Lok Sabha elections 2024: 'Rahul Gandhi hesitant to contest from BJP-rules states', says Ghulam Nabi Azad

Keeping in mind the killing of four people in a firing allegedly by the CISF personnel at a booth in Sitalkuchi in Cooch Behar district during the 2021 assembly polls, the Election Commission has decided not to deploy any personnel of that force there, an official said on Wednesday. The Border Security Force (BSF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) or the ITBP personnel will be deployed there for the April 19 polls, the official said.

The Election Commission has deleted 5.41 lakh voters, which include the dead, shifted and duplicate, from the electoral rolls in Hyderabad district covering 15 Assembly constituencies.

Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leaders on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction over the party's decision of denying the ticket to former minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa from Sangrur Lok Sabha seat. In a meeting at the residence of Dhindsa here, some of them even were of the opinion that they should not support party candidate Iqbal Singh Jhunda in the Lok Sabha polls, said sources. After learning about the meeting, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal reached out to the Dhindsa family at their residence on Wednesday evening. He stayed there for around 15 minutes, said the sources.

In a setback to the RJD, its national vice president Devendra Prasad Yadav on Wednesday resigned from the party, protesting the import of candidates to the detriment of committed workers. A former Union minister, Yadav announced his resignation through a strongly worded letter addressed to the RJD president Lalu Prasad.

The Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency is gearing up for intensified political activity as key BJP leaders will mobilise support for party candidate Kota Srinivas Poojary. The campaign is set to receive a significant boost with the scheduled appearances of several influential figures. Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi and MP Sumalatha are set to inaugurate the campaign in Uppoor on April 19.

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur on Wednesday attacked the Congress saying the party which cannot keep its flock together cannot keep a state under control. Addressing a meeting, Thakur said while BJP is targeting 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, Congress is hoping to get only 40.

Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely on Wednesday held a meeting with senior leaders of the party to draw up a roadmap for the Lok Sabha election campaigns, a statement said. The meeting was held to assign duty to Congress leaders and workers not only in the constituencies of the three Congress candidates but also in the constituencies of the four INDIA bloc partners as well, it said. Lovely said the Congress and INDIA bloc candidates are standing on very strong wickets and they are sure to sweep all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi. The Congress leaders and workers will extensively cover the Lok Sabha constituencies and hold regular interaction with the voters door-to-door, he stated.

On alliance with the BJP, People's Conference President Sajad Lone said, "First we had heard of good Taliban and bad Taliban, then we heard of good militant and bad militant. Now Omar Abdullah has brought out a new concept of good BJP and bad BJP. Good BJP is Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and he (Omar Abdullah) mentioned in an interview, that had he been alive, he would have loved to work with him. Maybe he doesn't have a problem with the BJP, it's just that PM Narendra Modi doesn't give him enough attention. It has become Omar Abdullah's habit to humiliate everyone. We want to be equal Indians and have the same set of laws as are there in other parts of the country. Let Kashmiris have the same dignity that other Indians have. The maximum number of fake encounters have been done during the rule of Farooq Abdullah. He has blood on his hands and he will be answerable for it."

The Congress on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he dashed the hopes of 2014, betrayed the people's trust since 2019, and his exit is now guaranteed in 2024. The opposition party's dig came after Modi asserted in Assam's Nalbari that he went to the people with hope in the 2014 general elections, trust in the 2019 polls and guarantee in 2024.

The gazette notification for election to the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana would be issued on April 18, setting the stage for a keen electoral battle among the ruling Congress, BJP and BRS. Nominations would be accepted from April 18 to 25.

Congress candidates representing the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc filed their nomination papers for the two Lok Sabha seats- North Goa and South Goa- on Wednesday. While former Union minister Ramakant Khalap (North Goa) submitted his papers in Panaji, former Navy veteran Viriato Fernandes (South Goa) filed the nomination in Margao. Elections to the two parliamentary seats in the coastal state will be held on May 7.

The BJP on Wednesday filed a complaint with the Election Commission against West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, alleging that she tried to incite voters to violence while addressing a public meeting. Banerjee, addressing an election rally at Maynaguri in Jalpaiguri district on Tuesday, claimed that some BJP members shouted "chor chor" targeting her convoy in the Chalsa area. The BJP, in its complaint to the EC, claimed that she had said, "They had the courage to say chor chor on seeing my car, if I had the opportunity would have pulled their tongues out, because of elections I did not say anything."

Campaigning for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections for 12 seats in Rajasthan came to an end on Wednesday. The Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases, beginning on Friday. The votes will be counted on June 4. The Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and the Nagaur seats in Rajasthan will go to the polls in the first phase. The Congress focused its election campaign on two issues -- inflation and unemployment.

Political parties and candidates contesting the April 19 Lok Sabha election made last ditch bid to reach out to voters through door-to-door canvassing and rallies here on the last day of poll campaign on Wednesday. There are 26 contestants in the fray in Puducherry Lok Sabha constituency. The major contestants are BJP nominee A Namassivayam, the Puducherry PCC leader and sitting Lok Sabha MP from here V Vaithilingam and AIADMK`s greenhorn in Parliamentary poll G Tamizhvendhan.

Campaigning for the first phase of polls to five Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam scheduled on April 19 ended on Wednesday. The battle of the ballots in this phase will decide the fate of 35 candidates including two Rajya Sabha MPs, three Lok Sabha MPs and an MLA. The five constituencies going to the polls in this phase are Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kaziranga, Sonitpur and Lakhimpur.

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday claimed that the BJP has given the '400 par' slogan for the Lok Sabha polls as they want to "change" the Constitution of the country and "take away" the right to vote from people. Addressing an election rally here in support of Ruchi Veera, the SP candidate from Moradabad, Yadav said, "If the government works as per the Constitution, no prejudice can be done against any community or group. But ever since the BJP has come to power, the government has not done justice with people." Yadav recalled the protest by farmers against the now-repealed farm laws and said, "The government has taken back the farm laws. But the way BJP leaders are using the '400 par' slogan...if they come to power, it is possible that they will change the Constitution. They can even snatch our right to vote." The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also attacked the BJP-led Centre over demonetisation and electoral bonds. SP candidate Veera also alleged that the BJP wants to change the Constitution. "The election this time is to safeguard democracy."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday termed the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as a battle between two ideologies- I.N.D.I.A bloc "fighting for the Constitution" on one hand and BJP, which wants to "abolish constitution and democracy", on the other.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tripura election rally | "North East plays a major role in making India 'Viksit'. After years of Independence and during the rule of Congress justice was not done with the capabilities of the states in North East. Communists ruled in Tripura and they just destroyed the people of Tripura. But, today in Delhi there is a government that continuously thinks about North East and Tripura. North East 'mere liye politics ka nahi, prem aur prathmikta ka vishaya hai'..."

Priyanka Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur responds when asked how many seats Congress will win | "...I am not an astrologer. We are going to get a good number of seats. People want change, I went to Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, people are tired of this type of politics... People do not have money to spend... Unemployment has increased to another level but PM Modi is not talking about all of this..."

Odisha CM and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced the fifth list of candidates for Odisha Assembly Elections.

According to the list, Naveen Patnaik will contest from Kantabanji Assembly seat.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on BJP's performance in upcoming polls | "According to me, they (BJP) may win 200 to 220 seats. That is the report I'm having. They are saying they will get 400 seats, it is a strategy."

"Modi has given a guarantee that all the elderly people above 70 years of age will get free treatment facilities up to Rs 5 lakh under Ayushman Yojana. Modi will take care of their treatment without any discrimination...," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Assam's Nalbari.

Addressing a public rally in Nalbari, PM Narendra Modi says, "NDA has decided to reach out to every citizen of the country and provide them the facilities they deserve. In the next 5 years, 3 crore more new houses will be built for the poor and everyone will get them without any discrimination."

PM Modi in Assam's Nalbari | "...Today is also the historical occasion of Ram Navami. After a wait of 500 years, Lord Ram has finally been seated in his grand temple and in just a few minutes from now, his birth anniversary will be celebrated in the Ram temple in the holy city of Ayodhya by applying 'Surya Tilak' to Lord Ram."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried his hands on a traditional instrument during his public rally in Nalbari, Assam. | WATCH

Karnataka BJP leader BS Yediyurappa on party supporting R. Akhanda Srinivas Murthy | "...We stood with him (earlier), today he has joined our party, he has strengthened our party. He has very good support, lakhs of people are supporting R. Akhanda Srinivas Murthy..."

AAP MP Sanjay Singh on Kejriwal's arrest | "...nobody had even imagined that electricity could be given free. This was the first government after independence to implement free electricity scheme, free water scheme, and free bus travel scheme. Delhi is the only state to give a profit budget. We are determined to fulfil our vision of Ram Rajya on the ground..."

AAP MP Sanjay Singh on 'AAP ka Ram Rajya' website launch | "On the occasion of Ram Navami, we are launching a website 'AAP ka Ram Rajya'. Arvind Kejriwal has done amazing work to fulfil the dream of 'Ram Rajya' in Delhi and has presented an example to the world. This is the first Ram Navami on which Arvind Kejriwal is not us; he is in jail."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP saying the saffron party will get 150 seats in the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

"I do not do prediction of seats. 15-20 days ago I was thinking BJP would win around 180 seats but now I think they will get 150 seats. We are getting reports from every state that we are improving. We have a very strong alliance in Uttar Pradesh and we will perform very well..," Gandhi said.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said we have to ensure not a single vote is divided in Lok Sabha election.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at joint presser with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said there is a strong undercurrent in favour of I.N.D.I.A bloc and BJP will be limited to 150 seats.

 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Lok Sabha elections said this is an ideological election and the BJP wants to destroy the Constitution.

 I.N.D.I.A bloc is protecting the Constitution, he added.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, while answering to a question as why he left Amethi, said the decisions are taken by the CEC of his party and he accepts the party decision. Gandhi termed the question 'BJP wala question' on a lighter note.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav exuded confidence of victory saying I.N.D.I.A bloc will wipe out the BJP from Ghaziabad to Ghazipur.

"I want to extend my best wishes to everyone on the occasion of Ram Navami. I am happy that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Samajwadi Party are doing a press conference together...Today, we are in Ghaziabad and this time INDIA alliance will wipe out BJP from Ghaziabad to Ghazipur. Today, farmers are upset as all the promises of BJP turned out to be fake..," he said.

Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra performs Divya Abhisheka of Ram Lalla at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, on the occasion of Ram Navami.

RJD MP Manoj Jha on upcoming Lok Sabha elections | "PM Modi is giving big guarantees these days. You say you want to change the Constitution. The intention of changing the Constitution will not only trouble the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Mahagathbandhan. What is the Constitution? This is a guarantee of reservation, a guarantee of education, a guarantee of employment. This Constitution is a guarantee of taking everyone along on the path of progress while respecting your fundamental rights..."

AIMIM Tamil Nadu president TS Vakeel Ahmed says "On the instructions of Asaduddin Owaisi, we are supporting AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. We are working for the victory of AIADMK candidates in all 40 seats of Tamil Nadu... We will make sure that BJP does not win in the state and that CAA-NRC should be opposed in the state... We hope that AIADMK will win in the state and that our alliance will continue in the future..."

DMK Perambalur Lok Sabha candidate KN Arun Nehru holds a roadshow in Tiruchirappalli, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. | Watch

DMK sitting MP and candidate from Central Chennai constituency, Dayanidhi Maran holds a campaign in Triplicane, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

AIADMK candidate from South Chennai constituency J. Jayavardhan says, "If we talk about my constituency, there is a rousing response from the people. People are extremely angry at this present DMK government. So wherever I go, there is a huge response from the people and they are showing thumbs up that you will win. So in in entire Tamil Nadu, there is an anti-DMK wave. So DMK will lose not only from my constituency but in all places, along with its allies, and partners."

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked political parties to furnish details of aircraft and helicopters being used for campaigning, including their origin and destination and details of people ferried in them.

A letter by Tejas Samel, deputy election officer of Mumbai Suburban district, dated April 12, said such information has to be furnished three days before the journey to the district election office, but that duration has now been reduced to 24 hours.

"We are sending a revised letter on April 17. Instead of three days, they have to inform us 24 hours in advance," Samel said.

The BJP has complained to the Mumbai police after a fake document surfaced announcing Prakash Krushna Nikam from Palghar seat in Maharashtra.

Polling in Maharashtra will take place in the first five phases during the Lok Sabha elections.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be elected for a third term for a strong and prosperous Bharat, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday as he targeted the opposition over the alleged lack of coordination with the analogy of a train.

Addressing a poll rally, the senior BJP leader said the people have only two choices in this election- either to elect Modi for development or the alliance led by Rahul Gandhi.

"Modiji is the power engine of our Mahayuti alliance. There is ample space for people to board this 'Vikas ki train' of Modiji with coaches of Shiv Sena, NCP, RPI and others.
Other alliance doesn't have any coaches and all (constituents) claim themselves to be engines but they lack coordination," he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated security forces for the successful operation against Naxalites in Chhattisgarh and said the Modi government is determined to free the country from the scourge.

Shah said that due to the offensive policy of the government and the efforts of security forces, Naxalism has been confined to a small area now and soon Chhattisgarh and the entire country will be completely Naxal-free.

"Today, a large number of Naxalites have been killed in the operation of security forces in Chhattisgarh. I congratulate all the security personnel who made this operation successful with their bravery and wish for the speedy recovery of the brave policemen who have been injured," Shah wrote on 'X' in Hindi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address election rallies in Assam and Tripura, ahead of the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024.