Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP president JP Nadda holds roadshow in Puducherry

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, saying the PM is telling people who have tasted "appetisers" such as "record breaking" unemployment and "back-breaking" inflation that he will serve the "main course" in 2047. Gandhi's remarks were in reference to Modi's comments at rallies recently that the work he has done in the last 10 years is just an "appetiser" and the "main course" is yet to come. In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "Record-breaking unemployment, back-breaking inflation, farmers martyred due to debt burden and government repression, helpless laborers, tortured traders, the weakest rupee in history against the dollar and the world's biggest corruption 'electoral bond'!" "Narendra Modi is telling the people, who have tasted all these 'appetizers', that in 2047 he will serve 'main course'," the former Congress president said.

BJP national J P Nadda on Monday described the INDIA bloc as one that has "all corrupt political parties together." Speaking at the end of a roadshow organised by the BJP's Puducherry here, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had met the requirements of Puducherry in terms of development of infrastructure, road and rail connectivity. He said the Prime Minister was promoting politics of development and augmenting the welfare of the people.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Monday held a road show in the Alwar Lok Sabha constituency along with former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and other party leaders. The Congress leaders, including leader of opposition Tikaram Jully, party candidate Lalit Yadav, state in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and party general secretary Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, conducted the road show in an open vehicle. The road show began from Shaheed Smarak and concluded at Bhagat Singh Circle.

The Election Commission has found the statements by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor against BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a TV interview were unwarranted and violated the Model Code of Conduct and warned him against making "unverified allegations" in future. The "strict warning" from the Election Commission (EC) came on complaints by the BJP's Election Legal Convener and the NDA's Election Committee Convener who had alleged that Tharoor had made unsubstantiated accusations against Chandrasekhar in an interview.

The BJP has complained to the Election Commission (EC) against Ganesh Godiyal, the Congress candidate from Uttarakhand's Garhwal in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, accusing him of making "unverified and distorted" allegations against its candidate, Anil Baluni. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has cited Godiyal's allegation that the local excise department has overseen the supply of 9,000 crates of liquor to help the ruling party's candidate win the electoral contest. "Godiyal has not only questioned the integrity of the BJP candidate but also questioned the integrity of the police officials and government officials present during the investigation," the saffron party has said in its complaint.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said there was a detailed roadmap in the BJP manifesto, released a day ago, for every section of society in India. PM Modi, speaking at a public meeting at Kattakada in the Attingal Lok Sabha constituency, reached out to the coastal community in Kerala by promising to safeguard the coastline, protect their livelihoods and ensure a dignified life for them. The PM also questioned the credibility and trustworthiness of the LDF and Congress in Kerala, saying they fight each other in Thiruvananthapuram, but in Tirunelveli (in Tamil Nadu) they are allies.

Former BJD MP Prabhas Kumar Singh Monday joined the BJP days before the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, as he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and criticised the party led by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. There was no "dignity and self-respect" in the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), said Singh, who has represented Odisha's Bargarh seat in the past, after he was welcomed in the BJP by its national general secretary Tarun Chugh and other senior leaders.

RJD president Lalu Prasad slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "failure" to rein in BJP leaders who spoke of bringing in "a new Constitution" if the party won a two-third majority in Lok Sabha polls. In a hard-hitting statement, the ailing septuagenarian said the poor and depressed classes held dear the Constitution, framed by Dalit icon Baba Saheb Ambedkar, and those who cast a malevolent glance on it "will have their eyes gouged out". "The PM is actually scared. He is apprehensive of a defeat since he stands exposed before the nation. To cover up his fear he is boasting of 370 plus seats for the BJP", said the former Bihar chief minister.

Union Home Minister and BJP senior leader Amit Shah held a poll campaign for BJP candidate in the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat at Kumarghat in Unakoti district on Monday. Shah addressed a BJP rally in Unakoti.

The Election Commission of India’s (ECI) flying squad conducted a surprise inspection of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was en route from Mysore to Nilgiris for a campaign event when his helicopter came under scrutiny by the ECI’s flying squad. Upon landing in Nilgiris, officials promptly commenced the inspection of the aircraft.

"India is like a bouquet of flowers. Every flower has to be respected because every flower promotes the beauty of the bouquet," said Congress candidate from Kerala's Wayanad Rahul Gandhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public rally in Kerala's Palakkad district on Monday.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi held a roadshow in Kerala's Wayanad district on Monday.

"BJP is not just a political party but has become the symbol of the aspirations of the people. Desh ka jo ambition hai wo Modi ji ka mission hai, jo Modi ji ka vision hai wo hum sabka mission hai," Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on the BJP manifesto.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Monday addressed a press conference, a day after the BJP released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi left for Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu where he will attend poll campaign for his party.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election rally here on Monday, ahead of the April 19 Lok Sabha elections. Modi will seek votes for the party's candidates for Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari and Tenkasi at the meeting scheduled in Ambasamudram in the district. While the BJP has fielded party leaders, Pon Radhakrishnan from Kanniyakumari and Nainar Nagendran from Tirunelveli, ally John Pandian of Tamizhaga Makkal Munnerra Kazhagam is contesting on BJP's Lotus symbol from Tenkasi (SC).

Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra said the manifesto released by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a "collection of jumlas". Dotasra said the manifesto neither has the actual report card of the BJP's 10 years of rule, nor does it present any vision for reducing the basic problems faced by the country's people such as inflation and unemployment. The BJP released its Lok Sabha poll manifesto - 'Sankalp Patra'- on Sunday, prioritising development and welfare while shunning populist measures and contentious issues like the NRC, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitching for electing a strong and stable government in an uncertain world.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Tripura on Sunday night to participate in the BJP's ongoing campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, a senior party leader said.