Lok Sabha Elections HIGHLIGHTS: Congress Releases List Of 2 Candidates From Odisha

Lok Sabha Elections HIGHLIGHTS: Please follow this space and keep refreshing the page for all the latest updates and developments pertaining to Lok Sabha elections.

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Lok Sabha Elections HIGHLIGHTS: Please follow this space and keep refreshing the page for all the latest updates and developments pertaining to Lok Sabha elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress are set to up the ante amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections with election rallies in Odisha. Voting in Odisha, which sends 21 MPs to the Lok Sabha, will be held in four phases starting May 13. The counting of the votes will take place on June 4.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and BJP president JP Nadda are set to address poll rallies in parts of Odisha on Sunday. Rahul Gandhi will address a public meeting at Salepur in Cuttack district. AICC general secretary and the party's Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar said on Friday that the Congress leader will also visit Satyabhamapur to pay tributes to Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das.Kumar said that Gandhi's rally will be attended by people from across four Lok Sabha constituencies of Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jajpur and Jagatsinghpur. On the other hand, BJP chief JP Nadda will address a public gathering in Berhampur and meet party workers at Nabarangpur, senior BJP leader Samir Mohanty said. Berhampur Lok Sabha seat is expected to see a intense battle between the candidates of the BJP and BJD, both of whom are turncoats.While the saffron party has nominated Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi, a former BJD leader, the ruling party in the state has fielded former BJP leader Bhrugu Baxipatra.In Nabarangpur, the BJD has nominated Pradeep Majhi, who had won the 2009 polls from the constituency on a Congress ticket. The BJP, on the other hand, had fielded Balabhadra Majhi, who had defeated Pradeep Majhi in the constituency in the 2014 elections. The grand old party has fielded Bhujabal Majhi, who may emerge as a dark horse in the fight between the BJD and BJP candidates in Nabarangpur. 

28/04/2024 22:52:09

Committed To Progress Of State, Future Of Women: Chandrababu Naidu

"We will provide Rs 15,000 annually to every school-going student through 'Thalliki Vandhanam'. Every woman will receive Rs 1500 per month through 'Aadabidda Nidhi'. Under the 'Deepam Scheme', three free gas cylinders will be distributed per year and free travel in RTC buses will be facilitated for women. I am committed not only to the progress of the state but also to ensuring the security and future of women," ANI quoted TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu as saying. 

28/04/2024 21:22:25

Congress Releases List Of 2 Candidates From Odisha

Congress released a list of 2 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections from Odisha and 8 candidates for elections to the legislative assembly of Odisha.

28/04/2024 20:18:21

Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai Holds Roadshow In Jharsuguda

Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai along with Union Minister and BJP candidate from Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat Dharmendra Pradhan held a roadshow, in Jharsuguda. 

28/04/2024 19:06:17

PM Modi Addresses Poll Rally In Karnataka's Ballari

"In Congress rule, our daughters are not safe. In a college in Hubbali, a daughter was stabbed and killed in broad daylight. People involved in such activities are not scared at all. The family is tense. This is the result of Congress' policies. When there was a blast in the cafe, their first statement was that a gas cylinder had exploded... Then they said that it was due to a business rivalry. Finally, the NIA investigation revealed the dangerous plans and the culprits were arrested from West Bengal... What was Neha's fault?... A government hungry for vote bank cannot protect you," ANI quoted PM Modi as saying at a rally in Karnataka's Ballari. 

28/04/2024 17:36:03

Voting In 190 Seats Done, I.N.D.I.A Bloc Will Win 120-125, Says Bhagwant Mann

"I am travelling in the whole country... Two phases of the elections are complete. Voting on 190 seats is complete. Out of those 190, the I.N.D.I.A alliance is winning 120-125 seats. We are going to have a share in forming the government. The upcoming central government will not be formed without the Aam Aadmi Party. AAP will decide the country's future, how the youth will get employment, how the schools, hospitals and electricity infrastructure are to be constructed, and how the country will be made no.1. The country will become no.1 when Punjab becomes no.1. Once it is 13-0 (Lok Sabha seats), Punjab will become no.1. Everyone will say that it is the only state where there has been complete wipeout... The lotus will not bloom because the broom will clear the mud. We will not let the lotus bloom here," ANI quoted Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as saying. 

28/04/2024 17:17:28

Here's What Akhilesh Yadav Says On BJP's Electoral Fate

"People of Sambhal will give the biggest defeat to BJP...BJP has now changed their language and this is the language of those who are failing...those people who were saying '400 paar' are now speaking about Dalits and backward classes...in this election, people don't want to listen to 'Mann ki Baat', they want to listen about constitution. They (BJP) have made up their mind to mess with the constitution and they will change the constitution of BR Ambedkar. We will lose the right to vote therefore people are going to defeat BJP," ANI quoted Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as saying. 

28/04/2024 16:22:46

PM Modi Addresses Poll Rally In Davanagere

"They have such an issue, earlier whenever they lost, they used to blame EVMs... The day before yesterday, the Supreme Court slapped so hard that they are in dilemma what to say to console their party workers as the SC has put an end to this excuse of EVMs," ANI quoted PM Modi saying in Davanagere rally. 

28/04/2024 15:32:22

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: 'Rahul Gandhi doesn't know history,' Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil slams 'Rajas, Maharajas grabbed lands' remark

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statement, Gujarat BJP President CR Patil says, "Rahul Gandhi said yesterday that Rajas and Maharajas grabbed lands. He does not know that many Rajas in the country gave away everything at one call from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. He is talking about loot but there were Rajas and Maharajas who had dedication. He (Rahul Gandhi) does not know the history... The Rajas gave importance to education, agriculture, water systems and women protection, this is their history... We do not agree with Rahul Gandhi. He should refrain from making such statements that hurt the sentiment..." (ANI)

28/04/2024 15:28:15

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: 'Congress has been uprooted,' Manoj Tiwari Arvinder Singh Lovely's resignation as Delhi Congress Chief

BJP leader Manoj Tiwari said on the resignation of Arvinder Singh Lovely from the post of Delhi Congress Chief, "The way DPCC Chief resigned saying that he is not being heard, means that the Congress has been uprooted. People will press the BJP button and answer them." (PTI)

28/04/2024 14:46:42

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: BJP Seeking 400-Plus Seats To Make Changes In Constitution, Says Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said the BJP wants to win 400-plus seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in order to make changes in the Constitution.

Addressing a campaign rally in Pune's Saswad tehsil, which is part of Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, Pawar said this year's general election is different from earlier ones since it will decide "by which method the country will work".

"The chief minister of Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal) is put behind bars. They (BJP) are walking on the path of dictatorship and are destroying democracy. Therefore, to save our nation we need to defeat them," he said.

"This Lok Sabha poll is different from earlier ones as it will decide by which method our country will work. The nation should run as a democracy but we are worried. They (BJP) want more than 400 seats to make changes in the Constitution," Pawar claimed.

The NCP (SP) has fielded sitting MP and Sharad Pawar's daughter Supriya Sule from Baramati. She is up against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar. (PTI Input)

28/04/2024 14:40:31

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: EC Issues Notice To BJP's Korba Candidate Over Her Photo On Poster For Religious Meet

The Election Commission has issued a show cause notice to the BJP candidate from the Korba Lok Sabha constituency in Chhattisgarh for violating the model code of conduct (MCC) after her photograph allegedly appeared on posters and banners for a religious programme, an official said on Sunday.

Following a complaint from the Congress party, the office of the assistant returning officer of the Korba Lok Sabha constituency on Friday served a notice to BJP candidate Saroj Pandey and sought her reply by April 29, the official said.

As per the complaint, the BJP had put up banners and posters with photographs of Pandey and ministers of the BJP-led state government for a religious programme of Dhirendra Giri Shastri in Chirmiri town in the Manendragarh assembly segment on Friday, he said.

The Manendragarh assembly segment falls under the Korba Lok Sabha constituency.

The Congress, in its complaint, alleged that the BJP candidate had misused the religious programme for electioneering and demanded that the expenses from the event must be included in her poll expenditure, the complaint said. (PTI Input)

28/04/2024 13:56:09

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: SAD Fields Virsa Singh Valtoha From Khadoor Sahib Seat In Punjab

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday announced former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha as its candidate for Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat in Punjab.

With this, the SAD has named candidates for all 13 seats in Punjab and one in Chandigarh.

In a post on X, the party said, "Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced party's core committee member and former chief parliamentary secretary S. Virsa Singh Valtoha as the @Akali_Dal_ candidate for the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency. With this announcement the party has fielded party candidates on all 14 seats of Punjab and Chandigarh." Polling in Punjab and Chandigarh will take place in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections on June 1.

28/04/2024 12:47:10

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: After LS Polls Phase II 'Washout', Desperate PM 'Fear Mongering', Says Congress

The Congress on Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is indulging in "fear mongering" as he is "desperate" after facing a "washout" in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions for the prime minister ahead of his rallies in Karnataka.

"After the Phase II washout, a desperate PM is on a spree of Karnataka rallies today. Instead of lying and fear mongering, these are the questions he should answer," Ramesh said, listing his posers.

"Why have BJP MPs performed so poorly as the people's representatives? After a 7-month delay, why has the Centre released less than 20% of drought relief funds? Why is the Centre holding up the Upper Bhadra and Mahadayi projects?" the Congress leader said on X.

Elaborating on what he said were "jumla details", Ramesh asked where have BJP MPs been while the Modi government has been "unleashing its vengeance" on Karnataka. (PTI Input)

28/04/2024 12:44:51

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: PM Modi Continues 'Scan' Jab At Congress In Karnataka's Belagavi

Continuing his jab over Congress's manifesto, Prime Minister Narendra on Sunday said that the grand old party has mentioned in its poll promise that if voted to power they would conduct a "scan" on the personal accounts of people including the 'stree-dhan' of women across the country. He said that Congress 'har ghar mein chapa maaregi' (they would raid each and every house of the country). Pitching for saffron party candidate and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress in Belagavi. Click here to read more. 

28/04/2024 12:43:42

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat Backs Reservations Amid Row

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the Sangh Parivar never opposed reservations extended to certain groups.

Addressing a programme at an educational institution, Bhagwat said the Sangh is of the opinion that the reservations should be extended as long as they are needed.

Bhagwat’s reiteration came in the wake of a war of words taking place between BJP and Congress over reservations.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Bhagwat last year in Nagpur said that reservations should continue as long as there is discrimination in society.

Discrimination exists in society even though it is invisible, he had said. (PTI Input)

28/04/2024 11:53:14

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: Mahayuti Leaders Are Threatening People To Vote, Says Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, "Leaders of Mahayuti are threatening people to vote ...It was done in Solapur yesterday... Why are you doing these things if you have PM Modi and you are so confident about winning... In Baramati and Shirur Ajit Pawar is openly threatening businessmen, traders etc giving notices and threatening them to work for his wife, if not done then he is saying that they will be fined Rs 50 cr...Why is all this needed when there is a democracy in the country..." (ANI Input)

28/04/2024 11:45:24

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: Congress Leader, Veteran Party Leader Late Ahmed Patel's Daughter's Take On BJP

Congress leader and daughter of veteran party leader late Ahmed Patel, Mumtaz Patel told ANI, "There is anger against the (BJP) government. The people are worried and are looking for alternatives... They are bothered about their basic facilities rather than what is happening in China. They feel that the dictatorship of the present government is increasing".

28/04/2024 11:42:56

Here's What UP DY CM Keshav Prasad Maurya Has To Say On Political Battleground Of Raebareli

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday told ANI, "This time BJP will repeat its victory in Amethi and make lotus (BJP party symbol) bloom in Rae Bareli. Our target is to win all 80 seats of Uttar Pradesh and our focus is on making lotus bloom with a big margin in Amethi, Rae Bareli, Kannauj, and Mainpuri so that it becomes clear that this is the stronghold of BJP and not of Congress or SP. Preparations are going on here."

28/04/2024 10:46:24

PM Fighting Imaginary Ghosts, Should Debate 'Real' Issues In Congress Manifesto, Says Chidambaram

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday said the PM has imagined a Congress manifesto written by one of his ghost speech writers and he should debate the real issues included in the document.

Chidambaram's remarks come amid repeated attacks by the prime minister over Congress leader Sam Pitroda's 'inheritance tax' comments amid the row on the issue of 'wealth redistribution'.

"The Hon'ble Prime Minister continues to discover and read in the Congress' manifesto words and sentences that are not there! He has imagined a Congress' manifesto written by one of his ghost speech writers," Chidambaram, who was the chairman of the committee that drafted the Congress manifesto, said.

The phrase 'inheritance tax' does not occur anywhere in the manifesto, the former finance minister said in his post on X. (PTI Input)

28/04/2024 09:24:56

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: Here's What Assam Minister & BJP Leader Ranjeet Kumar Dass Has To Say

Expressing faith in PM Modi and BJP's leadership, Assam Minister and BJP leader Ranjeet Kumar Dass told ANI, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP are in the hearts of the people of India and Congress is now on the road. BJP's seats will definitely increase and Congress seats will decrease. Congress will get less than 50 seats..."

28/04/2024 08:55:54

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: BJP Chief JP Nadda Slams Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. VIDEO

Slamming West Bengal ruling party Trinamool Congress and its supremo, also Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, BJP national president J P Nadda said, "We have seen how in Mamata Banerjee's government, anti-social elements like Sheikh Shahjahan of Trinamool Congress are posing a threat to the existence of women in Sandeshkhali...Officials of the investigating agencies who had gone to Sandeshkhali to protect the honour and dignity of women were attacked..."

28/04/2024 08:44:44

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: Mandi Will Teach A Lesson To Congress's Princes, Says Kangana

People of Mandi will teach a lesson to the gangs of "shehzadas" for making inappropriate comments and disrespecting the women of the state, BJP candidate from Mandi and Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut said on Saturday.

Addressing a public gathering in the Jhakari area of the Mandi Parliament constituency, Kangana trained her guns at Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh, calling him "Prince of Rampur," and took exception to his referring to her Bollywood connection.

Vikramaditya Singh is a scion of the erstwhile Bushahr estate, now known as Rampur, one of the 17 assembly segments in the Mandi Lok Sabha constituency. Referring to Kangana, Singh had earlier said, "I pray to Lord Ram to give her wisdom and hope she goes back pure from 'Dev Bhoomi' Himachal to the Bollywood because she will not win the election since she knows nothing about people of Himachal." In her rally, Kangana responded to the dig, saying, "Now they are saying that I am impure because I have come here after working in the film industry and I should first go and purify myself." The actor said she found the remark offensive because by working in films she supported her family, educated her siblings, got her sister treated who was a victim of an acid attack, and made the state proud. (PTI Input)

28/04/2024 08:18:30

UP Congress Urges Top Party Leaders To Field Rahul From Amethi, Priyanka Raebareli

The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Saturday urged the top party leadership to field Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Amethi and Raebareli, respectively for the Lok Sabha polls, but no decision was taken at the meeting of the central election committee (CEC).

Sources said AICC in-charge of party Affairs in Uttar Pradesh Avinash Pandey and CLP leader in the state Aradhana Mishra urged Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Sonia Gandhi to give tickets to both Rahul and Priyanka from the Uttar Pradesh seats.

During the meeting of the CEC chaired by Kharge, various members of the all-important panel also supported the views of the party leaders from Uttar Pradesh and left the decision on the top leadership, the sources said.

The sources said the decision on whether Rahul Gandhi will contest from Amethi or not will be taken in a day or two.

There is a speculation that Rahul Gandhi could be fielded from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat.

The Lok Sabha candidates for the remaining five seats in Punjab were also discussed during the meeting of the CEC. (PTI Input)

28/04/2024 07:19:18

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: PM Modi To Address Four Mega Rallies In North Karnataka Region Today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address four rallies in the North Karnataka region in Belagavi, Uttara Kannada, Davanagere, and Ballarion on Sunday. PM Modi will address public rallies to strengthen the BJP state unit's efforts to consolidate votes in the North Karnataka region.