Polls highlights: BJP names Dinesh Pratap Singh from Rae Bareli, Karan Bhushan Singh from Kaiserganj

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

8:11 PM

BJP nominates Dinesh Pratap Singh from Rae Bareli seat, Karan Bhushan Singh from Kaiserganj in Uttar Pradesh

5:04 PM

INDI alliance has asked Muslims to go for Vote Jihad: PM Modi latches on remark by Salman Khurshid's niece

Blasting the INDIA bloc on the "vote jihad" remark by Congress leader Salman Khurshid's niece Maria Alam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stated that the woman leader had "exposed" the INDIA bloc's strategy for the ongoing Lok Sabha election. "INDI alliance has asked Muslims to go for Vote Jihad. This has come from an educated family, not from a child coming out of a Madrasa. INDI alliance is saying that all Muslims should get together and vote. The INDI alliance has insulted democracy and the Constitution," PM said in an election rally in Gujarat's Anand.

4:44 PM

Ex-WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan dropped as BJP's LS candidate from Kaiserganj, son nominated instead

Incumbent MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh's son Karan Bhushan Singh has been nominated as BJP's candidate from the Kaiserganj seat in the Lok sabha polls.

4:30 PM

RJD stands for 'Rishwatkhor Jungleraj Dal,' says BJP chief Nadda

Taking a jab at RJD, which is an alliance partner of the INDIA bloc in Bihar, BJP chief J P Nadda today said the party led by Lalu Prasad stands for 'Rishwatkhor Jungleraj Dal'. Addressing a public rally in Araria Lok Sabha seat in support of BJP candidate Pradeep Kumar Singh, Nadda accused the opposition coalition of "protecting" corrupt people, whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "striving hard" to end corruption in the country.

4:19 PM

Lok sabha poll: Congress leader Ashok Gehlot challenges BJP to debate on manifestos

Challenging the BJP to a debate on the manifestos of the two parties, former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attack on Congress was the result of his "nervousness." "Why has Modi talked about winning more than 400 seats and ridding the country of Congress? They have created such an atmosphere that people are worried about the Constitution being changed. It is because of this the BJP is on the defensive," he said.

The language the prime minister was using while targeting Congress was the result of his "nervousness," Gehlot claimed.

3:55 PM

BJP's claim of '400 par' in the Lok Sabha elections a joke, says Congress leader Shashi Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor rejected the BJP's claim of winning 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, calling it a joke and deemed even 200 seats a challenging target. Tharoor stated that BJP's defeat in the elections was a "foregone conclusion," adding that achieving 300 seats was impossible.

3:47 PM

Lok Sabha polls: BJP candidate from Kurukshetra seat Naveen Jindal on Thursday files nomination papers.

The BJP candidate from the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat Naveen Jindal filed his nomination papers today. The indutrialist was accompanied by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini when he went to file his nomination forms.

3:32 PM

News update: Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan files nomination for LS polls from Sambalpur in Odisha

3:30 PM

Surat, Indore show NDA on course for '400 paar': Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at Bihar rally

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today stated that the developments in Surat and Indore were an indication that the BJP-led NDA was on course for achieving its target of 400 plus seats in the Lok Sabha. The former BJP president made remarks at a rally in Saran Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar, held shortly after sitting MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a former Union minister, filed his nomination papers.

 

3:22 PM

Rahul Gandhi seeks apology from PM Modi for soliciting votes for JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna

Addressing an election rally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today claimed that Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna had raped 400 women and made their videos, and sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for soliciting votes for him. Prajwal, grandson of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda, is facing allegations of sexually abusing women. 

2:47 PM

Congress 'trying to divide' Hindus for appeasement politics: PM Modi on Kharge's remarks

At a rally in Surendranagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hit out at the Congress over party president Mallikarjun Kharge's recent remark on Lord Ram and Lord Shiva, accusing the opposition party of trying to create divisions among Hindus due to its appeasement politics. "Now, Congress is trying to create divisions among Hindus. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has made a very dangerous statement about Lord Ram and Lord Shiva. This statement has been made with malafide intentions. They are playing a game to divide the Hindu community," he said.

2:43 PM

Lok Sabha elections updates: Delhi HC dismisses petition on deepfake videos and images

The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed a PIL seeking directions to EC to formulate guidelines to stop misuse of deepfakes during the General Elections.

2:40 PM

Why voting percentage was uploaded 11 days after polling day?: RS MP Kapil Sibal slams poll body

 Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal today asked why the voting percentage data for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections was uploaded eleven days after the polling day. "The Supreme Court has given a decision regarding the EVM and they have said that every citizen should have faith in the Election Commission. But, is the EC or any other agencies trustworthy? After the first phase, the data on the EC website, about the vote percentage, was uploaded after 11 days. It only shows the percentage of the votes, not the number. I dont know what the reason is," Sibal said.

2:35 PM

PM Modi on two-day visit to West Bengal from Thursday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day visit to West Bengal from Thursday, during which he is scheduled to address several election rallies, a senior official said. The PM is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on Thursday evening and spend the night at Raj Bhavan, he said. PM Modi is scheduled to address election rallies in support of party candidates in Krishnanagar, Bardhaman Purba and Bolpur Lok Sabha constituencies on Friday.

1:38 PM

Seek votes on performance, not through 'hate speeches': Congress chief Kharge to PM Modi

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge came out heavily against Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said when the elections are over, people will only remember him as the PM who indulged in "divisive and communal speeches filled with lies" to avoid an inevitable defeat. Kharge asked PM Modi to seek votes on the performance of his government over the last ten years instead of indulging in "hate speeches".

1:33 PM

Ex-Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao barred by Election Commission from campaigning for 48 hours

The Election Commission has prohibited BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao from campaigning for 48 hours for violating the Model Code of Conduct. The temporary ban will start from 8 pm today. The poll panel barred KCR from campaigning on the basis of a complaint filed by Congress leader G Niranjan, which accused him of making “derogatory and objectionable” remarks against the party.

1:29 PM

Congress party a 'disciple' of Pakistan: PM Modi in Anand rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dubbed the Congress party a "disciple" of Pakistan, and said the neighbouring country was eager to make the 'shehzada' of the grand old party the next prime minister of India. His comments came amid reports that Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, a former minister in Imran Khan's cabinet in Pakistan, shared a video featuring Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his social media handle and praised him.

1:27 PM

Odisha CM Patnaik files nomination from Kantabanji assembly seat

 Two days after filing his papers from Hinjili seat in Ganjam district, BJD chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday filed his nomination papers from Kantabanji assembly segment under Bolangir parliamentary constituency in the state's western region. Patnaik chose Kantabanji as the second seat as it is strategically located and connected to three Lok Sabha seats such as Kalahandi, Bolangir, and Bargarh. These three LS seats were won by the opposition BJP in the 2019 elections.

1:11 PM

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Omar Abdullah files nomination for Baramulla seat

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah filed his nomination papers for the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmi on Thursday. Accompanied by NC's treasurer Shammi Oberoi and senior vice president of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee G N Monga, Abdullah filed the nomination papers before Baramulla Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa, who is the returning officer of the constituency.

 

12:35 PM

Modi govt 'snatching away' reservation by 'blindly' implementing privatisation, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today accused the Modi government of "clandestinely snatching away" reservation from Dalits, tribals and backward classes by "blindly" implementing privatisation. In a post in Hindi on X,  the Congress leader said the mantra of Narendra Modi's campaign to remove reservation is -- 'na rahega baans, na bajegi bansuri', meaning neither there will be government jobs nor any reservation will be available. Gandhi added that his party guarantees strengthening the public sector enterprises and opening the doors for employment.

12:12 PM

I will work 24x7 to make India a developed country by 2047: PM Modi at Anand rally

At an election rally in Anand, Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he would work 24x7 to make India a developed country by 2047. He also claimed that some forces want a weak government to be at the helm in India.

12:07 PM

PM Modi's speeches not based on facts, reality: Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar today slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his speeches were not based on facts and reality. Pawar stated that PM Modi doesn't talk about the basic issues that people face and diverts their attention.

"I have never seen a prime minister earlier whose speeches were not based on facts and reality. He is satisfied with targeting me and Uddhav Thackeray," Pawar said

11:54 AM

BJP govt has made Gujarat hub for drug traffickers from Pakistan, claims Congress

The Congress today claimed that the BJP government has made Gujarat a hub for drug traffickers from Pakistan and asked what is Prime Minister Narendra Modi doing to confront the rise of drug smuggling in the state. "Who is the PM protecting in the rampant drug smuggling trade into Gujarat? Who is responsible for the lakhs of families affected by inaccurate land records? Why is Gujarat still suffering from water shortage after all these years of BJP rule?" Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.

11:40 AM

Our government has a clear vision for the country: PM Modi

11:32 AM

Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Rohini Acharya to take on father's namesake in Bihar's Saran Lok Sabha seat

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Rohini Acharya's bid to reclaim the Saran Lok Sabha seat or the party is being challenged by a namesake of her father. Contestant Laloo Prasad Yadav, a local farmer from Bihar's Saran district, has contested several elections. The Saran seat was once represented by the socialist leader. 

11:15 AM

Lok Sabha polls 2024: BSP releases fresh list of candidates

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) today declared another list of six candidates for the General Elections. The party had given tickets to Saurabh Kumar Mishra, Nadeem Mirza and Narendra Pandey tickets from Gonda, Domariaganj and Kaiserganj seats respectively.

10:50 AM

General Elections 2024: Rahul Gandhi to address two public meetings in Karnataka today

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be in Karnataka today to address two public meetings. Gandhi will address an election rally at the Freedom Park in the district headquarters town of Shivamogga at 1:00 pm, the party's state unit said. He will then travel to another district headquarters town of Raichur for the second event at 4:25 pm.

10:47 AM

Lok Sabha polls: District officials in Gujarat's Anand used 1,000 lamps to write 'Anand will vote'

10:18 AM

PM Narendra Modi’s photo removed from Covid vaccine certificates

The Union health ministry has removed the image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the CoWIN certificates for Covid-19 vaccinations. Earlier, these certificates featured PM Modi's image along with a quote on India's resolve to defeat the coronavirus. 

9:54 AM

Lok Sabha elections 2024 :Ghulam Nabi Azad welcomes EC decision to postpone polls in Anantnag-Rajouri

Stating that  said the decision has relieved several political parties, democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairperson Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday welcomed the Election Commission's decision to postpone polls in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency. "It is never too late. The decision of the Election Commission of India has relieved us. I thank the ECI for taking this right decision. All political parties will benefit from the decision. Actually, all parties are happy," he told reporters.