Lok Sabha polls 2019, April 10: As it Happened

Maharashtra: Visuals from Nagpur as polling parties leave for their respective polling stations. 7 parliamentary constituencies of the state will undergo polling tomorrow, in the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2019

PM Modi in Panaji, Goa: I have been coming to Goa for years now, for party's work. It is for the first time that Manohar ji is not here. We will have to accept that Manohar ji is not with us today but Manohar ji showed us how a person can work for people's welfare with honesty.

Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor today resigned from the party. His decision came after the Gujarat Kshatriya Thakor Sena, an outfit floated by Alpesh, announced its decision to severe its ties with the grand old party and asked the legislator to resign from it and clear his stand within 24 hours.

Addressing a rally at  North Dinajpur West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee today appealed to voters to ensure that Narendra Modi never becomes the PM of the country again. TMC will drive out BJP from the country and help form the next  government at the Centre, she said. 

In a letter to the Election Commission, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has sought an action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks on Pulwama martyrs, during an election rally in Maharashtra. 

"I want to ask 1st-time voters:can your 1st vote be dedicated to brave soldiers who carried out air strike in Pakistan - Can your 1st vote be dedicated to martyrs of Pulwama?" PM Modi had said while addressing a rally. 

TDP delegation led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has met the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Gopal Krishna Dwivedi over the Income Tax raids on party leaders

The Election Commission has banned the screening of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biopic during election period.

Challeging Prime Minister Narendra Modi on holding a debate on corruption, Congress President Rahul Gandhi today said, "I challenge Modi ji to debate with me for 15 minutes, but the Chowkidar does not want to debate with me."

Further commenting on the Supreme Court verdict on Rafale deal, Rahul Gandhi said, "I would want to thank the Supreme Court for exposing Modi ji."

The Congress chief's statements came as he was interacting with reporters after filing his nomination papers from Amethi Lok Sabha seat. 

Speaking to reporters after filing nomination papers from Amethi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi today said, "I am happy today. PM Modi had said the Supreme Court has given him a clean chit in the Rafale row, but the truth will be revealed now."

"Investigation in the Rafale deal will come up with two names - Modi ji and Anil Ambani," said Rahul Gandhi after filing nomination from Amethi.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference (NC) Vice-President Omar Abdullah has sat on a 'dharna' (sit-in) on the national highway against the ban on civilian traffic on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Accompanied by other senior NC leaders and party workers, Omar Abdullah sat on the 'dharna' on the national highway in Nowgam on the outskirts of Srinagar city.

Addressing a rally in UP's Kasganj, BJP President Amit Shah has said there will not be any talks with any terrorist groups.

"We will not talk to any terrorist groups, that is for sure. Narendra Modi is going to be the PM once again, if terrorists dare to do something, we will enter their house again and shred them," the BJP chief said. 

As election fever grips the nation, a new addition to the Indian political memoirs list will soon hit the stands. Home Minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh's first political biography will release in May.

Written by film historian-author Gautam Chintamani, the book "Rajneeti" chronicles Singh's five decade-career in Indian polity.

The Election Commission has issued a show cause notice to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, finding him prima facie guilty of allegedly passing derogatory remarks against Hindus while addressing an election rally in Karimnagar last month.

Now, he has been asked to furnish his reply by April 12 evening, failing which the Commission will take a decision "without any further reference to you".

The Commission said VHP state president M Rama Raju had filed a compliant which claimed that the Telangana Rashtra Samathi chief "tried to secure votes by passing derogatory remarks against Hindus while addressing an election rally at Karimnagar on March 17."

The Gujarat Kshatriya Thakor Sena, an outfit floated by Congress MLA Alpesh Thakor, has decided to sever its ties with the grand old party and has asked the legislator to resign from it and clear his stand within 24 hours.

Speculations were rife that Thakor may quit the Congress as he was unhappy with the local party leadership. Though he was keen to contest from Patan Lok Sabha seat, the Congress chose former MP Jagdish Thakor over him.

The party had also ignored Thakor Sena's demand for ticket to a member of the outfit from Sabarkantha Lok Sabha seat.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi has filed his nomination from Amethi Lok Sabha seat. Mother Sonia Gandhi, sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and brother-in-law Robert Vadra also present.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has said the Supreme Court's Rafale judgment shows that Prime Minister Narendra Modi mislead the apex court over the issue.

Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said, "Modiji was saying everywhere that he got a clean chit in the Rafale matter. The judgment the SC gave today shows that Modi has stolen from the deal. He cheated with the army and to hide all this, he mislead the Supreme Court."

Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy is presently campaigning for his son and party candidate Nikhil, who is fighting from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency.

The Election Commission has informed the Supreme Court that it was not against the issuance of Electoral Bonds for funding to political parties, but it was against the anonymity of donors and wants transparency in the Electoral Bonds scheme.

Retired Justice of Madras and Calcutta High Court CS Karnan will be taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, the retired judge said.

"I have decided to contest in Varanasi constituency against Modi. I am now in Varanasi doing the preliminary work for filing of my nomination," the 63-year-old retired justice told IANS.

Sonia Gandhi has arrived at the District Collector office in Amethi, from where Congress President Rahul Gandhi is slated to file his nomination papers for the 2019 general elections. 

Polling parties in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli leave for their respective polling stations. 8 parliamentary constituencies of the state are slated to undergo polling tomorrow, in the first phase of 2019 general elections. 

Gurjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla and his son Vijay Bainsla have joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Delhi. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar is also present. 

Kirori Singh Bainsla is a Gurjar Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti leader, who led the protest across Rajasthan demanding reservation for Gurjars.

Gurjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla is slated to join the Bharatiya Janata Party today

Congress President Rahul Gandhi is currently holding a roadshow in Amethi, ahead of filing his nomination papers from the Lok Sabha seat. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, along with husband Robert Vadra and children Raihan and Miraya are also present. 

Slamming the Congress party over the recent I-T raids, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an election rally in Gujarat's Junagadh said, "In last 3-4 days you would've seen sacks of cash belonging to Congress leaders being found.

"It has not been even 6 months of Congress government in Madhya Pradesh and the party has turned MP into their ATM, now they've turned Karnataka into ATM," the prime minister said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a scathing attack on the Congress party and said, "Congress has snatched away food from poor children, snatched away their meal and is filling the stomach of its own leaders."

Addressing an election rally in Gujarat's Junagadh, the prime minister said, "Congress is looting the money designated for pregnant women."

The Delhi High Court has sent a PIL seeking direction to the Election Commission to ban Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti from participating in the 2019 general elections, to another bench for hearing on April 12. 

Slamming the Congress party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing a rally in Gujarat's Junagadh said, "A new name has been added to the list of corruption by Congress." 

"Congress' identity is linked to corruption under many names. But now a new scam, along with evidence, has been added to the account of Congress leaders - Tughlaq Road Chunavi Ghotala," the prime minister said.

Addressing a rally in Gujarat's Junagadh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, "I have come here to give you an account of the work done in 5 years."

"I have come here to take your order for the next 5 years. Are you proud of the work done by your son, this chowkidaar? Are you proud that there is not a single blot of corruption?" the prime minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now addressing a public meeting in Gujarat's Junagadh

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the Centre's objection claiming privilege over documents used by petitioners to seek review of the Rafale judgement.

Polling parties in Assam's Dibrugarh have left for their respective polling stations. Five Parliamentary constituencies of the state are slated to undergo polling tomorrow, in the first phase of 2019 general elections. 

Polling parties in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri have left for their respective polling stations. Two Parliamentary constituencies of the state are slated to undergo polling tomorrow, in the first phase of 2019 general elections. 

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has blocked cricketer-turned-BJP politician Gautam Gambhir on Twitter.

The development comes after the two indulged in a heated argument over the special status bestowed upon Kashmir through Articles 370 and 35A.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will address four election rallies in sveral parts of the state today. 

Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar constituencies will go to polls in the first phase on April 11.

Uttar Pradesh is witnessing triangular contest this time. The BJP-led NDA which had won 73 out of the state's 80 seats in 2014 is facing a tough challenge from the Congress and the SP-BSP-RLD alliance in the state.

Polling parties in West Bengal have departed for their respective polling stations in Alipurduar parliamentary constituency with EVMs.

For the 13 parliamentary constituencies in Rajasthan that will go to polls on April 29, 172 candidates have filed nomination papers, Chief Electoral Officer Anand Kumar has said.

The highest number of nominations (28) have been filed for the Jalore seat, and the lowest (5) for the Banswara Lok Sabha constituency.

Tuesday was the last date for filing nominations. These nominations will be scrutinised on April 10. The contestants can withdraw nominations by April 12.

In a push to the campaigning for the 2019 general elections, BJP President Amit Shah is slated to address two public meetings in Uttar Pradesh today. The first election rally will be in Kasganj at 10:30 AM, while the other one will be in Firozabad at 11:30 AM. 

Transgender candidate of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Kajal Kinnar Nayak, has filed her nomination for the Korei assembly constituency in Odisha. "I can't believe how much love I got from the public despite being a transgender," she said. 

Congress President Rahul Gandhi has said that the party's Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) was a powerful idea which has an "absolutely amazing resonance" in the field. Gandhi further claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot stop talking about it.

Taking to Twitter, the Congress chief said, "NYAY is such a powerful idea. Absolutely amazing resonance in the field. Even PM (Past Master) can't stop talking about it."

Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address two election rallies today. One of his rallies will be in Bihar's Katihar, while the other will held in West Berngal's Raiganj.

Congress leader Alpesh Thakor may announce his decision to quit the Congress party today. As per media reports, Thakore has been under pressure from the Thakore Sena.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to address three election rallies today. The prime minister will address two public meetings in Gujarat - in Junagadh and Tapi, while one will be held in Goa's Panaji. 

PM Modi took to Twitter early on Wednesday and announced his schedule for the day. 

Former Congress MLA Jodhaji Thakor has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of Union MoS Parshottam Rupala in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. 

It is believed that the entry of Jodhaji, who is considered to be a prominent face of the Thakor community, into the BJP can help the party gain significant support in North Gujarat.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is all set to file his nomination papers from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat today at 12 PM. The Congress chief will also hold a 3-km road show, from Munshiganj-Darpipur to Gauriganj in the constituency, before filing the nomination. 

Rahul Gandhi will be accompanied by his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, along with sister Priyanka Gandhi at the time of filing the nomination. 

Hello and welcome to our LIVE blog on Lok Sabha Elections 2019. Catch the latest developments of the day here