Page 54 - Lok Sabha Elections

Draped in saffron and symbolism: Women at forefront of PM's rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally for Lok Sabha elections in Ambala draws massive crowds as he vows continued support for women and local industries

Cong aims to turn 3.2 mn unemployed into govt employees within year: Hooda

The Congress aims to turn 32 lakh unemployed people into government employees within a year, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said on Saturday. Hooda, who campaigned for the Congress' Faridabad candidate Mahendra Pratap Singh, also said the people of Haryana have made up their mind to shatter the BJP's "arrogance". All communities are going to vote unanimously for the Congress to protect the country's Constitution and democracy, he said. After a victory in the Lok Sabha elections, it is certain that a Congress government will also be formed in Haryana, the former chief minister said. "A Congress government will not allow unemployment and criminals to remain in Haryana. The Congress' guarantee is to provide (legal) guarantee for minimum support prices for crops, Rs 6,000 as pensions to the elderly, fill 30 lakh vacant posts in the Centre and two lakh vacant posts in Haryana," he said. Hooda, the Leader of Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, also said, "For the la

Lok Sabha polls: TMC, BJP activists clash in West Bengal's Nadia, 2 injured

Two persons were injured in a clash between activists of TMC and BJP in West Bengal's Nadia district on Saturday, police said. The clash broke out in Gayeshpur when a procession in support of Union Minister and BJP's Bongaon Lok Sabha candidate Shantanu Thakur was passing by a locality where a TMC street-corner meeting was going on, a senior officer said. TMC Nadia South president Debasish Ganguly alleged, "BJP workers intentionally took the route where our street-corner meeting was taking place. Our activists urged those present in the BJP procession to turn off the microphone but they did not listen. They assaulted one of our women activists." Countering the allegation, a local BJP leader claimed that one of the saffron party workers was injured after being attacked by TMC activists and admitted to AIIMS Kalyani. Thakur said, "The incident shows how the Trinamool Congress has become jittery as they are losing ground. People will respond to such attacks." There was a report of tw

We will go to BJP HQ on Sun, says Delhi CM; dares PM to arrest AAP leaders

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday that he and other AAP leaders would go to the BJP headquarters on March 19 "so that the prime minister can send anyone he wants to jail". The BJP is saying they will send AAP MP Raghav Chadha and Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj to jail too, he claimed at a press briefing hours after his aide Bibhav Kumar was arrested in connection with the alleged assault on his party's parliamentarian Swati Maliwal. Kejriwal, who is also the AAP national convener, however, asserted that his party could not be crushed by sending its leaders to jail. Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "playing the game" of sending AAP leaders such as Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and Sanjay Singh to jail, he said, "I along with my MLAs and MPs would go to the BJP office at noon tomorrow so that the prime minister can send anyone he wants to jail." "The AAP is an idea. For as many AAP leaders you jail, the country would produce leaders a hundr

Lok Sabha polls: 889 candidates to contest elections in phase 6 on May 25

'After scrutiny of all nominations filed, 900 nominations were found to be valid. In 3-Anantnag-Rajouri, total 28 nominations were filed in Phase 3 and 21 nominations were found to be valid,' it added

PM avoids debate, can't answer questions on links with Adani, Ambani: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that Narendra Modi is refusing to have a debate with him as the prime minister cannot answer questions about his "links" with a few favoured businessmen and how he "misused" electoral bonds. Addressing a public meeting organised by the Congress in Delhi, he urged workers of his party and of the Aam Aadmi Party to work together and ensure victory for their alliance on all seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital. "It's interesting that I'll vote for AAP and Arvind Kejriwal will vote for Congress in these elections," he said. Gandhi said the first aim of everyone should be to save the Constitution from those "hell-bent on destroying it". Attacking the prime minister, the Congress leader said, "PM Modi is giving non-stop interviews to his favourite journalists but he will not have a debate with me because he knows he cannot answer my questions." "PM Modi talks about the Congress getting tempo-loads of money from Adani-Ambani, but

Amethi suffered in last 5 years: Priyanka Gandhi hits out at Smriti Irani

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday attacked BJP's Amethi Lok Sabha seat candidate and sitting MP Smriti Irani, alleging that the region has "suffered" in the last five years as the BJP never thought about its development. She was here to seek support for Congress' candidate from the seat Kishori Lal Sharma, who she said has "dedicated his entire life to Amethi". Priyanka Gandhi, who is a general secretary in the Congress, held a roadshow in Jasi town on the last day of campaigning for the seat that goes to polls on May 20 in the fifth round of the seven-phase general elections. "He (Sharma) has been associated with Amethi for the last 40 years. He was associated with my father (Rajiv Gandhi) here, he also worked with my mother (Sonia Gandhi) and my elder brother Rahul Gandhi. He has dedicated his entire life to Amethi," she said while addressing a gathering. During the roadshow, which began from the Jais bus stand and ended at the Navjeet Intersection, Priyanka Gandh

INDIA bloc to win LS polls, BJP will not even cross 200 seats: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed that the INDIA bloc will come to power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and BJP will "not cross the 200 mark" in the polls. She accused Congress, and CPI(M) of having entered into a nexus with BJP in the state to discredit the state government and asked the electorate not to vote for any non-TMC parties which will benefit the saffron camp. Addressing an election rally at Goghat under the Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency, Banerjee said "I had coined the name INDIA and at the national level we the coalition partners are all working together to resist the autocratic, demonic Narendra Modi government. TMC will play its role in installing the INDIA bloc to power." "See what Modi is telling now he is no more making tall '400 paar' seats by BJP. He can read the writing on the wall already. BJP will not cross even 200 tally. BJP will bite the dust," she said. Banerjee alleged that CPI(M), Congress

Campaigning ends for 49 seats of 5th phase; Amethi, Rae Bareli in limelight

Campaigning concluded on Saturday for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls covering 49 constituencies in six states and two UTs including the high-profile Rae Bareli and Amethi seats from where former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Smriti Irani are in the fray respectively. In Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla, former chief minister Omar Abdullah, who is among 22 candidates in the fray, held a roadshow in Soibugh - a central Kashmir village that was once a hotbed of militancy- on the last day of campaigning. While temperatures soared across the country, there was no let up in the campaign heat as the Lok Sabha election season entered the last fortnight. The Election Commission on Tuesday said it expects star campaigners, particularly of the national parties, to lead by example in the remaining three phases of the Lok Sabha polls and not vitiate the delicate fabric of society. With over 40 of these seats with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Prime Minister Narend

Manoj Tiwari carried out attack on me as people have rejected him: Kanhaiya

INDIA bloc's North East Delhi candidate Kanhaiya Kumar on Saturday claimed the constituency's sitting MP Manoj Tiwari Kumar carried out an attack on him as he has realised that the people of the constituency are no longer accepting him. Kumar's accusation against his BJP rival in the Lok Sabha elections came a day after he was allegedly assaulted and attacked with ink by some people. The incident happened outside the AAP office in the New Usmanpur area as he was coming out after a party meeting with local Councillor Chhaya Sharma. Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Kumar accused Tiwari of trying to instigate people against him though false rumours and doctored videos. "Instead of showing his work, ever since I was nominated as the candidate for northeast Delhi, the MP (Tiwari) is continuously lying, circulating doctored videos, and trying to instigate the common people." He further alleged that the sitting North East Delhi MP did not have even 10 projects to show in hi

Cong-AAP ties opportunistic, one corrupt party covering another: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said opposition INDIA bloc can go to any extent in pursuing its "vote bank" politics, claiming that the then Congress government during the 2014 elections had handed over 123 properties spread across prime locations in Delhi to the Waqf Board for votes. In his first rally in the national capital for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Modi slammed the Congress-AAP alliance in Delhi as opportunistic, saying the world is watching how one corrupt party is covering for another corrupt party. Modi asserted that if he has any heir, it is the 140 crore Indians for whose bright future he has dedicated himself. His every moment is for the country and his life is dedicated to realising the dreams of its citizens, the prime ministers said while addressing the rally in North-East Delhi. Though he made no direct reference, Modi's remarks came amid repeated claims of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal that he will make way for Home Minister Amit Sh

Kejriwal says BJP's 'dictatorial' rule will end on June 4 amid public anger

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday claimed the entire country is seething in anger against the BJP and will end its "dictatorial" rule on June 4, the counting day of the Lok Sabha polls. Addressing a street meeting in West Delhi's Najafgarh area, he claimed the BJP would soon arrest AAP leaders such as Raghav Chaddha, Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj to crush the opposition. The AAP national convener made the comments on the day his aide Bibhav Kumar was arrested in connection with the alleged assault on party MP Swati Maliwal. He appealed to the people to vote for his party to stop him from going to jail again. "It's in your hands. If you want me to go to jail choose the BJP, otherwise choose the AAP." Kejriwal said the Lok Sabha poll results will prove to the BJP that the entire country is angry with its "dictatorial" rule. He exuded confidence that people will oust the BJP from power. Kejriwal, who was arrested in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi ex

Lok Sabha elections: BJP planning to ban RSS, says Uddhav Thackeray

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party was planning to ban its ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), after winning a third term in power. Speaking at his last rally here before the campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections ended in Maharashtra, Thackeray also said that the Election Commissioner who was "acting like Modi's servant" will be removed after the INDIA alliance government comes to power. "The way they tried to use and throw the Shiv Sena, a similar game will be played by Narendra Modi in future (with the RSS), and that has been stated by (BJP president J P) Nadda," he said. Thackeray was referring to Nadda's comments to a newspaper that when the BJP was a small party and less capable, it needed the RSS, but now the saffron party has grown, become more capable, and "runs itself". "Nadda said there was a need of the RSS until now, (but) we are capable now and we don't need the RSS. If they (BJP) came to

Modi's 'dhakad' govt brought down wall of Article 370: PM in Ambala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharpened his attack on the Congress on Saturday and said it was his "dhakad" (strong) government that brought down the wall of Article 370 and as a result, Kashmir is now moving ahead on the path of development. Modi said the history of the Congress has been of betraying India's forces and soldiers as he referred to the "Jeep scandal", the "first scam" during the grand old party's rule. "Could a weak government have changed the situation in Jammu and Kashmir?" Modi asked the gathering, addressing his first Lok Sabha poll rally in Haryana. Referring to Haryana contributing a sizable number of soldiers in the armed forces, he said when the Congress was in power, mothers in Haryana were a worried lot thinking about their children's safety. "Have such things stopped now or not?" he asked the audience that responded with a loud "yes". "Modi's dhakad (strong and decisive) government brought down the wall of Article 370 and Kashmir is now moving ahead on the

LS polls: 1,409 voters use home voting facility on second day in Delhi

The home voting facility which started on May 17 will be available till May 25

LS polls: PM Modi changed political culture in 10 years, says Nadda

Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the political culture of the country from politics of divide and rule to that of report card in the past ten years with the mantra of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishvas and sabka prayas," BJP president J P Nadda said on Saturday. Addressing a public rally at Rehan in the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency in support of BJP candidate Rajiv Bhardwaj, he said, "Politics of divide and rule was going on in the country for 70 years which has been converted in the past ten years to the politics of report card, where the elected representatives have to show their performance." Dubbing the INDIA bloc an "alliance of families promoting dynastic politics and saving corrupt people," Nadda said that leaders of this alliance facing corruption charges are either on bail or in jail, and added that corrupt leaders would go back to jail after the polls on June 1. "Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is roaming with the Constitution written by B R Ambedkar, which clearly

Maitri Setu, Agartala-Akhaura rail link to be operational soon: Tripura CM

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said the Maitri Setu in South Tripura and Agartala-Akhaura (Bangladesh) rail link will become operational very soon. The Matri Setu built over river Feni connecting South Tripura's Sabroom with Bangladesh's Ramgarh was jointly inaugurated on March 9, 2021 and Agartala- Nischintapur (Indian part of Agartala-Akhaura rail link) was inaugurated on November 1, 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina. But both connectivity facilities are yet to be made operational. "Election is almost over, and a new government will be formed. Under the leadership of PM Modi, who has always emphasized the Act East Policy and provided us with the HIRA (highway, i-way, railway, airway) model, the Maitri Setu will become operational soon", the chief minister told reporters on Friday. "The trial in Agartala-Akhaura railway link has already been completed, and it will also be made operational soon," Saha said, adding that many investo

LS polls: Maha CEO calls for initiatives to boost voter participation

Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam has called for special initiatives to boost participation of voters, including house-to-house outreach programmes. He was speaking to reporters in Maharashtra's Thane district while conducting a review of the election preparations in three constituencies of Thane, Kalyan and Bhiwandi. Elections to 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in north Maharashtra and Mumbai Metropolitan Region will be held on May 20. Underscoring the need for seamless coordination among all systems to facilitate voting in Thane district in a transparent and secure manner, Chockalingam emphasized the role of the administration in upholding the democratic principles, and urged that collective efforts need to be taken to ensure transparent and fearless elections. Special initiatives to be undertaken to boost voter participation, including house-to-house outreach on the day of polling so that citizens are encouraged to cast their votes, he said. Noting that Thane ...

LS polls: Rae Bareli should show UP, country path to progress, says Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said Rae Bareli should once again show the path to progress and development to Uttar Pradesh and the country as it has been the ideological and political centre of the state in the past. Sharing a video with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in a post on X, he recollected memories of their childhood while passing through Rae Bareli, from where he is contesting on the Lok Sabha seat vacated by his mother Sonia Gandhi. "Rae Bareli has an important role in India's progress, in giving direction to the country. Rae Bareli has for years been Uttar Pradesh's political and ideological centre, and it was Rae Bareli that showed the path in the freedom struggle," he said in the over four-minute video. "Today, the role of Rae Bareli should be one that first shows the path to Uttar Pradesh's progress and development and then Uttar Pradesh should once again show the path of progress and development to India," he also said. In the last Lok Sabha elections,

LS elections 2024: Sixth schedule, employment key issues in Ladakh

As Ladakh votes to elect its MP for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, safeguards under the sixth schedule, statehood and employment are the key issues in the two distant districts of the constituency that is the largest in the country in terms of area. Spread over more than 59,000 square kilometres -- around 40 times the size of Delhi -- the two districts of Leh and Kargil are divided by geography and religion. Buddhist-dominated Leh and Shia Muslim-majority Kargil have come together over four demands -- safeguards under the sixth schedule of the Constitution, statehood, reservation in jobs for locals and a separate public service commission and two Lok Sabha seats for the region. After the abrogation of Article 370, Ladakh, which shares its border with both Pakistan and China, was carved out as a Union Territory without legislature. While Leh welcomed the move initially, people in Kargil were unhappy about the split. However, soon the concerns .