Page 156 - Congress

LS polls: Rahul Gandhi may contest from Amethi; announcement likely tonight

Amid the suspense over Congress nominees from Amethi and Rae Bareli, sources Thursday indicated that Rahul Gandhi is likely to contest from the seat he lost last time. With Friday being the last date of filing of nominations, the party is expected to announce its candidates from the two prestigious constituencies tonight. The sources said the party has started making preparations for the nomination filing in both the seats in Uttar Pradesh, which have been traditionally held by members of the Gandhi-Nehru family. They added that Rahul Gandhi is the most likely choice of the party for Amethi, a seat he lost to Smriti Irani in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the nomination filing Friday, the sources said. They also said that the Congress has prepared an alternative plan in case Priyanka Gandhi Vadra does not contest from Rae Bareli, adding a grandson of former Congress leader and Indira Gandhi's aunt Sheila Kaul may

'PM Modi snatching away reservation and govt jobs', says Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the BJP government is snatching reservations from Dalits, tribals, and backward classes by implementing 'blind privatisation'

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Low turnout, apathy a worry for the BJP's campaign

The last major opinion poll had predicted that the BJP and its allies could win three-fourths of parliament's 543 seats at stake on the back of Modi's popularity

'400 paar' joke, '300 paar' impossible, 200 paar challenge for BJP: Tharoor

The BJP's claim of '400 paar' is a joke, '300 paar' impossible and even '200 paar' may be a challenge in the Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said, terming the ruling party's loss a foregone conclusion. In an interaction with PTI editors at the agency's headquarters here, Tharoor also claimed the BJP will draw a blank in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and will do worse than its 2019 performance in the South. Tharoor, who was locked in a three-way contest with Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the BJP and P Raveendran of the CPI in Thiruvananthapuram where polling took place on April 26, said he is looking at a "very comfortable win". If he emerges victorious, it will be a fourth consecutive win for the author-politician from Thiruvananthapuram, who is the longest-serving MP from the constituency. Back in Delhi after a nearly two month high voltage campaign in Thiruvananthapuram, the Congress Working Committee member will now canvass in other parts of

BJP govt has made Gujarat hub for drug traffickers from Pak, alleges Cong

The Congress on Thursday alleged 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. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to Prime Minister Modi ahead of his rallies in Gujarat. "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?" Ramesh said in a post on X. Elaborating on what he said were "jumla details", Ramesh alleged that the BJP government has made Gujarat a hub for drug traffickers from Pakistan. "Just a few days ago, the Indian Coast Guard, Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized a Pakistani boat carrying 86 kg of heroin (worth Rs 600 crore) off the coast of Gujarat. Two days prior, mephedrone val

Highlights of the day: US Fed holds key rates unchanged at 5.25-5.50% for 6th straight meeting

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LS polls highlights: PM sought votes for Revanna, did not stop him from leaving, says Priyanka

General Elections 2024: Catch all the highlights on the Lok Sabha polls here

Does being part of Modi's 'political family' guarantee protection: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the sexual abuse allegations against JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, asking whether being part of "Modi's political family" a "guarantee of protection for criminals". Police on Sunday booked Prajwal Revanna and his father H D Revanna on charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation based on a complaint from a woman, who worked in their household. Prajwal is the grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and nephew of former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy. Faced with the unrelenting attack from the Congress and other political parties, the JD (S), an ally of the BJP, suspended Prajwal. In a post in Hindi, Gandhi said, "As always, Narendra Modi has maintained shameful silence on the gruesome crimes committed against women in Karnataka." "The Prime Minister will have to answer: Despite knowing everything, why did he campaign for the devil who exploited hundreds of ..

Cong promise of Rs 400/day national minimum wage is real '400 paar': Ramesh

The Congress on Wednesday reiterated its 'Shramik Nyay' guarantees on International Labour Day, and said its promise of Rs 400 per day national minimum wage is the real '400 paar'. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh listed the party's guarantees for labourers and alleged that the past 10 years have been of 'anyay kaal' for them. On the occasion of International Labour Day it is most appropriate to recall the 'Shramik Nyay' guarantees in the Congress Nyay Patra for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he said. Elaborating on the guarantees, Ramesh said the Congress has promised 'Shram ka Samman' (Dignity for Labour)' with Rs 400 per day national minimum wage, including for MGNREGA. "This is the real '400 paar'," Ramesh said at a press conference here, taking a jibe at the BJP's '400 paar' slogan of securing over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls for the NDA. Ramesh alleged that the BJP's call of '400 paar' is aimed at changing the Constitution. Holding a copy of the Constitution, Ra

Modi starts election campaign in Gujarat today, to hold rallies in 11 seats

On Gujarat's Foundation Day, he will address two public gatherings: one in Deesa, located in Banaskantha, and another in Himmatnagar in Sabarkantha

LS polls: Cong, AAP meet to strategise joint campaign in Delhi, Haryana

Senior leaders of the Delhi Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday held a meeting here to plan a joint campaign strategy of the INDIA bloc for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the national capital and Haryana, a statement said. AICC general secretary and in-charge of Delhi and Haryana Deepak Babaria, AAP general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak and Delhi Congress' interim president Devender Yadav were among those who addressed the meeting, the statement said. The meeting discussed the coordination between the Congress and the AAP leaders and workers for the smooth campaigning for their candidates, who are jointly fighting the Lok Sabha elections under the INDIA bloc. Both parties agreed to forge a total understanding at the ground level to fight the elections and finalise a road map of the joint election strategy to be drawn up in the next couple of days, it said. It was also decided to hold joint meetings of both the Congress and the AAP and have people-contac

Lok Sabha elections: BJP, Cong line up star cast for Gujarat campaign

Sources indicated that Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath may also chip in this week to add to the BJP firepower in Gujarat campaign, but there's no confirmation on this so far

Lok Sabha polls: Amid mounting pressure, JD(S) suspends Prajwal Revanna

Polling for 14 of Karnataka's 28 seats, including Hassan, which Prajwal, grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, has again contested, took place on April 26

Highlights of the day: ED files fresh charge sheet in Mahadev app case, names 25 accused

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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

Congress will impose 55% inheritance tax, if voted to power: PM Modi

Alleging that the Congress would impose 55 per cent inheritance tax if voted to power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said when the whole world was economically progressing, India was suffering from policy paralysis under the previous UPA government. Addressing a poll rally in Medak district of Telangana, Modi accused the Congress government in the state of collecting corrupt money and sending it to Delhi. If Congress comes to power, they will bring out inheritance tax. Congress is planning to collect more than half- 55 per cent as tax on inheritance (received from parents), he claimed. Wherever Congress is in power, it has five political symbols- false promises; vote bank politics, supporting mafia and criminals, dynastic politics and corruption, he said in broadside. Modi further alleged that first it was BRS which looted Telangana and now it is Congress.

6-time Congress MLA Ramniwas Rawat quits party, joins BJP in Madhya Pradesh

Ramniwas Rawat's resignation comes just a day after Congress candidate from Indore Lok Sabha seat Akshay Bam withdrew his nomination and joined the BJP

BJP will 'throw away' Constitution if it returns to power, claims Rahul

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday claimed that if the BJP returns to power at the Centre, it will "tear apart" and "throw away" the Constitution which granted rights to the poor, Dalits, STs and the OBCs. Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district, Gandhi, while holding a copy of the Constitution (book), said the ongoing Lok Sabha poll is not a normal election, but a fight between two ideologies. "The poor, STs, OBCs got several rights because of the Constitution which also gave the people MGNREGA, land rights, reservation, and other things. If the BJP comes to power, it will throw away and tear apart this Constitution," he claimed. "The prime minister, Amit Shah (Union Home Minister) and their MPs have made up their mind that if they get elected, they will tear apart and throw this (Constitution) book. The BJP wants this book to be thrown away and 20-25 billionaires should run the country," the Wayanad MP further claimed. He also targeted the BJP governm

Shah deepfake video: Case against Maha Youth Cong's social media handle

The Mumbai police have registered a case against the Maharashtra Youth Congress' social media handle and 16 others for allegedly sharing a deepfake video of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, officials said on Tuesday. In the fake video, BJP leader Shah was purportedly seen announcing the curtailment of reservation rights of the SCs, STs and OBCs. A complaint in this connection was filed by Mumbai BJP functionary Pratik Karpe at the Bandra Kurla Complex cyber police station on Monday, an official said. According to the complainant, the deepfake video of Shah was created, published and widely propagated on the internet, and shared by the accused with a malafide intent to defame the Union minister. As per the complaint, the video deceitfully portrays Shah announcing the curtailment of the reservation rights granted to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward Classes. However, the original video, from where the deepfake video has been created, has completely differen

Congress spreading lies about BJP changing Constitution, alleges Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday alleged the Congress was spreading lies that the BJP intends to change the constitution and end reservations if it returns to power for a third term. Shah also said the BJP is heading towards its goal of 400-plus Lok Sabha seats with the blessings and support of people. The Congress is spreading lies about the saffron party changing the constitution and ending reservations... We do not see voters as minority or majority; the BJP will win 12 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam, he told a press conference here. The BJP does not believe in reservations on the basis of religion... we are also in favour of implementing the Uniform Civil Code across the country, the home minister said. Shah asserted that the party was getting a very good response from voters in the southern states, too.