Lok Sabha Polls HIGHLIGHTS — Candidates Finalised For 12 Seats, Meeting With Uddhav, Sharad Tomorrow: Cong Maharashtra Chief
Lok Sabha Elections Highlights: Please follow this space for all the latest news and updates on Lok Sabha elections 2024.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that at present, his party has announced candidature only from Hyderabad, Aurangabad, and Kishanganj. He further said that Imtiyaz Jaleel will soon officially announce the names of candidates from Maharashtra.
Speaking on the meeting between Raj Thackeray and Amit Shah, Owaisi said that he had nothing to do with the meeting. "I definitely remember one thing here that a few days ago Raj Thackeray put it as a video on the LED screen, so I don't know if that picture is out now or not," he said.
On electoral bonds, the AIMIM chief said, "all the parties got crores of rupees, but we did not get even a single rupee, it is said that you are the B team of BJP. Still Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that I will not eat, nor will I allow anyone to eat".
After the CEC meeting, Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said, "We have discussed at least 18-19 seats of Maharashtra, we have finalised at least 12 seats and tomorrow morning we have a meeting with Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray. Final discussions will be held and all seats will be announced by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow...''
Today Uttarakhand Kranti Dal declared its candidates for 4 Lok Sabha seats: Pauri Garhwal: Ashutosh Negi, Haridwar: Mohan Singh Aswal, Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar: Shiv Singh Rawat, Almora: Arjun Kumar Dev. The party has supported independent candidate Bobby Panwar from Tehri.
The ECI said that it has directed CEO Karnataka to take immediate appropriate action on the complaint of DMK against the alleged violation of MCC by BJP leader and Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje while addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Karnataka, as reported by news agency ANI.
The Congress is set to release its third list today. The party will announce candidates for the seats in West Bengal, Karnataka, Telangana and Uttarakhand.
Tamil Nadu's main opposition AIADMK clinches LS poll deal with DMDK; allots five seats. AIADMK has alloted Central Chennai, Cuddalore, Tiruvallur, Thanjavur, Vand irudhunagar seats to DMDK.
Lok Sabha MP from Assam's Barpeta, Abdul Khaleque, who resigned from the Congress Party, withdraws his resignation. "Strengthening Congress is the need of the hour, hence I withdraw my resignation and wish to work under your (Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge) and Rahul Gandhi's able leadership," he writes
Amroha Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali joins the Congress Party, in Delhi.
Lal Singh, former minister of Jammu and Kashmir, joins the Congress Party, in Delhi.
Nominations have begun to be filed in the First Phase of General Elections this morning. This comes after the Election Commission of India (ECI) today issued a notification. The polling in these PCs in Phase 1 will take place on April 19: ECI
On former BJP leader Jai Prakash Bhai Patel joining Congress, Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir says, "... In Jharkhand, many BJP leaders are joining Congress. In West Bengal, we are in touch with leaders of other political parties except BJP... Congress is being seen as an alternative and people are coming out in support..."
On joining Congress, former BJP leader Jai Prakash Bhai Patel says, "I clearly stated that I want to fulfil my father's dream, which I see happening only in the INDIA alliance... I have not joined Congress for any Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha ticket."
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader Jagadish Shettar said he was confident that he would get a party ticket from the Belagavi Lok Sabha seat. "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....," he added.
Congress MLA from Odisha's Khariar, Adhiraj Mohan Panigrahi joined the Biju Janata Dal today after quitting Congress.
"Taking inspiration from the ideals of the Chief Minister, I am joining the BJD today. I have never done the politics of tickets. I will work with whatever confidence the Chief Minister places in me," he said.
" I have no complaints with Congress...I have worked in the Congress for 25 years...Congress gave me respect, I too gave them respect. But in today's situation, if you want to see the progress of Odisha, it is necessary to have the CM's blessings...," he added.
Tamilisai Soundararajan said she has expressed her wish to contest the polls after rejoining the BJP. "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," she said.
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) held the Parliament party meeting under the leadership of Chirag Paswan in Delhi to chalk out strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Leaders of the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal hold meeting at Congress General Secretary Mukul Wasnik's residence in Delhi over seat-sharing.
Congress MP Dr Md Jawaid says, "...We hope that our alliance will win the maximum seats, I can tell you this..."
President Droupadi Murmu accepted the resignation of Pashupati Kumar Paras from the Union Cabinet with immediate effect.
The President has directed that Kiren Rijiju, Cabinet Minister, be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, in addition to his existing portfolio.
AIADMK has released its first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024.
Chirag Paswan will chair the Parliamentary party meeting of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) in Delhi to chalk out strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
NDA partner, Janasena has fielded T Uday Srinivas from Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada.
Supporters of the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party exchanged blows in West Bengal's Cooch Behar after a public meeting addressed by Union MoS for Home Nisith Paramanik got over and a rally led by state minister Udayan Guha was about to begin nearby, reported PTI.
Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer Dr BVRC Purushottam said that the political parties have been urged not to do any kind religious campaigning.
"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," he said.
"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," he added.
"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...," said the polling officer.
The nominations for the first phase of polling for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 will begin from today with the last date being March 27. In the first phase on Aptil 19, eight Parliamentary constituncies of Uttar Pradesh will undergo voting including: Saharanpur, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Nagina (SC), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit
"Tomorrow we will announce (our list of candidates)," says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah after the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting in Delhi.
On Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar says, "He (Raj Thackeray) said that positive discussions were held and a decision would be taken in 2-3 days. I can't tell how many seats were demanded but all the demands were discussed positively..."
The Election Commission has directed the replacement of Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal of Jalandhar, ADGP Jaswinder Singh of Ropar Range, and DIG Narendra Bhargav of the Border Range.
The Election Commission has requested the Punjab government to provide a panel for appointing new police officers.
Input From Aseem Bassi
On NDA seat sharing, Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant says, "... The seat sharing will complete in 2-3 days..." On reports of Congress leader Priya Dutt likely to join Shiv Sena, he says, "Let there be suspense..."
Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting of Congress underway at AICC headquarters in Delhi.
Ahmed Patel’s daughter Mumtaz has requested Congress leadership to consider fielding her from Navsari Constituency (of C R Patil). Pradesh Congress, however, is not in favor but her name from Navsari is likely to be considered in the CEC meeting.
Inputs From Ashish Kumar Singh
Former Karnataka CM and BJP leader BS Yediyurappa arrives in Delhi.
Hemant Soren's Sister-In-Law and JMM's national general secretary Sita Soren has joined the BJP.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Hemant Soren's sister-in-law, Sita Soren has resigned from the party, sources tell ABP News.
After resigning from the union cabinet, Sources told ABP News that Pashupati Kumar Paras is in contact with Lalu Prasad Yadav and could leave for Patna by evening.
Congress workers from Amethi reached the party headquarters in Delhi to convince Rahul Gandhi to contest from the Lok Sabha seat, sources tell ABP News.
The meeting of the Congress Central Working Committee has begun at the party headquarters in Delhi to discuss and give final shape to the party's manifesto ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The meeting is being attended by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, MP Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders.
Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications Jairam Ramesh, senior leader Sachin Pilot have reached the party headquarters in Delhi for the meeting of the Central Election Committee.
Congress candidate from Ahmedabad East Lok Sabha seat, Rohan Gupta has withdrawn from the poll fray, reported news agency PTI.
Mahagathbandhan will announce the seat-sharing numbers in Bihar in 1-2 days, said Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Shakti Singh Yadav.
"...In 1-2 days, Mahagathbandhan will announce seat-sharing numbers and who is getting which seats...under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav in Bihar, Mahagathbandhan will bring surprising results. BJP will realise what will be the result of opportunistic politics," he said.
New Chief Minister of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini held a roadshow in Ambala ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that BJP president JP Nadda will start the party's campaign in Karnal's Gharaunda today. " I came to seek blessings from Shri Nada Sahib. PM Modi has given the country a new direction, and done the work of bringing smiles to the faces of the poor. In these 10 years, the country's infrastructure has improved under the leadership of PM Modi...," he said.
The Congress party will hold a meeting of its Central Election Committee today where it will finalise and declare the candidates for the remaining 18 seats of Madhya Pradesh, said a senior party functionary on Monday, reported PTI.
Background
Lok Sabha Elections HIGHLIGHTS: Please follow this space for all the latest news and updates on Lok Sabha elections 2024. The Election Commission of India announced the dates for the elections to the 18th Lok Sabha on Saturday. The votes will be polled in seven phases across the country starting from April 19 and will continue till June 1. The votes will be counted on June 4.
The political temperatures have been soaring in the country with each passing day in the run up to the elections. A new furore erupted in the last two days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the Congress and other opposition parties were fighting against a 'Shakti'.
Addressing the concluding event of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai, Rahul said, "There is a word 'Shakti' in Hinduism. We are fighting against a Shakti. The question is, what is that Shakti? The soul of the King is in the EVM. This true. The soul of the King in the EVM and every institution of the country, in ED, CBI and Income Tax department."
Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party were quick to hit back the Congress MP including Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said that the Congress's manifesto is to finish 'Shakti'.
"The INDI alliance in their manifesto said that their fight is against 'Shakti'. For me, every mother, daughter, and sister is a form of 'Shakti'," Modi said.
"I worship them in the form of 'Shakti'. I am the worshiper of Bharat Mata...Their manifesto is to finish 'Shakti', and I accept the challenge...' Main jaan ki baazi laga dunga'...,"he said while addressing a public rally in Telangana's Jagtial on Monday.
The BJP has so far released two lists of candidates including Modi who will contest the polls from Varanasi while the Congress has also released two lists of candidates so far.
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