Lok Sabha polls, May 9: As it happened

Terming the BJP overconfident, Congress leader Kumari Selja says the ruling party's “chest thumping” and “event management” will result in its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. 

In 2014, there was a sense of fatigue about the UPA which had been in power for a long time and people believed Narendra Modi's promises but things have changed now, said the Rajya Sabha MP and Congress' Ambala candidate.

"If they can get a proof, I'll resign right now & if they get a proof by 23rd I'll resign on that particular day. But if Arvind Kejriwal does not get the proof, does he accept the challenge that he will leave politics forever on 23rd?" Gautam Gambhir said on allegations thrown at him by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

"He (Modi) cannot talk about (the promises made about) employment, farmers, Rs 15 lakh (to be deposited in bank account of each Indian) and achche din (good days). He can only talk about the past," 

"Modi ji, India chose you as prime minister five years ago. India does not want to understand from you what others did. India wants to understand what you did and will do," Gandhi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's allegations against Rajiv Gandhi are "atrocious" and the way he now talks reflects that he is highly enraged and has started feeling that time has come for him to return to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath said on Thursday. 

"It is a painful thing that Modi has forgot his status. The way he is levelling allegations is atrocious. He is not talking about youths, about farmers, about traders but trying to divert people's attention. He is misleading people,"

Rahul Gandhi at poll rally in Madhya Pradesh says "its time to bid goodbye to PM Modi"

"I challenge you [PM Modi] if you can prove your allegations that one of us is part of coal mafia, I will withdraw all my 42 candidates [from Lok Sabha constituencies]. If you are lying, you have to hold your ears and do a hundred sit ups in public," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says, at a rally in Bankura.

"How were bomb blasts brought under control in all cities after 2014? How have terror activities been restricted only to Jammu and Kashmir now? It is because our government prioritised national interest. We entered Pakistan and attacked terrorists," PM Modi says, while addressing a rally in Azamgarh.

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo: Re-poll to be held in 13 polling stations in state, where Lok Sabha elections were held on April 18. Re-poll will be conducted on May 19 in 8 polling stations in Dharmapuri, 2 in Theni & 1 each in Cuddalore, Tiruvallur & Erode.

Former IAS officer of Punjab cadre, SS Channy, joins Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

I want to tell the youth and farmers in Sirsa, Narendra Modi made false promises to you, lied to you about Rs 15 lakh, but we promise you will get 3,60,000 in your bank account: Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Sirsa, Haryana 

Bhopal: Congress candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, Digvijaya Singh, offers prayers at Gayatri Temple.

I want to assure you, that the infiltrators that 'didi' and TMC have made their cadres, they will be identified. Those who trouble our daughters and the cultured Bengalis here, they will be identified: PM Narendra Modi in Purulia, West Bengal

Supreme Court dismisses the petition seeking to direct the Election Commission of India (ECI) to debar Congress President Rahul Gandhi from contesting the Lok Sabha polls after he had “voluntarily acquired British nationality.”

When cyclone came in West Bengal, I called 'didi' again & again, but because of her ego, she didn't think it was appropriate to talk to PM.Central Govt wanted to talk with the officers here & help the state, but 'didi' refused to even hold that meeting: PM in Bankura, West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee isn’t ready to accept me as Prime Minister. She is running a gang of goons. Money from Delhi is being looted by the syndicate in West Bengal: PM Modi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi to hold three public meetings in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi today.

Priyanka Gandhi to hold two public meetings in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh and Jaunpur followed by a road show in Sultanpur today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold five rallies today; three (Azamgarh, Jaunpur & Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh and two (Bankura & Parulia) in West Bengal.