Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP moves EC after Yathindra Siddaramaiah targets party with 'frivolous' statement

BJP's Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, BB Patil, Seetaram Naik and Congress nominee Athram Suguna were among many candidates who submitted their nominations in Telangana for the Lok Sabha polls. Union Minister Piyush Goyal accompanied Vishweshwar Reddy when he filed the nomination as BJP nominee from Chevella. Goyal expressed confidence that BJP candidates would be hugely successful in Telangana.

The state unit of BJP on Monday sought stringent action against former MLA and Karnataka Chief Minister's son Yathindra Siddaramaiah for his alleged inflammatory statement and urged to restrain him from making public speeches. In a letter to the Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer, the BJP stated that Yathindra has made an "unverified, false and frivolous" statement and created hatred between religions in an attempt to make the general public turn hostile against the saffron party.

The BJP on Monday alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is making a false claim about the rise in poverty in the country and urged the Election Commission to take “strict action” against him. Lodging a complaint with the poll panel, the BJP also accused Gandhi of continuing to create a North-South divide in the country on the basis of language and region to vitiate the poll atmosphere. A BJP delegation comprising its national general secretary Tarun Chugh and party's national media department in-charge Anil Baluni approached the EC, accusing Gandhi of running a false propaganda against the BJP amid the Lok Sabha elections.

Congress on Monday announced a list of 7 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. The party announced 5 candidates for Bihar, while two for Punjab. 

The Communist Party of India's Bihar unit has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission regarding an alleged hate speech by senior BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh. The Union Minister had reportedly said that he wouldn't seek votes from "pro-Pakistani anti-nationals" and those who "have problem with nationalism" during campaigning in Begusarai on April 19. Terming Giriraj Singh's remark as hate speech and violation of election Model Code of Conduct, senior CPI leader and party's former Lok Sabha MP Shatrughan Prasad Singh wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner on Sunday and demanded immediate action against the Union Minister.

The BJP alleged on Monday that the opposition has resorted to blatant appeasement politics, anti-Hindu agenda and joining hands with anti-India forces in desperation, as it is becoming clear that the ruling NDA will reach its target of winning over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. Its spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia cited the murder of Neha Hiremath (23), daughter of Congress councillor Niranjan Hiremath in Karnataka, and claimed that the state government is not taking appropriate action due to the religion of the accused.

The Samajwadi Party on Monday declared Tej Pratap Singh Yadav as its candidate from Uttar Pradesh's Kannauj parliamentary seat. READ MORE...

Congress on Monday released a list of 38 candidates for the Assembly Elections in Andhra Pradesh. 

Chairman of Democratic Progressive Azad Party Ghulam Nabi Azad has approved the candidature of Amir Bhatt, District President of Srinagar, as the party's candidate for the Srinagar Parliament seat.

BJP National Spokesperson CR Kesvan held a scathing attack on Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. He said, "Shashi Tharoor has been an MP for 15 years, and he probably has the biggest record of non-performance. He is like a silk umbrella. It looks nice, but it can't protect you. 37 percent of undergraduate seats in Thiruvananthapuram are empty. 40 percent of students are migrating. They don't want to study in Kerala," says BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan."

Given the prevailing heatwave situation reported across multiple locations in the country, the Election Commission held a meeting with different stakeholders this morning and discussed measures to mitigate the risk due to heat waves.

Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai participated in a poll campaigning event for sitting MP & BJP candidate from Bengaluru South constituency Tejasvi Surya. He said, "I came here to seek votes for our brother Tejasvi Surya, he is a wonderful candidate. In these ten years, PM Modi's government has given good schemes for Bengaluru...I request you all to vote for Tejasvi Surya."

Ahead of the second phase of voting, Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot conducted a door-to-door campaign supporting his son and Congress candidate from Jalore-Sirohi Vaibhav Gehlot.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that the BJP will going to retain power in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. He said, "People of the country are showing massive support to PM Modi. It is a clear indication that BJP is going to come back to power with a majority in the Lok Sabha Polls 2024."

Ahead of the second phase of the polling, BJP leader and party's candidate from Meerut Lok Sabha constituency, Arun Govil, assures confidence in winning over the Meerut seat. He said, "The BJP will win this seat... There is a brand value to PM Modi, which he has proven. This election is for 'Viksit Bharat'. BJP has a very good track record."

Ahead of the second phase of voting, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will address a public meeting in Bastar's Kanker constituency on Monday, said BJP state media co-incharge Anurag Agrawal.

Security beefed up ahead of re-polling at 11 polling stations in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituencies today. The repolling has been ordered after several incidents of violence including firing, intimidation, destruction of EVMs at some polling booths and allegations of booth capturing were reported.