LS polls highlights: PM Modi begins 'dhyan' at Kanyakumari Vivekananda Rock Memorial

LS polls LIVE: From Anurag Thakur's claim of BJP crossing 400 seats in the 7th phase to JP Nadda's claim of winning 30 plus seats in West Bengal, catch all the latest updates on elections here

8:17 PM

PM Modi begins 'dhyan' at Kanyakumari Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his 45-hour-long meditation at the famed Vivekananda Rock Memorial here on Thursday evening. After arriving from nearby Thiruvananthapuram by a helicopter, Modi worshipped at the Bhagavathi Amman temple and reached the rock memorial by a ferry service and started meditation that is scheduled to go on till June 1.

8:11 PM

PM raising my health issue to get votes unfortunate: Patnaik

BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday said it was “unfortunate” that Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised his health issue at recent poll rallies in order to “garner votes”. Patnaik said Modi could, instead, have telephoned him to enquire about his health.

6:51 PM

CM Adityanath Yogi aims to win 80 out of 80 seats in UP

The popular saying "the road to Delhi goes via Uttar Pradesh" remains relevant, prompting both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to focus on the state during their campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Chief Minister even set an ambitious target to bag 80 out of 80 seats in UP and devised a strategy accordingly.

6:33 PM

Nadda campaigns in Anandpur Sahib

BJP National President JP Nadda campaigned in Anandpur Sahib parliamentary constituency today, ahead of the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha elections on June 1. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.The campaigning for the June 1 polling date and seventh phase of polls ends today.

6:32 PM

PM Modi offers prayer at Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanyakumari

PM Modi has arrived in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari, where he plans to pay homage at the renowned Vivekananda Rock Memorial. His itinerary includes meditation at the Dhyan Mandapam, the very site where Swami Vivekananda once meditated, signaling national unity by choosing this landmark located at the southernmost tip of India. This location holds significance as it marks the convergence of India's eastern and western coastlines, alongside the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Arabian Sea.

5:28 PM

PM Modi arrives in Tamil Nadu, to embark on 'dhyan' at Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Thursday to embark on a 45-hour long meditation session at the famed Vivekananda Rock Memorial here. The PM arrived from nearby Thiruvananthapuram and he is scheduled to offer worship at the Bhagavathi Amman temple and later reach Vivekananda Rock Memorial and perform meditation for nearly two days. Ahead of his departure on June 1, Modi is likely to visit the Thiruvalluvar statue, next to the memorial. Both the memorial and statue were built on tiny islets, that are separate and mound-like rocky formations in the sea.

4:23 PM

Nitish not going along well with BJP; Bihar to witness something major: Tejashwi

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday asserted that "something major" will take place, after Lok Sabha results are out, in Bihar where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar seemed to be "not going along well" with ally BJP. Yadav, who lost the Deputy CM's post as a result of Kumar's abrupt return to the NDA in January this year, made the claim while interacting with journalists here. 'Ever since I made the prediction that chacha (uncle) will take a big decision after Lok Sabha polls, he has not been going out to campaign", pointed out Yadav, referring to a claim he had made a couple of days ago

3:37 PM

Former PM Manmohan Singh lashes at NDA govt, calls it 'despotic regime'

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday lashed at the BJP-led NDA regime at the Centre calling it a "despotic regime trying to unleash dictatorship in India'. In a letter to Punjab's voters ahead of the seventh phase of Lok Sabha polls on June 1, the former prime minister appealed to voters that they have 'one final chance to ensure that democracy and our Constitution are protected from the repeated assaults of a despotic regime, trying to unleash dictatorship in India.' 'Punjab and Punjabis are warriors. We are known for our spirit of sacrifice. Our indomitable courage and innate belief in the Democratic ethos of inclusiveness, harmony, amity, and brotherhood can protect our great nation,' he added.

2:52 PM

Goal of BJP-BJD partnership to steal wealth, mines, properties of people in Odisha, alleges Rahul Gandhi

Claiming that BJP and BJD are hand-in-gloves in Odisha, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the goal of BJP-BJD bonhomie is to steal, wealth, mines, and properties of the common people of the state.

2:46 PM

BJP's popularity waning, will form govt with solid public support: Odisha CM Patnaik

Speaking on BJD's prospects of regaining power in Odisha, CM Naveen Patnaik said, "Will form solid government again in Odisha." Patnaik also claimed that BJP's popularitu is waning.

2:43 PM

Congress party never listened to Mahatma Gandhi: MP CM Mohan Yadav

Madhya Pradesh CM & BJP leader Mohan Yadav says, "Congress never listened to Mahatma Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi should apologise for the fact that his last five generations did not listen to Mahatma Gandhi...To save Congress, it mustn't be led by any member of the Gandhi family but a good person is selected to lead the party."

1:45 PM

Rahul Gandhi insults jawans, has lost mental balance: Union Min Dharmendra Pradhan

Responding to Rahul Gandhi's allegations against BJP of turning the Indian Army soldiers in to labourers through the Agnipath scheme, Union Minister Dharmedra Pradhan said that Rahul has lost his mental balance. Pradhan also said that Rahul Gandhi is used to demeaning soldiers and that he should stop doing it.

12:41 PM

Cong set narrative with sharp campaign, put PM Modi on backfoot: Ramesh

The Congress party set the narrative for the Lok Sabha elections with a sharp campaign that was bereft of "agar-magar, kintu parantu" and pushed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the "back foot", senior party leader Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday.

 

12:24 PM

Delhi HC dismisses plea seeking dismissal of PM Modi's candidature from Varanasi LS seat

The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea which sought dismissal of PM Narendra Modi's candidature from Varansi Lok Sabha seat and prevent him from contesting elections from the seat. PM Modi is a sitting MP from Varanasi since last two terms where he won elections in 2014 and 2019 general elections.

 

11:58 AM

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik is not fighting the BJP, I am: Rahul Gandhi

Addressing a public meeting in Balasore, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "I fight against the BJP and they have filed 24 cases against me that include defamation and criminal cases. They took away my Lok Sabha membership and sentenced me to a two-year jail term. ED interrogated me for 50 hours... But, if Naveen Babu really fights against the BJP, why no cases have been filed against him?..."

 

11:29 AM

Congress party known for looting country, Lalu's family looted Bihar: Bihar Dy CM Samrat Chaudhary

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary says, "The Congress party is known for looting the country. Congress has been the party that ruined this country and Lalu Yadav's family has been the family that looted Bihar."

11:15 AM

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaches Varanasi to pray at Kashi Vishwanath temple

 Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaches Varanasi to offer prayers at Kashi Vishwanath Temple, ANI reports.

10:43 AM

Rahul Gandhi unaware of condition, direction of India: BJP's Giriraj Singh

Attacking Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, "Rahul Gandhi is a person who does not know the condition and direction of India... He has not seen the country... If a person does not even know this much and is giving knowledge on the country, then there will be nothing more foolish than this."

10:28 AM

'Dakshin mein BJP saaf aur Uttar mein BJP half: Cong leader Jairam Ramesh

Speaking about the prospect of the India bloc against the incumbent BJP, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "After the first two phases, it had become clear to me that winds of change were blowing. The BJP was going to be cleaned out in the South and it was going to be halved in the North. 'Dakshin mein BJP saaf aur Uttar mein BJP half', PTI reported.

10:14 AM

LS polls: We will get a decisive majority, well above 273 seats, says Jairam Ramesh

Not mentioning the number of seats the opposition allinace will be able to secure, Congres leader Jairam Ramesh said that the alliance will secure a "decisive majority" in the Lok Sabha. He said,  "I don't want to get into numbers. We will get a clear and decisive majority. 273 is clear but not decisive. When I say clear and decisive, it means well above 272."

10:09 AM

AAP, Congress have cheated people of Punjab, says SAD candidate Harsimrat Kaur Badal

Shiromani Akali Dal MP and candidate from Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, Harsimrat Kaur Badal attacked Congress and Aam Aadmi Party and said, "In the last 7 years, Congress and AAP alliance has made promises but never fulfilled them. People are disappointed with this alliance. During the SAD govt, they were getting the benefits of schemes. Now, people are feeling cheated."

10:05 AM

'Law must take its own course': Shashi Tharoors after his former aide detained for gold smuggling

Congress leader and former union minister Shahi Tharoor said that "Law must take its own course" after Customs detained his former aide for smuggling gold. 

9:41 AM

Alliance of gold smugglers: BJP's Chandrasekhar hits out at Cong after Tharoor's aide held for gold smuggling

"Alliance of gold smugglers:" Rajeev Chandrasekhar hits out at CPM, Congress after alleged aide of Shashi Tharoor detained for Gold smuggling. Notably, Chandrasekhar is contesting the Thiruvananthpuram seat in the ongoing elections where Shashi Tharoor is the sitting MP.

9:25 AM

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav visits Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar

Senior BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav visits to offer prayers at the Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar, ANI reported. Yadav mentioned that the Golden Temple was attacked in 1984 by the then Congress government. He alleged that Congress follows 'divide and rule' policy to take power.

9:06 AM

BJP will win more than 30 seats in West Bengal, says BJP Chief JP Nadda

Speaking to the members of the press, BJP President JP Nadda said that people in West Bengal are excited about BJP. He said, people of Bengal will make PM Modi the prime minister of India for a third time. Nadda also claimed that BJP will win more than 30 seats in West Bengal.

 

9:03 AM

EC asks Odisha CEO to take strict action against Nandighosha TV for telecasting exit poll

The Election Commission of India has instructed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha to take strict action against Nandighosha TV for telecasating exit poll results in Odisha, ANI reported.

8:37 AM

Seventh phase of Lok Sabha polling to take BJP beyond 400 seats, says Anurag Thakur

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections will take Bharatiya Janata Party's seat tally (BJP) beyond 400, ANI reported. Thakur said, "...In six phases, the BJP is winning a record number of seats and the seventh phase is about to take it beyond 400. I would like to thank the people." The incumbent BJP set a steep target of securing more than 400 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls along with its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies.

Praising his party's performance, Anurag Thakur said that BJP has improved the economic status of the country. "People know that PM Modi has taken our economy forward and now he is on the track to make our country the third largest economy in the next five years," Thakur said.