Page 6 - Election Campaign

This election is to punish those who are against Constitution, says PM Modi

Launching a blistering attack on the opposition bloc INDIA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said this election is to punish those who are against India's Constitution and opposing the Centre's efforts to make the country a Viksit Bharat'. He also accused the opposition leaders, including those of the RJD and the Congress, of playing politics with the Constitution. Speaking at an election rally in Bihar's Gaya district, the PM said, This election is only to punish Ghamandia' (arrogant) alliance leaders. It is to punish those who are against the Constitution and opposing the Centre's initiatives to make India a Viksit Bharat'. Bihar's former chief minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi is contesting from Gaya as an NDA nominee. The PM said this election is for 'Viksit Bharat' and 'Viksit Bihar'. "The Congress and its partners are resorting to lies in the name of the Constitution just to abuse me. The NDA respects the Constitution..even Babasaheb .

BJP Sankalp Patra: Modi ki Guarantees take centre stage in poll manifesto

Several BJP leaders speaking at the launch touted Modi's pledges, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh describing it "as good as 24-carat gold"

Kerala will ensure its voice is heard in Parliament this time: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday assured that Kerala will ensure its voice is heard in Parliament after the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Campaigning for the BJP-led NDA candidates in the Lok Sabha polls here, he said that it will be a year of progress in Kerala and referred to the various promises and development programmes mentioned in the BJP's manifesto -- called 'Modi ki Guarantee' -- that was released on Sunday. The PM also promised that once the NDA government comes back to power for a third time, it will commence survey work for ensuring bullet trains in north, east and south India similar to the bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. He also attacked the Congress by alleging that it created a weak image of India in the world, while the BJP had built the country into a strong nation. Modi said that what happened in the country in the last 10 years of NDA rule was only a trailer as a lot more is left to be done for Kerala and India. He also accused the Left govern

Highlights of the day: Iran risks 'uncontrollable regional escalation', warns G7

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

LS polls: 3 ex-CMs from NDA in poll fray heats up campaign scene in K'taka

Three former Chief Ministers from NDA are in the Lok Sabha race in Karnataka, heating up the campaign scene in the Congress-governed state. Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri), Jagadish Shettar (Belgaum) and H D Kumaraswamy (Mandya) joined a long list of predecessors who wanted to play an innings in national politics and many of them successfully as well. While Bommai and Shettar -- both Lingayats -- are from the BJP; Kumaraswamy, a Vokkaliga, is the JD(S) state President and son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. Of the total 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, BJP is contesting in 25 and JD(S), which joined the NDA in September last year, in three. There have been a total of 23 Chief Ministers of Karnataka (known as Mysore state before November one, 1973) since 1947; 14 of them have also served as members of Lok Sabha, and two Rajya Sabha. Seven of them -- K C Reddy, Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Gundu Rao, S Bangarappa, Veerappa Moily and B S Yediyurappa -- shifted to ...

LS polls: PM Modi to hold poll campaigns in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka today

PM Modi will be addressing a public gathering in Narmadapuram district at around 12:45 pm, which will target four parliamentary seats, which include Hoshangabad, Betul, Chhindwara, and Mandla

T-shirts, masks, banners: Poll paraphernalia misses on-ground excitement

Centralised operations, focus on digital campaigns hit traditional election business

Sky-high demand: Politicians drive helicopter rates up 15-20%

BJP, Congress dominate advance bookings, helicopter charter firms say

AAP begins door-to-door campaign in Delhi under 'Jail ka Jawab Vote se'

The AAP on Tuesday began a door-to-door drive in Delhi's Shahdara as part of its "Jail ka Jawab Vote se" campaign to seek support for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail, and the party in the Lok Sabha elections. Under the campaign, AAP leaders will visit every house in the four Lok Sabha constituencies where the party has fielded its candidates. Gopal Rai, the AAP's Delhi convenor, kicked off the campaign in Shahdara. He was accompanied by the party's East Delhi candidate Kuldeep Kumar. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. He is currently lodged in Tihar jail. Contesting the Lok Sabha polls in an alliance with the Congress, the AAP has fielded candidates on four seats -- New Delhi, East Delhi, South Delhi and West Delhi. The Congress is contesting the remaining three seats in the national capital. Polling for the seven Lok Sabha

LS polls: 1,210 candidates to contest across 13 states in phase two

As many as 1,210 candidates are in fray for phase two of Lok Sabha polls to be held on April 26, the Election Commission said on Tuesday. In phase two, Kerala has a maximum of 500 nominations from 20 parliamentary constituencies, followed by 491 nominations from 14 seats in Karnataka. The least number of 14 nominations were received from one constituency in Tripura, while Nanded seat in Maharashtra received a maximum of 92 nominations, the poll authority said. A total of 2,633 nominations were filed for 88 constituencies across 12 states and UTs going for polls in phase two. After the scrutiny of 2,633 nominations filed, 1,428 were found to be valid. But after some candidates withdrew nominations, 1,210 remain in race. Monday was the last day to withdraw from the electoral race. Fifteen assembly segments in Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency will go to polls on April 19 in phase one and 13 assembly segments of the Lok Sabha seat will go to polls on April 26 in phase two.

LS elections: Women voters in Lakshadweep demand attention to basic issues

Women constitute the majority of voters in the Lakshadweep Lok Sabha constituency, yet they are concerned over the lack of interest shown by political parties in discussing their basic issues, such as the absence of proper sanitary napkin disposal facilities and gynecologists' in hospitals during the ongoing election campaign. The parties pay scant attention to our demands, women who spoke to by PTI at Agatti island, said. "We do not even have a mechanism on the islands to collect and dispose of used sanitary napkins. Many either bury them in their compounds or burn them," lamented Salmath, leader of the disabled persons' wing of Dweepsree, a women's self-help group. Plastic burning and dumping could pose serious environmental issues in the highly ecologically sensitive islands, she said. These women, constituting 50 per cent of the total electorate, are making these demands amidst the men-controlled machinery of political parties that are projecting various other matters affecting

Ahead of LS elections, AAP launches 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se' campaign

Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the AAP on Monday launched a "Jail ka Jawab Vote Se" campaign to seek public support for the party and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail. Addressing a press conference, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak said, "Kejriwal was arrested as part of a big conspiracy. It is the first time that a sitting chief minister has been arrested during the Lok Sabha polls. We are launching the campaign 'Jail Ka Jawab Vote Se' and we want you to empower Kejriwal." As part of the campaign, Pathak said, AAP leaders and workers will visit the four Lok Sabha constituencies from where it has fielded candidates. AAP Delhi convener Gopal Rai asked people to respond to "dictatorship" with their votes. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who was released on bail in the same case last week, urged people to recall Kejriwal's face when they go to vote. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in connection with a m

Cong, AAP eye tribal LS seats in Guj, BJP's grip strong: Political analysts

The Congress and AAP have tied up in their bid to breach Gujarat, a BJP fortress, through the state's tribal-dominated seats in the Lok Sabha polls, but the saffron party's grip over these constituencies is too strong, say political analysts. Of the state's 26 seats that will go to polls on May 7, Dahod, Chhota Udaipur, Bardoli and Valsad are reserved for ST (Scheduled Tribes) candidates, while Bharuch has a sizable population of tribals though it is a general seat. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has made some inroads into the tribal belt, reflected by its victory from Dediapada (ST) assembly segment under the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat in the 2022 state polls. The Congress, once a powerhouse in Gujarat's tribal landscape, has renewed its focus on the tribal belt. Last month, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra traversed through areas under these Lok Sabha seats. Taking a cue from their crushing defeats in the last assembly polls when anti-BJP votes in the tribal belt got

Highlights: Oppn missed chances; BJP may win 300 LS seats, says Prashant Kishor

LIVE updates: PM Modi's Madhya Pradesh campaign ahead of LS polls, AAP leaders to sit on a day-long fast at Jantar Mantar, and more. Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

LS elections: TDP woos booze lovers with quality liquor at reduced prices

"We will reduce prices of commodities," may be the standard refrain of every political party fighting an election. However, in Andhra Pradesh, opposition TDP is wooing the avid booze lover with the promise of better quality spirit at reduced prices, if voted to power. Simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are scheduled in the southern state on May 13. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) the main opposition, is also accusing the YSRCP Government of setting excessively high prices that do not align with the quality of the liquor. TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu consistently emphasizes, among others, the issue during his campaign, alleging that the state has been supplying poor quality liquor while profiting immensely from 'inflated' prices, running to thousands of crores of rupees. According to reports, the state government netted nearly Rs 24,000 crore through excise revenue in 2022-23 against over Rs 17,000 crore in 2019-20. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP was voted to power in ...

Will do a caste census and scrap Agnipath scheme: Congress in manifesto

Lok Sabha elections 2024: The Congress party promises to regularise employment, raise 50% cap on reservation, end 'cess raj'

Poll officials remove banners put up by Patidar body in support of Rupala

Several banners put up by a Patidar outfit backing Union minister and BJP candidate for Rajkot Lok Sabha seat Parshottam Rupala were removed by poll officials in Gujarat's Rajkot city on Friday, citing the model code of conduct. The banners emerged on Thursday amid a row over alleged offensive remarks made by Rupala that have angered the Rajput community, also known as Kshatriyas. Though Rupala, a Patidar, has already apologised, the Kshatriya community has threatened to launch a nationwide stir ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and vote against the BJP if he is not replaced as the candidate. The banners had a photo of Rupala hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the message: I am with Hindutva, I am with BJP, I am with Narendra Modi, I am with Parshottam Rupala. Members of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) had put these banners in the Ambika Township area of the city on Thursday night, said local PAAS convener, Meet Bavaria. We had put up the banners in support of Rupala Since

YouTube okayed ads with misinformation on India's election process: Report

The advertisements were however pulled down after they were approved from YouTube, but before they could be published, the report said

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress launches 'Ghar Ghar Guarantee' campaign

The Congress party will distribute guarantee cards to 80 million families, ahead of the general elections

Bias at the ballot box: The ways voters are influenced in elections

Authority figures to availability choice: Our voting decisions are often coloured by biases that are often unconscious