Lok Sabha Elections 2019, April 9: As it Happened

"Strongly condemn the Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh. My tributes to the security personnel who were martyred. The sacrifices of these martyrs will not go in vain."

"Shri Bhima Mandavi was a dedicated Karyakarta of the BJP. Diligent and courageous, he assiduously served the people of Chhattisgarh. His demise is deeply anguishing. Condolences to his family and supporters. Om Shanti."

Dibrugarh: Preparations underway for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 . 5 Lok Sabha constituency of Assam- Tezpur, Kaliabor, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur, are going to polls on April 11

Only vision and agenda of Congress is "Modi Hatao" (remove modi), says PM at Mysuru rally. 

Union Minister&BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan in Bhubaneswar: They don't have budget allocated for KALIA Scheme, the list of beneficiaries has names of relatives of ministers. Where are the names of the farmers? This is the reason the Election Commission has stopped the scheme

BJP convoy has been reportedly attacked by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada. The violence-affected region comes under Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, which is going to polls on April 11. The campaigning for the polls ended a few minutes ago. 

According to news agency ANI, BJP Dantewada MLA Bheema Mandavi was also in the convoy. India TV sources say at least five jawans have been injured in the attack. 

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar: I came here to see the Chief Electoral Officer about a strong complaint of the election office stopping our govt's KALIA Scheme for the farmers. This is most unfortunate as they haven't stopped the agricultural scheme of the central govt.

PM Modi in Mysuru, Karnataka: It's our resolution that in 2030, India will be in top three economies of the world. Our resolution is to develop the new infrastructure of new India. Our resolution is to double the numbers of functional airport in next 5 years

Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Gaya, Bihar: Humlog 'NYAY yojana' ka paisa daalkar "Make in Gaya, Make in Bihar" karke dikhayenge. Make in Bihar, Make in Rajasthan, Make in UP, Make in Kerala, Make in Karnataka, sabko jodkar "Make in India" banta hai Modi Ji.

Kerala Congress (M) chairman and former Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani passes away in Ernakulam. More details awaited

Union Minister and Nagpur LS candidate Nitin Gadkari: I am 100% confident of winning, infact I feel the margin will be even bigger this time.

The campaigning for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019 has ended as the political parties made a last-ditch effort to woo voters in 91 seats spread over 20 states and union territories. The polling process for the general elections to biggest democracy in the world will begin from Thursday, April 11. The first phase involves all the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies of Andhra Pradesh, and 17 from Telangana. The others states and union territories going to the polls in this round are: Arunachal Pradesh (2), Assam (5), Bihar (4), Chattishgarh (1), Jammu and Kashmir (2), Maharashtra (7), Manpur (1), Meghalaya (2), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Odisha (4), Sikkim (1), Tripura (1), Uttar Pradesh (8), Uttarakhand (5), West Bengal (2), Andaman and Nicobar (1) and Lakshadweep (1).

Election Commission announces May 19 as date for assembly by-elections for- Panaji(Goa), Sulur,Aravakurichi,Thiruparankundram,Ottapidaram in Tamil Nadu and Kundgol in Karnataka. Counting on May 23

West Bengal: Election Commission of India has transferred Abhishek Gupta from the post of Superintendent of Police of Cooch Behar and has posted Amit Kumar Singh in his place

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a passionate appeal to the millennial generation exhorting them to select the nation above everything else while exercising their first-ever vote in the 2019 elections. Addressing a rally at Ausa in this Marathwada district, Modi said: "This is the opportunity to repay it... I ask you, will you ensure that your first vote will be for the Pulwama martyrs, for the poor to get homes, water or the farmers and health for all countrymen? You must only vote for the country and for a strong government."

Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy: Modi wakes up every morning, applies makeup or wax to get a shine on his face and sits in front of cameras. But we take bath once in the morning and wash our face only the next day. Our faces don’t look good on cameras. That’s why even media shows only Modi

If they have faith in 'Ali', then we have faith in 'Bajrangbali': Aditynath tells poll rally 

Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath on ongoing Income Tax raids: They are doing this as they know they are going to lose elections and these are the only tactics left. Mujhe koi chinta nahi hai, mujhe koi daba nahi sakta.

Defence Minister and BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman: In 1994, there was a unanimous resolution in Parliament saying that J&K inclusive of parts which are in occupation under Pakistan are integral part of India. We have to look at ways in which integration of J&K happens effectively and for which discussions are welcome

Rajinikanth in Chennai: I have been advocating the project of interlinking of rivers since the time AB Vajpayee was the PM, he had accepted my idea. BJP in their 2019 manifesto has promised to undertake the project. People will be happier if this is done. 

"We attacked terror in Pakistan, but some people in India felt the pain. The chief minister here went a step further. He did not want to talk about the valour of the forces. I want to ask him now if his vote bank is Pakistan," PM Modi attacks Opposition.

He adds, "When the world stood with India after Balakot air strike, those in 'Mahamilavat' condemned Modi."

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot has filed his nomination from the Jodhpur Lok Sabha seat and exuded confidence that he will win his first election.

After filing his nomination papers, Vaibhav Gehlot said he has received a huge response from the public.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "baptized in politics through violence and riots", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said today, as she claimed that Adolf Hitler would have committed suicide if he witnessed Modi's activities.

Addressing a rally in West Bengal's Raiganj, Banerjee said that the grand old party has failed to put up a strong fight against the BJP, leading to the growth of the saffron party.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi if he was "scared" of debating with him on corruption and suggested that they could go "open book" for it.

Gandhi has been repeatedly daring Modi to debate with him on issues of national security, especially the Rafale fighter jets deal, asserting that when it happens, the truth will be out in the open.

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi today said mob lynchings were a legacy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said Modi would be remembered in Indian history for mob lynching as the highest number of incidents occurred during his tenure.

"These incidents will haunt Modi forever because as the Prime Minister he could not stop them," the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief said.

The Election Commission is to meet the Revenue Secretary AB Pandey and the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Chairman PC Mody today to discuss the ongoing income tax raids in several states, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Talking exclusively to ANI, Union Home Minister responded to a question of appointing a separate prime minister for Jammu and Kashmir. "There cannot be two prime ministers in the country," Singh said.

His comments came a week after former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah pitched for the revival of the posts of president and prime minister in Jammu and Kashmir.

Former JNU students' union leader Kanhaiya Kumar has filed his nomination as Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate from Begusarai constituency in Bihar. 

Speaking exclusively to news agency ANI, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said Kashmir will never be separated from India. His comments came in the backdrop of Farooq Abdullah’s statement ‘If Article 370 is removed then its possible Kashmir will secede from India’.

On the same remark by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Singh said, "This is frustration, nothing else. She can say anything, but we will do what we have decided."

The home minister further commented on Omar Abdullah’s statement ‘Will restore Wazir-e-Azam, Sadr-e-Riyasat posts in Kashmir if article 370 and 35A removed' and said, "We made it clear in our manifesto that if we come to power again then Article 35A will be abrogated. No question of two presidents and prime ministers in India."

In an exclusive interview to news agency ANI, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh responded to Rahul Gandhi's tweet that criticised the poll manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party. 

"I don’t think in India’s political history so many people were involved in the making of a manifesto, so what he is saying is baseless, he keeps saying such things, don’t take it seriously," the home minister said. 

Polling parties in Uttarakhand's Dehradun have departed for their respective polling stations in Tehri Garhwal parliamentary constituency. The 5 Lok Sabha constituencies of the state are set to undergo polling in the first phase Lok Sabha elections on April 11. 

Commenting on the IAF airstrike in Balakot, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in an exclusive interview to news agency ANI, has said India conducted action on the Pakistan-based terror camp with utmost caution and responsibility to ensure only terrorists were impacted and no civilians were harmed. 

"Indian Air Force only attacked the terrorists camps, we made sure that there should be no attack on Pakistan's sovereignty and integrity," the home minister said.

The Income Tax and the Enforcement Directorate are autonomous bodies that react on their own inputs, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in an exclusive interview to news agency ANI.

Singh's statement came as he refuted the allegations of a political vendetta behind the raids being conducted at the residences of Opposition leaders and their aides. 

"It is unfair to hold the government responsible for this. The agencies are conducting raids based on their inputs, the model code of conduct does not apply to them," the home minister said.

In an exclusive interview released by news agency ANI, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the Bharatiya Janata Party never promised of transferring Rs 15 lakh into the accounts of the people. 

His statement comes at a time when the Opposition has been accusing the ruling BJP of making false promises to woo the voters. 

Commenting on the upcoming general elections, Amit Shah, at a public rally in Telangana said, "I have travelled across India and I see huge support for Modi ji. The people of India have decided to make Modi ji PM again."

BJP President Amit Shah is currently addressing a public rally in Telangana's Ranga Reddy, where he said Congress and KCR party both are dynastic parties. It's quite clear who is going to head KCR's party after him, Shah said.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi is currently in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor, where she is campaigning for party candidate Indira Bhati. Indira is the daughter of former Deputy Chief Minister Babu Narayan Singh and sister of former MP Sanjay Chauhan. 

Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that on one hand, the Congress has become a "Benami Sampati" and on the other, the house of the party leaders have become "ATMs of black money", from where huge quantity of black money is being recovered every day.

The Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party (SP-BSP) alliance has announced Arun Shankar Shukla, alias Anna Maharaj, as its candidate from the Unnao Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh.

Anna has replaced former MLA Pooja Pal whose ticket was cancelled because of some "technical problem" in her documents. Anna had twice contested elections from Unnao. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Sakshi Maharaj had defeated him. 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath today commented on the Income Tax raids being conducted at the residence of his aide Praveen Kakkad and termed the development as 'political'. 

The political move is not going to be successful, he said. 

Unaccounted cash, illicit liquor and other items worth over Rs 5 crore have been seized in Chhattisgarh in the run-up to the 2019 general elections. The police and income tax officials have been keeping a close watch on any illegal movement of liquor, cash and other items meant to influence the polls and seized them. 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has filed his nomination for by-election to the Chhindwara assembly seat. His son Nakul Nath has also filed his nomination for 2019 general elections to the Chhindwara parliamentary constituency.

Launching an attack on manifestos released by the Opposition and alliances, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during an election rally in Latur said their manifesto is only limited till May 23 (the vote counting day). 

The Sankalp Patra of the Bharatiya Janata Party is going to be valid for the next 5 years, Modi said. The Congress manifesto echoes the language spoken by Pakistan, the prime minister said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the Bharatiya Janata Party's election manifesto, while he addressed an election rally in Maharashtra's Latur today. Our Sankalp Patra is our effort to keep our vision before the nation, Modi said. 

The prime minister further said the BJP manifesto has been prepared in the view of challenges being faced by the people of the country. We, however, are not limited to ambitions stated in the manifesto, the surgical strike was not a subject in the last manifesto.

The small pension received by the farmers after 60 years will act as a bigger support for them. Congress and their supporters were never able to understand the ordeal of the farmers: PM Modi launches an attack on the Rahul Gandhi-led party during election rally in Latur. 

The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a counter affidavit opposing the bail application of Lalu Prasad Yadav in fodder scam case. CBI, in its counter affidavit, stated that Lalu sought for bail in the garb of political activities during the elections, which should not be granted. 

"Those who are demanding a separate prime minister for the state of Jammu and Kashmir are the ones that demand the faith of the people. Can we lay our trust in them?" asks PM Modi during an election rally in Maharashtra's Latur. 

I have come to know that you are sitting here since 9.30 AM. You are sitting here in this extreme heat. I won't let your 'tapasya' go in vain. I will return this to you with interest: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said as he is currently addressing a public meeting in Maharashtra's Latur. 

The security of the country suffered for decades because of the Congress and its strategies, the prime minister said. 

Three local MNS activists have been booked for allegedly beating a BJP worker in Thane district of Maharashtra, over a post forwarded by him on WhatsApp which they found offending.

According to the complaint filed by the BJP activist Pradeep Rane, on Sunday he received a post on WhatsApp about the MNS along with a picture of its party chief Raj Thackeray.​Rane forwarded the post to some other people. Later, three MNS workers also saw the post and felt offended following which they thrashed Rane.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's recent tweet drawing a sharp comparison between the poll manifestos of BJP and of the Congress, Union Minister Smriti Irani has said Gandhi has a special obsession with BJP. The nation would have come to know his vision for it had he been focussed on the country, she said. 

Irani further said despite having a vision, there is a question mark on Rahul Gandhi's efficiency as nations knows Amethi's condition

On one hand there's an efficient government which has taken resolution to build a New India, on the other, there's a man who stays restricted to making announcements, Smriti Irani said. 

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has released a list of 5 candidates for the 2019 general elections. Earlier in March, BSP supremo Mayawati had discussed names of party candidates and other important electoral and political issues during a meeting with important district and divisional level leaders in Uttar Pradesh. 

BJP President Amit Shah is all set to address election rallies in Telangana and Nagpur today. Shah will also hold a roadshow in Odisha's Puri.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi has launched an attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party manifesto, which was released on Monday. Taking to social media, Gandhi has drawn comparison between the manifestos of BJP and Congress.

"The Congress manifesto was created through discussion. The voice of over a million Indian people it is wise and powerful. The BJP Manifesto was created in a closed room. The voice of an isolated man, it is short sighted and arrogant," Congress President Rahul Gandhi has written in a tweet. 

Union Minister Smriti Irani will meet public representatives in Amethi today. She will be filing her nomination from Amethi Lok Sabha constituency on April 11. Irani was to file her nomination on April 17, which has now been pre-poned to April 11 due to a holiday.

The Union Minister will be accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, BJP in-charge for Amethi Mohsin Raza, state minister and MLA Jagdishpur Suresh Pasi, besides others, at the time of filing her nomination.

In a push to the election campaigning ahead of the 2019 general elections, Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address election rallies in Assam and Bihar today.

After big rallies of top national leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, the campaigning for the five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand in the first phase of the 2019 general elections comes to an end today evening. 

The campaigning on the penultimate day on Monday was affected when rains lashed many parts of the state. However, Met Director Vikaram Singh expressed hope that the weather will be clear from Tuesday onward till April 11, when the election will be held.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi will hold a roadshow in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur today. Her roadshow, which was earlier scheduled for Monday, was cancelled due to bad weather conditions in the state. 

Priyanka, along with brother and party president Rahul Gandhi on Monday was slated to address a gathering at the Gandhi Park in Saharanpur to seek support for Congress candidate Imran Masood, who has been fielded from the Saharanpur Lok Sabha seat.

The Congress party has announced cricketer-turned-politician Kirti Azad as it candidate from Jharkhand's Dhanbad Lok Sabha seat. The party also fielded Kalicharan Munda from Khunti in the state. Azad, who represents Darbhanga in Bihar in the outgoing Lok Sabha, had joined the Congress in February.

The bickerings of nearly four years behind them, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray will share the dais - for the first time in 28 months - at an election rally in Ausa here on Tuesday.

The last time they came together was for performing the 'jal pooja' for the proposed grand memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, in the Arabian Sea, off Chowpatty in Mumbai.

Non Cognizable Offence Information Report has been registered against sitting Bharatiya Janata Party MP from UP's Unnao, Sakshi Maharaj, for allegedly violating the model code of conduct.

Madhya Pradesh BJP chief and candidate from Jabalpur parliamentary constituency, Rakesh Singh, has been issued a show-cause notice for allegedly violating the model code of conduct. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to address election rallies across 3 states - Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu today. The prime minister is set to address rallies in Latur, Chitradurga, Mysuru and Coimbatore through the NaMo app. 

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