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Bigwigs cast their vote as Ninth Phase of General Elections begins

Varanasi/ Kushinagar/ Kolkata, May 12 (ANI): As the General Elections come to an end with its Ninth Phase on Monday, bigwigs go out and cast their vote. Congress leader RPN Singh cast his vote in his own constituency of Kushinagar and said that predictions about Congress losing will turn false this time. CPI (M) leader Mohd Salim slammed Mamata Banerjee led TMC for supporting other parties for the sake of majority. Meanwhile, BJP's senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi also cast his vote from Varanasi where party's PM candidate Narendra Modi is contesting. Actress turned politician Moon Moon Sen along with daughters Riya Sen and Raima Sen also cast their vote in Kolkata.

Politicos cast votes in the last phase of LS Polls

Gorakhpur/Kolkata/Azamgarh/Siwan, May 12 (ANI): Political leaders from various parties cast their votes as the last phase of General Elections approaches. BJP leader and candidate from Gorakhpur Adityanath Yogi cast vote in his own constituency. Yogi said that he is confident about his win on the basis of Hinduism and development. RJD candidate from Siwan Heena Shahab also cast vote in her constituency and raised the issue of development as her priority. CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat also cast her vote in Kolkata and expressed hope that EC will ensure free and fair polling. Meanwhile, SP leader Durga Prasad Yadav cast his vote in Azamgarh and expressed his confidence of Mulayam Singh Yadav's victory from the constituency.

Polling begins in Bihar as India steps on final phase of 2014 polls

Bihar, May 12 (ANI): Polling in Bihar's 6 constituencies began on Monday in the ninth and final phase of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. In the fray are 90 candidates, including filmmaker Prakash Jha and former union Minister Raghubansh Prasad Singh whose fates would be decided by more than 90 lakh voters. While Jha is trying his luck on a JD (U) ticket from Paschim Champaran, more popularly remembered as Bettiah, Raghubansh Prasad Singh, who won praise for piloting MGNREGA, will do so from his traditional Vaishali seat on RJD ticket. Singh is opposed by Rama Singh of LJP and Vijay Kumar Sahni of JD (U). Election Commission has reduced poll timings by two hours in five assembly seats on the day over perceived Maoist threat.

Ninth phase of 16th LS polls starts today

UP/ West Bengal/ Bihar, May 12 (ANI): The ninth phase of 16th Lok Sabha elections began on Monday. Polling for 41 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across three states began at 7:00 AM and will continue till 6:00 PM except for five Assembly Segments in Bihar where polling will end at 4:00 PM perceiving Maoist threats. The states which are going to polls are Bihar for 6 seats, Uttar Pradesh for 18 seats and West Bengal for 17 seats. The major battle is in UP's Varanasi where BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi , AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Ajai Rai are contesting against each other. Apart from that SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav is contesting in Azamgarh against BJP's Ramakant Yadav. The nine phased General Elections will end with today's polling. Results are due to be announced on May 16.

Last phase of LS Polls: Derek O' Brien and Ajai Rai cast vote

Varanasi/ Kolkata, May 12 (ANI): As the polling for last phase of the General Elections approaches, politicos go out to cast their vote on Monday. TMC leader Derek O' Brien and Congress leader Ajai Rai cast votes early this morning. Derek O' Brien expressed his confidence that TMC will be the third largest party in the Lok Sabha and voting will take place in large numbers. Meanwhile, Congress candidate from Varanasi Ajai Rai contesting against BJP's Narendra Modi and AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal said that people will choose a person who is one of them not an outsider who does not even hold rights to vote in their constituency.

Police raids BJP office in Varanasi

Varanasi, May 11 (ANI): The BJP office at Sigra in Varanasi was raided by police officials on Sunday. The surprised raid came a day before the polling in the city. The police official seized T-shirts, badges and pamphlets. The senior officials have not disclosed the reason behind the raid. Earlier, the city administration along with RAF personnel and police officials marched in the city as an exercise of building confidence among the electorates. The security has been tightened and CCTV cameras have been installed to keep a close eye on polling day.

Congress can do dirty politics to win seats: BJP

New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi on Sunday addressed a Press Conference in which she slammed Congress and said that the Congress party can do any level of dirty politics to win seats.

Large scale attacks in West Bengal by TMC, approached EC: CPI (M) Part - 1

New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Sunday approached the Election Commission and complained about large scale attacks in West Bengal by the ruling Trinamool Congress. Yechury appealed the poll panel to look into the situation in the state as West Bengal and the nation will go to the final phase of 2014 Lok Sabha polls on Monday. He asked the EC to deploy more security officials in the sensitive polling booths and adopt security measures so that free and fair elections can be held and people can come to vote fearlessly.

Large scale attacks in West Bengal by TMC, approached EC: CPI (M) Part - 2

New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Sunday approached the Election Commission and complained about large scale attacks in West Bengal by the ruling Trinamool Congress. Yechury appealed the poll panel to look into the situation in the state as West Bengal and the nation will go to the final phase of 2014 Lok Sabha polls on Monday. He asked the EC to deploy more security officials in the sensitive polling booths and adopt security measures so that free and fair elections can be held and people can come to vote fearlessly.

RSS workers worked hard during polls, came to express gratitude: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, May 11 (ANI): A day after BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi's long meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, BJP president Rajnath Singh on Sunday met senior Sangh leaders at the RSS office in New Delhi. Singh said that the RSS workers worked hard during the polls and he had come to the RSS office to express gratitude. Singh is believed to have discussed party strategy keeping in view the last phase of polling tomorrow and counting of votes on May 16.

Narendra Modi targets Congress during rally in Kushinagar

Kushinagar, May 10 (ANI): The BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Congress during his rally in Kushinagar, UP. Modi claimed that the Congress' performance in the elections would be miserable.

Politicos react as EC says Modi rally denial issue could have been handled better

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): Politicos on Saturday reacted over Election Commissioner HS Brahma's comment that a decision on the issue of denial of rally to Narendra Modi should have been taken faster to avoid the stand-off.

BJP slams Mamata for her 'jail' remark on Modi

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): The BJP on Saturday slammed TMC Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her remark on BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Mamata targeted Modi by saying that she would have sent Modi to jail by tying a rope around his waist if she were in power in Delhi.TMC chief also slammed the Congress party and said that it is a 'party cocooned in fear' and has no guts to act against the BJP.

Politicos react on Rahul's Varanasi roadshow

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): Days after Narendra Modi took on Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, the Congress vice-president on Saturday retaliated by campaigning on the last day in the temple town, where the BJP's prime ministerial candidate is in the fray.

EC appoints special observer for Varanasi constituency, politicos react

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): The Election Commission has appointed a special observer to oversee polling in Varanasi constituency, from where BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is contesting the Lok Sabha elections. The commission has appointed IAS Officer Pravin Kumar of Tamil Nadu to ensure free and fair polling in the constituency. The decision comes after the BJP had accused Varanasi District Magistrate Pranjal Yadav, who had declined permission to Modi for holding a rally in the constituency, of partisanship. The Varanasi constituency goes to polls in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 12.

Rahul's road show is his farewell show: BJP

Varanasi/ New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): The BJP on Saturday termed Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's road show as his farewell show. The party also said that even if Narendra Modi is not allowed to do a rally in Varanasi, people will bring him to power with full majority.

EC issues notice to Rahul for making alleged objectionable remarks, politicos react

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): The Election Commission has issued a notice to Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for saying in a rally in Himachal Pradesh that 22, 000 people will die if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is voted to power at the centre. The EC in its notice has said that prima facie Rahul has 'violated the model code of conduct'. It has given him time till May 12 to respond to the notice. The EC further stated, "No party or candidate shall indulge in any activity which may aggravate existing difference or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic." The BJP had complained against Rahul's remarks to the EC and had provided a CD of his speech and newspaper clippings.

Jaitley hits out at EC, says Rahul is holding roadshow where Modi was denied permission

Varanasi, May 10 (ANI): BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Friday slammed the Election Commission over Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's roadshow in Varanasi. Jaitley claimed that Rahul's roadshow is happening in the same area of Varanasi where BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was not allowed to hold a rally.

Campaigning for last phase of Lok Sabha polls to end today

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): Campaigning will end this evening for 41 parliamentary constituencies, spread across three states, which will go to polls on Monday in the ninth and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The constituencies going to polls are six in Bihar, 18 in Uttar Pradesh and 17 in West Bengal. The ninth phase of the polls will see a battle between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, both of whom are contesting the elections from Varanasi constituency. The campaigning will end at 6 p.m. in the evening.

I would have sent Narendra Modi to jail: Mamata Banerjee

New Delhi, May 10 (ANI): Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee again targeted BJP's Prime Minesterial candidate Narendra Modi by saying that she would have sent Modi to jail by tying a rope around his waist if she were in power in Delhi. TMC chief also slammed the Congress party and said that it is a 'party cocooned in fear' and has no guts to act against the BJP. She also said that the Congress is in head over heels in love with Narendra Modi.