Election campaign for 9 Lok Sabha seats in UP ends, polling on April 11

Union minister Satya Pal Singh, a retired IPS officer who is seeking re-election from Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat Lok Sabha seat as a BJP candidate, has said he shed "khaki" to don "khadi" to work on real issues and not just to uproot dynastic politics. 

Satya Pal Singh, who is pitted against the RLD's Jayant Chaudhary in Baghpat, which has traditionally been a bastion of the Chaudhary family, is confident of retaining the seat that goes to polls on April 11.  Campaigning for first phase of polls ends at 5 PM today. 

Home Minister and BJP candidate from Lucknow, Rajnath Singh has said the talks of Nitin Gadkari becoming Prime Minister if BJP falls short of a majority is just "fictional idea." 

"Such talks are pure imagination. We will get a complete majority, in fact, two-thirds majority and hence the talks are just fictional. There's no truth behind it," Rajnath Singh said. 

Addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor, BSP chief Maywati blasted successive Congress governments and the current Modi government for failing to secure borders. Speaking in an election rally in Pradarshini Maidan in Bijnor, Mayawati said, "It is due to the porous border that we are seeing so many attacks on India. Congress and BJP should be blamed for this."

Mayawati also took on Rahul Gandhi's NYAY scheme saying, "Will poor be benefitted from Rs 6,000 monthly?" Mayawati said, poor in this country want respect. You can do that by defeating Yogi Adityanath and Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh. Mayawati has been camping in UP West for past many days. Nine Lok Sabha constituencies in the region are going to polls on April 11. Campaigning for these nine constituencies will end today at 5 PM. 

In a straight contest between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi for prime ministership, Modi would emerge winner by a long margin, an IANS-CVoter poll survey has revealed.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi in a tweet has challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to debate on issues related to corruption. This is what Rahul said in his tweet. 

Dear PM,

Scared of debating me on corruption? I can make it easier for you. 

Let’s go open book, so you can prepare:

1. RAFALE+Anil Ambani 
2. Nirav Modi 
3. Amit Shah+Demonetisation 

Meanwhile, here is a hilarious take on India's Mission Shakti and how it surprised one and all. 

Details of constituency-wise polling dates in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh: Lok Sabha elections in 7 phases, check details here

BJP workers in Bijnor tried to disrupt Priyanka Gandhi's roadshow in Bijnor today. Few supporters of the BJP started chanting Modi, Modi... Modi... and Vande Mataram when Priyanka Gandhi's cavalcade was passing by. Congress supporters in return shouted 'Chowkidar Chor Hai'. Police had to intervene as they removed BJP supporters after quite an effort. 

Mahagathbandhan candidate Anna Maharaj (actual name: Arun Kumar Shukla) will take on BJP's Sakshi Maharaj in Unnao Lok Sabha Constituency. Anna Maharaj filed his nomination papers from Unnao today. 

Nomination for Lok Sabha election 2019 in Amethi will begin tomorrow at 11 AM. Congress President, who has already filed his nomination papers in Wayanad, is likely to file his nomination from Amethi on Wednesday (April 10). Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi will reach Munshiganj tomorrow in a chopper at around 9.30 AM tomorrow. The three will leave for Gauriganj through road. Rahul Gandhi will reach Amethi at around 1 Pm to file his nomination papers as a Congress candidate. 

BJP's Smriti Irani is likely to file her nominations on April 11. Smriti will also perform pooja in Budhan Mandir at Gauriganj after which she would file her nominations. UP Chief Minister will accompany Smriti Irani during the nomination process. 

Meanwhile, here's an unmissable from the election campaign trail in Uttar Pradesh. 

What appeared to be a marriage procession surprised people when they found out that he was Sanyukt Vikas Party's Lok Sabha nominee Vaidh Raj Kishan.

Read the full story here

Thousands thronged the road to take a glimpse of Priyanka Gandhi who today hit the road in Bijnor. Congress has fielded former deputy chief minister Late Narayan Singh’s daughter Ms Indira Bhati from Bijnor Lok Sabha seat. 

State Industry Minister Shri Kant Sharma today sought support for BJP candidate Hema Malini in Mathura. Sharma appealed to voters to support Hema Malini and strengthen Narendra Modi’s hand.

A non-cognizable Offence Information Report was registered against sitting BJP MP from Unnao, Sakshi Maharaj for allegedly violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

In a direct attack against Rahul Gandhi, where he said that BJP’s manifesto was drawn in a closed room, Smriti Irani reminded Congress chief that despite being an MP for so long he was not able to bring Amethi up on the development map. 

“Despite having a vision, there’s a question mark on his efficiency.  The nation knows Amethi’s condition. On one hand, there's an efficient government [Modi government] which has taken a resolution to build a New India, on the other there's a man who stays restricted to making announcements,” Smriti Irani said. 

Hello and welcome to our Uttar Pradesh Live Blog. Campaign for Lok Sabha election 2019 in UP’s nine constituencies is going to end today at 5 PM. Polling in Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Meerut, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar will take place on April 11. BJP star campaigner and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, BSP supremo Mayawati, Congress in-charge of Uttar Pradesh (East) Priyanka Gandhi and other leaders are already in midst of a heated poll campaign and leaving no stone unturned to impress their voters. BJP’s Smriti Irani is also not far behind in launching an all-out attack against Rahul Gandhi.