Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates: 'All political analysts saying BJP is going to turn the tables in Tamil Nadu,' says PM Modi

West Bengal: Left announces candidates for 2 more seats, says hopeful of alliance with Congress, ISF

The CPI(M)-led Left Front on Friday announced candidates for two more Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, expressing hope that the talks with the Congress and ISF over sharing of seats would conclude in a few days. Addressing a press conference, Left Front Chairman Biman Bose named CPI(M)'s Biplab Moitra for the Arambagh constituency and Sonamani Murmu Tudu for Jhargram.

He said the final list of the Left Front would be out in a few days after the talks conclude.

With this, the Left Front has announced candidates for 22 seats, while the Congress has named nominees for nine seats in the state. In the Coochbehar seat, which is going to the polls in the first phase on April 19, the Congress and Left Front constituent Forward Bloc have fielded candidates, complicating the discussions.

Congress party releases another list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. CP Joshi to contest from Rajasthan's Bhilwara, Damodar Gurjar to contest from Rajasthan's Rajsamand.

Lok Sabha polls: BJP Amaravati candidate Navneet Rana meets Amit Shah

Lok Sabha MP and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Amravati, Navneet Rana met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi along with her husband Ravi Rana."I am starting a new innings in life and I was here to seek his (Amit Shah) blessings. I conveyed to him on behalf of the people of Amravati that Amravati will definitely be one constituency which will contribute to PM Modi's dream of 'Ab Ki Baar 400 Paar'," Navneet Rana said speaking to ANI on Friday.Speaking about his first Lok Sabha win from Amravati, Rana said, "In 2019, when I contested the elections as an Independent, the people of Amaravati supported me despite the huge political wave and at a time when I did not do any work in my constituency, I think they had the confidence that their voice would be heard at the Parliament."The Amaravati MP said that she feels proud that the BJP has given her the responsibility to ensure the party's win in her constituency.

Bihar BJP releases campaign song for Lok Sabha polls

The state BJP on Friday launched the party's campaign song, 'Modi Sang Bihar', for the Lok Sabha polls. The song, which translates to Bihar with Modi, highlights the developmental works undertaken by the BJP-led government.

It also talks about the "guarantees" given by PM Modi to the people of the state, party leaders said.

The song was released by senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde. Among those present at the function were Deputy CMs Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha.

Tawde also inaugurated the party's media center in Patna.

"With the release of this song, we have formally launched our campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Bihar," he said.

The song talks about how Modi turned the dreams of people into reality, he said, claiming that the NDA will win all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.

"People of Bihar and BJP workers are preparing to ensure a third term for the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre," Tawde said. (PTI)

Chandrababu Naidu promises to develop Rayalaseema region if voted to power

TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday promised he will develop Rayalaseema region better than the Konaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. Addressing a public meeting at Banaganapalli in Nandyala district as part of his Prajagalam election campaign tour, Naidu said as soon as NDA forms the government in the state, he will take all measures to develop Rayalaseema region within 45 days.

He asserted the TDP's alliance with BJP and Janasena was only in view of the future of the state and not out of any personal interests.

"I will take the responsibility to ensure that injustice is not done to any minority community as is being campaigned," said Naidu.

Further, the former CM highlighted the TDP's main goal is to create assets and distribute them to the people, particularly the poor, and assured the people of Rayalaseema that on coming to power, NDA will initiate steps to supply Godavari river water to this region.

Congress candidate from Chevella seat Ranjith Reddy expresses gratitude to high command for giving ticket

Ranjith Reddy and BRS leader Danam Nagender joined the Congress in the presence of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Telangana Congress Incharge Deepa Das Munshi on Friday.

Ranjith Reddy expressed gratitude to the Congress high command for giving him an ticket from Chevella Lok Sabha constituency.

Speaking to ANI, Ranjith Reddy said, "I joined the Congress party to develop the Chevella Parliamentary constituency."

He also objected to BRS party working president KT Rama Rao's comment that he joined Congress for his benefit.

Earlier Congress released its eighth list of candidates for Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Jharkhand.

In Telangana, Athram Suguna has been fielded from Adilabad, Tatiparthi Jeevan Reddy to contest from Nizamad, Neelam Madhu from Medak, and Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy will contest from Bhongir.

Lok Sabha polls: chief minister Manik Saha attends bike rally in west Tripura

Tripura chief minister Manik Saha attended a grand bike rally at Mandai in Mohanpur, in support of West Tripura Lok Sabha constituency candidate Biplab Kumar Deb."Participated in a bike rally from Jiraniya Bridge Choumuhani today with the determination to make Bharatiya Janata Party emerge victorious in West Tripura Lok Sabha seat," the Chief Minister said in a post on 'X'.Earlier on Thursday, Saha led a massive rally in Dhalai, Ambassa for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kriti Singh Debbarma. Saha expressed confidence that the BJP will register victory in the upcoming general elections.Biplab Kumar Deb filed his nomination papers on Wednesday in the presence of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.The elections are scheduled to be held in two phases in the state. The West Tripura seat will go to the polls on April 19, while the East Tripura seat will witness voting on April 26. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.

While interacting with BJP Karyakartas from Tamil Nadu via the NaMo App, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says "All the political analysts are saying that BJP is going to turn the tables in Tamil Nadu. The anger against the ruling party in Tamil Nadu will be vented out during the election."

'Drugs will ruin the lives of our children and our families,' says PM Modi

While interacting with BJP Karyakartas from Tamil Nadu via the NaMo App, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says "Drugs will ruin the lives of our children and our families. All the drug caches that have been seized in the past days, somewhere in its godfather is linked to Tamil Nadu, this is a matter of great concern and hence all of you must also inform people that we have to save our families, our children, and our future generations. BJP is enough to fight against the drugs that are entering Tamil Nadu and the drug mafias."

Kamlesh Shah, Congress MLA from Amarwara in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district, joins BJP

While interacting with BJP Karyakartas from Tamil Nadu via the NaMo App, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says "Although whenever I come to Tamil Nadu, I start my talk with Vanakkam, but today's Vanakkam is very special for me, because when one worker greets another worker with Vanakkam, then there is a sense of belonging among the workers...No matter how big a person is, whenever he meets his school friends, even after 25 or 30 years, no one is small or big then, everyone meets each other happily. Similarly, when there is a program related to workers, I too get filled with joy. I have worked a large part of my life as a worker like all of you and that is why I feel very good today..."

I could see the hard work of Karyakartas, and I felt proud to have such Karyakartas: PM Modi

While interacting with BJP Karyakartas from Tamil Nadu via the NaMo App, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says "As the election campaign (for Lok Sabha) is moving forward, the candidates have been decided and issues are clear, I thought of talking with our Karyakartas. When I last visited Tamil Nadu for public events, I got the blessings of the people and it made me very happy. I could see the hard work of Karyakartas, and I felt proud to have such Karyakartas...

Jharkhand: AJSU Party re-nominates sitting MP for Giridih seat

AJSU Party, an ally of the BJP-led NDA in Jharkhand, on Friday re-nominated its sitting MP Chandra Prakash Chaudhary from Giridih Lok Sabha constituency, a party official said. His name was decided during the party's parliamentary board meeting chaired by AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto in Ranchi.

Mahto said the party would contest from Giridih constituency as per the seat-sharing agreement with the BJP.

"The party has decided to field Chandra Prakash Chaudhary again from the seat to ensure a bigger victory for the NDA in Jharkhand. In the previous Lok Sabha polls, Chaudhary had won the seat by a huge margin. We will win the seat by a much bigger margin this time," Mahto said.

Chaudhary said he would continue working for the people of Giridih and Jharkhand.

"In 2019, Giridih was in the 61st position among aspirational districts in the country and now it is in the third position, which is a great achievement. I will continue the development work in Giridih," he said.

Congress to stage a nationwide protest on the Income Tax notice to Congress Party Congress General Secretary organisation KC Venugopal has directed all the state units to demonstrate at PCC headquarters and at district Congress Committee headquarters on the issue tomorrow.

TDP announces list of candidates for 9 Assembly seats, 4 Lok Sabha seats

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has announced its final list of candidates for nine Assembly seats (MLA), and four Lok Sabha seats (MP) on Friday.
Former minister Kimidi Kala Venkata Rao was fielded from Cheepururpalli to fight Education Minister Botcha Satyanarayana of the YSR Congress. Another former minister, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, will be contesting from Bhimili.


The canididates for other Assembly seats were also anounced that includes Killu Venkata Ramesh has been fielded from Paderu (ST), Dr. Gottipati Lakshmi from Darsi, Sugavasi Subrahmanyam from Rajampet, Veerabhadra Goud from Alur, Gummanur Jairam from Guntakal, Daggupati Venkateshwara Prasad from Anantapur Urban and Kandikunta Venkata Prasad from Kadiri.

Meanwhile for the Lok Sabha elections, the party has fielded Kalisetty Appala Naidu from Vizianagaram, Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy from Ongole, Ambika Lakshminarayana from Anantapur and Chadipiralla Bhupesh Reddy from Kadapa.

People of India have always blessed me: Kangana Ranaut

BJP candidate from Mandi Lok Sabha seat, actor Kangana Ranaut says, "Rahul Gandhi says he wants to destroy 'Shakti'. Who writes such speeches for him? I want the people of Mandi to give an answer to those who have spoken indecently about women. People of India have always blessed me."

Athawale meets Fadnavis, complains about RPI(A) not being given a single LS seat to contest

Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Friday met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and complained about his party being ignored in seat sharing talks for the Lok Sabha polls. Athawale told PTI his Republican Party of India (A) was not allotted a single Lok Sabha seat in the state and that he had apprised Fadnavis he was keen on Shirdi. "But Fadnavis said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde wanted Shirdi since sitting MP Sadashiv Lokhande is from the latter's Shiv Sena," said Athawale, who had contested unsuccessfully from the seat in 2009. Athawale said he had sought a cabinet berth in the Narendra Modi government post the Lok Sabha polls and that he renominated to the Rajya Sabha when his term ends in 2026. He said RPI(A) must be given seven to eight seats in the Assembly polls in Maharashtra later this year, a ministerial berth in the state government, representation in the legislative council, as well as posts in two state owned corporations. Fadnavis has said he would discuss these demands with the BJP leadership and ensure it is done, Athawale claimed. "BJP leader Pravin Darekar has been appointed as pointsman to address issues concerning the RPI(A) in the alliance," the Union minister said.

Odisha: Surendra Singh Bhoi quits Congress, joins Biju Janata Dal

Ahead of the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls, Surendra Singh Bhoi quit the Congress and joined the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) at Sankha Bhawan on Friday.Bhoi was district Congress Committee (DCC) president of Balangir district. Bhoi resigned from the primary membership, the post of President DCC, Balangir, as well as AICC membership of the Congress party on March 28.It is to be noted that Surendra Singh Bhoi quit after remaining in the Congress party for 38 years.

BJP candidate from Amravati, Navneet Rana along with her husband Ravi Rana met Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

BJP's Rekha Patra moves SC, women panels against TMC for 'violation' of privacy

BJP's Basirhat candidate Rekha Patra, who had highlighted the plight of women in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, has lodged a complaint with the National Commission for Women against TMC nominee Debangshu Bhattacharyya for alleged violation of her privacy. She also shot off a letter to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, alleging that Bhattacharyya, the TMC nominee from Tamluk Lok Sabha seat and head of the party's social media cell, made the details of her personal information and bank accounts public."Recently, through a post on Debangshu Bhattacharyya's Facebook account, the TMC candidate from Tamluk has shared the private details of my client, such as phone number, bank account details, Swasthya Sathi scheme details, as well as the Duare Sarkar scheme details, which is a clear violation of my client's right to privacy and an outrage to her modesty by making her personal details public," Patra's lawyer said in the letter.

Is this LS polls or local election, Annamalai asks, commenting on DMK, AIADMK campaigns

BJP Tamil Nadu unit chief K Annamalai on Friday said the election campaign of the ruling DMK appeared to be one for state-level polls and that of the main opposition AIADMK looked like an election for civil polls. The BJP leader blamed the DMK regime for the state's "huge borrowings" and appealed to the people to vote for NDA candidates for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to return to power, to ensure continuous growth. In his poll campaign from an open vehicle, Annamalai said that under PM Modi, the BJP regime has taken the nation's economy to the fifth spot from the 11th position and that India would soon be the third largest economy in the world. Only when the economy grows, people will have income in their hands, he said, and to ensure the nation's growth, Modi should be the Prime Minister.

TMC seeks ECI's intervention against 'misuse' of central agencies by BJP

Trinamool Congress leaders on Monday approached the Election Commission of India alleging misuse of central agencies by the ruling BJP, and sought its intervention. The TMC leaders will meet the chief election commissioner and election commissioners on Monday to raise their concerns. Read more

BJP woos Yadav community on Scindia's home turf in Ashok nagar

Eyeing Yadav votes, who form a large chunk of voters in Union aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia's Guna constituency, the top BJP leader of the state including chief minister Mohan Yadav, Jyoptiraditya Scindia and BJP state president Vishnu Dutt Sharma said at a public meeting in Ashoknagar that the Congress had not allowed late Subhash Yadav to become the chief minister while the BJP has given two Yadav chief ministers in MP. Read more

Battle of heavyweights: BJP & Cong put 2 ex-CMs in fray

For the first time since 1998, two former chief ministers have been fielded as candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh — senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh from Rajgarh constituency and Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Vidisha. Both these constituencies go for polling in the third phase on May 7. Read more

Rahul Gandhi promises 50% reservation for women in government jobs if Congress voted to power

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that his party will reserve 50 per cent of government jobs for women if it is voted to power.Asserting that powerful women will change the destiny of the country, the former Congress chief asked why, even today only one in three women is employed and why is there only one woman in 10 government jobs."Isn't the population of women in India 50 per cent? Is the presence of women in higher secondary and higher education not 50 per cent? If so, then why is their share in the system so low. Congress wants, 'Aadhi Abaadi Poora Haq', we understand that women's potential will be fully utilised only when women have equal contribution in the government running the country," he said in a post in Hindi on X.

Kangana Ranaut launches campaign with roadshow in Mandi, says development is BJP's main agenda

Actor Kangana Ranaut began her Lok Sabha election campaign in Mandi constituency on Friday with a roadshow, hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with "Jai Shri Ram" and asserting that the BJP's main agenda is development. A large number of people turned up to see the Bollywood actor, a four-time National Award winner who was born in Mandi's Bhambla town.

Amidst the chants of "Jai Shri Ram", the BJP workers welcomed Ranaut by showering flowers on her and dancing to the beat of drums.

Ranaut started the roadshow in her home town with "Modi Ji ko Jai Shri Ram". She hailed other BJP leaders with similar slogans.

"Development is BJP's main agenda and we will spare no effort to win the elections under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi," she said, adding that the "people of Mandi will tell what is in their hearts".

United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) president Pramod Boro says, "Congress is going to lose this election (Lok Sabha). I don't think that Congress will be in any position in the nation and it's not because of others but because of their very own decision and policies. They have done wrong things in the past while being in power and in present also, their leaders aren't with the people. They don't have any vision or mission to take India to new heights. People are very much convinced that Congress is not in a position to lead the country."

Union Minister and RPI(A) chief Ramdas Athawale met Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis at his residence in Mumbai today. Meeting held on seat sharing for Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Odisha MLA Surendra Singh Bhoi quits Congress after 38 years; two leaders leave BJP too

Three-time Congress MLA and former minister Surendra Singh Bhoi resigned from the primary membership of the party after 38 years and joined the ruling BJD on Friday. Two BJP leaders – Nilgiri MLA Sukant Nayak and the party's Cuttack district president Prakash Chandra Behera - also resigned from their party and are likely to join the BJD.

In a letter to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Surendra Singh Bhoi said he has resigned from the post of Bolangir district Congress committee (DCC) president as well as the party.

"I beg to say here that due to personal reasons I would like to resign from the primary membership, and the post of president DCC, Bolangir as well as AICC membership. With great honour, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to serve the party and my state for 38 years with passion, dedication and discipline," he said in the letter.

He joined the BJD at Sankha Bhawan, the headquarters of the ruling party.

BJP's Rekha Patra lodges complaint against TMC leader for 'violation' of privacy

BJP's Basirhat candidate Rekha Patra, who had highlighted the plight of women in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali, has lodged a complaint with the National Commission for Women against TMC nominee Debangshu Bhattacharyya for alleged violation of her privacy. She also shot off a letter to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, alleging that Bhattacharyya, the TMC nominee from Tamluk Lok Sabha seat and head of the party's social media cell, made the details of her personal information and bank accounts public.

LS polls: More than 79,000 violations reported so far through C-Vigil app, says EC

The Election Commission (EC) on Friday said that the effectiveness of its C-Vigil mobile application in enabling citizens to report violations of the poll code.Since the announcement of the Lok Sabha election, the EC has received over 79,000 complaints, with more than 99 percent of them resolved. Close to 89 percent of these complaints were resolved within 100 minutes, demonstrating swift action.The majority of complaints, around 73 percent, were related to illegal hoardings and banners, totaling over 58,500. Read more

TMC leaders arrive at the Election Commission office

"... A memorandum has been submitted to the ECI, and ECI will be giving us time on Monday again. We will have a long talk with them and express our concerns... AITC is extremely disturbed by the way Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren was arrested just before the elections. Now Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has been announced, ECI is in total control of the situation, even then, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has been arrested. We are requesting the EC to take up all powers they have at their disposal via Article 324...Their target is West Bengal... They have reached upto Mahua Moitra and disturbing AITC candidates who are campaigning... All tiers of the West Bengal government are being disturbed on the ground... The central investigative agencies are using a discriminatory approach..." says TMC leader Shashi Panja

Archana Patil Chakurkar, daughter-in-law of senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil meets BJP leader and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis

She is likely to join the BJP tomorrow in Mumbai.

Mahagathbandhan announces Lok Sabha seat-sharing for Bihar

NEW DELHI: The Mahagathbandhan in Bihar has solidified the seat-sharing agreement, with the RJD slated to nominate candidates for 26 seats. The Congress will nominate its candidates for 9 seats, including, while the Left secured 5 seats. Read more

Congress is likely to release its Manifesto for 2024 Lok Sabha Polls on April 5 in Delhi: Congress Sources

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami campaigns for the party's candidate Anil Baluni, in Tharali

He said "India's flag is flying high before the world. Several schemes are helping the youth go ahead. India is also going ahead...Considering the entire country - the 140 crore people - his family, PM Modi is working for the upliftment of everyone..."

Vasant More meets VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar in Mumbai

Vasant More quit MNS a few days back and is seeking a Lok Sabha ticket from Pune.

Congress says it has received fresh I-T notices of over Rs 1,800 crore

The Congress on Friday said it has received fresh notices from the income-tax department, asking it to pay Rs 1,823.08 crore, and accused the ruling BJP of indulging in "tax terrorism" to financially cripple the opposition party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Adressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here along with Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, party treasurer Ajay Maken alleged that the BJP is in serious violation of income-tax laws and said the I-T department should raise a demand of more than Rs 4,600 crore from the saffron party for such violations. Read more

I-T dept has launched premeditated, diabolical campaign against Cong by reopening matters of old returns on baseless grounds: Maken

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says

"The four ways adopted by the BJP - prepaid bribe, postpaid bribe, extortion from companies by threatening them through ED, CBI and Income Tax, and fourth was shell companies. The Supreme Court has said that the electoral bond scheme is unconstitutional."

The Flying Squad Team conducts vehicle checking ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, in Tiruchirappalli

BJP candidate from Mandi and actor Kangana Ranaut addresses people as she conducts a road show here

"...Don't think that Kangana is a heroine, that she is a star. Consider Kangana your sister, your daughter. Everyone is my family..."

Lok Sabha Election: RJD, Congress and Left leaders hold a joint press conference and announce seat allocation

RJD to field its candidates on 26 seats, including on Purnea and Hajipur. Congress on 9 seats, including Kishanganj and Patna SahibLeft on 5 seats

Lok Sabha Election: On BJP fielding Krishnanagar royal family's 'Rani Maa' Amrita Roy against her, Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra says

"People of Bengal know only Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Rani Rashmoni. Iske upar kitne raja hai, kitni rani hai, kisi ko maloom nahi hain..."

Tamil Nadu Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin campaigns in Ponneri, Thiruvallur for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections that will begin on 19th April

Lok Sabha Election: Actor-turned-politician and BJP's candidate from Himachal Pradesh, Kangana Ranaut holds roadshow in Mandi