Election wrap: From Rahul's minimum income promise to row over Modi biopic, a look at 10 major developments of March 25
From Rahul Gandhi's big-bang minimum income election promise to row over Modi biopic, India TV's Election wrap of March 25 has everything to serve you for the day on the election platter ahead of the polls next month. While Congress and Aam Aadmi Party's alliance in Delhi remains "lagbhag" undecided, it will be for Rahul Gandhi to take the final call on it. Meanwhile, there are new entrants and exiters in both the rival parties, BJP and Congress, including Gautam Gambhir, Paramlypian Deepa Malik and Sapna Chaudhary, no wait, she is not sure.
Here are the top 10 major updates related to Lok Sabha polls today
1. Congress clears 2 more lists of LS candidates; fields Sanjay Nirupam from North West Mumbai
The Congress today fielded Sanjay Nirupam from North West Mumbai as it released two more lists of candidates on Monday, clearing 31 names for the Lok Sabha elections. In the first list put out on Monday, 26 candidates were announced by the party, out of which 25 were for West Bengal. In the second list, five candidates were named -- two from Chhattisgarh, two from Goa and one for the Union Territory of Daman and Diu.
2. Rahul Gandhi promises minimum income scheme; says 20% families to get Rs 72,000 annually
Congress President Rahul Gandhi today announced that Rs 72,000 per year will be given as minimum income to poor families, benefiting around 25 crore people, if his party is voted to power in Lok Sabha polls.
3. BJP slams Rahul's minimum income promise
BJP leader Arun Jaitley Monday slammed Rahul Gandhi's promise of giving Rs 72,000 per year to the most deprived families as a "bluff" and yet another Congress' bid to "cheat" the poor, and asserted the Modi government was already giving one-and-a-half times more money to them. The Finance Minister told reporters here that the Congress has a history of cheating the poor and misleading the country in the name of removing poverty as it only gave them slogans but not the tools and resources. Other BJP leaders along with BSP supremo Mayawati also condemned the scheme. The criticism for the scheme also came from the industry which claimed that any such plan will burden the exchequer.
4. EC notice to makers of PM Modi's biopic
The Delhi Chief Electoral Office said it was awaiting a reply from the makers of a biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scheduled to be released on April 5, after it felt that the film violated the model code of conduct.
5. Key leaders file nominations
Political heavyweights including Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, V K Singh, former chief ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Harish Rawat and Jitan Ram Manjhi filed their nominations Monday, the last day for submitting the papers for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 11. Among other prominent leaders who filed their papers Monday are former prime minister H D Deve Gowda (Tumkur, Karnataka), BJP's Hema Malini (Mathura, Uttar Pradesh) and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah (Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir). The three constituencies vote in the second phase on April 18. The last day for filing nominations is Tuesday.
6. Congress remains undecided on alliance with AAP
Delhi Congress president Sheila Dikshit and other leaders of the unit today discussed the possibility of an alliance with the AAP for the Lok Sabha polls in the city at a meeting with party chief Rahul Gandhi. The opinion remained divided on the issue and everyone in the meeting was unanimous that Gandhi should take the final call on it in the larger interest of the party.
7. NCP releases manifesto; assures complete loan waiver to small, middle income farmers
The Nationalist Congress Party on Monday released its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, promising complete loan waiver for small and middle income farmers and resumption of talks with Pakistan.
8. SC for more VVPAT matching in polls
The Supreme Court today favoured increasing the random physical verification of VVPAT slips in the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls. It was not the question of "casting aspersions", rather a matter of "satisfaction" of the electorate, the top court said. It asked the EC to file response as to whether it can increase the number of sample surveys of VVPAT slips from one in each assembly segment for the upcoming general and assembly elections.
9. HD Deve Gowda to contest from Tumakuru Lok Sabha constituency
Troubled waters ahead for Congress and JD(S) alliance in Karnataka. The two parties have agreed to field former prime minister and JDS patriarch H D Deve Gowda from Congress' bastion Tumakuru Lok Sabha constituency. Though Tumakuru was allotted to JDS under the electoral arrangement between allies Congress and JD(S), sitting Congress MP S P Muddahanume Gowda has filed his papers from the seat, making it clear that Deve Gowda may not have an easy going.
10. Paralympian Deepa Malik joins BJP
Deepa Malik, a noted para athlete, Monday joined the BJP with the party asserting that her presence will strengthen the organisation. She joined the BJP in the presence of the party's Haryana unit chief Subhash Barala, and general secretary Anil Jain, who is in charge of its affairs in the state. She is the first Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympic Games.
