Lok Sabha Elections: PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Go All Out On Last Day Of Campaigning For First Phase

PM Modi, who was in the Northeast today, slammed the Congress, saying the party had adopted the 'loot' east policy while the BJP had turned it into the 'Act East' policy.

File photo of PM Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee. ( Image Source :PTI )

The political temperature shot up on the last day of campaigning for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Mamata Banerjee addressed parallel rallies.

The election campaigning ended for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections at 3 pm in the Northeast and at 6 pm in the other parts of the country.

In the first phase of polling, voting will be held in 102 constituencies across 21 states and Union Territories on April 19.

PM Modi, who was in the Northeast today, slammed the Congress, saying the party had adopted the 'loot' east policy while the BJP had turned it into the 'Act East' policy.

#WATCH | Assam: 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan being raised by PM Narendra Modi and people present at the rally as PM speaks about the 'Surya Tilak' ritual of Ram Lalla being performed in Ayodhya.

PM Narendra Modi says, "...There is a new atmosphere in the entire country and this… pic.twitter.com/1UoBR1bSwD

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2024

In Assam, the prime minister raised 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans as he spoke about the 'Surya Tilak' ritual of Ram Lalla being performed in Ayodhya. The PM asked the crowd to switch on the mobile flash to display their devotion towards' Ayodhya's event.

Speaking in Tripura, Modi said the state has witnessed pioneering transformations under the BJP government. 

“In these 10 years, the BJP tried to work for the development of the Northeast and Tripura. But whatever work we did was just a trailer. We have to take Tripura ahead a lot,” he told an audience in Agartala.

In Karnataka, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the coming Lok Sabha elections as a battle between two ideologies -- INDIA bloc fighting for Constitution on the one hand and BJP, which wants to abolish constitution and democracy, on the other.  

He said if the INDIA bloc is voted to power, it will be a government of ordinary citizens, farmers, labourers and traders. The Congress leader also addressed a joint press conference with Akhilesh Yadav and said there is a strong undercurrent in favour of the opposition and the BJP will be limited to 150 seats.

15-20 दिन पहले मुझे लग रहा था भाजपा 180 सीटों तक जाएगी, पर अब ज़मीनी रिपोर्ट्स बता रही हैं कि वो 150 से भी आगे नहीं बढ़ने वाले।

INDIA गठबंधन मज़बूती से चुनाव लड़ रहा है और देश भर में जबरदस्त अंडरकरेंट है। pic.twitter.com/JdFtwtBtMF

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 17, 2024

"I do not do prediction of seats. 15-20 days ago I was thinking the BJP would win around 180 seats but now I think they will get 150 seats. We are getting reports from every state that we are improving. We have a very strong alliance in Uttar Pradesh and we will perform very well," Rahul Gandhi said.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the BJP has given the '400 par' slogan for the Lok Sabha polls as they want to change the Constitution and take away the right to vote from people. 

Addressing an election rally in support of Ruchi Veera in Moradabad, Yadav said, "If the government works as per the Constitution, no prejudice can be done against any community or group. But ever since the BJP has come to power, the government has not done justice with people."

Mamata Banerjee, who addressed rally in Assam, said the CAA and NRC will be scrapped if the opposition INDIA bloc forms government at the Centre. She also claimed that there will be no democracy and elections if Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns to power for the third consecutive term.     

"They (BJP) made the entire country a detention camp. This election is very dangerous. I have never seen such a dangerous election in my life," Banerjee said.     

"If the INDIA bloc wins, there will not be the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Uniform Civil Code. We will repeal all discriminatory laws. If Modi wins again, there won't be democracy and there won't be any election. The entire country will be sold off," Banerjee said at a rally.

In Bihar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a rally in Aurangabad, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a public meeting in Jamui.