Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress announces candidates for polls in Andhra Pradesh

The Congress on Wednesday announced the names of candidates for six more Lok Sabha constituencies and 12 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh. As per the decision of the party’s Central Election Committee, former Tirupati MP C Mohan will contest the Lok Sabha election from the same reserved (SC) constituency and K Raju is the candidate for Nellore segment. P Satyanarayana Reddy is the candidate from Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency, V Venkatesh (Anakapalli), K Lavanya (Eluru) and G Alexander Sudhakar (Narsaraopeta), said AICC general secretary K C Venugopal in a press release.

The Election Commission has decided to engage ASHA workers in every booth in Odisha to tackle those who may suffer heatstroke due to hot weather conditions on polling days, an official said on Tuesday. Voting in the state will be held in four phases between May 13 and June 1. As heatwave conditions prevail and thunderstorms occur in the state during the period, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Odisha Nikunja Bihari Dhal held a meeting with senior officers of departments concerned on Tuesday for smooth management of the polling.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took out a roadshow in the city's T Nagar locality, ahead of the April 19 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu. The Prime Minister was joined by BJP state president K Annamalai and the saffron party's candidates for South Chennai, Central Chennai and North Chennai. Tamilisai Soundararajan has been fielded from South Chennai while Vinoj P Selvam and RC Paul Kanagaraj are the party's picks from Central Chennai and North Chennai, respectively.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit out at the opposition's I.N.D.I.A grouping saying that its leaders were working to protect the corrupt, and abusing and threatening him to hinder the country's development. "I say remove corruption, they say save the corrupt," Modi said at a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district which will go to polls on April 19. The Lok Sabha elections were a mission for building a new India, he said, seeking the people's blessings to take "big and historic decisions" in the third term of the BJP-led NDA government. The "sea of saffron" that had gathered to hear him showed what the poll results on June 4 would be, Modi said.

The TMC today wrote to West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, alleging that the BJP-led government at the Centre was "misusing" central investigative agencies and the Election Commission was not acting on complaints about it. In the letter, senior party leader Abhishek Banerjee alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched by the BJP and the central agencies to target TMC leaders. "The BJP has entered into an unholy nexus with the NIA, ED, CBI and I-T. This is evident from the fact that from the very beginning of the ensuing elections, there has been a nationwide action against the opposition leaders of various parties including the TMC," he alleged.

Despite women constituting the majority of voters in Lakshadweep Lok Sabha seat, their basic issues such as absence of proper sanitary napkin disposal facilities and gynecologists in hospitals have not found a place in the discourse of political parties in the ongoing election campaign. Parties pay scant attention to our demands, a group of women in Agatti Island told news agency PTI. "We do not even have a mechanism on the islands to collect and dispose of used sanitary napkins. Many either bury them in their compounds or burn them," lamented Salmath, leader of the disabled persons' wing of Dweepsree, a women's self-help group. 

"...In political and social life, strategy is a must and that's the work of a politician...In the eyes of the Central government, any work is not small and we have to give birth to this mindset in society... There were people in society, who did not get the chance but today this mindset is changing...," said RLD's Jayant Chaudhary during an election rally in UP's Shamli.

The West Bengal Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which scrutinised the affidavits said ten out of the 37 candidates contesting from the three Lok Sabha seats of Jalpaiguri (SC), Cooch Behar (SC), and Alipurduar (ST) in West Bengal are crorepatis.

The transgender community in Assam want political parties to address their issues ranging from equal access to employment opportunities to legal safeguards against bullying to improved healthcare. They are pressing these issues as in the election season politicians are approaching them seeking their votes in the Lok Sabha elections.

According to the sources, the Election Commission of India (ECI) directed the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to verify any mismatch in affidavit details submitted by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, BJP's candidate from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat. Indian National Congress (INC) had sent a complaint to ECI regarding a mismatch in actual and declared assets in his affidavit by Rajeev Chandrasekhar. As per procedure, ECI today directed CBDT to check the affidavit and verify the mismatch if any. According to rule any mismatch and falsification of affidavit is dealt with under Section 125 A of the RP Act 1951.

Centre has provided 'Z' category CRPF security cover to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar across the country in view of potential security threats against him, said the sources on Tuesday.

According to the sources, the Mumbai Congress unit is unhappy with the seat-sharing deal announced today for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

They said that Mumbai Congress had demanded 3 seats but due to pressure from Thackeray, Congress got only 2 seats - North Central Mumbai and North Mumbai in Mumbai.

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad is not happy that is why she was not present during the joint press conference, they added.

Shiv Sena (UBT) got 21 seats under MVA seat-sharing deal -

• 1. Jalgaon
• 2. Buldhana
• 3. Yavatmal-Washim
• 4. Hingoli
• 5. Parbhani
• 6. Aurangabad
• 7. Nashik
• 8. Palghar
• 9. Kalyan
• 10. Thane
• 11. Mumbai North West
• 12. Mumbai North East
• 13. Mumbai South Central
• 14. Mumbai South
• 15. Raigad
• 16. Maval
• 17. Shirdi
• 18. Osmanabad
• 19. Sangli
• 20. Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg
• 21. Hatkanangle

Congress got 17 seats under MVA seat-sharing deal -

• 1. Nandurbar 
• 2. Dhule
• 3. Akola
• 4. Amravati
• 5. Ramtek
• 6. Nagpur
• 7. Bhandara-Gondiya
• 8. Gadchiroli-Chimur
• 9. Chandrapur
• 10. Nanded
• 11. Jalna
• 12. Mumbai North
• 13. Mumbai North Central
• 14. Kolhapur
• 15. Pune
• 16. Latur 
• 17. Solapur

Equal access to employment opportunities, legal safeguard against bullying and improved healthcare are among some of the pressing issues that the transgender community in Assam want political parties to address. Assam has 414 third gender voters, including the highest in Nagaon with 86, followed by Tinsukia (36), Kamrup (Metro) at 34, Kamrup (Rural) at 29, Sonitpur (24) and Barpeta (21), according to official data. Milin Dutta, founder of the non-profit 'Anaajoree', emphasised on the prevalence of stigma and discrimination, which prevents many eligible transgender voters from exercising their franchise. Dutta underscored the need for prioritising education, healthcare and employment opportunities for the community to ensure their safety and productivity in society.

PM Modi slammed I.N.D.I.A bloc over Ram temple in Ayodhya during the rally in UP's Pilibhit.

"INDI alliance parties have always hated the construction of the Ram Temple. They rejected Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha' invite and insulted Ram Lalla. Those from their party who attended the ceremony were suspended from the party for 6 years...Congress is so deep into appeasement politics that they will never be able to come out of it. Congress' manifesto appears to be that of Muslim League's not their own...Cong & SP also protesting against CAA. If India will not give citizenship to the persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries, then who will?" he said.

"We are working towards our resolution to make India a developed nation. Amid all the difficulties before us, India is showing that nothing is impossible for it...When Chandrayaan hoisted the national flag on the Moon, didn't you feel proud?..." asked PM Modi.

PM Modi targeted Samajwadi Part and Congress at the Pilibhit rally over the sugarcane farmers' issue. He said in the previous government farmers used to long for the fair price of their sugarcane.

"Congress regime used to seek help from the world, but during the Covid pandemic, we helped other countries. Did you feel proud or not," PM Modi at BJP rally in Pilibhit.

PM Modi addressed a BJP rally in Uttar Pradesh' Pilibhit. He campaigned for Jitin Prasada who replaced Varun Gandhi.

UP CM Yogi addressed a BJP rally in Pilibhit in the presence of PM Modi. BJP replaced its sitting MP Varun Gandhi with Jitin Prasada.

Pradip Bhattacharya, the 79-year-old Congress leader who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls again after two decades, asserted that age is not a factor in politics but a clean image is. In an interview with PTI, Bhattacharya, a contestant in the Kolkata Uttar constituency, claimed that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, though "quite unpredictable", will definitely be a factor in the upcoming elections". The north Kolkata region, which witnessed a cultural and social movement in the 19th century is set for another renaissance, said Bhattacharya who has spent nearly 50 years in politics.

On her candidature from Saran Lok Sabha constituency, RJD candidate Rohini Acharya targeted the BJP saying her party contests elections with the support of the people, while the BJP with using 'power'.

The Kerala police on Tuesday said a total of 12 cases have been registered throughout the state for disseminating false propaganda alleging that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) to be used for the Lok Sabha polls are fake. Among these cases, two have been reported in Malappuram district, and two each in Ernakulam and Thrissur cities. Additionally, one case each has been registered in Thiruvananthapuram Rural, Kollam City, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Palakkad, and Idukki districts, the police said in a Facebook post.

Election Commission of India has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to deploy 100 more companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) in West Bengal to conduct free and fair Lok Sabha elections.

55 companies of CRPF and 45 companies of Border Security forces are being deployed by the Home Ministry on the instruction of ECI.

Officials have been directed to complete the deployment of an extra 100 companies of CAPF in West Bengal on or before the 15th April, sources.

1,210 candidates to contest elections across 13 States/UTs going for polls in phase 2 of Lok Sabha Elections 2024. 2,633 nominations forms filed for 88 PCs across 12 States/UTs for phase 2 of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, said ECI.

The seat-sharing on all 48 Lok Sabha seats in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) -- led by Shiv Sena-Uddhav Thackeray, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Pawar -- has been finalised, Sena leader Sanjay Raut has informed. The alliance will address the media at 11 pm today to share the details of their alliance.

Ten out of the 37 candidates contesting from the three Lok Sabha seats of Jalpaiguri (SC), Cooch Behar (SC), and Alipurduar (ST) in West Bengal are crorepatis, an analysis of their affidavits said. Elections to the Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Alipurduar Lok Sabha constituencies will be held in the first phase on April 19. The West Bengal Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which scrutinised the affidavits, on Monday, said three independents, two each from the BJP and Trinamool Congress and one candidate each from the CPI(M), Congress, and the RSP are crorepatis.

The Election Commission has decided to install GPS location tracking system in all vehicles that will be used for polling purposes in West Bengal, an official said. A communication in this regard has been sent to the poll workers, he said on Monday. "The GPS tracking system will be used to monitor the movement of EVMs and other polling materials from the distribution/dispersion centre and receipt centre (DCRC) to the polling station on the day before the elections, and to ensure that no tampering occurs while bringing them to the strong room after polling," the official said.

On the TMC delegation being detained by Delhi Police, TMC leader Dola Sen said the IT, ED and CBI are considered as the branch office of BJP.

"The Model Code of Conduct is imposed. NIA, CBI, ED and IT are troubling the opposition so they do not contest the free and fair elections. Constitutionally, law and order is the subject of the state, that's why we came to ECI (with our demands)... We were in a peaceful protest, but still police detained us," Sen added.

PM Narendra Modi will hold rallies in UP, MP and roadshow in Tamil Nadu today.

• • The PM will address an election rally in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh.
• • Later in the day, he will address another rally in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh.
• • He will hold a roadshow in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.