Page 66 - Lok Sabha Elections

'Aandhi aayi thi': Kejriwal's analogy between his release, Delhi storm

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal held his first press conference on Saturday, following his interim release from Tihar jail in the alleged Delhi liquor policy 'scam'

Lok Sabha polls Phase 4: 96 seats go to polls on May 13; all details here

May 13 will witness another high stake battle in the fourth stage of Lok Sabha elections in 10 states and union territories. A total of 96 constituencies in these states and UTs will go to polls

Lok Sabha polls 2024: UP gears up for fourth phase in 13 constituencies

Voting for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh covering 13 parliamentary constituencies will take place on Monday, with all eyes on the prestigious Kannauj seat from where SP president Akhilesh Yadav is seeking a re-election. Another prominent candidate in the fray in this round is Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni, who is contesting from Kheri. Voting will take place in Shahjahanpur (SC), Kheri, Dhaurahra, Sitapur, Hardoi (SC), Misrikh (SC), Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etawah (SC), Kannauj, Kanpur, Akbarpur and Bahraich (SC). A total of 130 candidates are in the poll fray in this phase. Among the 13 poll-bound constituencies, Kannauj will see a contest between the SP chief and sitting BJP MP Subrat Pathak, while in Unnao, incumbent BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj (Swami Sachidanand Hari Sakshi) is pitted against SP's Annu Tandon (a former Lok Sabha MP from Unnao). Tandon had contested against Sakshi Maharaj as a Congress candidate in 2014 and 2019, but had

LS polls: PM Modi to hold roadshow in Bihar today during his 2-day visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead a roadshow in Patna on Sunday evening, followed by three election rallies elsewhere in Bihar, a day later. This is the first political visit to the state capital by the prime minister since the March 2009 rally at the historic Gandhi Maidan. He was on an official visit here a couple of years ago for a function held by the Bihar Assembly. Foolproof security arrangements are in place across the city. There will be a complete ban on flying drones in any locality and plying of vehicles will remain suspended on the roadshow route, Senior Superintendent of Police Rajeev Mishra told PTI. The roadshow will commence at the Income Tax office roundabout, situated a few hundred metres from the state BJP headquarters, and conclude at Udyog Bhavan in the vicinity of Gandhi Maidan, passing through crowded localities like Fraser Road, Exhibition Road, Kadam Kuan and Sahitya Sammelan. Barricades have been erected on both sides of the road along the route and .

Lok Sabha polls 2024: PM Modi to hold four rallies in West Bengal today

Voting will take place for eight Lok Sabha seats of West Bengal in the fourth phase of voting to be held on May 13

EC's reaction to Kharge's letter 'inappropriate, unwarranted', says Gehlot

The Election Commission's reaction to a letter by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to INDIA bloc partners expressing concern over delays in releasing voter turnout figures for the first two poll phases was "completely inappropriate and unwarranted", former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said on Saturday. The commission on Friday, in a response to Kharge's letter, called it an attempt to push a biased narrative under the guise of seeking clarifications. In a post in Hindi on X, Gehlot said, "The language of the letter of the Election Commission, which came on the legitimate questions raised by @kharge ji, seems more like that of a political party than a constitutional institution. Instead of working with its responsibility, the Election Commission is seen standing with one party in these elections and that is creating doubts in the minds of the common people." He added that such a reaction is not good for the Election Commission's image. "It is surprising that the Election .

Mann has 'understanding' with Amit Shah to split AAP after LS poll: Badal

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has an "understanding" with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to split AAP into a separate Punjab unit after the elections, like Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde did in Maharashtra, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal claimed on Saturday. Badal made the claim while addressing rallies at Sunam and Dhuri for the Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) Sangrur candidate Iqbal Singh Jhundan. "Bhagwant Mann has compromised with the BJP as he felt he would also be arrested like his boss (Arvind) Kejriwal because he had also perpetrated the same liquor scam as done by AAP in Delhi. This understanding has saved him from arrest," Badal alleged. Shiv Sena leader Shinde became Maharashtra chief minister after parting ways with Uddhav Thackeray and forming an alliance with the BJP. The Election Commission of India has since recognised the Shinde faction as officially representing the Shiv Sena while the Thackeray-led faction has been using the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) name. The

BJP won't be able to win Odisha in next 10 years: Patnaik takes on PM Modi

Asserting that the BJP would not be able to win Odisha in the next 10 years, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday claimed his BJD would return to power for the sixth consecutive time after the assembly elections. Patnaik was reacting to PM Narendra Modi telling an election rally earlier in the day that the swearing-in ceremony of a "BJP chief minister" will be held in Bhubaneswar on June 10. "Nothing will happen on June 10. BJP will not be able to win the hearts of the people in the next 10 years, forget about June 10," the chief minister said, maintaining that the BJD will form the government in Odisha for the sixth consecutive time. He also questioned why Biju Patnaik was not being considered for Bharat Ratna. "There are so many brave sons of Odisha, a few of whom you spoke about today. Don't any of them, including Biju Patnaik, deserve the Bharat Ratna?" Patnaik asked, noting that the Centre has given the honour to several persons recently. He said the people of Odisha ...

LS polls: Phase 4 campaigning ends, 96 constituencies to vote on May 13

ECI further mentioned that the average number of contesting candidates in a parliamentary constituency for the fourth phase is 18

PM raises Odisha 'Ashmita' issue, says state being run by unelected CM

Raising Odisha 'Ashmita' (pride) as a key poll issue in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a veiled attack on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's close aide V K Pandian alleging that the incumbent BJD government in the state is being run by a "Super CM". While raising Odisha 'Ashmita' issue in all the three election meetings at Kandhamal, Bolangir and Bargarh Lok Sabha seats, Modi directly attacked the ruling BJD president Naveen Patnaik over his knowledge about the state. "I am sure, your CM cannot tell name of all the 30 districts and their headquarters without help of a paper," Modi said, stating that he is forced to speak about it as the BJP has decided to save Odisha's 'Ashmita'. "Who is really running the show in the BJD government? There's a 'Super CM' within the BJD who hasn't been elected by the people. The BJD has effectively delegated the role of CM to someone who lacks understanding of Odisha's cultural values," Modi said without naming ...

Highlights of the day: Delhi CM Kejriwal to hold meeting with AAP leaders on Sunday

From Jairam Ramesh hitting out at the BJP for giving a ticket to Brij Bhushan's SAon to the damage done by the dust storm in national capital on Friday, catch all the news from around the world here

LS polls: Only Modi govt can fulfill pending issues of Ladakh, says Rijiju

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said all pending issues of Ladakh would be fulfilled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government and exhorted the people to vote for the BJP in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. BJP candidate Tashi Gyalson is locked in a three-cornered contest from the Ladakh seat. The Congress has fielded Tsering Namgyal, while the KDA has put up prominent leader Haji Haneefa Jan who is contesting as an independent. The fate of all three candidates will be sealed during the fifth phase of elections on May 20. The Lok Sabha elections here are taking place amid resentment among the locals over the deadlock in talks between the local representatives and the Central government. The dialogue between the joint representatives of Leh-based Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and the Union Home Ministry hit the deadlock in March after the Centre refused to accept the demand for statehood and sixth schedule of the Constitution for the Union Territory. a

CM Kejriwal holds first roadshow for LS poll campaign after his release

AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday held his first roadshow for Lok Sabha election campaign along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann in the South Delhi constituency, a day after his release from Tihar jail. Party leaders and workers gathered in large numbers while Kejriwal and Mann mounted an open-roof vehicle waving and greeting people. AAP volunteers, holding party flags and raising slogans, marched behind the vehicle in the narrow streets of Mehrauli in South Delhi, in support of party candidate Sahi Ram Pehalwan. Kejriwal, who is out on an interim bail granted by the Supreme Court till June 1, earlier in the day said he will campaign across the country to fight against "dictatorship". He will also take part in a roadshow in East Delhi constituency in support of AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar.

Cong spreading fear among countrymen in name of Pakistani atom bomb: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed the Congress and accused the party of spreading fear among people by repeatedly suggesting that neighbouring Pakistan too has nuclear weapons that they could use at any moment. Addressing an election rally in Odisha's Kandhamal, Modi highlighted that the Congress has historically instilled fear among people by repeatedly saying, "Sambhal ke chaloPakistan ki pass atom bomb hai (Proceed with caution, Pakistan has an atom bomb)". "Yeh mare pade log, desh ke mann ko bhi maar rahe hain (These virtually dead people are trying to kill the spirit of the country)", the PM remarked. Modi emphasised that the Congress has consistently adopted an attitude of spreading fear by mentioning the Pakistani bomb, noting that the neighbouring country currently lacks the capability to handle or manage the nuclear arsenal it possesses. "They (Pakistan) are now trying to sell the bomb and searching for a buyer. But nobody is buying the bomb because people k

Ram 'bhakts' versus Ram 'drohis' in elections: CM Yogi at Bihar rally

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday dubbed the Congress-led opposition as "Ram drohis" who stood for "division of the country on religious lines" by promoting "cow slaughter" and granting reservations to Muslims. The senior BJP leader made the remarks at a rally in Bihar's Begusarai Lok Sabha seat, which Union minister Giriraj Singh seeks to retain. "The ongoing elections are a choice between Ram bhakts and Ram drohis", said the pontiff of Gorakkshdham shrine, who made the crowd chant "Jo Ram ko laaye hain, hum unko laaye hain". "I come from the land of Lord Ram. I know that the temple for Ayodhya has a special place in the hearts of people of Bihar, which is the birthplace of Goddess Sita", said Yogi. Without naming Samajwadi Party, a Congress ally and BJP's principal opponent in UP, he said, "Ram drohis include those who got bullets fired on Ram bhaktis, mourned the deaths of mafia dons". The allusion was to police firing on 'kar sevaks' in the 1980s when SP

LS polls: FM bonds with southern students over lunch at Andhra Bhavan

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a surprise visit to the iconic Andhra Bhavan in the heart of Delhi on Saturday, two days before polling in the Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, interacting with some students of Delhi University. Speaking to around 20-odd students from the two Telugu-speaking states as well as Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka, Sitharaman discussed issues ranging from education and politics to the economic situation, in what appeared to be an attempt at outreach ahead of the May 13 elections in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where the BJP aims to expand its base. Polling for Andhra Pradesh's 25 Lok Sabha and 175 assembly seats will be held simultaneously on May 13. Telangana's 17 Lok Sabha seats will also go to the polls on the same day. As the students savoured their lunch, Sitharaman seamlessly transitioned into the role of a caring mother figure, ensuring they were eating properly. "I am listening, you please eat," she gently reminded th

LS polls: INDIA bloc storming, Modi won't be PM after Jun 4, says Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed the storm of INDIA bloc is everywhere and Narendra Modi will not be the prime minister after June 4. He said this while sharing a post on X by sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of a crowd at a rally at Nundurbar in Maharashtra. "Be it Maharashtra or Uttar Pradesh, Haryana or Bihar, the storm of India is blowing everywhere. I say it again - Narendra Modi will not be the Prime Minister after June 4," Rahul Gandhi wrote. The post by Priyanka Gandhi showed a huge crowd gathering for the Congress rally. "Heartfelt gratitude to the people of Nandurbar, Maharashtra for this enthusiastic welcome. The message of Maharashtra is clear - India's government is going to be formed," she said. Nandurbar was a Congress stronghold for long but the party lost for the first time in 2014. BJP's Heena Gavit defeated Manikrao Gavit, a nine-time MP of the Congress who had held the seat since 1981. This time Heena Gavit has Congress candidate Gowaal Padavi as h

Voter turnout in phase 3 of Lok Sabha elections at 65.68%, says EC

The updated voter turnout figures for the third phase of polling in the Lok Sabha elections stood at 65.68 per cent, the Election Commission said on Saturday. The poll panel had given a similar voter turnout figure on May 8, a day after the third phase of voting took place. In a statement on Saturday, EC said 66.89 per cent of men, 64.4 per cent of women and 25.2 per cent of the registered transgender voters turned up at polling stations. In the third phase, 17.24 crore citizens, including 8.85 crore males and 8.39 crore females, were eligible to vote. Voting for the third phase was held on Tuesday in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union Territories with stray incidents of violence. In phase three of the 2019 parliamentary polls, the turnout of voters was 68.4 per cent.

Congress will get fewer seats than age of its 'shehzada': PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flayed the opposition INDIA bloc for "insulting" President Droupadi Murmu after her visit to Ayodhya's Ram temple, and asserted that the Congress will get fewer seats than the age of its shehzada'. Addressing a poll rally at Chatra, Modi also said leaders of the alliance are planning to merge small parties post the Lok Sabha polls to attain opposition status. "Congress will get fewer seats than the age of its 'shehzada'," the PM said, in an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi, and added that the bloc has already accepted defeat. The mentality of the Congress is of the 18th century... after the President paid obeisance at the Ram temple, they talked about cleaning the temple... they insulted the President, Modi said. He also asserted that NDA governments will be formed in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh where simultaneous assembly polls were underway. We worship tribals, but the JMM and Congress are not able to digest the respect

Delhi's lone third-gender candidate makes 'sauchalay se, Sansad tak' pitch

In the national capital's South Delhi constituency, 26-year-old Rajan Singh has been reaching out to the electorate with the slogan "sauchalay se, Sansad tak". The poll plank for Singh, the lone third-gender candidate in the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, is the lack of basic amenities for the transgender community such as separate public toilets. "I am participating in the Lok Sabha election to address our community's basic needs which are so fundamental and necessary. Yet we still have to fight for them," Singh told PTI. "Beginning with the demand for separate toilets to advocating for seats for transgender people in Parliament, our journey ahead is long. It begins with the motto 'sauchalay se, sansad tak,'" the candidate said. A native of Bihar, Singh who lives in the Sangam Vihar area of the city, is fighting the election on the polls symbol "bucket" and plans to take out a march in the constituency on May 12 with a few people. While filing poll nomination on May 3, Singh had said