Indian Politics highlights: Cong releases first list of 39 candidates for LS polls; Rahul to contest from Wayanad

Congress likely to release first candidate list for LS polls today

Will Rahul contest from Amethi or Wayanad? Click here to know more

PM sacrificed his whole life for the welfare of people, says MP CM Mohan Yadav

'Winability is the only criterion in seat sharing of Mahayuti,' says BJP Maharashtra President Chandrashekhar Bawankule

'Ready to be your deputy': Navjot Sidhu claims Bhagwant Mann approached him to join Congress

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had approached him once expressing his readiness to join the party.

Sidhu said this during an interview with a media outlet when asked about rumours that he may join the BJP and whether the party had approached him. He shared a clip of the interview on his X handle.

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'Yeh aur ek jumla hai': After govt announces cooking cylinder price reduction, Supriya Sule questions timing of the move

After the Centre announced a reduction in the prices of cooking cylinder by Rs 100, NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule questioned the timing of the move.

"I am not surprised at all. Look at the timing. They have been in power for the last 9 years. Why didn't they think of this earlier? Just when the election, I mean it will probably be announced in the next 5 or 6 days, "yeh aur ek jumla hai"...In our government, the cylinder was Rs 430. Why don't they match it?..."

(ANI)

Also read | On International Women's Day, PM Modi announces Rs 100 cut in cooking cylinder price

A worker arranges LPG cylinders in a lorry, at a distribution center in Bengaluru.

'BJP hatao, beti bachao': Congress on International Women's Day

On International Women's Day, the Congress on Friday attacked the Modi government and said women across the country are demanding answers to questions such as why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not visited Manipur and is "silent" on allegations of sexual harassment by women wrestlers against a BJP MP.

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AAP addresses presser in Delhi.

Sold the nation, bought the MLAs: Bhagwant Mann targets BJP at AAP presser in Delhi

I urge people in Delhi to vote for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Lok Sabha polls, says Bhagwant Mann.

AAP on Friday pitched for 'Sansad mein bhi Kejriwal' ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Kejriwal takes over the mike and launches the party's poll campaign.

I faced great difficulty in getting power subsidy passed: Kejriwal

Appeal to the people of Delhi - identify those who are obstructing your work, harassing you and stopping your development and punish them for their wrongdoings. We are always going to take care of your family: Kejriwal

'We believe in work politics, not in hatred politics': Bhagwant Mann

...Today AAP has become a national party. Delhiites have shown immense love and faith in AAP by providing thumping victory in the past elections. We believe in work politics, not in hatred politics...Arvind Kejriwal works day and night to provide the best for the people of the National Capital, however, the Central government is halting all significant works such as Delhi Jal Board...Arvind Kejriwal is fighting alone but he has you all and that's our 'shakti.' They say double-engine, we say 'double-shakti'..

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

BRS's K Kavitha on what is 'true empowerment'

"Empowering women does not just mean giving free cylinders or giving Rs 1,000 per month. It will help, it is a temporary relief. But when you actually have to really empower a woman, you have to give them education, you have to give them a job, you have to give them a financial source which will support them every month on their own. That is restoring the dignity of women. That is true empowerment...So we demand that this (Telangana) government roll back GO-3 and empower our women students to get secure jobs," BRS MLC K Kavitha said.

Opposition parties stage protest against CAA ahead of PM's visit to Assam

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival in Assam on Friday on a two-day visit, opposition parties staged a protest in Kaliabor in Nagaon district against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

The sit-in by the 16-member United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA) was held near Kaziranga, where the PM is scheduled to spend the night after reaching the state in the afternoon.

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Top headlines from this hour:

1) Sudha Murty nominated to Rajya Sabha; Modi says it's 'testament to our Nari Shakti'

2) Congress to sound poll bugle on conclusion of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai on March 17: Patole

3) Kejriwal, Mann launch AAP's Lok Sabha poll campaign in Delhi

4) Lok Sabha Polls: DMK finalises seat-sharing with allies VCK, MDMK

What Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan said about ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ campaign

“We don’t have any problem with the campaign. We are only saying that the public’s hard-earned money should not be used for the publicity of a single person. He (PM Modi) is trying to develop a personality cult, and he is going towards dictatorship but this shouldn't be done with the public’s money. We demand from the Election Commission that whatever amount of money that has been spent on the ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ campaign, should be taken back from BJP.”

(PTI)

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Poll body to meet top home ministry officials to review security preparedness ahead of LS elections

Days before it announces schedule for the Lok Sabha polls, the top brass of the Election Commission has called senior Home ministry officials to review security preparedness for the democratic exercise.

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Will BJP field ex-CMs Shettar, Bommai in Lok Sabha Polls?

File pictures of B S Yediyurappa (C) along with Jagadish Shettar (L) and Basavaraj Bommai.

Amid speculation that the BJP is planning to field former chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar in the Lok Sabha polls, party’s Parliamentary Board member B S Yediyurappa on Thursday said the central leaders discussed the issue.

“Discussions have taken place regarding candidates for all 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state, including fielding Bommai and Shettar,  Yediyurappa told reporters here. He, however, said no final decision had been taken yet.

The central leaders took feedback on the sitting Lok Sabha members. The leaders also discussed positive and negative issues for the party in each segment, sources said.

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'Modalities being discussed', says TDP leader on tie-up with BJP

Amid indications that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is likely to join the BJP-led NDA, a senior TDP leader said that "modalities are being discussed".

'In principle, BJP, TDP, Jana Sena have decided to work together for upcoming polls, modalities being discussed," TDP MP K Ravindra Kumar told PTI.

Congress chief Kharge to contest from Gulbarga?

Amid speculation about Mallikarjun Kharge contesting Lok Sabha elections, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said only the Congress chief’s name has been proposed for Gulbarga.

Shivakumar said a final call on contesting the Lok Sabha election is to be taken by Kharge though a lot of people have requested that he should contest from his stronghold in this election.

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Top headlines at this hour

ITAT junks Congress plea to stay I-T dept action against its bank accounts

BJP, TDP 'in principle' agree to work together for upcoming polls: TDP leader Ravindra Kumar

China says more Indian troops at Himalayan border won't ease tensions

Congress to sound poll bugle on conclusion of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai on March 17: Patole

Watch | PM Modi arrives in Assam

Congress releases its first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha 2024 polls

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to Contest from Rajnandgaon

Geeta Shivarajkumar, the wife of sandalwood actor Shivarajkumar, to contest from Shivamogga; DK Suresh to fight from Bengaluru Rural

Rahul Gandhi to contest from Wayanad

Shashi Tharoor to contest against Rajeev Chandrasekhar in 2024 Lok Sabha polls

K C Venugopal to contest from Alappuzha in Kerala,

"We are in election mode. We are going on an aggressive path in the election campaign. Rahul Gandhi is doing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. It has reached Gujarat. It started in Manipur and it will conclude in Mumbai..."

KC Venugopal, Congress General Secretary

Former Chhattisgarh minister Tamardwaj Sahu to contest from Mahasamund while Jyotsna Mahant will contest from Korba