Lok Sabha Election 2024 Highlights: BJP fixes signage calling 'Sheesh Mahal-Corruption Ka Adda' near CM Kejriwal's residence

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public rally in Bihar's Munger on Friday.

Rajasthan Deputy CM and BJP leader Prem Chand Bairwa cast his vote at a polling booth in Dudu, Rajasthan on Friday.

Gujarat BJP president and party's candidate from Navsari Lok Sabha seat, CR Paatil held an election campaign in Navsari on Friday.

The nomination process for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls to be held on May 20 across 49 constituencies commenced on Friday. The Election Commission issued a notification on behalf of the President, kick-starting the nomination process.

The 49 seats are spread across eight states and the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.The states going for polls in phase five are Bihar, Jharkhand, Mahatrashra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

According to the notification, while May 3 is the last date for making nominations, May 4 has been appointed as the day for scrutiny of papers.Candidates can withdraw from electoral battle by May 6.

For the first time, the newly settled Bru voters of Tripura exercised their franchise for the General Elections to Lok Sabha 2024 on Friday.

Earlier, they had voted in the assembly elections held last year in March. The Bru migrants who had been staying in six relief camps of North Tripura district till 2020 now received permanent settlement in 12 locations across the state.

Since the morning, eligible voters from the Bru community turned up in large numbers at the polling stations.

At the Goenang Para polling station in the Tirthamukh area under the Gomati district, hundreds of Bru voters cast their votes.

Former Indian cricketer Javagal Srinath cast his vote at the polling booth in Mysuru in the ongoing Lok Sabha Polls on Friday.In a video posted by ANI, Srinath was seen showing off his inked finger after exercising his voting rights.

Actor Yash got his finger inked at the polling booth in Hosakerehalli, Bengaluru during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

The 'KGF' actor arrived at his designated polling station in a pink shirt and white trousers that he teamed up with sunglasses.

'777 Charlie' fame Rakshit Shetty also cast his vote in Udupi.

Exactly one-half of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Congress-ruled Karanataka is polling currently in the second phase.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday addressed a public meeting in West Medinipur.

As Supreme Court rejects plea for 100% EVM-VVPAT verification, Haryana CM Nayab Saini said, "The Supreme Court knows that; it has been observed by the court as well, however, in a way, opposition spreads false rumours attempting to create confusion among people. The Modi government is working in the favour of people with transparency."

AAP MP Swati Maliwal along with Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel campaigns in the East Delhi Lok Sabha area in support of AAP Lok Sabha candidate Kuldeep KumarBJP has fielded Harsh Malhotra from the East Delhi seat.

After casting his vote at a polling booth in Darjeeling, former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said "I was quite satisfied with the way people were coming in. I think the voter turnout was good, a lot of women voters turned up. It is very important in the second phase that there is a record turnout of voters. PM Modi has also said that your vote strengthens our democracy..."

"You are seeing the speeches of PM Modi, he is tense. Maybe in a few days, he will shed tears on the stage. He just tries to distract your attention 24 hours," he said.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari will field against Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar from the North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat

Voting is underway in 857 polling stations, spanning 13 assembly segments in eight districts. During the first phase of elections, parts of the Outer Manipur seat, covering 15 assembly segments, and 32 assembly segments of the Inner Manipur, went to polls on April 19.

Actor Kiccha Sudeepa cast his vote at the polling booth in Bengaluru, Karnataka on Friday during the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024.The actor, clad in white casual attire, arrived at his designated polling station in Karnataka to get his finger inked. Following his participation in the democratic process, Kiccha Sudeepa urged the citizens to exercise their right to vote.

As Supreme Court rejects plea for 100% EVM-VVPAT verification, Haryana CM Nayab Saini says, "The Supreme Court knows that; it has been observed by the court as well, however, in a way, opposition spreads false rumours attempting to create confusion among people. The Modi government is working in the favour of people with transparency."

Samajwadi Party chief and candidate from Kannauj Akhilesh Yadav says, "...Today every corrupt has reached in the godown (warehouse) of BJP...Those who keep saying 'parivarvaad', the truth is these BJP and NDA people are scared of PDA parivaar- 'pichre (backward), Dalit and alpasankhyak (minority)."

Samajwadi Party candidate from Mainpuri constituency Dimple Yadav says, "Samajwadi Party and the alliance is performing very well. All the regional parties across the country are winning against the BJP."

"In a situation, the people of Bihar and country are in today, they will solely take the decision. I can also say that I will cross this mark, however, it's people that it is going to make it happen."

Addressing a public rally in Guna, Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Congress manifesto says they will again implement personal laws... Can this country be governed according to the Sharia? Do you want triple talaq to be brought back? Rahul Gandhi can do all the appeasement he wants, but till the time BJP is there, we will not let personal laws been brought back. The country will be governed as per the Uniform Civil Code..."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a public rally and says, "INDIA bloc government will be the first one to provide right of apprenticeship program to every graduate... The graduates and diploma holders will have the right to ask for the employment for 1 year from the government. We are giving apprenticeship guarantee to the graduates... PM Narendra Modi has never waived off the loans of farmers. We will waive off the loans of farmers."

Uttar Pradesh DGP Prashant Kumar says, "Today in the second phase of Lok Sabha election, voting at 8 parliamentary constituencies in the 9 districts began at 7 pm. Peaceful voting is going on. No untoward incident has been reported till now. According to the information received, 24.5 per cent of voting has been recorded. All the personnel on the field are continuously monitoring the situation. As the standards of the EC force have been deployed. In this 239 companies of forces have been deployed...."

A voter turnout of 33.80 per cent was recorded till 1 pm in the five Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar where polling was underway in the second phase on Friday, officials said.The polling started at 7 am in Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Bhagalpur and Banka constituencies, and would continue till 6 pm, they said.

A voter turnout of 31.77 per cent was recorded till 1 pm on Friday in eight constituencies of Maharashtra in the second phase of the Lok Sabha polls, officials said. Voting started at 7 am in Akola, Amravati, Buldhana, Wardha and Yavatmal-Washim seats in the west Vidarbha region and Hingoli, Nanded and Parbhani constituencies in Marathwada, and will end at 6 pm, they said.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday said the BJP-led government at the Centre will implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the country as it is a guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and accused the Congress of advocating personal laws. Shah was addressing a rally in Piprai area of Ashoknagar district under Guna Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh, from where Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is contesting as a BJP candidate.

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the election commission (EC) on a PIL seeking to publicise None of the Above (NOTA), a fictional candidate. The PIL also seeks to disallow candidates who get less than NOTA to contest the bye-elections to the same constituency.

Assam 46.31% Bihar 33.80% Chhattisgarh 53.09% Jammu And Kashmir 42.88% Karnataka 38.23% Kerala 39.26% Madhya Pradesh 38.96% Maharashtra 31.77% Manipur 54.26% Rajasthan 40.39% Tripura 54.47% Uttar Pradesh 35.73% West Bengal 47.29%

NC leader Omar Abdullah, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti ask EC not to postpone polls in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat

"Look at the power of the country's democracy and Baba Saheb Ambedkar's Constitution, today the Supreme Court has given such a severe blow to those who intended to loot the ballot boxes that all their dreams have been shattered. Today the Supreme Court has clearly said that the old era of ballot paper will not return," he added.

"Today, the leaders of the INDI alliance find themselves confronted by the strength of our nation's democracy and the enduring principles of Baba Saheb Ambedkar's Constitution. The Supreme Court's decisive action has dealt a severe blow to those who sought to undermine the integrity of our electoral process, shattering their dreams of manipulating ballot boxes for personal gain."

"In my third term, I will make bigger decisions in your and also in the national interest," said PM Modi in Araria

"Porbandar is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. As I am campaigning, I am seeing the enthusiasm in the people here. The people have faith in PM Modi and trust the BJP. Every villager here feels like the government has reached out to them. This is the symbol of faith and trust in PM Modi. BJP will win all the seats."

A jawan of the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed Force deployed on poll duty died allegedly by suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband district on Friday, police said. Gariaband falls in the Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency where polling is underway in the second phase of the general elections. The incident took place around 9.30 am at a government school in Kudedadar village under Piparchhedi police station limits where security personnel on poll duty have been stationed, a police official here said.

After casting his vote, former Indian Cricketer Madan Lal says, "This is a big day for the democracy. People must go out and vote because if you don't, you have no right to criticise any party... The scope of sports in the country is growing, and not just cricket, the government must focus on all sports to encourage young talent..."

A 91-year-old woman passed away minutes after casting her vote in Karnataka's Hunsur on Friday. Hunsur comes under Mysore Lok Sabha constituency. Despite her advanced age, Puttamma exercised her democratic right. In the Mysore parliamentary constituency of Karnataka, voter turnout reached 25.09% by 11am during the second phase of the Lok Sabha .

As of 11:30 am during the 2024 phase 2 Lok Sabha elections, the voter turnout in Rajasthan stood at 26.8%.

EC cancelled the candidature of BJP candidate of Birbhum ex IPS officer Debashis Dhar as state government didn't issue him No Dues Certificate. Dhar said he will move Court as he felt a political design to cancel his candidature. Now Devtanu Bhattacharya is the official BJP candidate of Birbhum.

“The information that we are receiving is very encouraging for NDA. People are voting for the country’s progress and a strong leadership.”

The election held in the particular constituency shall be declared null and void and a fresh election shall be conducted to the constituency.The plea also sought to frame rules stating that the candidates who garner fewer votes than NOTA shall stand debarred from contesting all elections for a period of 5 years and to ensure proper and efficient reporting/publicity of NOTA as a “Fictional Candidate”.

I am very happy to vote today. Each vote counts. Don't hesitate to come out to vote," says Isro chief S Somanath in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram.

As polling for the second phase of the Lok Sabha election commenced in Noida's Gautam Buddha Nagar constituency on Friday morning, senior citizens were among the first to cast their votes. Many polling booths reported short queues and efficient voting processes within the initial hour, according to some voters.

Former Isro scientist Nambi Narayanan says, "I don't have a special message, but a normal message, particularly to those who are coming for the first time to vote; here in Kerala, we are about 2.77 crores of voters, out of which 5 lakhs or something voters are new for the first time. I think first of all, they should be happy as they are part of the system...In Kerala, the community is more educated, I hope they understand who rules the centre and state...They also must fathom who is suitable for them. No matter whether you like the system or not; you should vote as it matters a lot. The only message I will give to the younger generation is to make sure you vote and go to the polling booth at the earliest before the sun comes very hot..."

Google unveiled a Doodle marking the second phase of Lok Sabha elections that began at 7am on Friday. Phase 2 of Parliamentary elections is being held in 89 constituencies across 13 states and UT. By clicking of the Doodle, that shows an inked finger, users are brought search results for the most recent developments on the elections.

In the initial two hours of polling across 13 Lok Sabha constituencies and one assembly seat in Rajasthan on Friday, nearly 12 percent voter turnout was recorded. This percentage is slightly higher compared to the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, where the polling percentage in 12 Lok Sabha seats was 10.67 percent by the same time.

Addressing a public rally in North Malda, PM Narendra Modi says, "We say that the mangoes and 'makhana' produced by the farmers of Malda is world famous. The income of these farmers should increase, for which, we will set up a food processing industry. TMC demands their share in that also."

Voting is currently underway for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls, with Bihar casting its votes for five constituencies. The voter turnout in all five constituencies is as follows: Kishanganj - 21.94%, Katihar - 22.65%, Purnia - 25.9%, Bhagalpur - 19.27%, and Banka - 18.75%.