EC gives approval to West Bengal CEO to put mark of inedible ink on voter's left middle finger for by-election | April 30 -- as it happened

EC has given approval to West Bengal CEO to put mark of inedible ink on voter's left middle finger for by-election to State Legislative Assembly. If any re-poll is announced at any polling station of the 6 Assembly segments, mark should be put on voter's left ring finger.

EC imposes fresh 48-hour ban on SP leader Azam Khan for "threatening" poll authorities, "making communal remarks".

Election Commission issued notice to Samajwadi Party candidate from Varanasi Tej Bahadur Yadav to get NoC from BSF as he had been sacked from the service.

Tej Bahadur Yadav has to file reply by 11:00 AM on May 1.

Gautam Gambhir, BJP's East Delhi Lok Sabha candidate on AAP candidate Atishi's allegations of him holding 2 voter-ID cards said," I have only one voter-ID, from Rajendra Nagar. I don't have any other voter-ID."

Maharashtra CM writes to CEC requesting him for some relaxation in Model Code of Conduct in the state for drought relief works. Total 151 talukas of Maharashtra have been declared drought hit & center has passed a budget of Rs 4714 crore for drought relief in the state.

Maharashtra CM writes to CEC for some relaxation in Model Code of Conduct 

The CJI on Tuesday granted time to Rahul Gandhi to file an additional affidavit. The Supreme Court will now hear the contempt case against him on May 6. The court said that the time granted should not be seen as an acceptance of an apology.

Lauding former BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav for "challenging" Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday said there is "something in the soil of Haryana", the state from where the sacked jawan hails.
In a tweet, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener said that in the 2014 general elections too, someone from Haryana-- referring to himself-- had taken on Modi in Varanasi.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi while addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Tikamgarh said, "BJP workers have problem with I say "chowkidar" because the moment I say chowkidar, the audience replies "chor hai."

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tuesday charged that the Congress has "lies" in its DNA and asked how it will give "Nyay" when it has always done injustice.

He also said there is no "dalali" in the BJP government and if funds are given under any scheme, they go straight to beneficiaries.

Speaking at an election meeting, Adityanath said, "Congress has lies in its DNA. They say they will give NYAY (justice) ...we ask you have always done injustice with the people here. How will you give NYAY now".

Adityanath was referring to the "Ab hoga nyay" election tagline of the Congress.

Reacting to MHA notice to Rahul Gandhi over his citizenship, party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi today said the people of India have seen Rahul Gandhi born and grow up in India. 

"The whole of India knows that Rahul Gandhi is an Indian. People have seen him being born and grow up in India," Priyanka Gandhi said. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday said there is "something in the soil of Haryana" as people from the state "like to challenge" Narendra Modi, referring to former BSF constable Tej Bahadur Yadav taking on the prime minister in Varanasi.

In a tweet, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener said that in the 2014 general elections too, someone from Haryana-- referring to himself-- had contested against Modi from the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

Yadav, who hails from Haryana, was dismissed from the Border Security Force (BSF) in 2017 after complaining about the quality of food.

He was declared as the candidate of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) alliance in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday said the presence of jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in the Lok Sabha campaign would have "better suited" the NDA as he symbolises "jungle raj" for voters, and claimed the saffron alliance will better its 2014 tally of 31 in the state this time.

The National Democratic Alliance may end up winning 38-39 of the 40 seats in Bihar, the BJP leader said.

The combine for the first time includes Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan's LJP while the opposition alliance has "tried, tested and failed" leaders and is marred by "sabotage and rebellion", Sushil Modi told PTI in an interview, explaining the rationale for his poll prediction. 

With the CPI-M in the dock over reports of bogus voting in Kerala's Kannur and Kasargode, the state Chief Electoral Officer on Tuesday sought reports from the District Collectors of the two constituencies on similar reports of bogus voting by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), an ally of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).

Kerala CEO Teeka Ram Meena said that the Left workers had complained about bogus voting by two men, believed to be IUML workers, in Kaliasery's polling booths number 69 and 70 in the Kasargode Lok Sabha constituency.

Meena said that the Left has submitted documentary evidence of the two men casting more than one vote in these booths. "Once the reports come, they will be looked into," he said.

IUML General Secretary K.P.A. Majeed also told the media in Malappuram that he had sought a report from his party's Kaliasery unit on the two booths.

Demanding state Education Minister Jagdish Reddy's resignation over the Intermediate examination results goof-up, BJP workers on Tuesday tried to lay siege to the official residence of Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao.

Police arrested BJP workers, who tried to break the cordon and barge into Pragati Bhavan, the official residence of the CM in Begumpet area.

Another group of BJP leaders, including former Central Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, was arrested while staging a sit-in at the Tank Bund Ambedkar statue to condemn the arrest of state party chief K. Laxman.

Laxman was arrested on Monday, hours after he began an indefinite fast at the BJP office here demanding a judicial probe into the bungling by the Intermediate Board of Education (IBE) and compensation for the families of the 21 students who committed suicide. Police forcibly shifted him to the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asserted that the scales have been tilted in favour of the ruling NDA in the first four phases of
the general election, and the remaining three would determine the magnitude of its victory and the opposition's defeat.

PM Modi iterated that his government has always displayed its resolve in combating terror but cautioned that the menace was far from over as was evident from the recent bomb attacks in neighboring Sri Lanka.

"All those who are running factories of terror are in the cross heirs of this chowkidar," Modi stated.

Cracks have begun to appear in the Opposition bonhomie in the run up to May 23 -- the day of the result of Lok Sabha 2019 polls.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has hit out at the Congress.

The point to be noted here is the Samajwadi Party ditched Congress to stitch a coalition with the BSP in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh.

"Sarkaari machinery ke durupyog ke maamley mein Congress bhi BJP se kam nahin hai. MP ke Guna Lok Sabha seat par BSP ummeedwaar ko Congress ne daraa-dhamkaakar zabardasti baithha diya hai. Kintu BSP apne symbol par hi ladkar isska jawaab degi va abb Congress sarkaar ko samarthhan jaari rakhne par bhi punarvichaar karegi," Mayawati wrote in Hindi.

She added, "Saath hi, UP mein Congressi netaon ka yeh prachaar ki BJP bhaley hi jeet jaaye kintu BSP-SP gathbandhan ko nahin jeetna chahiye, yeh Congress party ke jaatiwaadi, sankeern ar dogule charitra ko darshaata hai. Atah, logon ka yeh maanna sahi hai ki BJP ko kewal humaara gathbandhan hi haraa sakta hai. Log saavdhaan rahein."

"When a member of Parliament writes to any ministry, action required on their query is taken. It is not a big development, it is normal process," Union home minister Rajnath Singh on MHA notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his citizenship status.

Two persons were injured in a clash between the Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party activists in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Tuesday as sporadic incidents of post poll violence were reported from various parts of the state.

Eight parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal, including two in Birbhum, went to the hustings in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha polls on Monday.

"There was a clash between BJP and Trinamool supporters in Birbhum's Mallarpur. Two persons belonging to the BJP sustained injuries and were rushed to a hospital. Police have detained one person so far," Birbhum district Superintendent of Police Shyam Singh said.

"There is tension in pockets of Birbhum since yesterday (Monday). However, no other major incidents have occurred. Our personnel are maintaining strict vigil in the sensitive areas," he said.

Meanwhile, three Trinamool Congress activists were injured after bike-borne miscreants attacked and vandalised their party office in east Bardhaman in the late hours on Monday. The injured persons have been admitted to Durgapur sub divisional hospital.

Election Commission of India meeting, chaired by CEC Sunil Arora, begins on complaints of violation of Model Code of Conduct by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi will be in Amethi on Tuesday almost at the same time campaigning for their two high profile party candidates.

While Adityanath will be canvassing for Union Minister Smriti Irani, Priyanka Gandhi will be seeking votes for her brother and Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

According to the schedule released by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Chief Minister will arrive in Jagdishpur at 4.35 p.m. where he will hold an election rally.  

The Congress nominee from Himachal Pradesh's Kangra Lok Sabha constituency has been served a show-cause notice by the Returning Officer for violating the model code of conduct while filing his nomination papers, official said on Tuesday.

Besides Congress candidate Pawan Kajal, who filed the papers on Monday, the notice has also been issued to a police official who was on duty at the time of filing nomination in Dharamsala city, some 250 km from the state capital.

As per rules, only five persons, including the party candidate, are allowed to enter office of the Returning Officer during filing of nomination papers.

The official said that there were more than five people in the office while Kajal was filing his nomination papers.

Besides, a large number of party activists, who were part of the Congress candidate's procession, were within 100 metres of the district election office which was a prohibited area.

"Jo jail mein hain, jo jail ke darwaaze par hain, jo bail par hain, jo bail ke liye court ke chakkar kaat rahe hain -- woh sab kendra mein eik mazboot sarkar ko eik minute bhi bardaasht nahi karna chahte," PM Modi adds.

"Abhi tak chunaav ke chaar charan huye hain. Aur opposition chaaron khaaney chitt ho chuki hai [The Opposition has fallen on its face in these four phases]," PM Modi says, while addressing a rally in Muzaffarpur.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is presently addressing an election rally in Bihar's Muzaffarpur

Reacting to MHA notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, party Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala today said the entire world knows Rahul Gandhi is Indian citizen by birth. 

"The entire world knows Rahul Gandhi is Indian citizen by birth. Modi ji has no answer for unemployment, Modi ji has no answer for agrarian distress and black money, that's why he's resorting to fake narrative through his government's notices to divert attention," Surjewala said. 

From what we hear, the Congress party has termed MHA's notice to its chief Rahul Gandhi over his citizenship a 'policitcal gimmick/propaganda by the Bharatiya Janata Party'.

Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi over his citizenship.

The development comes after the ministry had received a complaint from Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy.

The MHA has asked Rahul Gandhi to respond in the matter within a fortnight.

Attacking Narendra Modi for claiming that 40 TMC MLAs were in touch with him, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav Tuesday said the prime minister should be "banned for 72 years" for his "shameful" speech.

The Election Commission has recently barred several leaders including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu from campaigning for 72 hours due to poll code violations.

"Vikas (development) is asking... Did you hear the shameful speech of Pradhanji (PM)? After losing the faith of 125 crore countrymen, he (Modi) is now relying on the unethical assurance of defection allegedly given by the 40 MLAs," he tweeted.

"This reflects his (Modi) black money mentality. He should be banned for not 72 hours but for 72 years," he said.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi is slated to address three election rallies in Madhya Pradesh today. 

The Congress chief will be in Tikamgarh, Damoh and Panna, where he will address public meetings. 

The Congress party has released a list of star campaigners for general elections to be held in Punjab and Chandigarh on May 19. 

Congress releases list of star campaigners

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to address three election rallies in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar today.

Modi will address a rally in Bihar's Muzaffarpur at 11 am. He will also address public meetings in UP's Bahraich (at 2:40 pm) and in Barabanki (at 4:25 pm) today. 

The Centre on Monday had sought deferment of today's hearing on the pleas seeking review of the Rafale deal verdict of December 14 last year saying it needs time to file a detailed reply on these petitions.

The Centre's prayer was made before a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi which did not say anything on the issue of adjournment of the scheduled hearing on Tuesday.

The bench, also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna, allowed senior advocate R Balasubramanian, appearing for the Centre, to circulate a letter of adjournment among the parties which include petitioners who have filed the review pleas.

The Centre's letter said it needs time to file reply on merits on the review petitions.

Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah will be in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.

BJP state tour programme convener Omkar Singh Lakhawat said the BJP chief will address a public meeting in Rajasthan's Dausa at 11.00 am, then in Alwar at 12.40 pm and in Bharatpur at 2.15 pm.

Shah is also slated to address a public meeting in Madhya Pradesh's Morena at 4 pm. 

The Aam Aadmi Party will Tuesday launch the third phase of its campaign under which its 70 MLAs in their respective assemblies would be participating, senior party leader Gopal Rai said.

AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal would be participating in roadshows to support the candidates from Wednesday.

"A three-point approach would be adopted by the MLAs under which they will tell people about what they have done in different sections like education and health," Rai said.

"We would also tell people that how, if elected, we can take the message of full statehood to Parliament. We would also tell people about our manifestoes and the main points in it," he said.

The Election Commission will take a decision on complaints of model code violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday.

Deputy election commissioner Chandra Bhushan Kumar said Monday that the 'full commission' would meet Tuesday morning and decide on the complaints.

"The secretariat has processed everything and place the details before the Commission," he said.

The Commission meets every Tuesday and Thursday to discuss important issues.