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

Addressing a public rally in North Malda, PM Narendra Modi says, "Nothing can happen in Bengal without corruption. They did not even spare farmers... TMC has regularly played with the future of Bengal's youth... 26000 families were left jobless, along with the burden of loans they had taken to pay TMC to secure those jobs."

People have given me the same enthusiasm, support and goodwill in the three elections that I am going to get. I am confident that I will emerge as the winner," he further added.

"There was a time when Bengal was the driver of India's development. Be it social reforms, scientific advancements, philosophical advancements, spiritual advancements, and even sacrificing life for the country. There was no sphere of life which was not led by Bengal. But first the Left, and then TMC rule, sabotaged the greatness and respect of this state and even stopped development. Under the rule of TMC, only one thing prevails in Bengal, which is thousands of crores of scams. "

"Karnataka is going to poll. Karnataka is giving a big result. The people are very happy that whatever we have spoken in the last elections, we have delivered. There will be a big turnout. The women across the party line are favouring us."

"We saw a letter from the Election Commission in which feedback is being taken from the people here. The Election Commission says that many people and parties here have asked to postpone the elections. I want to know from the EC that Mughal Road has been opened from April 8, what is the problem now? The EC has not postponed the elections to date due to logistics... My request to the EC and BJP is that you have snatched everything from the people of J&K, now you want to snatch this right from them as well that whom they want to elect, whom they want to send to Parliament. You are doing this conspiracy only to keep Mehbooba Mufti out of Parliament ..."

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says, "This is PM Narendra Modi's agenda of polarisation. We have always said that we want to empower the weak sections of society like SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, and women. We want rapid economic development in the country and the benefits of it to reach everyone... It shouldn't be that the beneficiaries are mere 20-21 billionaires of the country and the price is paid by crores of people... The reality behind their slogan of '400 paar' is that they want to change the constitution... They are against reservation. They want to remove this constitution, and RSS has always been against reservation. The census was supposed to be conducted in 2021, but till now it hasn't been done because a census would have revealed the population of SCs and STs. Our constitution offers reservations based on population. We have no hidden agenda. Our agenda is clearly written in our manifesto..."

Advocate Prashant Bhushan says, "We said that the EVMs have a programmable memory because symbol loading takes place and that is why, they can be manipulated if you uploaded a malicious program. That is why, it is essential that that paper trail audit of VVPAT is done and all VVPAT slips are counted. Since black glass was installed even in VVPATs we were requesting that it be replaced with transparent glass or the slip be handed over to the voter and then put in a ballot box so that it can be counted later. Supreme Court rejected all of our demands and said that if a barcode is put on all ballot paper, then examine if it can be mechanically counted by machine. They also said that Symbol Loading Unit should also be sealed for at least 45 days after elections so that if a petition is filed and court orders something, it can be taken care of..."

An estimated 9.71% of over 77 lakh electors have cast their votes till 9 am in the five Lok Sabha constituencies of Assam where polling are underway in the second phase while over 15% turnout has been recorded in Manipur and over 16% turnout recorded in Tripura. Polling is underway in Darrang-Udalguri constituency, newly created by redrawing the boundaries of the erstwhile Mangaldai LS seat by the delimitation last year, Diphu and Nagaon in Brahmaputra valley and Silchar and Karimganj in Barak valley of Assam.

The Supreme Court on Friday rejected all petitions seeking 100% cross-verification of votes cast using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta passed the order. While passing the order, the apex court said that democracy is all about harmony and trust among its different pillars.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah shows his inked finger after casting his vote at a polling booth in Siddaramana Hundi village of Chamarajanagar.

The voting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 is currently under way. As many as 1,202 candidates are contesting the polls in Phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 on Friday. The key candidates in Phase 2 polls include Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, BJP's youth icon Tejasvi Surya, and Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar. There are four candidates from the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency. Full list here

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says, "...The excitement within the country and the enthusiasm and optimism among the people for the work of PM Modi in 10 years - going by that we can say that people are blessing the works of the PM and we will receive help in fulfilling the 'Sankalp' of Modi government within the country. The country wants to see work and PM Modi has given a new direction to the country. His 10-year regime is a golden era in independent India...Today, India is established as a rapidly progressing economy...I believe that when the results come on 4th June, BJP-NDA Government will be formed once again under the leadership of PM Modi."

He is also the state brand ambassador for the Election Commission's SWEEP (Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation) program.

As polling for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections began, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday urged voters to come out and vote to protect democracy from the clutches of dictatorship. In a fervent appeal to voters, he said this is not an ordinary election and they should not be swayed by any diversionary tactics.

Congress MP and candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor says, "...This election is about far greater than my own future. It is about India's future. It is about changing the government in Delhi. We are here to restore democracy, restore faith in diversity and restore India's pluralism...The Left also claims they are also critical of BJP but they they've never said a world against BJP."

An estimated 9.21 per cent turnout was reported during the first two hours since voting began for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in 14 constituencies in Karnataka on Friday. Long queues were seen at polling booths, as people, especially senior citizens and morning walkers came out to vote during the early hours since the voting began at 7 am. According ot election officials, voter turnout till 9 am was about 9.21 per cent. Out of 14 segments that are going to polls today, highest turnout of 14.33 per cent was recorded in Dakshina Kannada, followed by Udupi-Chikmagalur 12.82 per cent, and least 7.70 per cent in Chamarajanagar and Mandya.

Congress leader KC Venugopal on Friday singled out his INDIA Bloc partner, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), for having a deal with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Speaking on the reported discussions between LDF convener EP Jayarajan and BJP leader Prakash Javadekar, KC Venugopal told ANI, "The two met and held discussion for a long time. It is shocking news. Jayarajan also admitted that Javadekar came and met him. Prakash Javadekar, who is the BJP Kerala in-charge, is saying that it was a personal meeting. How can it be? There is a clear-cut deal between the BJP and CPM."

Polling is underway in 88 constituencies across 13 states and Union territories in the second phase of Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Congress has fielded Prahlad Gunjal against BJP's Om Birla in Kota. Rajasthan is voting on 13 seats today in the second phase.

Polling percentage till 9 am, Nanded Lok Sabha constituency: 7.73%, Parbhani Lok Sabha constituency: 9.72%, and Hingoli Lok Sabha constituency: 7.23% (approx)

Voting percentage at different locations in Gautam Buddha Nagar Lok Sabha constituency - Noida 10.15%, Dadri 12.12%, Jewar 12.96%, Sikandrabad 13.54%, Khurja 13.59%

Independent candidate from Purnea, Pappu Yadav says, "Punea will write history, it will also give an answer to hatred...leaders from all political parties come together to finish Pappu Yadav but voters have come together for Pappu. Delhi and Patna have united. There were attempts to finish me...."

BJP candidate from Bengaluru South Tejasvi Surya says, "Today is a celebration day in Karnataka. it is a festival of democracy. Millions of people will go out and vote... This is not just a right, but also a duty, because if we don't vote, we are not registering our voice, and contributing meaningfully to a democracy... Just like every year, more senior citizens are seen at the booths, they are coming out in big numbers to vote. I wish young people draw inspiration from senior citizens and also come out in big numbers and vote... Congress party has become absolutely frustrated. Survey after survey shows that it may not win more than 30 seats... The more personal attacks and baseless allegations they make against the PM, history has shown that the Prime Minister has only gotten stronger and the BJP has only gotten popular... The fact that Mallikarjun Kharge wants to meet the Prime Minister to explain his party manifesto indicates that perhaps even the Congress realises that it will be the PM who will implement some good ideas that may be present in the Congress manifesto... Perhaps this is the admission of Congress that they are not coming anywhere near power for the next two decades."

Appealing to the voters to come out and cast their votes in large numbers in phase 2 of Lok Sabha polls, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday said that it is an important day for "future of Thiruvananthapuram" as the constituency has witnessed "very little progress in the last 15-20 years." BJP leader Chandrasekhar faces a stiff challenge from the former diplomat and senior Congress leader Tharoor, who is seeking a third term in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency.

Congress leader and candidate, Shashi Tharoor is up against BJP candidate and Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency.

"Because they (Congress) have no issue on their own in order to say 'this is what we will do for the people of India, take India forward, bring opportunities for the youth, take India in a global leadership role', they have none of these positive agendas to speak about. So they are constantly hitting at the Prime Minister, they are doing personal attacks, and even worse, they are bringing in things that they cannot implement. So part of this narrative is this property tax business," she said.

2024 India Elections: Voters waiting in queues to cast their votes at a booth in Bhagalpur, Bihar

Polling in all the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala for the 2024 general election commenced at 7am on Friday amidst tight security arrangements with the state witnessing 5.62% turnout after the first hour of voting. People queued up since early morning outside the over 25,000 polling booths in the state to avoid the hot weather that was likely as the day progressed.

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says, "... I want more and more people to come out and vote...I think it is clear that people want a stable government, they want good policies, progress and development and that is why they are coming out. They want to see PM Modi continue his term ..."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to speak at two election rallies in Bihar on Friday. The first rally will take place at Forbesganj airfield in the Araria constituency, expected to commence around 12:35. Following this, he will address another rally at Munger airport at 14:30.

BJP leader Vasundhara Raje says, "I feel, that with the kind of voting we are seeing this time, BJP will win again and Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister again. In this constituency, our candidate Dushyant Singh has received good support and he will have a historic win."

Rajasthan BJP state president CP Joshi says, "... Rajasthan is the land of heroes... This land never accepted Mughal invaders... The politics of appeasement is flourishing somewhere under the rule of Congress on this land... BJP will win all 25 seats with a huge majority in Rajasthan..."

Lok Sabha Election 2024: Voters waiting in queues to cast their votes at Bhagalpur Nagar Nigam's 'ideal booth'

Polling began on seven Lok Sabha seats in northeast at 7 am on Friday amid warning of rain and inclement weather from IMD which may play spoilsport in the second phase of the in some of the constituencies.

Voting for the five Lok Sabha seats in Bihar began amid tight security arrangements on Friday morning. Polling started at 7 am in Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Bhagalpur, and Banka and will continue till 6 pm, a senior official told TOI. Over 93 lakh electors, including 45.15 lakh women and 306 belonging to the third gender, will decide the fate of 50 candidates, including three women, in these five constituencies.

"My vote stands for my right, for my power to chose who represents me, who will be my voice in the Parliament... It is very important to choose a candidate whom you believe in, and I have voted for the candidate I believe in and to the manifesto they have brought in and for the change, because of the hatred and divisive politics we have seen in the last decade," said actor Prakash Raj

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with her father, arrives at BES polling booth in Bengaluru to cast her vote in the Lok Sabha elections. Karnataka is voting on 14 seats today in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections.

"Our assessment is that we will get all 20 seats. There is a silent trend against the current state and Central government. I hope Congress-led INDIA front will come back," says Kerala LoP VD Satheesan in Ernakulam.

"Once in every five years, we get an opportunity to execute the right given by our constitution, to chose whatever candidate from whichever party he/she is, to govern us. Today is a very happy day. Today is the day when we should all be enthusiastic to exercise our power," Murthy.

"I want to tell everyone- don't sit at home, come out and vote, choose your leader. I always feel that urban people vote less as compared to those in rural areas. I request youngsters to come out and vote," said Murthy.

Voters begin to queue at a polling station in Thrissur as Kerala votes on all 20 parliamentary constituencies in Lok Sabha polls today. Additionally, voters also lined up outside a polling station in Balurghat in West Bengal, to vote in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls which begins at 7am Out of 42 constituencies in West Bengal, voting is on three parliamentary constituencies in the state today.

Mock poll underway at a polling booth in Chattisgarh's Kanker as voting will be held in three parliamentary constituencies in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections todayThere are a total of 11 parliamentary constituencies in the State. In the third phase of the elections, the state will vote on 7 seats on 7th May.

"Since the last 15-20 years, there has been very little progress in Thiruvananthapuram and in the lives of many people who are suffering from many problems that have not been solved...I request all of you to come out and vote today. This is an important day, not just for democracy, but for the future of Thiruvananthapuram and the future of your own families and children. It is something that we all must take seriously. Voting is a fundamental duty of every citizen and I hope everybody comes out and votes for change," says Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

"We have been preparing for the last 2 years. The arrangements are in place at all the booths. All arrangements have been made for the voters including drinking water, fans. The voters need to come out and vote. Security has been kept in mind. There is absolutely no information of violence from anywhere. Still, forces will be present on all booths," says CEC Rajiv Kumar.