Lok Sabha polls, April 25: As it happened

PM Narendra Modi concluded his Varanasi speech with an emphatic, "Har Har Mahadev"

During his speech in Varanasi, PM Narendra Modi said that he will file his nomination papers tomorrow with people's permission

PM Modi said that the "Chowkidar" will remain undeterred come what may.

While PM Narendra Modi spoke about development projects that were implemented and Varanasi and in the country, he said that a lot still remains to be done.

PM Narendra Modi said that hundreds of nullahs releasing sewage in the river Ganga have been closed-off.

PM Narendra Modi said that the city has seen development in recent years. The city has benefitted from improved roads, highway and railway network.

PM Narendra Modi warned against underestimating the threat of terrorism. He said that doing so will be an injustice to the nation.

Recalling Pulwama attacks, PM Modi underlined that India has given a befitting reply to Pakistan and that terrorism is thriving only in a limited part of Jammu & Kashmir.

PM Modi said that India has been able to isolate Pakistan on international level.

 PM Narendra Modi began his speech a few minutes ago. He expressed his gratitude to the people of Varanasi and said he owes a lot to the city.

PM Narendra Modi has begun his address in Varanasi.

After a hectic day of election campaigning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking divine blessings at Varanasi's Dashashwamedh Ghat. As priests sing the aarti, PM was in rapt attention to the proceedings. A sense of calm is visible on his face. Earlier, Varanasi turned into a sea of saafron as Modi! Modi! chants filled the air, the echo of which resonated through the country as television channels beamed the footage LIVE. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd during a political campaign road show in Varanasi, India, Thursday, April 25, 2019

More visuals from PM Modi's mega roadshow in Varanasi More visuals from PM Modi's mega roadshow in Varanasi

 Saffron tide engulfs city as PM's thunderous roadshow continues  Saffron tide engulfs city as PM's thunderous roadshow continues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun his roadshow in Varanasi amid tight security and massive crowd of supporters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun his roadshow in Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches the venue, to hold roadshow shortly. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches the venue, to hold roadshow shortly. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday asked party workers from across the country, barring Punjab and Haryana, to come to Delhi to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

In a tweet in Hindi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief also said that the party has to defeat the BJP in the capital.

"I request all the workers to take off from their job till elections. Barring Punjab and Haryana, workers from across the country should come to Delhi," he said.

Delhi will vote on May 12 to elect seven members to the Lok Sabha.

Congress leader PC Chako Thursday said his party will have a direct fight with the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections and asserted that the possibility of a triangular contest is "slowly disappearing" in the national capital.

The senior Congress leader also raised doubts about AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal's seriousness in defeating the BJP.

Chacko said the Congress was getting a good response after the party fielded its candidates for all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, which goes to polls on May 12.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) Thursday introduced its candidates before the media at its party office in Delhi. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to perform Ganga aarti at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, later today.

A total of 347 cases have been registered in connection with the recent Lok Sabha polls in Kerala where the entire election exercise was by and
large peaceful and the state registered a record voter turn out.

Politically volatile Kannur district had registered the most number of cases related to the violent incidents-79, while Kottayam the lowest-2, police figures said.

The total number of cases registered this time was much lower compared to the 2016 Assembly elections, which stood at 613, it said.

Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Thursday resigned as the legislator from the Bholath Assembly seat in Punjab. He submitted his resignation to Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana K.P. Singh.

Khaira was elected in the February 2017 Assembly elections on a Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket. However, he quit the party in January this year and floated a new regional party - Punjabi Ekta Party (PEP).

Khaira is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Bathinda parliamentary seat. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today took to Twitter and announced his schedule for Kashi. 

"After bumper rallies in Darbhanga and Banda, I am heading to beloved Kashi. There are a series of programmes lined up, which would give me another excellent opportunity to interact with my sisters and brothers of Kashi. Har Har Mahadev!" the prime minister tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a roadshow in Varanasi shortly. Visuals from outside Banaras Hindu University (BHU).

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav today said that their alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party will give a new prime minister to the country. 

The SP chief's remark came while he was addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Varanasi, where he is slated to hold a mega roadshow. 

Modi, who will file his nomination papers for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on Friday, is expected to start his roadshow by first garlanding the statue of Banaras Hindu University founder Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya.

The roadshow will stretch over six kilometres, going from the Lanka area to Dashashwamedh Ghat via Godoliya, party insiders said. 

The Congress on Thursday named three candidates for three assembly seats in West Bengal where bypoll will be held on May 19. The Congress has fielded Alhaj Muzaffar Hussain from Islampur, Rejina Murmu from Habilpur (ST) and Khwaja Ahmed Hussain from Bhatpara.

Bypoll to five assembly constituencies of West Bengal will be held on May 19 and votes there will be counted along with those of all Lok Sabha seats, the Election Commission had said.

The five assembly seats - Darjeeling, Islampur, Kandi, Habibpur (ST) and Bhatpara - fell vacant after the sitting MLAs resigned following their nomination to contest Lok Sabha elections. 

The Aam Aadmi Party came out with its manifesto for the Lok Sabha election based on the central theme of full statehood, giving a detailed analysis of what more can be done by the party if the status is granted.

The manifesto, released by AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has been divided into two sections -- one about what the party did without full statehood and what they will do in if it is granted.

The manifesto, featuring Kejriwal's photograph on the front page, focused in 12 areas of education, health, women safety, police reforms, zero corruption, jobs, land and housing, protection from sealing, cleanliness, pollution, transport, Yamuna rejuvenation.

Dissident AAP legislator Nazar Singh Manshahia on Thursday joined the Congress in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. The Mansa assembly seat is part of the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency. 

The chief minister said the joining of the Mansa legislator would further strengthen the Congress. He said the like-minded people from other parties, who had the interest of the state-at-heart, were joining the Congress in Punjab in large numbers. 

It was a clear sign of complete "disillusionment" within the AAP, he further claimed. 

Manshahia, the 56-year-old legislator, was part of the group of rebel AAP MLAs who had aligned with Sukhpal Singh Khaira after he was removed unceremoniously from the post of the Leader of Opposition of Punjab Assembly last year. 

BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday claimed that Opposition leaders cannot look after the security of the country properly.

Addressing a rally in Ghazipur constituency of Uttar Pradesh, Shah alleged that BSP chief Mayawati and her Samajwadi Party and Congress counterparts, Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, respectively, were upset with the Balakot airstrikes.

"These 'mahamilavati' people talk about the country. Akhilesh, Mayawati and Congress cannot keep the country safe," PTI quoted the BJP chief.

Shah said the BJP cannot do 'ilu-ilu' with terrorists, an apparent reference to the popular short form of 'I love you'.

BJP's Kirron Kher files nomination from Chandigarh constituency. RJD candidate Misa Bharti files nomination from Pataliputra constituency in Bihar. 

District Electoral Officer, Mandi has issued a notice to Himachal Pradesh BJP Chief, Satpal Singh Satti over his comment 'will chop off hands of those who point fingers at Modi Ji.'

The Election Commission today said that the poll body is of the view that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biopic should not be released till May 19. 

Delaying the release will be in the interest of free and fair Lok Sabha elections, the poll body officials said. 

Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Thursday accused the Election Commission of ignoring the alleged model code violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"PM Modi is moving about freely despite facing numerous serious allegations of the model code of conduct violation, thanks to the ECI. That's why he has started crossing the limit as far as respect for women is concerned. Hasn't the BJP/RSS imposed a lajawab neta upon the country?" Mayawati asked.

In another tweet, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party for asking who is the prime ministerial face of the Opposition.

"Why is the BJP & co. repeatedly insulting masses by claiming that the Opposition lacked leadership for the post of the Prime Minister? Who after Nehru was the arrogant question asked earlier too. But people gave a befitting reply to all this nonsense and will surely give another one shortly," the BSP chief added.

Congress General Secretary for UP (East) Priyanka Gandhi Vadra holds a roadshow in Jhansi. 

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing "injustice" to the people of the country in the last five years, saying the 'acche din ayenge' slogan has now been replaced by 'chowkidar chor hai'.

Gandhi was addressing an election rally at Jalore in Rajasthan.

"Demonetisation and GST were ways to rob poor, labourers, small traders, the Congress' NYAY scheme will benefit them," he said.

"Five years ago there was a slogan 'acche din ayenge'. Now people say 'chowkidaar chor hai' everywhere in the country," Gandhi said while addressing the rally. 

The nodal election officer who went missing at Ranaghat in West Bengal's Nadia district was found on Thursday, a senior police officer said.

"Arnab Roy was traced near the Howrah station. He is fine and presently he is with his in-laws in Howrah. The reason for his disappearance will be clear after further investigation," Deputy Inspector General of Police Nishat Parvez said.

Roy was in charge of EVMs and VVPATs and went missing on April 18.

Asked about his disappearance, the Special Observer for West Bengal, Ajay V. Nayak, had told reporters: "I think it has something to do with his personal life and probably he was in depression."

But Roy's wife Anisha Jash denied that her husband was suffering from any kind of depression. 

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal has said his party would do everything to stop the Modi-Shah duo from coming to power and support any "secular mahagathbandhan" after the general election.

Addressing the media after releasing the party manifesto here, Kejriwal said the AAP's focus would be on getting full statehood for Delhi. "We will fight our battle on the issue of getting full statehood for Delhi," he said.

Kejriwal targeted Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah over his remarks to remove "infiltrators" except Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists. "This proves that the BJP plans to remove all other religions except these three religions," he said.

The chief minister also hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi after the AAP and the grand old party failed to form an alliance.

"Want to ask Rahul Gandhi which alliance is formed on Twitter? If Modi, Shah return to power, only Gandhi will be responsible," Kejriwal said. 

GST will be simplified, 22 lakh government jobs will be given in 1 year if Congress is voted to power, says Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi will not be contesting elections from Varanasi. The development comes after the Rahul Gandhi-led party fielded Ajay Rai as its candidate from the city. 

Ajay Rai had contested unsuccessfully against Modi in 2014.

Meanwhile, Madhusudan Tiwari is to be the Congress candidate from Gorakhpur.

The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission to take action on a complaint by TMC candidate Mahua Moitra against BJP leader Mahadev Sarkar for allegedly making sexually coloured remarks.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi directed the EC to pass a reasoned order forthwith.

Moitra has alleged that Nadia district BJP President Sarkar in the presence of party candidate Kalyan Chaubey made sexually coloured remarks against her on April 23.

She said the poll panel has not taken any action against Sarkar.

Moitra said less than 48 hours are remaining before the campaigning comes to an end for the polls in her Krishnanagar constituency of Nadia district in West Bengal and action should be taken immediately. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia release Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi manifesto.

Released at the party office in Delhi, the 35-page manifesto was titled 'Le Kar Rahenge Purna Rajya' (We will secure full statehood). 

Actor Anupam Kher campaigns for his wife and BJP candidate, Kirron Kher in Chandigarh.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat also present. 

The Supreme Court has refused to give urgent hearing to a mentioning by BJP leader and lawyer, Ashwini Upadhyay, who had sought a ban on candidates contesting from two constituencies. 

Slamming the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said, "The opposition is jittery after three phases of general elections and hence they have given up demanding proof of air strikes and started finding faults with EVMs."

The prime minister's remarks came while he was addressing a public meeting in Bihar's Darbhanga. 

"People who are contesting only 40, 20 or even eight seats are standing in the queue waiting for their turn to become the prime minister, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at Bihar rally. 

Addressing a public rally in Bihar's Darbhanga, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today stressed on the need to root out terrorism for the benefit of the poor. 

"Terrorism must be rooted out for the benefit of the poor so that the money now spent on security could be spent on their well-being," the prime minister said. 

"For the 'Mahamilavat' gang, national security may not be any issue. But this is new India. Those involved in or abetting terror would be chased to their homes and finished off," the prime minister further said. 

Some people have problems with slogans 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Vande Mataram'. Should they not lose their deposits in elections? PM Modi at rally in Darbhanga

The Shiromani Akali Dal's first couple -- party President Sukhbir Singh Badal and his Union Minister wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal, are making a couple entry in the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab this time.

In Rajasthan, as 13 of the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies go to polls on April 29, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his BJP counterpart Amit Shah will be canvassing for votes in the state on Thursday and Friday, respectively. Rahul Gandhi would address three election rallies in Ajmer, Jalore and Kota on Thursday. On Friday, BJP president Amit Shah will be addressing an election rally in Jalore.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal would release the Aam Aadmi Party's manifesto, on Thursday. In the presence of senior party leaders and all the seven candidates who are contesting on the party's ticket from Delhi, the manifesto would be released.

A day before filing his nomination papers from Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a roadshow and take part in the Ganga `aarti’, on Thursday.