Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: 'Ram Temple should have been built two days after Independence,' says PM Modi

Arvind Kejriwal slams Modi over Maliwal assault case, says, "Keep my parents away from this. Please do not harass them"

Police conducts flag march in Jharkhand’s Bokaro Steel City in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls

PM Modi misleading people with false narrative: Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal

''We have never seen such low-level remarks from a person of the stature of Prime Minister. Only a desperate person can do these kinds of things. He is lying. He is trying to mislead the country with false narratives. People know about the truth now. You cannot mislead the country every time...Their (BJP) MPs are saying that they want 400 seats to change the Constitution. It is not told by us but by them...These people want an autocratic government, not a democratic government. We are thankful to the Prime Minister because he has given much publicity for our manifesto, even though he is setting a false narrative of the manifesto..."

BJP has a special privilege to do and speak whatever they want: K C Venugopal

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal.

"...How many complaints did the Election Commission get for the Rajasthan speech of the Prime Minister? They (EC) wrote a letter to JP Nadda at that time. What happened after that? Election Commission is a mere spectator of all the violations of the Code of Conduct by the Union Government. They (BJP) have a special privilege to do and speak whatever they want. Election Commission is sitting idly. Whenever an Opposition leader says something, they issue notice."

RECAP | IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• EC orders BJP, opposition Congress to show restraint in campaign

(L to R) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Acting on a one-month-old notice it sent to the BJP on complaints over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s controversial remarks, the Election Commission of India on Wednesday directed the saffron party’s star campaigners not to make speeches along 'religious/communal lines' and desist from statements that may 'divide the society'.

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• Lok Sabha Elections 2024 | I.N.D.I.A. parties extremely 'communal, casteist & nepotistic', says Modi during Delhi rally

PM Narendra Modi at a poll rally

In his rally at Delhi’s Dwarka on Wednesday, PM Modi invoked the 1984 Sikh riots as well as the issue of reservation in Jamia Millia Islamia, even as he took on the Congress alleging that the grand old party did not do enough to realise the potential of the country.

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• BJP delegation meets Delhi poll body chief, demands verification of voters in burqa and face masks

Women voters show their ink-marked fingers after casting their vote for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections, in Bardhaman.

A delegation of the Delhi BJP on Wednesday met the Chief Electoral officer (CEO) here demanding proper verification of women voters wearing 'burqa' or face masks with the help of female officials during May 25 polling.

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• Lok Sabha Elections 2024 | BJD moves EC against BJP's Sambit Patra for using Jagannath temple pic in advertisement

BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra.

Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against BJP’s Puri Parliamentary Constituency candidate Sambit Patra for using a photo of Sri Jagannath temple in an advertisement issued by him in the local media.

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• Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP might get 303 seats or do even better this time, says Prashant Kishor

Political strategist Prashant Kishor.

Political strategist Prashant Kishor predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will at least bag as many seats as it did last time (303 in 2019 Lok Sabha elections) or perform even better in the general elections 2024, in his interview with NDTV.

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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 8,360 candidates in fray in 2024 LS polls, highest since 1996

Representative image of voting.

A total of 8,360 candidates are contesting the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the highest since 1996, according to an analysis of official data.

In the 2019 polls, there were 8,039 candidates, and in 1996, a record 13,952 candidates were in the fray for 543 seats of the Lower House of Parliament.

BJP has special privilege to do as they want; EC mere spectators, says Congress' K C Venugopal

Watch: Congress candidate from Delhi's Chandni Chowk LS seat J P Agarwal holds election campaign

:During the elections, you go out and meet people. I have come here, regarding that... Today, people are against the central government due to inflation and unemployment. They want to see the change. I can witness this in the elections. I.N.D.I.A. bloc will win all the seats in Delhi...," he said while campaigning in the Keshavpuram area. (ANI)

"...Opportunity depends on ability, one who has the ability will make their way. It's a misconception that parties are run by MPs, our party has crores of people who run it and MPs are just 300-400, don't we think that others are leaders?...," says Maneka Gandhi

BJP's Sultanpur candidate Maneka Gandhi.

Swipe to see events lined up for today

Mamata Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi & other I.N.D.I.A. leaders are shredding the constitution: J P Nadda

BJP Chief J P Nadda.

"Calcutta High Court has cancelled the OBC reservation given to the Muslims under the OBC quota subcategory. The Calcutta High Court has also cancelled OBC certificates issued In West Bengal to Muslims from 2010 to 2024. Both these judgements show how Mamata Banerjee's government was taking forward appeasement unconstitutionally or can be said that the Muslim agenda was being taken forward. PM Modi had raised this issue during the election campaigns- how Mamata Banerjee, Rahul Gandhi & other leaders of the I.N.D.I. alliance are shredding the constitution. It is written clearly in the Constitution that reservation will not given based on Dharma...Mamata Banerjee said that she does not agree with the decision of the High Court...There is no one above the law..."

Priyanka Gandhi holds a roadshow in Haryana's Sirsa Lok Sabha constituency

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigns in support of the party's Sirsa candidate Kumari Selja. Haryana votes on 25th May to elect 10 members of Parliament. Ashok Tanwar is the BJP candidate from the parliamentary constituency.

All limits have been crossed as his (Arvind Kejriwal) old and ailing parents have been called for questioning today: AAP leader & Delhi minister Atishi

"...All limits have been crossed as his (Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal) old and ailing parents have been called for questioning today. Has the PM stooped so low that old parents are being harassed? The people of Delhi will give an answer to this through their vote. This whole thing is a conspiracy by the BJP."

Kejriwal cheated his guru Anna Hazare, how can he win the trust of Delhi people: Rajnath Singh

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

"...He (Kejriwal) has cheated his guru Anna Hazare, so how can he win the trust of people of Delhi?...AAP has never delivered on the promises they made. Delhi government which could not provide safety to women have no right to be in power...Today, they are working as the 'B' team of Congress in I.N.D.I.A. bloc..."

Arvind Kejriwal constructed a 'Sheesh Mahal' for himself after he promised he won't live in CM's residence: Rajnath Singh

AAP supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

"He (Arvind Kejriwal) had promised he would not live in CM's residence, however, he constructed a 'Sheesh Mahal' for himself. Whatever happened with their (AAP) party's woman MP Swati Maliwal is shocking. He (Arvind Kejriwal) was silent over the issue for a long time, and he says that the matter is being probe," Rajnath Singh in Delhi

"Ram Lalla has entered into his palace from a tent...Bharat will definitely see the rise of 'Ram Rajya' and no power in the world can stop it," says Rajnath Singh in Delhi

Rahul Gandhi accuses PM Modi of looting money from the poor and giving it to big business tycoons such as Adani and Ambani

'Promised change, became looters'—Smriti Irani targets AAP over Delhi excise policy case at poll rally in Amethi

'They can't protect their own female party member, how will they ensure the security of Delhi's women?'—Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma on Swati Maliwal assault case

Heavy security deployed in Patiala amid farmers' protest ahead of PM Modi's rally

Kejriwal campaigning with assaulter, charges Smriti Irani amid row over Swati Maliwal case

Piyush Goyal predicts win for BJP in all Delhi seats, says NDA will cross 400-mark

Bulldozers will target all kinds of mafia if BJP comes to power, assures UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Odisha

"If 'double engine' govt is formed in Odisha, bulldozers to be used against all kinds of mafia," the UP CM said at poll rally in Odisha's Chilika. (PTI)

Who will be PM if 'ghamandiya' alliance comes to power? Amit Shah taunts I.N.D.I.A. bloc at UP poll rally

"Today I want to ask Rahul Gandhi... if you get the majority then who will be your Prime Minister?... Can Sharad Pawar, Lalu Yadav or Uddhav Thackeray become the PM?.. Can Rahul Gandhi become the PM?...," Amit Shah said.

'Office boys of Modi'—TN Cong leader targets ECI for being 'very partial' to BJP

'We have to get female MLAs, MPs', says Rahul Gandhi while addressing 'Mahila Vichaar-Vimarsh' in Delhi

Union Minister RK Singh claims INDIA alliance will win zero seats in Bihar's Arrah District

'Modi reaching 400, Rahul won't win more than 40': Amit Shah

PM Modi addresses a public gathering in Bhiwani, Haryana.

'What's their hesitation?': Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal urges Election Commission to publish poll-related data

'This Constitution is of the people of the country': Priyanka Gandhi

PM Modi alleges overnight issuance of OBC certificates to Muslims in West Bengal, High Court invalidates decade-long certificates at a public gathering in Bhiwari, Haryana

'Congress wants to remove Ram from the entire country,' Modi slams Congress at a rally

"No work gets done in Haryana without saying Ram-Ram. But if Congress had its way, they would arrest anyone who takes Ram's name in Haryana. Congress wants to remove Ram from the entire country. As long as Congress was in power, it did not allow the Ram Temple to be built. Congress even boycotted the Ram Mandir Prana Pratishtha. Now, the shehzada's advisor has made another big revelation that if Congress comes to power, it is planning to lock the Ram Temple," Modi said.

I.N.D.I.A. bloc is extremely communal, casteist, nepotistic: PM Modi

Modi assures Gurugram's youth, "All your dreams will come true, because your dreams are Modi's resolve."

"I also want to tell the youth of Gurugram that the next 5 years are going to be a time of big revolution in this country. All your dreams will come true, because your dreams are Modi's resolve," Modi said

'This is very important election, it's an election to save democracy, Constitution.' Sonia Gandhi addresses Delhiites in a video

Sonia Gandhi addressed the people of Delhi through a video and said these are very important elections to save democracy and the Constitution. She urged the people to make I.N.D.I.A. bloc candidates victorious on all seven seats.

"This election is being fought on issues like unemployment, inflation and attack on constitutional institutions. You have to play your part in this fight," Gandhi said.

During SP government's reign, goons used to harass you and occupy the lands of poor people: Amit Shah

"During SP government's reign, goons used to harass you and occupy the lands of poor people. In 2017 you formed the BJP government, Modi Ji made Yogi Ji the Chief Minister and Yogi Ji did the work of straightening out the goons by hanging them upside down," Shah said.

Smriti Irani holds roadshow in support of of party candidate from East Delhi Lok Sabha seat Harsh Malhotra.

PM Modi addresses public rally in Patiala, Punjab

I.N.D.I.A. Alliance sheds tears for terrorists who are killed in encounters claims Modi

While addressing the audience during an election rally in Patiala, Modi took a dig at the INDI Alliance, "On one side there are those who have the courage to enter the homes of terrorists and kill them. On the other hand, there is the INDI Alliance who sheds tears when terrorists are killed in encounters."

Punjab will go to polls on June 1.

'INDI Alliance opposes CAA and instigates riots in its name,' claims Modi

Commenting on the controversial issue of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Modi slammed the I.N.D.I.A. bloc for opposing it and instigating riots in its name.

He said, "For the I.N.D.I.A. alliance, appeasing their vote bank is of the utmost importance. However, under the CAA, Modi is giving Indian citizenship to Dalit and Sikh brothers and sisters who suffered during the Partition. These people (INDI Alliance) oppose CAA, instigate riots in its name and even today they say that if they come to power, they will repeal CAA. You tell me, is it wrong to give Indian citizenship to Sikhs who were victims of Partition?"

The only reason election schedule has been stretched across the harsh summer months is to help the 'caretaker' prime minister, says Mamata Banerjee

While addressing a rally in Kolkata, she said, "I started the election campaign on March 31, today it is May 23; it has been almost two months that all the development works have been halted due to elections.

"No work is being done in the country except for election campaigns, advertisements, rallies and rampant spread of disinformation. The election is being conducted in so many phases just to help one person; the person who is the current Prime Minister of India.

"Soon, he will become the ‘ex Prime Minister'. Thus, to help that ‘caretaker’ Prime Minister, election schedule has been stretched in such hot climate.”

'10 years ago, we witnessed the rule of a 'Majboor Sarkar', J P Nadda attacks opposition

J P Nadda

At an election rally in Odisha, Nadda said, "Under the leadership of Modi ji, today we have a 'Majboot Sarkar' in the country. On the other hand, 10 years ago, we witnessed the rule of a 'Majboor Sarkar' which was helpless.

"When the terrorists used to come from Pakistan and carry out anti-India operations, this helpless government used to send a dossier to Pakistan, requesting them to act against the terrorist. However, when a strong government was formed under the leadership of Modi ji, we attacked Pakistan and the terrorists on their home turf. "

'Congress did the partition of the country in such a way that for 70 years, we had to look at Kartarpur Sahib through binoculars.' Modi accuses Grand Old Party

'People want to give a message to the government in Delhi that the atrocities committed since 2019 are no longer acceptable,' Mehbooba Mufti said.

In the first and the second phase of the polling, people voted in huge numbers. I am hopeful that people in South Kashmir will vote in even bigger numbers. People want to give a message to the government in Delhi that the atrocities committed since 2019 are no longer acceptable and they will give an answer to them through vote," Mufti said.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann addresses a public gathering in Nakodar town

"Ayodhya's Ram Temple should have been built two days after Independence, but Congress stonewalled the construction of temple," says PM Modi

PM Modi at a rally in Patiala