Lok Sabha elections 2024: Congress announces candidates for two seats in Odisha

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Amethi, Smriti Irani intensified her election campaign in Amethi. She earlier rode a scooter and met people in Amethi. 

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has released a fresh list of three candidates from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, Azamgarh and Sant Kabir Nagar today (April 28). Ravi Prakash Maurya has been fielded from Amethi, Syed Danish will be contesting from Sant Kabir Nagar and Sabiha Ansari will fight from Azamgarh.

Addressing a roadshow in West Delhi today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal, said, "What is the fault of Arvind Kejriwal? His fault is he gave free electricity, earlier there used to be a lot of power cuts but now we get electricity 24 hours, schools are being made for your students, Mohalla clinics were made and now every month, women will be given Rs 1000."

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal held a roadshow in West Delhi today. She was campaigning for AAP West Delhi Lok Sabha candidate Mahabal Mishra. AAP will contest elections on four seats and Congress on three seats in Delhi.

Addressing a rally in Karnataka's Ballari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said, the Congress government in the state is destroying seeds of development sown by the BJP.

Former Bihar deputy CM & RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday asserted that in the 2024 elections, the INDIA alliance government will be formed. He said, "'400 ki film flop ho chuki hai'. The people of BJP are in depression. The entire country has made their mood that the INDIA alliance govt will be formed. He (PM Modi) may come and go, but it has no effect. He will come, lie, speak the venomous language and again will be seen after 5 years."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting in Ballari, Karnataka. PM Modi, who is on a visit to Karnataka for a poll campaign, earlier addressed a public meeting in Davanagere. Speaking during the event, PM said, Congress is playing with the future of the youth, farmers, and common people.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed a public rally in Gujarat's Anand. He said, "We had said in our manifesto that if our government is formed with a clear majority, then we will stop the practice of Triple Talaq. People asked us to not interfere in others' religious matters. We were asked who gave us the right. We were accused of communalism, that we are discriminating based on Hindu-Muslim. Whether it is Hindu, Muslim or Christian, every daughter, mother and sister is our daughter, mother and sister. If there is any atrocity against them, then every Indian will stand with them... Any woman of any religion cannot be abandoned by reciting 'Talaq' thrice. Other parties might have accepted this for votes, but not us. And we abolished it."

On Sunday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that people will not vote for the BJP in these elections. He said, "In these elections, people don't want to hear 'Mann Ki Baat'; they want to hear 'Constitution Ki Baat'. The BJP wants to change BR Ambedkar's Constitution, and that's why the people will defeat the BJP." 

PM Modi today addressed a rally in Karnataka. He said, "Due to their factionalism, nepotism, and wrong policies, Congress is playing with the future of the youth, farmers, and common people." 

Addressing a public rally in Mainpuri, Union Home Minister Amit Shah slammed Akhilesh Yadav. He said, "Samajwadi Party who claims to represent Yadavs. I want to tell you, that Mulayam Singh became the CM, then his son became the CM, and after his (Mulayam Singh Yadav) death her daughter-in-law became the MP. This time  Akhilesh Yadav is contesting from Kannauj, Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri, Akshay Yadav from Firozabad, Aditya Yadav from Budaun and Dharmendra Yadav from Azamgarh. I want to ask Akhilesh Yadav, don't you find other 'Yadavs' but from your family."

Arvinder Singh Lovely resigned as Delhi Congress chief today. Speaking to the media following his resignation, he said, "Mentioning the principles and the pain felt by the Congress workers, I have resigned from the post of Delhi Congress chief. I want to thank the Congress workers who came to meet me."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Belagavi, Karnataka. Earlier, addressing a public meeting in Karnataka, PM Modi accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of insulting India's Rajas and Maharajas but keeping mum on the atrocities committed by Nawabs, Nizams, Sultans, and Badshahs for the sake of appeasement politics.

The Election Commission has issued a show cause notice to the BJP candidate from the Korba Lok Sabha constituency in Chhattisgarh for violating the model code of conduct (MCC), said an official on Sunday. BJP candidate Saroj Pandey's photograph allegedly appeared on posters and banners for a religious programme, he added.

Police have booked Sanatan Pandey, the Samajwadi Party's candidate from the Ballia Lok Sabha constituency, for allegedly spreading enmity and threatening the district election officer, officials said on Sunday. District officials said an FIR was lodged against Pandey over his statement to reporters on Saturday.

Congress govt wants to destroy Karnataka, party encouraging anti-social, anti-national mindset, said PM Modi at poll rally.

Union Minister Smriti Irani reaches Ayodhya to offer prayers at Hanumangarhi and Ram Janmabhoomi temples.

Country will reject those who rejected Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony invite, said PM Modi in Karnataka.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) banned Aam Aadmi Party's campaign song. MLA Atishi Marlena held a press conference criticising the poll panel's move.

Congress wants to take over people's wealth, redistribute among its votebank, said PM Modi at Karnataka rally.

Congress is making alliance with those who praise Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, said PM Modi at Karnataka poll rally.

Cong 'prince' did not refer to 'atyachar' by Nawabs, Badshahs but insults our Raja, Maharajas: PM Modi in attack on Rahul Gandhi.

Congress taking help of banned PFI to win Wayanad LS seat: PM Modi at Karnataka poll rally.

Congress has gone away from national interest, entangled in interest of a family, said PM Modi at Karnataka rally.

Congress conspired to destroy country's democracy, they have to apologise to nation, said PM Modi at Karnataka rally.

Telangana: AIMIM President & candidate from Hyderabad constituency, Asaduddin Owaisi holds a door-to-door election campaign in the Old Malakpet area of his constituency. 

Karnataka: Addressing a public rally in Belagavi, PM Narendra Modi says, "When India emerges and strengthens, everyone feels proud. But Congress has grown so far from National interest, for so engrossed in the welfare of their family that it does not like the country's achievements... They have started feeling ashamed of every achievement made by us..."

Malda, West Bengal: Khagen Murmu, BJP's candidate from Malda Uttar, said, "The voters are ready to bless us in 2024 just like they blessed us in the 2019 elections. Wherever I am going, I am getting the blessings of the people..." TMC has fielded Prasun Banerjee, a former IPS officer, from this seat.

Arvinder Singh Lovely resigns from the position of Delhi Congress president.

 Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "Leaders of Mahayuti are threatening people to vote ...It was done in Solapur yesterday... Why are you doing these things if you have PM Modi and you are so confident about winning... In Baramati and Shirur Ajit Pawar is openly threatening businessmen, traders etc giving notices and threatening them to work for his wife, if not done then he is saying that they will be fined Rs 50 cr...Why is all this needed when there is a democracy in the country..."

Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Non-resident Indians (NRIs) hold a car rally from Ahmedabad to Surat in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that Congress should apologise to the country for making false claims about the Electronic Voting Machines after the Supreme Court held that EVMs have strengthened India's democracy. Speaking at an election rally here in the South Goa Lok Sabha constituency, he also said that Goa was a model of his party's "saturation approach" to development and welfare. Speaking before an audience of about 50,000, the PM noted that Goa has witnessed some key developments in his political life.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Odisha DGP Arun Kumar Sarangi said on preparations for the upcoming polls, “We have reviewed the preparedness, discussed the law-and-order situation and the force requirements for the upcoming polls in the state. The enforcement activities have been good; we have seized more than 40,000 litres of liquor, six quintals of Ganja and 1.5 kilograms of brown sugar. More than 4,000 warrants have been executed, and preventive proceedings have been launched against 30,000 people. Around 10,000 people have been bound down under relevant provisions of law. We have also had interstate cooperation meetings with Jharkhand and West Bengal administrations. We hope to have an impartial, free and peaceful election.”

Assam: A cycle rally was held as a part of the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) to create awareness among the voters in Guwahati.

Mumbai: Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North, Piyush Goyal goes for a morning walk and greets people as part of his election campaign.

BJP president JP Nadda will address election rallies in different parts of Odisha on April 28. Nadda will address a public gathering in Berhampur and meet party workers at Nabarangpur. Berhampur Lok Sabha seat is expected to witness an intense electoral battle between BJP and BJD candidates, both of whom are turncoats.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address election rallies in different parts of Odisha today. He will address a public meeting at Salepur in Cuttack district, and also visit Satyabhamapur to pay tributes to Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das.

Union Minister Smriti Irani will reach Ayodhya on Sunday morning for the darshan of Ramlala and take blessings. She will file her nomination as the BJP candidate from Amethi parliamentary seat on Monday. Notably, the Congress is yet to announce its candidate from Amethi. There is a strong speculation that Rahul Gandhi will contest from here again.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to make a whirlwind tour of Karnataka from today, where he will address public meetings in five districts and canvas for the BJP for the Lok Sabha elections.