Assembly Elections 2024 Highlights| Will give Rs 3,000 per month under Mahalaxmi scheme for women in Maharashtra, says Rahul Gandhi

NDA ministers meet ahead of state polls

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda on Tuesday held a meeting with several central ministers as the ruling National Democratic Alliance's campaign for the two state assembly polls and several bypolls enters the last lap.

Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Piyush Goyal, C R Patil and Dharmendra Pradhan, besides Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Prataprao Jadhav, who represent the LJP (R), HAM and Shiv Sena respectively in the government, were among those who attended the meeting at the BJP headquarters.

Jharkhand belongs to tribals, they will rule it: CM Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday asserted that tribals will rule the state as it belonged to them.

Soren, also the JMM executive president, also slammed the BJP, claiming that no Hindu is in danger in the state but the opposition party is only trying to create conflict with its Hindu-Muslim narratives.

“We fought for a separate Jharkhand state, and we will fight to secure our rights as well. Tribals will rule here as Jharkhand belonged to tribals,” he said while addressing a public meeting at Chotanagra in West Singhbhum district.

I.N.D.I.A. bloc promises 10 lakh jobs, Rs 15 lakh health cover for poor in Jharkhand polls manifesto

The I.N.D.I.A. bloc on Tuesday unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming Jharkhand assembly elections, promising 10 lakh jobs for youth and health insurance coverage of up to Rs 15 lakh for the poor.

The BJP, on the other hand, called the JMM and Congress "experts in making false promises".

The '7 guarantees', the election manifesto of the INDIA bloc, includes social justice by enhancing reservations for STs to 28 per cent from 26 per cent, for SCs to 12 per cent from 10 per cent and for OBCs to 27 per cent from 14 per cent at present.

Maharashtra polls: 33 contestants in Nanded North seat, 3 in Shahada

The Nanded North seat in Maharashtra has the highest number of 33 candidates in the fray, while Shahada in Nandurbar district has the lowest three contestants, as per figures provided by the Election Commission.

There are 4,140 candidates in the fray for the total 288 Maharashtra assembly seats which will go to polls on November 20, it said.

Maharashtra has more than 9.7 crore voters, of whom 22,22,704 are in the age group of 18-19 years, an Election Commission (EC) official on Tuesday said, citing updated electoral rolls.

Assembly polls: Sharad Pawar campaigns extensively for grandnephew in family turf Baramati

Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Tuesday addressed back-to-back poll rallies in support of his grandnephew Yugendra Pawar, who is contesting against his uncle and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the Baramati assembly seat. Addressing a gathering at Shirsuphal in Baramati taluka of Pune district, the NCP (SP) chief said the contest for the Baramati Lok Sabha seat earlier this year was difficult as it was fought within the Pawar family. 

Those helping BJP are Maharashtra's 'enemies', says Uddhav; makes slew of promises at rallies

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday hit the campaign trail and pitched the November 20 assembly polls as a battle between those who love Maharashtra and the ones who betray it as he reflected on the 2022 split in the party. 

I.N.D.I.A. bloc's guarantees are fused bulbs, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan

"The guarantees of I.N.D.I.A. bloc are just pack of lies. The JMM and Congress had given guarantees last time too. They had promised 5 lakh government jobs, they failed to do so. They promised to give Rs 2000 to every woman, they didn't. They had promised unemployment allowance. They have not fulfilled even one of their promises. Their guarantees are fused bulbs,"says Union Minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan

NCP to release manifesto at 11 am

"If state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis is alleging that Rahul Gandhi's programme (Samvidhan Sammelan in Nagpur) is organised by urban Naxalite, then it shows his failure," says Maharashtra LoP and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar

NCP releases manifesto

NCP releases constituency-specific manifesto, party promises increase in Ladki Bahin Yojana amount

Congress party played big role in partition, their votebank depends on divisions within Hindu community

"You should not expect support from Congress over Hindu, Hinduism and Hindustan. Congress believes that their votebank will increase if there are divisions within the Hindu community. The Congress party played a big role in country's partition, the Congress party's first government was established on the basis of partition... why would that party offer any support for Hindu unity," says BJP leader Smriti Irani

When RSS and BJP attack Constitution, they are attacking voice of country: Rahul Gandhi at Samvidhan Samman Sammelan in Nagpur.

Our Constitution drafted by Dr Ambedkar not just a book but a way of life: Rahul Gandhi at Samvidhan Samman Sammelan in Nagpur.

Jharkhand polls: I am contesting against 'Pariwarvad', says Independent candidate

Shiv Shankar Singh, who recently resigned from the BJP's primary membership in protest against the party's decision to field a candidate from an influential family in Jamshedpur East, on Wednesday said he would contest as an Independent candidate in the upcoming assembly elections.

He also criticised the saffron party for its "Pariwarvad" (dynastic politics) and claimed that his presence in the race would impact the prospects of national parties, including the Congress.

Had we contested Maharashtra polls, Marathas would've been divided: Jarange

Quota activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday said Marathas would have been divided had they jumped into the poll fray, and claimed they can change the political landscape just ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

Jarange also said that by opting to stay away from the elections, he has kept the fight for Maratha reservation alive.

A decision on supporting candidates for the November 20 state polls will be taken in due course, he told a Marathi news channel in Jalna district.

MVA manifesto will ensure that Maharashtra regains numero uno position: Wadettiwar

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Wednesday said the promises made in the manifesto of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will ensure that the state achieves the numero uno position once again. The manifesto will ensure security and welfare of farmers and women, among others, he told reporters here. The MVA, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), will hold a rally in Mumbai on Wednesday evening. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar will be present at the event, where the opposition bloc will release its manifesto. 

'Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj challenged the power of a barbaric invader like Aurangzeb': UP CM Yogi ahead of Maharashtra polls

Congress is 'anti-constitution' as they want to 'erase laws' written by Ambedkar: BJP

Rahul Gandhi 'spreading rumours', 'trying to mislead people': Shiv Sena leader Shaina N C

Rs 280 crore seized from Maharashtra, Rs 158 crore from Jharkhand so far since announcement of elections: EC

Rahul Gandhi should 'focus on saving his party instead of the Constitution': Union Minister Ramdas Athawale

WATCH | Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders address Maharashtra Swabhiman Sabha ahead of elections in the state

Will provide free bus travel for women and girls in Maharashtra: Rahul Gandhi

Rahul's election promise in Maharashtra

At the Maharashtra Swabhiman Rally in Mumbai, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said his party would give give Rs 3,000 per month under Mahalaxmi scheme for women if it comes to power in the state. The Gandhi scion added that inflation shot up during BJP rule while alleging that PM Modi's policies resulted in increased unemployment. 

MVA makes poll promises for youth

"MVA govt will give Rs 4,000 per month to each unemployed youth in state after coming to power in Maharashtra," said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray while addressing Swabhiman Rally in Mumbai.

MVA to repeal farm loans if voted to power

"Farm loans of up to Rs 3 lakh will be waived off in Maharashtra under Krishi Samruddhi Yojana after MVA wins polls, says NCP (Sharad) chief Sharad Pawar while addressing a joint rally of MVA partners in Mumbai.