Lok Sabha Election 2024 Highlights | 'Go back TMC': Protestors in West Bengal's Nandigram

Condemning the act of West Bengal police of halting BJP's roadshow on Thursday, Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha said that "jungle raj" is prevailing in the state.

The Chief Minister said that the West Bengal police stopped the BJP's roadshow saying that there is no prior permit for it. He stated that the party had obtained written permission to carry out the roadshow.

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The Bubaneswar seat will witness a three-way contest among the sitting MP Aparajita Sarangi, Congress leader Yasir Nawaz and Biju Janata Dal leader Manmath Routray.

In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Aparajita Sarangi secured victory from this seat after facing a close contest from BJD's Arup Mohan Patnaik. Sarangi got 4,86,991 votes while Patnaik got 4,63,152 votes.

According to Sarangi, several developmental works have been done, but some are still pending, including proper drainage systems, better roads and other facilities. The senior leader said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi always asks everybody to serve the people.

Two candidates in the fray in the fourth and final phase of assembly elections in Odisha have declared zero assets in their affidavits, according to a report.

Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha constituencies along with 42 assembly segments falling under these parliamentary seats will go to polls in the last phase on June 1.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, accusing him of not understanding the pain of farmers and the poor and alleging that his government frames policies only for his "billionaire" friends.

She also hit out at the BJP-led Centre over the issues of "Agniveer" and female wrestlers.

Addressing a Lok Sabha poll rally in Panipat district of Haryana after holding a roadshow in Sirsa, Gandhi announced that once the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) forms its government at the Centre, farmers will get a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops and their debts will be waived.

"One thing that has become clear in 10 years is that Modiji does not understand the pain of farmers, the poor, middle class, women and youngsters," she said.

PTI

Former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam says, "After June 4, all Opposition leaders will say that BJP did not get 400 seats, they only got 325. We stopped them from getting 400. This is '300 paar'. They will find happiness in this... There is no doubt that PM Modi's government will be formed with a huge majority... The people will form the government of those who will make 'Akhand Bharat' and bring PoK back... Rahul Gandhi will never become the PM. He will not make Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, Lalu Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav the PM either. He will make one of his servants the PM. He has a lot of experience with a dustbin. He threw Manmohan Singh's ordinance in the dustbin... He threw the whole party in the dust-bin... He will throw the country in the dustbin if he can. He is a 'Kudedaan master'. He wants to throw Sanatana in the dustbin..."

On the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections to be held in Delhi on May 25, DCP East Delhi Apoorva Gupta says, "Our preparations have been going on for many days. We are continuously doing area dominance exercises. In this, we are also taking the help of CAPF. Briefings have been going on continuously. All safeguard measures are there, interstate nakas, flying squad, all are doing their work. It will be our endeavour to conduct the Lok Sabha elections peacefully and smoothly...There are some densely populated clusters here, JJ clusters, so we are also ensuring proper police presence there."

“There are 948 polling booths in the district, and all the basic facilities have been ensured there. My team is on the ground, and we have received backup from security forces, the Odisha police and the Chhattisgarh government. We have received 10 companies of CAPF which has been deployed to safeguard EVMs and polling booths. We are fully prepared for the elections in all aspects,” says Sambalpur Collector Akshay Sunil Agrawal on election preparedness.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini says, "Priyanka Gandhi came to Sirsa today, her roadshow proved to be a flop show, she could not garner public support because the Congress party has lost the trust of the people. Today Haryana and the whole country trust Prime Minister Modi and his guarantees..."

In a village called Nandigram in Purba Medinipur, the villagers shouted 'Go back TMC' when a member of the party arrived there.

There's a lot of security in Nandigram, Purba Medinipur because BJP workers are protesting. They're upset because one of their party workers died in an attack on some houses last night. People from the area who support BJP say that the attack was done by people from the TMC party.

TMC leader Rajib Banerjee says "We are very upset that such an incident took place today. TMC never wants any person to die. TMC is not involved in this. This is BJP's internal matter. TMC is being dragged into this matter unnecessarily. Let Police investigate this..."

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says, "...Today I can say with guarantee that double engine government will be formed in Odisha... We will get over 400 seats and in Odisha, we will get over 75 seats (in Assembly elections)."

Addressing a public rally, PM Modi says, "In Punjab, Delhi's 'Kattar' corrupt party and the party guilty of Sikh riots are pretending to contest against each other. But the truth is, that 'Panja' and 'Jhaadu' are two parties but they are from the same shop. 'Kuch bhi bayaan dein, lekin Delhi mein ek doosre ko kandhe pe utha kar naach rahe hain'. I request to the people of Punjab, to stay alert from them. Those who can betray their Guru Anna Hazare, can lie 10 times in a day. Neither can such people develop Punjab, nor can they leave anything for the future of your children..."

"A lot of Chief Ministers have come from BJP-ruled states. I think it will be good for them to go and visit Puri and take blessings from Lord Jagannath, so that their states also come to the level of Odisha in the next 10 years or so. They can also try and take inspiration from Naveen Babu how he is the most popular CM in the country even after 24 years. Whatever language you use against our CM, people of Odisha will not accept it," says BJD leader VK Pandian.

The BJP in Karnataka issued a notice to former MLA Raghupati Bhat for contesting the upcoming MLC elections as an independent candidate from the South-West Graduates' constituency. The notice cited his decision to run against the BJP's official candidate, which is considered a violation of party discipline. Bhat has been asked to provide clarification within two days.

Two days before the polls, Sonia Gandhi urged the people of Delhi to vote for Congress and INDIA bloc candidates in all 7 seats.

“Your every vote will create employment, reduce inflation, empower women and build an India of equality,” she said.

Union HM Amit Shah during a meeting in UP's Ambedkar Nagar says, "Who can protect the country from coronavirus? Who can send Chandrayan to the moon?... Who can give gas connection to crores of poor? Who can give rations to 80 crore people? Who can bear the health expense of up to ₹5 lakhs of more than 30 crore people? Who can let tap water to 14 crore houses? Who can build toilets in 12 crore houses? If Modi can do everything, to whom you should make the PM?..."

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav says in UP's Jaunpur, " People are angry because BJP did not fulfil any promises it made. Inflation and unemployment are at an all-time high. This election is not about Hindu-Muslim or India-Pakistan, but it is about protecting the Constitution. They are no longer raising the '400 paar' slogan... Earlier, backward classes, Dalit and Adivasis were part of the General category as well. But BJP has tied these three classes into their own category... If the minorities are well educated, they will get more jobs in the 40% block reserved for the General category..."

The BJP is filling the void in Tamil Nadu politics left by the death of AIADMK supremo and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, who was a "far superior" Hindutva leader, the BJP's state chief K Annamalai has said.

In an interaction with PTI Editors here, Annamalai said he is confident that the BJP will get a double-digit vote share in Tamil Nadu in the Lok Sabha elections and emerge as a third major party in the southern state.

The IPS officer-turned-politician said he will not let the BJP play second fiddle to any political party in Tamil Nadu, where there is a great scope for his party to fill the void created by the AIADMK's "drifting away" from the Hindutva ideology after Jayalalithaa's passing.

PTI

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live: Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Electoral Officer Nikunja Dhal on poll preparation ahead of Phase 6,

- Voting will take place across 10,551 polling stations.

- Approximately 200 model polling stations will be set up for efficient management.

- Out of the total, 1,500 polling stations will be exclusively managed by women polling personnel.

- Additionally, 30 polling stations will be managed by personnel with disabilities (PWD).

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while addressing the public rally in Delhi took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“PM Modi was asked in an interview that in India rich people are getting richer, poor people are getting poorer, what is your opinion on this? PM Modi thought for 30 seconds and he said, should I make everyone poor?” Gandhi said.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live: Farmers march from Shambhu border to Patiala city to protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally scheduled in Patiala today.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live: BJP leader and former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh is expected to be absent from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Patiala today

His daughter, Jai Inder Kaur, confirmed that he is in Delhi and will not attend the rally.

Amarinder Singh has refrained from participating in any election campaign activities thus far.

Family members of Captain Amarinder Singh have consistently cited health reasons for his absence from the party's campaign. He has yet to engage in any political activities for the BJP.

(With inputs from Karam Prakash)

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live: Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani, commented on a recent judgment involving AAP leader and former Delhi minister Manish Sisodia.

According to her, the Delhi High Court's findings suggest a case of corruption against Sisodia and other individuals associated with him, amounting to Rs. 100 crores. Additionally, the court observed that Sisodia allegedly tampered with evidence and could influence witnesses who might come forward with information against the AAP. Irani urged citizens to review these findings, saying that individuals who entered politics under the guise of reform have allegedly resorted to embezzlement instead of serving the public interest.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live: Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM and BJP leader Keshav Prasad Maurya has claimed that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee issued OBC certificates to Bangladeshi and Rohingya intruders.

"Congress did injustice to the SC, ST and OBC in the country, it looted their rights...I welcome the decision of Calcutta High Court's decision to cancel all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010 - Mamata Banerjee had issued them all to Bangladeshi and Rohingya intruders...Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav are silent over this. Mamata Banerjee says that she will not accept this decision. If a CM doesn't accept the decision of a High Court, they don't have the right to continue on the post. It is a corrupt and intruder-supporting government. Be it Congress, SP, BSP or TMC is anti-backward, anti-Dalit," said Maurya as quoted by news agency ANI.