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Indian Politics Highlights: 'Modi not a Hindu as he did not shave his head after his mother's death,' Lalu attacks PMIn a massive show of strength, I.N.D.I.A. leaders held a 'Jan Vishvas Rally' in Patna where major leaders of the Opposition took on the BJP and also Nitish Kumar. Earlier in the day, BJP MP Dilip Ghosh accused the TMC of 'shielding rapists' and 'exploiting' women's dignity. Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar criticised the BJP for 'tarnishing' Bengaluru's reputation by 'politicising' the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. Meanwhile, Bhojpuri artist Pawan Singh, BJP's nominee from Asansol, withdrew from the Lok Sabha race after outrage on social media. Former Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan retired from politics following his exclusion from BJP's Chandani Chowk Lok Sabha seat candidacy. Thank you for being with DH as we tracked the latest political developments from across India.
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<div class="paragraphs"><p>RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the 'Jan Vishwas Rally', at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna</p></div>

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the 'Jan Vishwas Rally', at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna

PTI

Congress slams BJP for 'peak crime' in Chhattisgarh

BJP's 1st list of LS candidates: TMC says little representation of women

As the BJP announced its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the opposition Trinamool Congress wondered why so few women have figured in the list, claiming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's promises to empower women have never been acted on by the saffron camp. (PTI)

TMC 'protecting rapists, looting women's modesty', says BJP MP Dilip Ghosh

BJP leader Hema Malini on her candidature from Mathura constituency for upcoming LS polls

'BJP hurting Bengaluru & Karnataka's image by politicising Rameshwaram Cafe blast': D K Shivakumar

Watch our video and what else the Karnataka Deputy CM had to say about the blast:

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Lok Sabha seat-sharing talks a cliffhanger after splits and realignments in Maharashtra

As per sources, the BJP is expected to contest more than 30 seats, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which has sought 10 seats, is likely to get four. CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena wants to contest 18 seats, the number won by the undivided Sena in the 2019 polls.

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File Photo: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (C) with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis (R) and Ajit Pawar.

Credit: PTI Photo

'Pressure tactics' will not salvage Sukhu's government, say Himachal Independent MLAs

Pressure tactics, such as targeting businesses of Independent MLAs and their families, are deemed futile and will not salvage the government, stated two Independents who voted against the Congress in the recent Rajya Sabha polls in Himachal Pradesh.

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Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu addresses the media after a meeting with Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania at the Vidhan Sabha, in Shimla, Friday, March. 1, 2024.

Credit: PTI Photo

LS polls: 'Overseas Friends of BJP' kicks off US campaign to support party

Plans are afoot to make around 25 lakh calls from the US to India urging Indians to vote for the BJP and re-elect Prime Minister Modi for a third consecutive term.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi with BJP National President JP Nadda and others during the BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting to finalise the first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, in New Delhi, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024.

PTI Photo

Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh, BJP candidate from Bengal's Asansol, opts out of Lok Sabha polls

Bhojpuri singer and actor Pawan Singh, the BJP candidate from West Bengal's Asansol, announced on Sunday that he would not be contesting the Lok Sabha polls from the constituency.

Earlier in the day, TMC MP Saket Gokhale targeted the BJP over Singh's nomination, stating that "Singh makes videos that are extremely VULGAR & misogynist & targets the women of Bengal (sic)".

"Truth is Modi & BJP have rewarded Pawan Singh with a Lok Sabha ticket mainly for his vulgar & misogynist videos targeting the women of Bengal," Gokhale's tweet read.

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Harsh Vardhan, BJP veteran & former health minister, quits politics a day after party denies him Lok Sabha ticket

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran and former union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Sunday announced his retirement from politics.

This came a day after the BJP announced its first list of candidates for Lok Sabha polls, dropping two-term MP Harsh Vardhan from Chandani Chowk Lok Sabha seat and naming Praveen Khandelwal as its candidate instead.

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Former Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

Credit: PTI Photo

Rahul, Kharge join Tejashwi's 'Jan Vishwas Rally' in Patna

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is also attending.

'Singhasan khali karo': CPI(ML) Liberation leader Dipankar Bhattacharya at Jan Vishwas Rally

"BJP government protecting Bilkis Bano's rapists, as well as those responsible for violence against women in Manipur," says Bhattacharya.

"Two-thirds of Bihar surviving on less than Rs 10K a month; people demand accountability from CM Nitish Kumar": Bhattacharya.

CPI(ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya.

Credit: PTI Photo.

Not BJP's government, but RSS': CPI's D Raja at Jan Vishwas Rally

"Democracy is dying. India is becoming a theocratic state. We must remain secular": D Raja, General secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI).

CPI general secretary D Raja

Credit: PTI photo

'Modi hatao desh bachao,' says CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury

"Modi is turning India into an authoritarian, fascist, theocratic state," says Yechury.

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury.

Credit: PTI Photo

Akhilesh Yadav addressing Oppn rally now

On one side there are people who want to save constitution while on the other there are people who want to destroy it
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

People gave BJP power in UP but double engine govt gave them only unemployment, says Akhilesh

A file photo of SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav.

Credit: PTI Photo

"Agencies arrive at our home because it is politics... they (BJP) are afraid that this alliance will try to dislodge them from power... that is why i tell you remove BJP save constitution, remove BJP get employed, remove BJP save reservation."

Rahul Gandhi starts addressing the rally now

"Today there is a battle of ideologies in India. On one side is hate and on the other is love."

We open shops of love in market of hatred, says Rahul explaining the core of Oppn alliance

"GST and Demonetisation hurt the small businessman and it has become a monopoly of big industrialists... Modi has handed over everything to one person and nothing is left for you people."

Rahul again talks about lack of representation of SCs, STs and OBCs in all fields

Not afraid of BJP-RSS, we are ready to die for country and make an I.N.D.I.A. govt, says Rahul in mega Bihar rally

Modi is 'Jhoothon ka Sardaar', Kharge takes jibe at PM

'Duping people is the only guarantee of PM,' says Kharge

"While I.N.D.I.A. bloc people do what they say. Today I.N.D.I.A. is fighting Modi. Till the time you wont remove Modi, the country will not prosper... If you would not remove Modi then democracy, constitution will not survive. I It is your duty to save our Constitution."

We will never bow down to pressure of agencies, claims Kharge

Lalu Yadav hails Mandal Commission as step that empowered backward classes

"In 1990s, backward classes were kept away from representation... We gave them power. In this Gandhi Maidaan only we brought all backward classes and told them to address rallies and not just in Bihar but in all of country we applied Mandal Commission. And as a result, those who call themselves big people can not show eyes to the poor. At that time there used to be wells. If anyone from upper caste used a well and a lower caste tried to use that well, then they were shooed away. The well was emptied and was only used when all the water was thrown away."

Modi not a Hindu as he did not shave his head after his mother's death, Lalu attacks PM

We did not abuse Nitish Kumar at all, says Lalu

"We only called Nitish 'Palturam'. But next time we made a mistake... Tejashwi made a mistake. He made a u-turn again and went under the boots of Modi."

Prepare for the elections... I will myself come to see preparations, Lalu tells his supporters as he signs off

Here's what BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad had to say on Akhilesh's comment on winning in UP

Meanwhile, a protest is going on in Bhopal by AAP workers

Here's what Rashtriya Shoshit Samaaj Party chief Swami Prasad Maurya said on supporting the I.N.D.I.A. alliance

BJP announced its first candidate list yesterday. Here the Jalore-Sirohi candidate can be seen expressing gratitude towards the BJP high command

"Kerala system is completely different"

JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar seems unimpressed by the mega Oppn rally in Patna today

Arvind Kejriwal has some kind words for the voters of Punjab

Ghulam Nabi Azad finds nothing new in PM's upcoming Kashmir visit

Several AAP and Congress leaders joined BJP in the presence of Gujarat BJP President CR Patil

Here are some glimpses from the mega Oppn rally in Patna

All pictures from PTI

Here's what West Bengal minister Babul Supriyo had to say on BJP candidate from Asansol pulling out of contest

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