Lok Sabha polls, May 17: As it happened

Rahul Gandhi in his press conference spoke of Congress' chances in the ongoing elections, Narendra Modi and the BJP government and why he feels BJP has let the nation down.

We'll perform good in North-East, very good in West Bengal. We'll do good in Odisha & there will be improvement in number of seats in all the states in the South. We'll improve in Maharashtra also.
 

Amit Shah: Pragya Thakur's candidature is a 'satyagrah' against a fake case of fake Bhagwa terror. I want to ask Congress, some people were earlier arrested in 'Samjhauta Express' who were related to LeT.A fake case of "bhagwa terror" was made in which accused have been acquitted

"BJP will get majority on its own, Narendra Modi will become Prime Minister again and NDA will form the government. If any party wants to align with our ideology after poll results, our doors are open," Amit Shah during the press conference.

BJP President Amit Shah on Sadhvi Pragya's statement on Nathuram Godse: Party has served her a show cause notice & asked her to reply within 10 days. After she files a reply, party's disciplinary committee will take appropriate actions

I respect the fact that BSP-SP decided to fight the elections together in UP. From the Congress party perspective, I have to push the Congress ideology in UP. I made it very clear to Jyotiraditya and Priyanka that priority number one is to make sure BJP losses

Priority number two is to push Congress ideology, priority number three is to win the Vidhan Sabha election. But ideological they are on the same page like us, I don't see Mayawati Ji, Mulayam Singh Ji, Mamata Ji, Chandrababu Ji supporting Narendra Modi govt.

80 of my party workers have been killed in the last year and a half. What does Mamata Banerjee have to say about that?

BJP is fighting the elections across the country. Why is this situation created only in West Bengal?

We had 2.5 lakh workers in 2014, we have 11 lakh workers in 2019: Amit Shah

PM Narendra Modi: It will happen after a long time in the country, our Government will come to power with absolute majority for second consecutive time.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi: Now that the Prime Minister is doing a live press conference, I want to ask him 'why didn't you debate with me on Rafale? I had challenged you for a debate, tell the press why didn't you debate?'

"Role of EC has been biased in this elections, Modi Ji can say whatever he wants to say while we're stopped from saying the same thing.Seems that the elections schedule was made for Modi Ji's campaigning. BJP and Narendra Modi have lots of money while we have truth." says Congress President Rahul Gandhi

"In last 2 elections, even IPL couldn't be held. When government is strong, IPL, Ramzaan, school exams and others take place peacefully" says Prime Minister Modi

I am here to thank the people for giving me the kind of love i got in the last 5 years, to thank them for the support they have shown towards me. I am grateful for all of their support. 

India is the worlds largest democracy. I hope India elects a government with a clear mandate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at the Press Conference

We received a very high number of volunteer applications because of Narendra Modi's Popularity: Amit Shah

Slogans like 'Fir ek baar Modi Sarkar' and 'Baar Baar Modi Sarkar' have been coined by the people themselves. 

Narendra Modi government has launched many schemes which have resulted in development in every sect. These schemes have affected the people's live directly

Multi party democratic system will take the country forward: Amit Shah

I am delighted that the country has accepted Narendra Modi and I'm sure we will return with a stronger mandate than 2014.

The country stands strongly behind Narendra Modi

Amit Shah, PM Modi Press Conference begins

Two big press conferences are expected to come from both the Congress party and the BJP. 

Rahul Gandhi is expected to address the press conference any moment now.

Amit Shah and Prime minister Narendra Modi have reached the BJP headquarters and are expected to appear in front of the media as well. 

PM Modi will likely be present at the press conference, there is however no official word of this.

Two big press conferences are expected to come from both the Congress party and the BJP. 

Rahul Gandhi is expected to address the press conference any moment now.

Amit Shah and Prime minister Narendra Modi have reached the BJP headquarters and are expected to appear in front of the media as well. 

PM Modi will likely be present at the press conference, there is however no official word of this.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday took a swipe at the BJP over its leaders making controversial remarks on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse, saying the BJP and the RSS are not "God-ke Lovers" but "God-se Lovers".

The Pandora's box opened on Thursday with BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate and Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur lauding Godse as a "patriot" and issuing an apology hours later, saying she respected Gandhi and his work for the country cannot be forgotten.

"I finally got it. The BJP and the RSS... Are not God-Ke Lovers. They are God-Se Lovers," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

BJP leader Anil Saumitra has been suspended from primary membership of the party over his social media post calling Mahatma Gandhi father of Pakistan.

Pamphlets with headlines "Helmet ki karo taiyyari, aa gaye joota dhari" are being circulated in the Deoria Lok Sabha seat with an appeal to Thakurs to vote against BJP candidate Ramapati Ram Tripathi.

The reference is to the incident which took place in March in which the outgoing BJP MP from Sant Kabir Nagar, Sharad Tripathi, beat the local BJP MLA Rakesh Singh with shoes at an official meeting. The MP hit the MLA 13 times with a shoe in one minute.

The incident sparked outrage among Thakurs and deepened the Thakur-Brahmin rift in the region.

Though the BJP denied ticket to Sharad Tripathi from Sant Kabir Nagar, the party has given the ticket to his father Ramapati Ram Tripathi from Deoria.

The pamphlet further appeals to 'descendents of Maharana Pratap' (Thakurs) to vote against the 'father of Joota Baba' and avenge the humiliation that the BJP MLA had suffered during the incident.

Slamming West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the violence at BJP chief Amit Shah's Kolkata road-show, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Friday said she had lost her mental balance and was indulging in 'didigiri' (bullying).

Talking to media in Vadodara, also said people of West Bengal would give a fitting reply to Mamata and her party, All India Trinamool Congress.

"It seems that Didi (Mamata) has completely lost her mental balance. She is losing her ground. She tarnished the democracy and indulged in 'didigiri' (similar to Hindi word 'dadagiri', meaning bullying)," Rupani told reporters.

"People of India and West Bengal will not tolerate such behaviour. People of West Bengal will give a befitting reply to her in the polls," he said.

Criticising the BJP government in Gujarat over the recent incidents of wedding processions of Dalits being stopped by some sections of the society, Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar Azad Friday issued a warning saying such atrocities will no longer be tolerated.

Talking to reporters, Azad said 'jungle raj' is prevailing in Gujarat as members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community are deprived of their fundamental rights given by the Constitution.

"I came to Gujarat because many incidents of atrocities on Dalits have happened recently. It seems that Constitutional provisions do not apply in Gujarat. Article 15 of the Constitution, which protects all the citizens from discrimination, has been removed by the Gujarat government," said Azad alias Ravan.

Congress' Lok Sabha candidate from Gurdaspur, Sunil Kumar Jakhar, has declared movable assets worth Rs 1.53 crore, besides an over Rs 7 crore deposit in a Swiss bank in his wife's name, according to an affidavit filed with poll authorities.

Son of former Madhya Pradesh governor late Balram Jakhar, the Congress nominee has declared Rs 1.23 crore as deposits in different bank accounts.

He has declared deposits worth Rs 7.37 crore by his wife Silvia Jakhar in the Zurcher Kantonal Bank, Zurich, Switzerland, according to the affidavit.
The Zurcher Kantonal Bank is one of the biggest Swiss banks, as per its website.

Sunil Jakhar has Rs 4.49 lakh as cash in hand and his wife Rs 1.38 lakh.

He has declared immovable assets worth Rs 2.88 crore, including those which are self-acquired and inherited and that of his wife as Rs 12.06 crore in the affidavit.

Sunil Jakhar, the sitting MP from Gurdaspur, is up against actor-politician Ajay Singh Dharmendra Deol, popularly known as Sunny Deol.

Attacking Bihar's ruling JD-U for contesting the Lok Sabha elections without a manifesto, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday asked it to release it at least at the end of the campaign on Friday.

"Nitish Chachaji, today is the last day of campaign of Lok Sabha polls, at least release the manifesto," said Tejashwi Yadav.

Interestingly, this is the first election the JD-U has contested without a manifesto. However, its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners -- the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) -- did release their manifestos.

The Bihar opposition leader also wondered if the Janata Dal-United and its chief Nitish Kumar had accepted the BJP's manifesto as its own.

"Nitish (Kumar) and the JD-U are following the BJP and seeking votes in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. By not releasing its own manifesto till the end of elections, the JD-U has made clear what it stands for," he said.

Tejashwi Yadav also said that the much-hyped liquor ban had failed in Bihar as alcohol was easily available everywhere.

It is a closed matter, things are said during election campaigns and everything has a context so no need to blow it out of proportion: Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge, on Karnataka CM's remark 'Mallikarjun Kharge should have become chief minister years ago'.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet BJP workers, part of the Lok Sabha campaign, later today at the party office in Delhi

A car in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's convoy overturned while trying to avoid a cow on a road in Maharashtra's Chandrapur, official sources said on Friday.

The incident took place in Warora on Thursday evening when Bhagwat's Z-Plus motorcade was proceeding from Chandrapur to Nagpur.

Though the car in which the RSS chief was travelling passed the cow, another car in the convoy with six CRPF troopers braked suddenly and suffered a tyre burst, causing it to turn turtle.

One of the troopers sustained minor injuries and was taken to a Nagpur hospital.

Bhagwat, a veterinary doctor, proceeded to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, said RSS sources.

Expressing concern over muted private investments, 15th Finance Commission chairman N K Singh Friday said in order to push economic growth, the new government should take on the challenge of introducing reforms in areas including land and labour.

He also noted that fiscal rectitude is an important ingredient in sustaining long term economic growth and is the core of long term macro-economic stability.

Macro-economic stability is one of the things that will guide India's high growth trajectory, he said at an event organised by Assocham.

On the reforms front, Singh said "one single thing that we could not reform was factors of production -- labour, land and capital. We were unable to achieve success on reforming factors of production."

Labour laws remain extremely complicated and there is a need to bring reform by revisiting some of the issues like long term contracts and dispute resolution, he said.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is likely to stage a protest in Delhi later on Friday over Election Commission's (EC) decision to hold re-poll in five polling booths in one of the Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President will meet Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora to submit a memorandum to lodge his protest over the poll body's decision to conduct re-polling in Chittoor Lok Sabha constituency.

Naidu alleged that the EC once again showed its bias by ignoring the TDP demand for re-poll while accepting a similar demand by YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) more than a month after the polling.

TDP sources said after submitting the memorandum, Naidu may stage a sit-in in the national capital to protest the EC's decision.

The poll body on Wednesday decided to conduct re-polling in five polling booths in five polling stations in Chandragiri Assembly segment, which is a part of Chittoor Lok Sabha constituency.

On the last day of campaign for Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said he is sure of the BJP-led ruling dispensation winning over 300 seats.

Addressing a rally in Khargone, Modi also thanked people for deciding to make him the prime minister again.

"From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Kutch to Kamrup, the whole nation is saying- Ab ki baar, 300 paar, phir ek baar Modi sarkar," Modi said, expressing confidence that the BJP-led alliance will win over 300 seats.

"This Sunday when you go to cast your vote then you will be scripting history. After decades you will elect a majority govt for a second time in a row," Modi told the voters.

The fourth and last phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state will be held on May 19.

BSP chief Mayawati Friday alleged that outsiders are being used to lure and threaten voters in Varanasi to ensure a win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked why the EC was not focusing on the constituency.

Slamming the Election Commission, she asked why the poll body was not keeping a watch on Varanasi like it was doing in West Bengal.

In a tweet, Mayawati charged, "In a bid to ensure that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wins from Varanasi, outsiders are being used to lure and threaten voters. In this case, how can free and impartial polls be held".

Varanasi will go to polls on May 19.

Even as his anticipatory bail petition is pending before the Madras High Court for his 'Hindu terrorist' speech, actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Friday said it is advisable not to arrest him.

Speaking to reporters, the founder of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party said: "I am not afraid of getting arrested. At the same time, there will be tension if I am arrested. Hence it is better if I am not arrested."

Haasan said he was not making a request not to arrest him but it was an advice not to take him into custody.

Queried about DMK and others parties not coming to his support, Haasan said they may be having their own agenda.

Contending that the BJP does not pay heed to its ideas and suggestions, the NPF, a partner in the saffron party-led alliance in the state, has convened a meeting of its leaders on Saturday to decide if it would continue to stay in the coalition or withdraw support.

Denying the allegation, the BJP said it has extended all possible facilities to its partners to ensure smooth functioning of the government.

Awangbou Newmai, the state unit chief of the Naga People's Front (NPF), claimed that the BJP "looks down" on its alliance partners.

"The BJP has never respected the spirit of the alliance since the formation of government in 2016. There have been instances when their leaders have refused to consider our members as alliance partners," he said, without elaborating.

Union minister Anantkumar Hegde Friday stoked a controversy by calling Congress President Rahul Gandhi a "moron" for his tweet that 'Modilies' is a new word in the English dictionary.

This moron @RahulGandhi is hell-bent on proving himself that he is one of his own kind of international idiotic skill master and hence the horizons have extended beyond the boundaries. No one can prevent his growth... Amazing...!!!!" the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship tweeted.

Gandhi had tweeted Wednesday that there was a new word in the English dictionary and even attached a snapshot of it.

Addressing an election rally in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, "This Sunday when you go to cast your vote, you will be scripting history."

"After decades, you will elect a majority government for the second time in a row," he said. 

Statements of Ananthkumar Hegde, Pragya Thakur and Nalin Kateel are their personal opinion, BJP has nothing to do with it, says BJP President Amit Shah.

They have withdrawn their statements and have apologized. BJP has taken their statements seriously and sent these statements to the disciplinary committee. The disciplinary committee will seek an explanation from all the three leaders and will submit the report to the party within 10 days, Shah said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses public meeting in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Friday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on BJP leader Sadhvi Pragya's remarks describing Nathuram Godse as a "patriot".

BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate and Malegaon blast accused Thakur on Thursday lauded Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "patriot", sparking an outrage from the Opposition.

Under fire for her remarks, Thakur tendered an apology on Thursday night and said she respected Mahatma Gandhi as his work for the country cannot be forgotten.

In a tweet, Sibal tweeted, "When Sadhvi Pragya says: "Godse a Deshbakht" and Modi is silent with Vidyasagar’s statue a victim of the violent I can only pray for my country and hope that one day the silent majority will keep violence at bay".

Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also condemned Thakur's remarks and said Godse was inspired by RSS ideology.

Sitting MP and Punjab Democratic Alliance candidate from Patiala, Dharamvir Gandhi, feels the BJP's nationalism is chauvinism and that India will go Pakistan's way if the armed forces are "intermixed" with the political class.

The 67-year-old lawmaker also accused the Narendra Modi government of usurping the power of states and giving a free hand to right-wing "fringe" groups such as the Hindu Mahasabha, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad the Bajrang Dal.

On the BJP's high-pitched nationalism narrative, Gandhi said, "It's not nationalism but chauvinism. To be nationalistic is one thing, to be chauvinist and spread hatred is other."

"I am not for chauvinistic agenda. I am a proud Indian and a proud Punjabi, but I do not hate Pakistan. It is as beautiful as India," he said.

Congress General Secretary of UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra holds a roadshow in Mirzapur.

Lalitesh Pati Tripathi, Mirzapur Congress candidate also present.

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu to meet Election Commission of India today

It is not true that Congress will not claim or Congress is not interested in Prime Minister post. Of course, we are the biggest and oldest political party. If we have to run the govt for five years the biggest political party should be given a chance: Congress' Ghulam Nabi Azad

The Supreme Court Friday vacated its order granting protection from arrest to former Kolkata police commissioner Rajeev Kumar in the Saradha chit fund scam case.

The apex court said its February 5 order granting interim protection to Kumar will continue for seven days from today to enable him to approach the competent court for legal remedy.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked the CBI to act in accordance with the law in the case.

Veteran trade unionist and senior Congress leader Kadavoor Sivadasan passed away at a private hospital here early on Friday morning, party sources said. He was 87 and was under treatment for pneumonia.

A four-time legislator, Sivadasan was a minister in the Cabinets of K.Karunakaran and A.K.Antony.

Starting his political career as a trade union leader from his home district Kollam, Sivadasan was elected MLA on a Revolutionary Socialist Party ticket in 1980 and 1982. He later switched to the Congress, on whose ticket he won the 1991 and 2001 Assembly polls.

Sivadasan retired from politics due to his failing health after 2006.

His last rites would be held at Kollam, later in the day.

The Madhya Pradesh chief electoral officer has submitted a report to the Election Commission over BJP's Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur calling Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse a "patriot".

Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast, had made the comment during a roadshow in the state on Thursday and later, apologised saying that she respected the Father of the Nation.

"We have forwarded the report to the EC (Election Commission) in this regard," Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V L Kantha Rao said Friday.

When asked about the details of the report, he said, "We will share it once the EC takes a decision on this."

The CEO had earlier directed the Agar Malwa district election officer to file a report on Thakur's statement she made on Thursday.

"Nathuram Godse was a deshbhakt (patriot), he is and will remain a deshbhakt. Those calling him a terrorist should instead look at themselves. They will be given a befitting reply in this election," the controversial leader had said in Agar Malwa while attending a roadshow.

On Godse remark, Kamal Haasan today said he is not afraid of being arrested. 

"I am not afraid of being arrested. Let them arrest me. If they do that it will only create more problems. It is not a warning but only an advice," he said. 

On the incident of stones pelted at his rally in Trichy, Kamal Haasan said, "I feel the quality of polity is going down. I don't feel threatened. Every religion has its own terrorist, we cannot claim that we are sanctimonious. History shows that all religions have their extremists."

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to hold roadshows in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur and Kushinagar today.

Rejecting the claims of Congress leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu's claims on being denied ticket from Amritsar, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said that the former was offered the chance to contest from the holy city but she refused.

"Ticket allocation was done by the Congress high command in Delhi, and they had chosen not to accept Navjot Kaur's application for the ticket to contest from Chandigarh. Chandigarh seat does not come under Punjab and thus I had no role in the selection of a candidate from there," the chief minister said in a statement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to address an election rally in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone at 11:30 am today.

Campaigning for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polls in 50 constituencies spread over six states and one union territory elections will come to an end this evening.   

In West Bengal, campaigning in the remaining nine constituencies ended last night, a day ahead of the scheduled closing. 

The Election Commission had curtailed campaigning in the state following violence during BJP President Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata on Tuesday. 

Voting in 59 parliamentary constituencies will take place on Sunday.