Lok Sabha election 2019: As it happened | May 16, 2019

Rahul Gandhi has said that Congress Party will fulfill the promises made by the Narendra Modi government.

"They promised 15 lakh. Where are the 15 Lakh? We will fulfill the promise and bring people their 15 lakh"

Congress President Rahul Gandhi in an exclusive interview given to India Tv said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scared of him.

"Narendra Modi is scared of me. He is scared of anyone who stands in his way confidently"

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has refused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's offer to install a grand metal statue of 19th-century reformer Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar at the same spot where it was vandalised a day back.

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"I feel sad but I don't have anything to say, I am ready to go to jail for saying this. I am not scared to say the truth," Mamata Banerjee adds.

"Last night we came to know that BJP had filed a complaint with EC so that we can't hold any meeting after Modi's meeting. Earlier it was an impartial body; now everyone in the country says EC has been sold out to BJP," Mamata Banerjee says.

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has posted a photograph in which he is seen sharing a meal on an aircraft with a man who looks like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The BJP has filed a fresh complaint with the Election Commission over clashes with TMC in Kolkata, Union minister Prakash Javadekar informs the media.

PM Modi in Chandauli: "The Mahagathbandhan is already battered after SP-BSP started sensing defeat. The alliance was holding each other's hands in Bengaluru. But as soon as the topic of the prime ministerial candidate emerged, everyone forgot about the alliance."

PM Modi adds, "Those with eight seats, ten seats, 20-22 seats, 30-35 seats are dreaming of becoming the prime minister, but the country is saying -- phir eik baar, Modi sarkaar."

"I am going to West Bengal for a rally in Dum Dum. Let us see if [Mamata] Didi allows it. If she has her way, she will not allow helicopter to land," PM Modi says, in Chandauli.

PM Modi is currently addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi tells reporters: "Soon after I heard about the incident (Alwar gang rape matter) I spoke to [Rajasthan Chief Minister] Ashok Gehlot Ji. This is not a political issue for me. I met the victim's family and they have sought justice which will be done. Action will be taken against the culprits."

PM Modi has promised that a bust of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar would be constructed at the Kolkata college, where earlier yesterday a statue, of mud and mortar, was vandalised.

PM Modi has dared West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from Uttar Pradesh's Mau.

"Didi ka ravaiya toh main bahot dinon se dekh raha hoon. Abb sab bhi dekh rahe hain," he says, adding he will visit Bengal next.

This is happening a day after a war of words broke between the BJP and the TMC over the desecration of Vidyasagar bust.

Meanwhile, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is addressing the media in Alwar, Rajasthan.

PM Modi says, "The SP-BSP thinks a few castes are their slaves and they will do whatever is asked of them."

PM Modi is cuurently addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Mau.

Congress leader P Chidambaram tweets, "After 6 phases of polling, it is absolutely clear that the next government will be formed by non-BJP parties including the Congress."

"The BJP is proving time and again that it has contempt for regional identities, history, culture and aspirations. People will give a fitting answer," he adds.

The Election Commission of India has reportedly asked Twitter to remove all tweets related to exit polls.

The EC's move came after it received certain "complaint", sources aware of the development said on Thursday, adding that the user later removed the tweet.

The sources, however, did not specify the complaint. "There is no such general order issued by ECI today. Only one case was reported to us today which the user himself removed," a senior functionary said.

Mayawati adds, "It is clear that PM Modi, Amit Shah and their leaders are targetting Mamata Banerjee. It is nothing but planned targetting. This is a very dangerous and unjust trend and one which doesn't suit the prime minister of the country."

"The Election Commission of India has banned campaigning in West Bengal, but from 10 pm today. This is just because the prime minister has two rallies in the day. If they had to ban then why not from today morning? This is unfair and the ECI is acting under pressure," Mayawati is quoted as saying, by news agency.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi will hold a mega road show in Patna Sahib constituency in favour of party candidate Shatrughan Sinha.

BJP chief Amit Shah is scheduled to hold a roadshow in Gorakhpur. He, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and party candidate from Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat Ravi Kisan, will address the gathering. 

PM Modi will also hold a rally in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi, where he is contesting from, goes to polls on May 19 -- last and final phase of the election.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday address an election rally in West Bengal, a day after a war of words broke out between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the desecration of the bust of 19th-century reformer Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar.