Page 41 - Indian National Congress

2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly elections: Here's all you need to know

As voting is currently underway in the fourth phase of the Odisha Assembly polls 2024, here's a quick look at the assembly seats, polling dates and key candidates

Deal final blow to BJP govt which has become symbol of tyranny, says Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged people on Saturday to vote in large numbers and deal a "final blow" to "this government which has become a symbol of arrogance and tyranny". Gandhi pointed out that the seventh and final phase of voting for the general election is being held on Saturday and claimed that according to the trends so far, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) of opposition parties is going to form the next government in the country. "I am proud that even in this scorching heat, all of you have come out to vote to protect democracy and the Constitution," the former Congress president said in a post in Hindi on X. "Even today, come out in large numbers and give your vote as a 'final blow' to this government, which has become a symbol of arrogance and tyranny," he said. The sun of June 4, when the poll results are scheduled to be announced, is going to bring a new dawn in the country, Gandhi added. Noting that this is the last phase of polling for

Rahul notches up 107 rallies, roadshows as LS polls campaign ends

In a campaign blitz to boost the Congress' chances in the Lok Sabha polls, former party president Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra notched up a total of 107 and 108 public outreach programmes respectively, including rallies and roadshows. Rahul Gandhi campaigned for the Congress in Punjab on the last day of campaigning before the seventh phase of voting, while Priyanka Gandhi held a road show in Himachal Pradesh's Solan. As curtains came down on the poll campaigning, party sources said Rahul Gandhi participated in 107 rallies, roadshows, interactions and major campaign events. Priyanka Gandhi also ran a spirited campaign by taking part in 108 public meetings and roadshows, they said, adding that she also gave more than 100 media bytes, one TV interview and five print interviews during her marathon election campaign. Priyanka Gandhi camped in Rae Bareli and spearheaded the party's campaign there and in adjacent Amethi for about two weeks. While Rahul Ga

INDIA bloc's June 1 meet to discuss preparations for counting day: Kharge

The INDIA bloc will hold an informal meeting Saturday only to discuss the preparations for the counting day on June 4 and how its leaders and workers need to stay alert, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said. He said Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has informed that she is busy with the polls that day and therefore, will not be able to attend. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here Thursday, Kharge said the meeting is being held for "our own sake" to train people and to give them information. "This is an informal meeting. In this, we will only discuss what kind of preparation we should have on the day of counting and how our people should be alert, whether it is about EVMs or the 17C form is used... Just for our own sake, we are holding this meeting to train our people and to give them information," he said. Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal also said the meeting is only for discussing about the counting preparations and the

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

Manmohan Singh alleges Modi lowered PM office's gravity with hateful words

Ahead of the final phase of Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, former PM Manmohan Singh has fiercely criticised the Centre for economic mismanagement and divisive political tactics

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

The Congress set the narrative during the Lok Sabha polls with a sharp campaign that was devoid of "agar-magar, kintu parantu" and pushed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the "back foot", senior party leader Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday. In an interview with PTI on the last day of campaigning for the seven-phase elections, the Congress general secretary, in-charge communications, claimed that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will get a clear and decisive majority of the type it got in 2004. "After the first two phases, it had become clear to me and I am sure, clear to any unbiased, non-partisan observer, that winds of change are blowing. 'Dakshin mein BJP saaf, uttar mein BJP half' (wiped out in the south and reduced to half in the north)," Ramesh said. As the campaigning draws to a close, Ramesh said the first shot at creating a new narrative for the Congress was fired by Rahul Gandhi in the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The yatra was held between September 2022 a

Rahul Gandhi slams PM Modi for raising '22-25 rajas and maharajas' in India

Speaking at an election rally in Bihar's Bakhtiyarpur, the Congress leader accuses PM Modi of favouring top industrialists like Adani and Ambani, alleging Modi's allegiance to them

Rahul Gandhi 2018 defamation case: Court to conduct hearing on June 7

An MP-MLA court here has fixed for June 7 hearing in the 2018 defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his alleged objectionable remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The defamation complaint against Gandhi was filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra. Gandhi's lawyer Kashi Prasad Shukla gave an application in the court, saying the Congress leader was busy campaigning for Lok Sabha polls and needed time to appear before the court. Judge Shubham Verma fixed June 7 as the next date of hearing. Plaintiff's lawyer Santosh Kumar Pandey told the court that Gandhi is running away from the court. The court had issued a warrant against Gandhi in December last. Subsequently, the Congress leader had halted his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Amethi on February 20 and appeared in court which granted him bail. The complaint was filed here on August 4, 2018, against Gandhi for his alleged objectionable comments against Shah at a press conference in Bengaluru.

LS polls: If economy growing fast, why people not prosperous, asks Priyanka

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lashed out at the BJP-led Centre on Sunday, asking why people have not prospered if the country's economy is growing at a rapid pace. Addressing her first Lok Sabha poll rally in Punjab in favour of Amar Singh, the Congress candidate from Fatehgarh Sahib, Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "speaking lies and making hollow promises to the public only to capture power". At another rally in Chandigarh, she countered the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) charge that the Congress is anti-Hindu, saying her party's philosophy is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, which has taught people about truth, love, harmony and non-violence. In Fatehgarh Sahib, the Congress general secretary urged people to ensure Singh's victory in the June 1 polls. Hitting out at the Modi government, she claimed that 70 crore youngsters are unemployed in the country and the rate of unemployment is the highest in 45 years. Gandhi said 30 lakh posts are vacan

Highlights of the day: Highest temperature in Raj was recorded in Phalodi at 50 degrees C on May 25

From phase six of general elections to United Nations's top court's decision on Gaza conflict, catch all the latest news from around the world here

LS polls: China encroached on our land but PM Modi is silent, says Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday alleged that China has encroached on India's land and is constructing houses and roads but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is silent. Where is the 56-inch chest, Kharge asked, taking a dig at the prime minister in his address at a rally in Himachal Pradesh's Rohru. The Congress leader said his party is fighting to save the people of the country and the Constitution and will fill 30 lakh government vacancies if it is voted to power in the Lok Sabha elections. Kharge said, "We fought against Pakistan and got independence for Bangladesh. China encroached on our land and is constructing houses and roads and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is silent. Where is the 56-inch chest?" The Congress chief also hit out at the Centre for allegedly not providing aid to the Himachal Pradesh government in the aftermath of the 2023 floods. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had sought Rs 10,000 crore aid from the Centre after the floods

Unemployment, inflation biggest issues; public in our favour: Priyanka

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said unemployment and price rise are the "biggest issues" in the country and exuded confidence that the INDIA bloc will emerge victorious in the Lok Sabha elections, with an undercurrent in its favour. Priyanka Gandhi made the remarks after casting her ballot in the morning. Exuding confidence that the opposition INDIA bloc will emerge victorious in the elections, she said price rise and unemployment are the "biggest issues" for everyone in the country. Asked about Congress leaders voting for AAP candidates and vice versa, she said, "Setting aside our differences, we are voting for our Constitution and democracy. I am proud of it." Later, she told reporters that there is an undercurrent and people have the feeling that their concerns have not been looked into. "BJP leaders talk about all kinds of things but do not discuss the main issues of unemployment and price rise. People are fed up now," the Congress general secretary said. A

Notes from Rohtak and Mysuru: A more digital India reverts to the mean

The city of Rohtak in Haryana is often referred to as the state's real "political capital", even as Chandigarh exists

Where have Patna's Smart City, Namami Gange funds disappeared, asks Cong

Hitting out at the BJP, the Congress on Saturday asked where Patna's Smart City and Namami Gange funds disappeared and why Patna University has been denied central university status. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh posed several questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his rally in Pataliputra. "Where have Patna's Smart City and Namami Gange funds disappeared? Will the Bihta airport ever be built? Why has the BJP failed to prevent yet another paper leak? Why has Patna University been denied central university status?" the Congress general secretary said in a post on X. He said Patna witnessed large-scale waterlogging and flooding in 2019 and 2020 but funds received under the Smart City and the Namami Gange projects have still gone "grossly underutilised". Six sewage treatment plants (STPs) and five new sewerage networks were sanctioned under these schemes but only four of the 11 projects have been completed, he said. "According to a CAG report on the six plants under the .

LS polls: People have rejected lies, hatred and propaganda, says Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that people rejected lies, hatred and propaganda and gave priority to real issues related to their lives in the first five phases of the Lok Sabha elections. He urged people to come out in large numbers in the sixth phase of the elections on Saturday and vote for their rights and the future of their families. Gandhi and his mother, former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, exercised ther franchise at a polling booth in New Delhi. After casting his vote, Gandhi also posted a picture with Sonia Gandhi, displaying their inked fingers. "In the first five phases of voting, you have rejected lies, hatred and propaganda and given priority to grassroots issues related to your life," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X. "Today is the sixth phase of voting and your every vote will ensure that: Recruitment for 30 lakh vacant government posts and first job guarantee scheme of Rs 1 lakh per year is started for the youth. Rs 8,500 per month starts coming

LS polls 2024: AAP, Cong join hands in hopes of unseating PM Modi In Delhi

In his campaign rallies, Kejriwal has tried to highlight bread and butter issues to supporters

LS polls: Vote against politics of hatred, distraction, says Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged people to cast their ballot in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday and vote against the politics of hatred, rhetoric and distraction. Kharge said that in the last five phases, the "dictatorial forces" were "deeply shaken". Voting is underway for 58 constituencies in six states and two Union territories, including all the seven seats in Delhi and the Jangal Mahal region in Bengal, in the sixth phase. In a post in Hindi on X, Kharge said this struggle to secure democracy and the Constitution has reached the last two phases. "Today is the sixth phase of voting and you have to vote. Vote for unity, justice and important everyday issues. Vote against the politics of hatred, rhetoric and distraction," the Congress chief said. He urged the people to think before pressing the button on EVMs if they want justice-based politics and economic and social security which has 'Yuva Nyay, Kisan Nyay, Nari Nyay, Shramik Nyay and Hissedaari

Modi 'Jhoothon Ka Sardar', says Congress chief Kharge at Haryana rally

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'Jhoothon Ka Sardar' and claimed that the BJP wanted to end democracy. Addressing his first rally in Haryana, Kharge said people are fed up with the BJP. "There are a few people who say 'Modi, Modi'. He is a 'jhoothon ka sardar' (King of liars). Still you say 'Modi Modi'. I do not want to abuse anyone and I am not against Modi. But I am certainly against Modi's ideology and am fighting against it," Kharge said in the state's Jagadhri city. He said the Congress is fighting against the ideology of RSS -- a Hindu right body and the ideological parent of the BJP. "You are snatching the Constitution and we are fighting against it. You want to end democracy and we are fighting it," Kharge said. "Modi ji, you feel that you are smart. People of this country are smarter than you. People are fighting against you," he added. Kharge said the current fight is between the people and Modi, and the people and th

INDIA bloc wants to loot, divide people on lines of religion: CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here on Tuesday alleged that the INDI alliance is planning to loot the country by dividing the people on the basis of caste and religion. Adityanath's statement came during a rally in Gaisdi where he was seeking votes for the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Shravasti constituency Saket Mishra and the party's nominee for by-elections in Gaisdi assembly seat Shailesh Kumar Singh Shailu. "The BJP is serving the public under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We do not practice discrimination and are working with the spirit of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. At the same time, INDI alliance wants to loot the country by dividing the country's people on the basis of caste and religion, which we will not allow to happen," he said. The chief minister added that people have come to know of INDIA bloc's intentions, hence they are saying together in one voice -- "Phir ek baar Modi sarkaar, ab ki baar, 400 paar". The people are replying to t