Lok Sabha election 2019, April 19: As it Happened

Johri Lal Meena, Congress MLA from Rajasthan has been booked under charges of rape. News agency ANI reported that Meena faces charges of raping a woman multiple times.

Former UP Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav came down heavily on Congress saying that even it has misused agencies like the CBI when the party was in power.

He went further and alleged that a prominent Congress leader gave bribes so Public Interest Litigations (PILs) could be filed against him, Mulayam Singh Yadav and others in his family.

Phase two of Lok Sabha elections saw robust voter turnout in several states. Here are figures for total voter turnout in some of the states

Chhattisgarh: 74.95%

West Bengal: 81.68%

Uttar Pradesh: 62.39%

Bihar: 62.52%

CPI (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury: Now that it's established in a probe by Election Commission that there were large-scale irregularities & booth capturing by goons to thwart free & fair franchise in Tripura West, we hope that EC will ensure faith in our democracy is reaffirmed. Re-poll in 464 booths must be done as all voters should be able to exercise their franchise independently, exactly as Constitution mandates. For next poll due in Tripura East, postponed now to April 23, we hope there'll be proper guarantees of safety for each voter.

An FIR was registered against a BJP leader on Friday for his controversial statements against Muslims.

"A case has been registered against BJP leader Ranjit Bahadur Srivastava for violation of model code of conduct. A probe is on in the matter," Additional Superintendent of Police R S Gautam said.

Addressing a gathering on Thursday as BJP candidate Upendra Rawat filed his nomination papers from Barabnki Lok Sabha constituency, Srivastava asked people to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "break the morale of Muslims".

"Muslims want to grab power with their votes but they will not succeed. It's the right time for Hindus to unite," the former Nagar Palika Chairman added.

Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee has written to Chief Electoral Officer, Gujarat demanding the Election Commission to restore Y+ security for its leader Hardik Patel.

The Congress and NCP in Maharashtra Friday sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over BJP candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's remark that slain ATS chief Hemant Karkare died in a terrorist
attack because she had "cursed" him.

The state unit of the BJP distanced itself from Thakur's remark, saying it considers all those who were killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack as martyrs.

Terming Thakur a "terrorist", NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said the BJP's decision to give her a ticket underscored its "pretence" of fighting terrorism.

Malik, who addressed the media along with state Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant here, alleged that the remarks made by Thakur, who is in the fray from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, came from the "script" provided by the BJP.

Maharashtra NCP chief Jayant Patil said both the BJP and its ally Shiv Sena should be "ashamed" of her statement.

Karkare, then chief of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), was killed in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

Rahul Gandhi tweets: "Hemant Karkare gave his life protecting India. He must be treated with respect."

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi deserves the credit for the country's air strike inside Pakistan just as Indira Gandhi was honoured for the success in the 1971Bangladesh Liberation War.

Singh, a BJP stalwart, hit out at the Congress for seeking evidence of the outcome of the Balakot air strike by Indian Air Force and said the BJP-led government has been able to effectively isolate Pakistan for sheltering terror elements.

He recounted that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was a leader of the Jan Sangh, the former avtar of BJP, had complimented Indira Gandhi for the success in the Bangladesh Liberation war and had said the party would not hesitate to accord its fullest cooperation to Indira Gandhi.

The BJP on Friday said there is "fear" among women after the Congress chose to side with its workers rather than a woman leader who was allegedly abused by them.

Congress national spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi quit the party after some workers who had misbehaved with her at a press conference in Mathura and subsequently suspended were reinstated on April 15.

"Priyanka Chaturvedi had to leave the Congress after being abused by her own party workers. Instead of giving her protection, the (Congress) party protected its workers. This has created fear among women across the country seeing this face of the Congress," BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari told reporters in Mumbai.

PM Modi says has abolished 1,500 archaic laws in five years.

"GST has brought transparency in business that has helped double registered traders, raise state revenues by one-and-a-half times," he adds.

"We aim to break into top 50 in ease of doing business ranking in next five years from the current 77."

"I believe people of business community are also meteorologist, because they know everything in advance. They estimate it beforehand that which item will be needed in how much quantity and when," PM Modi adds.

"I have tried to make your life and business easy in last five years,"

"We will bring trader credit card like kisan credit card, we will bring pension for small traders," PM Modi further says.

Jammu and Kashmir BJP unit Friday filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Vikramaditya Singh and Waqar Rasool for violation of model code of conduct on the day of voting in Udhampur Lok Sabha seat. 

The BJP took strong note of an audio clip of former Congress MLA Waqar Rasool Wani which went viral on social media groups of voters of erstwhile Doda-Ramban-Kishtwar belt.

The party claimed that Wani, in the audio, campaigned for Congress candidate in Udhampur-Doda parliamentary constituency on the day of polling on Thursday.

In its complaint, the BJP requested the EC and Chief Electoral Officer of J&K to take action against Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Wani and Vikramaditya Singh--the Congress candidate in Udhampur-- for violation of model code of conduct (MCC). 

PM Narendra Modi is currently addressing a convention of traders in New Delhi.

"Traders have always thought about the country. It is power of the traders of our country that India was once called 'Sone Ki Chidiya'," he says.

"BJP considers him a martyr. This is Sadhvi Pragya's personal statement which she might have given because of the mental and physical torture she had faced," the BJP says, in a statement.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi held detailed parleys with senior party leaders Friday to finalise the campaign strategy of her brother and party chief, Rahul Gandhi, who is seeking reelection from the constituency.

A senior Congress leader, who was present at the closed-door meeting, said she gave new directives and finalised the strategy of the party in the constituency and took feedback on the preparations for the election on May 6.

During a five-hour meeting, she told local leaders a 20-member team from Delhi is here to review the progress in the responsibilities given to party functionaries.

Priyanka Gandhi arrived in Amethi from New Delhi this morning and held the meeting with party office-bearers at the Congress office in Gauriganj area.

She consulted senior party leaders and exchanged notes.

BJP chief Amit Shah Friday challenged Congress president Rahul Gandhi to debate with the the president of the ruling party's youth wing on
what the country's oldest party has done for the poor in its over five-decade rule.

Addressing an election meeting here, Shah listed achievements of the Narendra Modi government and accused the Congress of creating hurdles in the path of development of BJP-ruled Gujarat.

"Rahul baba chants about the poor. The Congress again raises the remove poverty (garibi hatao) slogan. For five generations and 55 years, only your family ruled the country.

"Come to any crossroad in Vadodara with an account of what you did for the poor, and our youth morcha president will respond to you," Shah said.

"Every time a party member leaves, it's a matter of pain for us. People look for career progression. We wish all of them well, including Priyanka Chaturvedi. I must frankly and on record concede -- Yes, it's a reflection on my leadership," Congress spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala said, when asked about Priyanka Chaturvedi's resignation.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken cognisance of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's remarks and ordered an inquiry into the same after a complaint was filed against her with the Madhya Pradesh Election Commission.

Thakur on Friday said, “Maine kaha tera [Karkare] sarvanash hoga. Theek sava maheeney mein sootak lagta hai. Jis din main gayi thhi uss din iske sootak lag gaya tha. Aur theek sava maheeney mein jis din aatankwaadiyon ne isko maara, uss din uska antt huya."

Resuming campaigning after a 72-hour EC ban, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Friday claimed that the Congress and the SP-BSP-RLD alliance will get zero seats in the first two phases of general elections held so far in the state.

Addressing an election meeting at Kaila Devi here, Adityanath said: "The BJP has got the maximum votes in the first two phases of polling on 16 seats and the Congress and the SP-BSP have been reduced to zero seats."

When asked about her parody song on BJP leader Smriti Irani, Priyanka Chaturvedi, who today switched to the Shiv Sena from Congress, said, "Gaana main gaati rahoongi."

There is a question mark on anything Narendra Modi says which is not a good reflection on someone occupying the prime minister's post, Congress leader Raj Babbar has said.

The Uttar Pradesh unit chief of the Congress also asserted that his party, which was reduced to just two seats in the state in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls - Rae Bareli and Amethi - has "not vanished" and will revive.

"I don't want to comment on the prime minister's lies... when somebody, who holds such a high post, is being questioned for his credibility, questioned on his claims, then that itself becomes the biggest lie. Today, there is a question mark on anything he says. You can understand what this question mark for someone occupying the PM's post means," Babbar told PTI.

"Even the Supreme Court's decision of re-examining the Rafale case has directly put the prime minister in the dock. This is a jolt for Modi ji, no matter what he keeps saying in his defence," he claimed.

Former Congress MP Jagmeet Singh Brar Friday joined the Shiromani Akali Dal in the presence of party's senior leadership at Muktsar in Punjab.

Akali stalwart and five-time chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, his son and party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia welcomed Brar and his supporters into the party fold.

Addressing the gathering, Parkash Singh Badal said: "It is a historic day for the party today as Punjab's well known personality, speaker and the most experienced politician Jagmeet Brar joins Akali Dal."

On Thursday, Brar had announced on Twitter that he was joining the SAD.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Friday said his party's 'Nyay' scheme will help in revival of the economy and create jobs in the country which
has been badly affected by demonetisation and GST decisions of
the Narendra Modi government.

Addressing a poll rally here, Gandhi repeated his "chowkidar chor hai" (the watchman if thief) jibe to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged he has given Rs 30,000 crore to businessman Anil Ambaniin the Rafale fighter jet deal.

"We have promised to give Rs 72,000 crore (a year) to poor people under the Nyay scheme which will change the economic condition of the poor in the country," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to convention of traders in New Delhi to begin shortly

Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president Om Prakash Rajbhar Friday accused the BJP of conspiring to weaken his party by bringing the Akhil Bhartiya Rajbhar Sangathan in the electoral fray.

An ally of the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh, the SBSP has decided to go alone in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls in the state and has released a list of 39 candidates.

"The BJP is indirectly fielding candidates from Akhil Bhartiya Rajbhar Sangathan in order to weaken my party in the ongoing elections," Rajbhar told newspersons here.

The ABRS had on Thursday announced candidates on 17 parliamentary seats, especially in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh.

The Rajbhars, who constitute 20 per cent of the Purvanchal population, are regarded as the second politically dominating community to reckon with after the Yadavs in eastern part of the state.

The ruling Janata Dal (United) in Bihar on Friday wrote to the Election Commission seeking cancellation of nominations of RJD candidates in case they were issued tickets with Lalu Prasads signature, without the jailed leader taking permission from the court for the same.

JD(U) MLC and spokesman Neeraj Kumar shot off a letter to this effect to the Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar and sought to know whether Prasad, who was serving sentences in a number of fodder scam cases and currently recuperating in a Ranchi hospital, had sought the courts permission to sign the tickets granted to party candidates for their respective seats.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Friday said that respect for constitutional bodies was part of the BJP's ideology.

Adityanath also reiterated his Hindu identity as he defended his visits to temples during the ban. He tweeted that the visits should not be linked to politics as he was practising his right to faith enshrined in the Indian constitution. 

"The experience attained through darshan of Ram Lalla and Bajrang Bali at Hanuman Garhi and Sarayu Mata temples is difficult to express," he said.

The chief minister said that in the last 72 hours, he had given full respect to the order of the Election Commission.

"Giving full respect to constitutional institutions and democratic values is an important part of the BJP's ideology," he tweeted.

Malegaon blast accused and BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha seat candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur Friday said former Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare died during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as she cursed him for treating her badly.

She said she had cursed him for treating her "very badly" while she was in custody in the Malegaon blast case.

"Hemant Karkare falsely implicated me. He died of his karma. I told him, he will be destroyed. I told him his entire dynasty will be erased," Pragya said.

Karkare was killed along with two other senior police officers while fighting terrorists during the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai in November 2008.

The CPI Friday condemned the attack on Congress leader Hardik Patel, who was slapped by an unidentified man while addressing a poll rally
in a village in Gujarat's Surendranaga district.

"CPI condemns attack on Hardik Patel. After all we are a democracy and in an election campaign, everyone is free to speak on policies and explain their positions to people. Nobody should resort to such violence. It should be condemned and appropriate action should be taken against the attacker," CPI National secretary D Raja told PTI.

The incident was captured on cameras of news channels covering the rally.

"Whenever it is announced I am ready. I will decide after May 23," Rajinikanth said, when asked if he would contest state polls if AIADMK falls short of majority after assembly by-polls.

Priyanka adds, "I was dismayed when certain party workers made off-colour remarks about me. I hoped they would be suspended. But when they were reinstated. The party let the goons get away. It is made clear that a woman who served the party for 10 years selflessly is let down."

"What if you are sexually assaulted by a member inside your house and you go to your mother telling her what happened. If your mother says hush it up, we will deal with it later. How will you feel?" Priyanka says.

"I know a lot of things will be said about my political allegiances in the last decade, lot of questions will be raised. But i have made up my mind. I will work under the leadership of Uddhav ji and dynamism of Aditya ji. I will keep working for what i believe in," Priyanka says.

"If I don't fight for the self respect of women, then so many women who look forward to me will be let down," Priyanka Chaturvedi says, as she addresses the media.

Priyanka Chaturvedi joins Shiv Sena in presence of Uddhav Thackeray

Election Commission issued notice yesterday to Rahul Gandhi for violation of model code of conduct over Congress NYAY banner put up on a wall in Amethi. EC says banner was put up without permission of the owner of building. He has been asked to reply in 24 hours.

Abhijeet Mukherjee, Congress candidate from Jangipur: I must politely remind West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee that she was part of the BJP led NDA government in early 2000. Now her allegations against me are nothing but malicious and intentional during the time of the election.

Priyanka Chaturvedi has reached Matroshree, the residence of the Thackeray family in Mumbai.

"It is a historical day, people from all sects have united together today. This election is related to the future of this country. BJP says we want a new Bharat, Mahagathbandhan says we want a new PM"

Mayawati has appealed to people not to fall for fake promises of Congress or BJP. "Congress has been in power at the center for the majority of India's independent history and have only made fake promises"

Mayawati is taking a dig at PM Modi. She says Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a lot of promises in 2014 for political purpose. None of those promises have been fulfilled. "Mainpuri me bhi kisi ko 15 lakh rupee nahi mile abhi tak. aap log fir se inke behkawa me mat ana".

Mulayam Singh Yadav in Mainpuri: Aaj Mayawati ji ayi hain, unka hum swagat karte hain, aadar karte hain. Mayawati ji ka bahot samman karna hamesha, kyun ki samay jab bhi aya hai to Maywati ji ne hamara sath diya hai. Hume khushi hai ki hamare samarthan ke liye wo ayi hain.

Mayawati- Mulayam Singh come on same platform after 26 years as rally begins in Mainpuri.

Patel was slapped by an unidentified man while addressing a poll rally on Friday in a village in Gujarat's Surendranagar district.

She has removed all references to the party from her Twitter bio.

Congress leader Hardik Patel was slapped by an unidentified man while addressing a poll rally on Friday in a village in Gujarat's Surendranagar district.

The incident was captured on cameras of news channels covering the rally in the district, around 130 km from Ahmedabad.

As soon as Hardik Patel started his speech at Baldana village under Wadhwan taluka, a man suddenly came on the stage and slapped him.
The man, who looked angry and was seen saying something to Hardik Patel after slapping him, was overpowered by Congress workers, who also beat him up and took him away from the venue.

The unidentified man was later handed over to the police.

Congress candidate for the Surendranagar Lok Sabha seat, Soma Patel, was present on the dais when Hardik Patel was assaulted.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will address four rallies in central Uttar Pradesh on Friday. After being restrained from campaigning for 72 hours by the Election Commission for violation of Model Code of Conduct, the CM will start campaigning by addressing rallies today.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to release today the list of its candidates for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, said sources.

Once arch-rivals, SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati are scheduled to share the dais at a joint rally of the SP-BSP-RLD alliance in the Samajwadi Party citadel of Mainpuri on Friday.

I announced three years back that I will not contest polls. There are circumstances now in which I have been forced to contest. I have no ambition for anything but what I always said I am not going to retire from active politics: Former PM & JDS leader HD Deve Gowda

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will hold a road show in Kanpur on Friday. She will arrive in Kanpur around 3 p.m. and then hold a 5 km road show in the city for the party's candidate Srilrakash Jaiswal. Jaiswal was Union minister in the UPA government.

The Election Commission, on Friday, submit its decision to the Supreme Court on whether the ban on the biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi should continue or not. The EC, on the apex court's directions, had watched the film on Wednesday.