Lok Sabha Election 2024 Highlights: AIADMK forges pre-poll deal with DMDK

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi removed 2,57,995 lakh posters, banners, hoardings and small boards from across 12 zones in line with the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha election The civic body removed 2,01,364 lakh political advertisements till Tuesday and 1,30,321 lakh advertisements till Monday.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami and DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth formed an alliance for the Lok Sabha elections.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Wednesday released a candidate list in which it fielded a candidate against ally Apna Dal-K in Mirzapur and changed its Noida nominee.

The fresh list includes:

• Gautam Buddha Nagar-Rahul Awana
• Sambhal-Ziaur Rahman Barq
• Baghpat-Manoj Chaudhary
• Pilibhit-Bhagwat Saran Gangwar
• Ghosi-Rajeev Rai
• Mirzapur-Rajendra S Bind

The Election Commission on Wednesday directed action against Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje for her 'Tamilians' remark.

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini on Lok Sabha elections | "Today a meeting was held regarding the management and every point was discussed in it. We have to win 10 out of 10 Lok Sabha seats... There has been an intense discussion among various heads so that we can win 10 out of 10 Lok Sabha seats from here with a big mandate and make PM Narendra Modi the Prime Minister of this country for the third time..."

On BJP leader Anil Vij, CM says, "No one is upset, He is our senior leader and we get his guidance. I will meet him."

Former Jammu and Kashmir Minister Choudhary Lal Singh, who joined the Congress party on Wednesday, spoke on Article 370 and said, "I will show the roadmap...Article 370 is in the Constitution of India. It is given by the Indian Constitution...."

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Rahul Gandhi's 'Shakti' remark | "100%. I read out the exact thing of what he said and then we went and made a detailed presentation... He insulted the religious sentiments of a lot of people. He insulted 'Nari Shakti'..."

Lal Singh, former minister of Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday joined the Congress Party ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024, in Delhi.

I.N.D.I.A bloc member Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) will be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from three seats in UP. The party will contest from Phoolpur, Mirzapur and Kaushambi.

Pappu Yadav on Wednesday merged his Jan Adhikar Party with Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Kannada actor Shiva Rajkumar on Wednesday started campaign for Lok Sabha elections with his wife and Congress candidate Geetha Shiva Rajkumar from Karehally village in Bhadravathi, Shivamogga.

Pappu Yadav, former Bihar MP, will join Congress today (March 20) ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

As the Lok Sabha elections approach, former CM of Karnataka Jagadish Shettar said, "I am very much confident that I am getting a ticket of the Belagavi Parliamentary constituency, it's very much certain. The final decision has to be taken by the Parliamentary Board and Election Committee of the National BJP. The meeting will be held in one or two days and then the final decision will be taken."

As the first of the seven-phase 2024 Lok Sabha elections went underway on Wednesday with the Election Commission issuing notification to begin the nomination process, here is a look at how the political parties fared in the 2019 parliamentary polls in the key state of Uttar Pradesh. In a state that sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha, the BJP bagged 62 seats and its ally Apna Dal got two in the last general elections. The Congress managed just one seat, with Sonia Gandhi retaining Raebareli. The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party had forged an alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) supporting them. But they did not fare well. BSP got 10 seats, the SP five while the RLD drew a blank. Like this time, the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 too were held in seven phases with voting in Uttar Pradesh held in all phases.

Former Chief Minister and BJP Central Election Committee Member B.S. Yediyurappa on Wednesday said that the BJP will announce the list for five constituencies of Karnataka on March 22. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Yediyurappa said that BJP will win all 28 seats in alliance with JD-S and the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda is in touch with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

“Once the list is announced, I will start a state-wide tour,” he said. A detailed discussion was held for five posts with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda. The final discussion will be held with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and an announcement will be made, he said. On rebel BJP leaders who have been denied tickets, Yediyurappa said that he will speak to the rebel leaders and pacify them. “The victory has to be achieved with their support,” he said.

“I have spoken personally with sitting BJP MP Sanganna Karadi four to five times. He is a loyal senior party leader. I am hopeful that being a senior leader he will never take any decision against the party,” he said.

Senior BJP leader and former MLA from Madhupur seat, Raj Paliwal will join Congress and can contest polls from the Gonda seat. He will give competition to Nishikant Dubey, on the other hand, BJP's MLA from Mandu, GP Patel will also join Congress and contest from Hazaribagh. 

Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK, a key constituent of the INDIA bloc in its manifesto released on Wednesday promised to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 if the opposition alliance wins the LS polls. Disbanding the current NITI Aayog, set up by the BJP regime and establishing again the Planning Commission to draft plans based on the requests of state governments is another assurance the DMK has made.

RJD parliamentary party meeting at Rabri Devi's residence. The meeting is being held regarding the candidates for the Lok Sabha elections.

(With inputs from Nitish Chandra) 

After rejoining the BJP, Tamilisai Soundararajan said, "I want to contest elections and I have expressed my wish to my party too. I am happy to get back the membership card which I have. It's the happiest day. It's a tough decision and a happy decision too. There were many facilities to me as Governor but I left it. I don't regret it even one per cent. Lotus will blossom in Tamil Nadu for sure."

On the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,  AAP MP Sandeep Pathak said, "Broadly our candidates have been announced. Our campaigns have almost begun everywhere. In Delhi, the door-to-door campaign has kicked off. Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana- everywhere, our campaigns are on."

 Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, BJP MLA from Jharkhand Jai Prakash Bhai Patel joined the Congress on Wednesday and vowed to strengthen the INDIA bloc. Patel joined the Congress at the party headquarters in the presence of AICC in-charge of Jharkhand Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Jharkhand Congress chief Rajesh Thakur, Jharkhand minister Alamgir Alam and party's media and publicity department head Pawan Khera. Patel is an MLA from the Mandu assembly constituency that falls under the Hazaribagh Lok Sabha segment. Earlier he had been an MLA of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

The opposition AIADMK in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday named the first set of 16 candidates for the April 19 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu. In the list released by party General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, the AIADMK has nominated former MP J Jayavardhan and ex-MLA, Dr P Saravanan.

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan said, "After the meeting of central Parliamentary Board (of the party), we will leave for Bihar. Several proposals need to be essentially passed, and several important decisions have to be made. The meeting has been called keeping all of this in mind."

When asked about the list of candidates of his party, he said, "I think it will happen very soon. Nominations are being filed for the first phase of elections."

When asked about Pashupati Kumar Paras' statement of contesting from Hajipur, he said, "There is no problem at all. I have never been scared of challenges. I have always faced the challenges bravely. That is why I stand here today. Circumstances had attempted to finish me. But I am ready for every challenge."

The ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu released the list of candidates for 21 seats for the April 19 Lok Sabha polls, retaining among other sitting MPs, Kanimozhi, TR Baalu and A Raja. It has allotted the rest 18 seats to its allies--Congress, Left parties and VCK among others. The party also released its manifesto for the polls, touching upon other subjects like appointment of Governors and abolition of Article 356. Of the 21 names the ruling party fielded, 11 were new faces, even as three women, including sitting South Chennai MP Tamizhachi Thangapandian were named. Dayanidhi Maran, S Jagathrakshakan, Kalanidhi Veerasamy, Kathir Anand and C N Annadurai were also retained. In its manifesto, the party, among others, promised to take steps for states being consulted on appointment of Governors, abolition of Article 356 that allowed the Centre to dismiss a state government and statehood for Puducherry.

Bansuri Swaraj, the youngest BJP Lok Sabha candidate in Delhi, said the Aam Aadmi Party-Congress alliance is based on "self-interest" and will not impact the prospects of her party which will retain all seven parliamentary seats in the city. The daughter of the late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, said the slogan "Abki Baar 400 Paar (This time, 400-plus seats)" is not just a catchphrase but a resolve that will be translated into reality with the help of dedicated BJP workers and the support of the people.

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) holds a parliamentary party meeting under the leadership of Chirag Paswan in Delhi to chalk out strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

1. Sheohar - Lovely Anand
2. Sitamarhi - Devesh Chandra Thakur
3. Valmikinagar-Sunil Mahato
4. Supaul- Dileshwar Kamait
5. Madhepura-Dinesh Chandra Yadav
6. Jehanabad-Chandeshwar Chandravanshi
7. Siwan-Ramesh Kushwaha
8. Gopalganj-Alok Suman
9. Purnia- Santosh Kushwaha
10. Kishanganj -Master Mujahid Alam
11. Katihar -Dulalchand Goswami
12. Munger-Lalan Singh
13. Banka-Girdhari Yadav
14. Bhagalpur-Ajay Mandal
15. Nalanda -Kaushalendra Kumar
16. Jhanjharpur-Rampreet Mandal

(With inputs from Nitish Chandra) 

On party's manifesto release and seat announcement, DMK MP Kanimozhi, said, "The main focus was on what the Union Government can do and we tried to reach all the sectors. To have a good and a stable government, I think the numbers will be adequate."

The notification for the first phase of polls to the five Lok Sabha seats in Assam on April 19 was issued on Wednesday, an election office official said. Elections to the 14 Sabha constituencies in Assam will be held in the first three phases on April 19, 26 and May 7. In the first phase, Kaziranga, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur will go to the polls on April 19. Five constituencies each will go to the polls in the first and second phases while in the third, polling will be held in four seats.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Arunachal Pradesh unit has announced the second list of nine candidates for the April 19 Assembly election in the state. With the announcement of nine names of candidates on Tuesday, the party so far has fielded 17 candidates in the 60-member Assembly. Earlier on March 11, the party had announced the first list of eight candidates The candidates in the second list include, Toko Tatung from Yachuli constituency, Tahan Mibang (Rumgong), Kabang Taron (Tuting-Yingkiong), Tapi Gao (Pasighat West), Likha Soni (Lekang), Nikh Kamin (Bordumsa-Diyun), Yangsen Matey (Khonsa West), Jowang Hosai (Borduria-Bogapani) and Holai Wangsa from Pongchau-Wakka constituency respectively. Earlier, the party had announced the names of eight candidates including, the party's state unit president Likha Saaya from Namsai constituency, former minister Tapang Taloh from Pangin-Boleng constituency. NCP's manifesto is to bring prosperity for the people of the state, to provide respect and indigenous identity and to provide the best education system, said the party's coordinator cum observer North East states, Sanjay Prajapati.

Police check vehicles in TDP leader Nara Lokesh's convoy at Undavalli, Vijayawada as Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is imposed following the announcement of simultaneous Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha elections on May 13 in Andhra Pradesh.

On his meeting with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and party leader Tejashwi Yadav, Jan Adhikar Party chief Pappu Yadav said, "Lalu Yadav and I don't have political relations, it is completely an emotional tie. Yesterday, all of us sat down together. Our effort is to stop the BJP in Seemanchal and Mithilanchal at any cost. Tejashwi Yadav worked for 17 months and built trust, Rahul Gandhi won hearts and gave hope to people...Together, we will win not just the 2024 (Lok Sabha Elections) but also 2025 (Bihar Assembly Elections). Purnea doesn't matter, what matters is to stop the BJP and protect the identity & ideology of the weaker sections. We will fight together, together with the Congress leadership. The one who won the heart of this country, will be the PM of this country."

Gearing up for the 2024 elections, Nationalist Congress party working President Supriya Sule during an election campaign on Tuesday travelled in the railway train and interacted with passengers. The Baramati Lok Sabha MP travelled in the Pune Daund Demu Local train between Yavat and Daund Taluka. During her commute, she heard the concerns of the people and engaged in discussions with them. Finding innovative ways to interact with the voters, the Baramati MP, earlier this month, participated in a badminton game with the youth in Baramati as part of her election campaign ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections.

DMK candidates list to come out today (March 20). Kanimozhi and A Raja are likely to retain their seats. 

People above 85 years will now have the option to cast their votes from the comfort of their homes, Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan said on Tuesday. Giving details about the vote count, he said, "Overall voter count in Madhya Pradesh stands at 5, 64,76,110, including 2.90 crores males and 2.74 crores females." "The number of new voters in the 18 to 19 age group stood at 16,49,641 while the state has 2,89,503 voters above 85+ years. The work of adding the names in the voter list will continue till 10 days before the filing of the nomination", he added. Earlier, in a first the Election Commission announced 'vote-from-home' facilities for citizens above 85 years and persons with disabilities for the Lok Sabha elections. The commission said that voters above 85 years of age and persons with disabilities with a 40 per cent benchmark disability can vote from home. The commission said that at polling stations volunteers and wheelchairs will be deployed and transport facilities for persons with disabilities and the elderly will be arranged.

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) to hold a parliamentary party Meeting under the leadership of Chirag Paswan in Delhi to chalk out strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Around 7,000 central forces personnel reached Tripura for deployment during polls for security. Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will be held on April 19, and in Andhra Pradesh on May 13. Elections to Odisha assembly will be held in four phases on May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. ​

Jan Adhikar Party chief Pappu Yadav arrived at the residence of former Bihar CM Rabri Devi to meet RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and party leader Tejashwi Yadav, late last night.

The Election Commission of India today issued the notification for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 to be conducted on April 19.In the notification, the ECI informed that March 28 will be the last date for filing nominations for Bihar and March 27 for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. "March 30 will be the date for scrutiny of nominations for Bihar and March 28 for others," the notification said.According to the ECI's notification, April 2 will be the last date for withdrawal of candidatures for Bihar and March 30 for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep and Puducherry;"June 6, the date before which the election shall be completed in all the above-mentioned parliamentary constituencies," the notification read.

The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, Azad-led Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) open to talks with like-minded parties for an alliance. 

Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer Dr BVRC Purushottam said, "It is good that election and festive seasons are going on simultaneously. We are urging all political parties to not do any kind of religious campaigning. Newspaper or TV ads can be given only after they are passed by the Media Monitoring Certification Committee. If a private person puts up a particular party's or candidate's flag on his house, they will be booked. So, the guidelines are clear and we have made everything clear to the political parties. Dehradun has always had a peaceful election process but it doesn't mean that we are not taking it seriously. We are taking it very seriously. We have around 11,700 booths. We have identified 1000-1200 of them as sensitive booths, we will have central paramilitary force and state PAC there. We will ensure peaceful elections there."

The elections to the 18th Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh began today with nominations for the first phase of the seven-phase polls in the state, the Election Commission said. Eight parliamentary constituencies in Uttar Pradesh- Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (Scheduled Caste), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit- will vote in the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls on April 19. According to the Election Commission, the notification for the polls will be issued on March 20, while March 27 is the last date for filing of nominations. The scrutiny of nominations will be done on March 28 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 30. The counting of votes will take place on June 4, the Election Commission added.

The nomination process for 102 parliamentary constituencies spread across 21 states and Union territories, where polling would be held in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 19, began on Wednesday with the issuance of a notification. According to the notification issued by the Election Commission on behalf of the President, the last date for filing nomination papers is March 27. However, due to a festival, March 28 is the last date for filing nominations for the Lok Sabha seats in Bihar going to polls in the first phase. Voting in four out of 40 seats in Bihar will be held in the first phase. Nomination papers will be scrutinised on March 28. For Bihar, it would be done on March 30. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is March 20 while for Bihar, it is April 2.