriving under Modi regime: Finance Minister Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today stated PSUs have suffered under the Congress-led UPA government and previously neglected ones like, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), have seen a 'resurgence' under the Modi government. In a post on X, Sitharaman that under the Modi-government, public sector undertakings (PSUs) are thriving, benefiting significantly from the culture of professionalism infused in them along with increased operational freedom. Rebutting allegations by the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi that state-owned companies are in a disarray, Sitharaman said such claims are a textbook example of the pot calling the kettle black.

12:22 PM

Congress stopped chanting the name of Adani-Ambani after announcement of LS polls, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today alleged that the Congress has been chanting the name of "Adani and Ambani" since five years and stopped it following the announcement of the Lok Sabha polls.   

12:10 PM

'Shehzada ye ghoshit karein ki Ambani-Adani se kitna maal uthaya hai': PM Modi

12:07 PM

After the elections were announced, Rahul stopped abusing Ambani-Adani: PM Modi at Karimnagar rally

" Shehzada of Congress, since his issue of Rafale grounded, he started talking about '5 industrialists' all the time in the last five years. Later he started saying 'Ambani-Adani', but after the elections were announced, he stopped abusing 'Ambani-Adani'. I want to ask him, 'Shehzada ye ghoshit karein ki Ambani-Adani se kitna maal uthaya hai'? What has been the deal that you stopped abusing 'Ambani-Adani' overnight," PM Modi said today.

11:56 AM

Rahul is silent on Adani-Ambani after third phase of voting, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed Rahul Gandhi today, saying that the Congress leader has maintained silence on 'Adani-Ambani' after the third phase of General Elections in the country.

11:49 AM

After 3rd phase of polls, Congress and INDI alliance's fuse blown off: PM Modi at Telangana rally

Addressing a rally at Vemulawada, PM Modi said four phases of polling are left and with the blessings of people, the BJP and NDA are marching towards victory.

“After the third phase of polls, the third fuse of Congress and INDI Alliance was off (blown up),” PM Modi mocked the opposition bloc.

11:34 AM

Congress and BRS have given Hyderabad to AIMIM on lease, says PM Modi

"For all these years, both these parties (Congress and BRS) have given Hyderabad to AIMIM on lease. If someone has challenged the AIMIM for the first time, it's BJP. More than AIMIM, it's Congress & BRS who are rattled by the challenge from the BJP. Both are helping AIMIM to win in Hyderabad," PM Modi said today at a rally in Karimnagar.

11:28 AM

Lok Sabha elections update: 81.71% voter turnout recorded in 4 seats in Assam

Around 81.71 per cent of the 8.1 million eligible voters exercised their franchise in the polls held in four Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam on May 7, officials said on Wednesday. The final polling percentage could be further revised as compilation of figures are yet to be completed, an official said.

 

11:19 AM

From Telangana to Delhi, there is a lot of discussion about 'double R' tax: PM Modi at Telangana's Karimnagar

11:15 AM

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Over 15 million eligible to vote in Delhi on May 25

Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, P Krishnamurthy, said on  on Tuesday that more than 15.2 million individuals would be eligible to vote in Delhi in the upcoming elections on May 25. This is a crucial increase from the 14.3 million eligible voters in the earlier elections, with an additional 885,000 voters since 2019. Click here for more details.

10:30 AM

BJP wants to win 400-plus seats to change Constitution, says former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray allged the BJP-led NDA wants to win more than 400 Lok Sabha seats so that it can change the Constitution. "For them (BJP) the Constitution of India is like a burden. They think why should they follow the Constitution written by a Dalit? They want 400-plus seats so that they can change the Constitution written by Dr B R Ambedkar," the former state chief minister claimed at a poll rally in Dhule.

10:21 AM

Odisha saw 'rampant corruption in the form of percentage commission during the BJD rule': BJP

The BJP on Tuesday claimed that the party will form a government in Odisha in June after the announcement of assembly election results as the people in the state are fed up with "corruption and misrule" by the ruling BJD. At a press conference here, BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda highlighted the key promises made by the saffron party in its manifesto for the state and claimed that Odisha witnessed "rampant corruption in the form of PC (percentage commission) during the BJD rule". Panda's comment comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called himself "son of Lord Jagannath" 

9:58 AM

Lok Sabha polls 2024: PM Modi to hold road show in Varanasi on May 13 before filing nomination

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will file his nomination papers from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on May 14 and before filling his nomination papers, he will hold a road show in his parliamentary constituency on May 13. The roadshow will go until Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.

9:55 AM

Mayawati drops nephew as heir till he becomes 'mature'

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday night announced that her nephew Akash Anand is no longer her political heir or the party's National Coordinator.  The former Uttar Pradesh (UP) chief minister said she has taken the decision in the interest of the party and the movement and till the time Anand gains "full maturity".