Lok Sabha polls, May 14: As it happened

Amit Shah's roadshow is disrupted outside the Calcutta University. Cops are being attacked and barricades are being broken. Goons are also attacking journalists. 

Clashes break out during Amit Shah roadshow outside Calcutta University

DMK President MK Stalin in a statement says, "If Tamilisai & Modi prove I was in contact with BJP to form an alliance with them, I'll quit politics. If they fail to prove, will she & Modi quit politics? I condemn the statement made by BJP State President Tamilisai."

While addressing a rally in Bhatinda, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra says, "When the entire Punjab was fighting for country's independence, RSS people were doing 'chamchagiri' (flattery) of Britishers, they never fought in the independence movement."

BJP President Amit Shah's roadshow has literally brought Kolkata to standstill. Thousands of BJP supporters and party workers are dancing on streets as Amit Shah's cavalcade moves from Shaheed Minar to Maniktala. Senior leaders Mukul Roy, Dilip Ghosh and Rahul Sinha are also accompanying Amit Shah. Supporters also sloganeer 'Jai Shri Ram'.

Amit Shah's roadshow draws huge response in Kolkata

Amit Shah's roadshow draws huge response in Kolkata

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday dared the opposition to name its prime ministerial candidate if it was sure of victory in the Lok Sabha polls, even as he asserted that his party will win more seats than it did in 2014.

With only the last phase of the polls to go for 59 seats, he asked the opposition to not play "hide and seek" with people by not announcing who is its leader. He said voters should not be kept in the dark in a healthy democracy.

At a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Singh claimed that a two-thirds majority for the ruling NDA cannot be ruled out as the hope and expectation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 2014 polls had turned into confidence and belief this time.

"The person who killed Mahatma Gandhi, we would call him Mahatma or Rakshasa, terrorist or assassin? The one whose role as a conspirator was proved in Kapur commission report, you would call him a great man or 'neech'? We would've to call him a terrorist," says Asaduddin Owaisi 

"Yes, it's true that BJP and DMK are talking through somebody & establishing contact. BJP is all set to win, all poll predictions point to BJP's victory, wherever you go BJP is winning," says Tamil Nadu BJP President Tamilisai Soundararajan

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's public rally in Himachal Pradesh's Sundernagar has been cancelled as her chopper could not take off from Kangra airport due to inclement weater.

IMD had forecast bad weather between Kangra-Sundernagar.

PM Modi adds: "Not for once have I lived for myself or my family during my tenure as Gujarat CM and PM. People of this country my family."

"The Opposition leaders know they cannot win, hence they are drawing satisfaction from hurling abuses," Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, while addressing a rally in Bihar.

He adds, "The Mahamilavatis think some castes are beholden to them; they were born poor and ended up amassing crores."

BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao put out a tweet saying "Abuser-in-chief' Aiyar" had returned to justify his 2017 'Neech' jibe.
"... Aiyar then apologized & hid behind poor Hindi excuse. Now he says he was prophetic. Congr revoked his suspension last year for filthy outburst.Double speak & arrogance of @INCIndia on display again!" he said.

"Pak-crony Aiyar has the audacity to call PM 'anti-national'. Nation knows that @narendramodi ji is the epitome of 'Rashtra Bhakti'. Aiyar is known for 'Parivar Bhakti' as a (political) slave of the dynasty. It isn't surprising at all that all abusers are close Gandhi confidants."

BJP's IT Cell head Amit Malviya also referred to Congress leader Sam Pitroda, in the spotlight for his "hua to hua" remark on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

"Upset that Sam Pitroda was getting all the attention, the irrepressible Mani Shankar Aiyar pulls Pitroda’s foot out of his mouth and puts it in his...Reiterates and justifies his ‘Neech’ comment for PM!" he said on Twitter. 

After months of silence, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar was back in the news on Tuesday with an article justifying his "neech" jibe against Narendra Modi, and also calling him the most "foul-mouthed" prime minister the country has seen.
 
The article, published in Rising Kashmir and The Print, drew sharp retorts from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which called him "abuser-in-chief" and described his party as arrogant. 

In the article, Aiyar also slammed Modi on a series of issues and asked, "Remember how I described him on 7 December 2017? Was I not prophetic?" 

In 2017, the former Union minister called Modi "neech aadmi" following which he was suspended from the Congress party.

Justifying that comment, Aiyar said in his article, "Modi will, in any case, be ousted by the people of India on 23 May. That would be a fitting end to the most foul-mouthed prime minister this country has seen or is likely to see. Remember how I described him on 7 December 2017? Was I not prophetic?"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives out a message to Varanasi. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is presently addressing a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh took a dim view of Pakistan Premier Imran Khan’s remark that a win for Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha elections will revive hopes for Indo-Pak peace, saying he should instead ensure that terrorism is wiped out completely from his country.

Singh also said that India would extend all help to Pakistan in fighting terrorism if it shows sincerity in eradicating the menace emanating from its soil.

Asked during an interview to PTI on Sunday whether the recent statement by Khan that it would be good for peace between India and Pakistan if BJP and Modi returned to power showed he was a fan of the Indian premier, Singh said, "Only he (Khan) can reply to that".

After a brief pause, Singh smilingly said if Khan was so serious of wanting Modi to return to power and normalize relations with India then he should first announce that terrorism would neither be nurtured nor allowed to thrive in Pakistan and take effective steps to stamp out terrorism.

A total of 710 companies of the central forces will be deployed for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal covering nine parliamentary seats on May 19, according to Central Police Observer Vivek Dubey.

"The 710 companies will be providing 100 per cent coverage in the state. It will include 512 Quick Response Teams led by Assistant Commandants," Dubey added.

The Central Police Observer would be travelling to all the constituencies between Wednesday and Friday to review arrangements.

The city will soon witness area domination and route marches conducted by the armed forces, said Dubey, who held a meeting with top-police officers to give them necessary instructions.

Nine parliamentary constituencies namely Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, Kolkata Uttar will vote on Sunday. 

‘Knock the door is the BJP campaign in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers have been directed to knock on every door and seek votes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urge people to cast their votes on the polling day.

This campaign has been initiated to ensure a high percentage of polling in the Prime Minister's constituency on May 19.

Over 10,000 BJP leaders and workers from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi have arrived in Varanasi to help in the campaign.

"Our workers will visit every home in Varanasi with voters' slip and convince people to cast their votes. People usually become complacent when they know that their candidate - Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this case - is winning but we are working for a much bigger margin of victory for the Prime Minister," said a local BJP leader. 

PM Modi's government is losing this election, it appears that even RSS has stopped supporting them. In view of unfulfilled election promises and the public agitation, their swayamsevaks are not being seen putting in the work, it has made Shri Modi nervous: BSP chief Mayawati

During a ban on a candidate for violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC), if they go to a public place or offer prayers at a temple and it is shown in media, it should be stopped. Election Commission should take action on it: BSP chief Mayawati

Roadshows and offering prayers has become a fashion during elections, where a lot of money is spent. Election Commission should add this expense to the candidate's total expenditure limit: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati. 

DMK President MK Stalin Tuesday said he saw no chances for a non-BJP, non-Congress "third front" post Lok Sabha polls, but a decision could be taken only after May 23, the counting day.

Stalin's remarks come a day after TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekara Rao, who has been pushing for a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front of regional parties, called on the DMK chief.

Stalin, also Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition, said Rao had not visited the state for forging alliances.

"He did not come to form alliances. He came to Tamil Nadu to offer prayers in various temples and on that basis, sought an appointment with me for a courtesy call. That is all," he told reporters.

Rao had earlier visited the Sri Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam before meeting Stalin.

Asked about the possibility of a "third front" sans BJP and Congress, the DMK leader said, "It doesn't seem to me that there is a chance for that."

"However, that will be decided only after counting on May 23," he added.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath meets the family of Padma Shri late Hiralal Yadav in Varanasi, who had passed away on 12th May. 

BJP President Amit Shah to hold roadshow in North Kolkata today.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi to hold public meetings in Madhya Pradesh's Neemuch, Khandwa and Tarana, today.

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

Modi will be in UP's Ballia at 11 am, following which the prime minister will address public meetings in Bihar's Buxar at 12:25 pm and in Sasaram at 2:05 pm. PM Modi will also address a rally in Chandigarh at 5:50 pm.