Page 35 - Lok Sabha Elections

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

Modi first PM to 'lower dignity' of public discourse: Manmohan Singh

In a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday accused him of lowering the dignity of public discourse and the gravity of the office of the PM by giving "hateful speeches" during the poll campaign. In an appeal to voters of Punjab ahead of the seventh-phase of Lok Sabha polls on June 1, Singh asserted that only the Congress can ensure growth-oriented progressive future where democracy and Constitution will be safeguarded. The senior Congress leader also hit out at the BJP government for imposing an "ill-conceived" Agniveer scheme on the armed forces. "The BJP thinks that the value of patriotism, bravery and service is only four years. This shows their fake nationalism," he said in a letter to voters of Punjab. Mounting an attack on Modi, Singh said, "I have been keenly following the political discourse during this election campaign. Modi ji has indulged in the most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive in ..

Modi govt repeatedly blocked farmers from making any profits, alleges Cong

The Congress on Thursday accused the Modi government of repeatedly blocking India's farmers from making any profits in the last 10 years and claimed that the pattern of policy making has been to not allow farmers to earn well when prices rise and leave them to fend for themselves when prices crash. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a day he held a rally in Hoshiarpur on the last day of campaigning. "After peddling lies about the Father of the Nation yesterday, the outgoing PM is in Hoshiarpur for his final campaign event. Our last set of questions to him before the people of India, that is Bharat, bid him a long-awaited farewell," Ramesh said in his post on X. "If not India's kisaans, will the outgoing PM guarantee MSP to Russia's farmers? Will the PM raise the 50% cap on reservations for Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs? Why does Adampur Airport offer only one flight route? Why has the Modi Sarkar failed to address the severe staff

LS polls: BJP has insulted people of Odisha, Lord Jagannath, alleges Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP of insulting the people of Odisha as one of its leaders recently claimed that Lord Jagannath is a devotee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing an election rally in Simulia in the Bhadrak Lok Sabha seat, he also vowed to save the Constitution of India and democracy in the country. The BJP has insulted every individual of Odisha as one of its leaders claimed that Lord Jagannath is a devotee of PM Modi," Gandhi said. BJP's Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sambit Patra had recently made the remark. Embroiled in a controversy over his "slip of the tongue" on Lord Jagannath, Patra apologised and announced that he would undertake a penance by observing fast for three days. The Congress leader alleged that the BJP and its allies are united to destroy democracy and the Constitution of the country. No force on the earth can destroy our Constitution. You cannot even touch the Constitution by utilising all your forces, Gandhi said in an

As Lok Sabha election ends near, here's what lies ahead for new government

Here are some key issues the winning party, or coalition, will need to tackle in office

Top colleges, care for heritage. Here's what Patna's well-known want

State-of-the-art higher educational institutions, urban renewal with sensitive planning and upkeep of shrinking built heritage are among the post-poll expectations of some of Patna's well-known families. Polling will be held in the two Lok Sabha seats under Patna district -- Patna Sahib and Pataliputra -- on June 1. Both the seats have over 43 lakh electors. Businessman Abhay Kanoria, 59, who comes from an affluent Marwari family of Patna and calls himself a proud Bihari, feels the state has the potential to regain its lost glory. "My expectations for Patna from the government that will come to power, is that it should help establish some state-of-the-art academic institutions here. We have a lot of good schools here, but after 12th, students just want to leave Patna and do not want to study in existing universities in Bihar, as they don't get the quality of education they can get elsewhere," Kanoria told PTI here. He alleged that bureaucratic red tape has "lessened" but still exi

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

LS polls: He once sold tea, now PM Modi seeks his own 'tryst with destiny'

He has set a tentative target of increasing the size of the economy by about eight times to $29 trillion by then and the per-capita income by about seven times to nearly $18,000

Lok Sabha elections: Incumbents constesting may be at 47-year low

With less than a week to go for poll results, Business Standard tracks the long-term trends on the political churn in Parliament in the first of a two-part series

EC orders action against Nandighosha TV for telecasting exit poll results

The 2024 Indian general election in Odisha is being held in four phases to elect 21 members of the 18th Lok Sabha

India Inc plans fundraising via QIPs as Lok Sabha election nears end

Optimism around poll outcome, capex seen, attractive valuations seen as triggers

LS polls: SAD's Hindu face to take on BJP's Sikh rival in Amritsar

Amritsar has long been a bastion of the Congress, with the grand old party emerging victorious in 13 out of the 20 Lok Sabha polls and bypolls held between 1952 and 2019

Election turnout 35 million more this time compared to 2019: SBI Research

Expects sovereign rating upgrade by 2026-27

324 re-contesting Lok Sabha members' assets surge 43%: ADR report

The analysis found that the number of women candidates has increased marginally over the years, from 7 per cent of the total candidates in 2009 to 9.6 per cent in 2024

Lok Sabha polls: Farmers may decide strike rate in Punjab powerplay

BJP candidates across the state facing repercussions of the two farmers' protests

Transparent financing

Next govt must address political funding

LS polls: PM spreading 'lies' about providing funds to Bengal, says Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of "spreading lies" about funds being provided to the state and challenged the PM to prove his claim. Addressing a rally at Metiabruz in Diamond Harbour constituency, the Chief Minister said she was "ready to sacrifice her life" but wouldn't allow divisive politics of the saffron camp such as the CAA, NRC and UCC in the state. "Prime Minister while addressing rallies in Bengal is saying the Centre has sent funds for the state which the TMC has siphoned off. He is saying the Centre had sent funds but those were looted by us. The PM is lying. I challenge him to prove that the Centre has released funds for the state. This is a blatant lie," she said. Reacting to Banerjee's remark, BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, "The Prime Minister has only tried to highlight the corruption during the TMC regime. It is a well-known fact that the TMC is neck-deep in corruption. The ..

LS polls highlights: Is there a conspiracy behind Naveen Babu's deteriorating health, asks PM Modi

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

LS polls: Proud that I am going to jail to save my country, says Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has to surrender on June 2 in the excise policy case at the end of his interim bail period, on Wednesday said he is proud going to jail to "save" his country. The AAP convener is out on an interim bail till June 1 following an order of the Supreme Court, which has directed him to surrender on June 2. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. "I am ready to go back to jail again on June 2. And I am proud that I am going to jail to save my country," Kejriwal told PTI Videos here. Attacking the BJP-led Centre, he said, "They (BJP) say Kejriwal indulged in corruption...they don't have even one proof. People are saying if Kejriwal is corrupt, then no one is honest in this world." "They say there has been theft of Rs 100 crore. They conducted raids at 500 places, they did not get even one paise, did that Rs 100 crore vanish in thin air?" he asked. The Delhi

LS polls: 'In good health, campaigning,' says Naveen Patnaik to PM Modi

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said that he was in good health and campaigning for the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections for the past one month. "He (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) has stated publicly earlier that I am his good friend. All he had to do was pick up a telephone and ask me about my health. But a number of BJP people from Odisha and Delhi are spreading rumours about my health. Let me assure the PM that I am in perfect health and I have been campaigning in the state for the last one month," Patnaik said. Patnaik's statement came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi in three back-to-back election rallies stated that the Odisha Chief Minister was not in a state to do his routine duties. The prime minister also said that if BJP comes to power in the state, it will set up a committee to ascertain the reason behind the sudden worsening of Patnaik's health.