Indian Politics Highlights: CAA is against human rights, says Pinarayi Vijayan

Jharkhand CM Champai Soren along with the officials conducted a high-level meeting

Union Minister Hardeep S Puri dismisses opposition criticism of CAA, urges fact-based discourse

Congress instigating people over CAA: BJP Minority Morcha vice president

Assam won't be affected by CAA: BJP candidate Kamakhya Prasad

Manohar Lal Khattar, Nitin Gadkari in BJP's second list of 72 candidates for Lok Sabha polls

The BJP on Wednesday announced its second list for the Lok Sabha polls, announcing former Haryana chief minister ML Khattar, Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Thakur, Pralhad Joshi, Shobha Karanadlaje and Piyush Goyal as well as chief spokesperson and in-charge of the media cell Anil Baluni among key names.

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Alliance blues for I.N.D.I.A. in several states

It is not just Trinamool Congress but I.N.D.I.A. partners AAP, CPI(M) and CPI and a potential ally Bharatiya Adivasi Party (BAP) are creating trouble for the Congress by fielding candidates against it in states like West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh.

Trinamool extended its ‘non-cooperation’ movement from West Bengal, where it announced candidates for all 42 seats, to Meghalaya by announcing Zenith Sangma as its candidate for Tura seat. It is expected to announce 2-4 candidates for Assam in the coming days.

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Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee during the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance’s (INDIA) meeting, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.

'Opposition has no other work...': Amit Shah slams opposition on allegations that BJP is creating new vote bank through CAA

"The opposition has no other work, they even said that there was a political benefit in surgical strikes and air strikes, so should we not take action against terrorism? They also said that the abrogation of Article 370 was also for our political benefit. We have been saying since 1950 that we will remove Article 370. 'Unki history hai jo bolte hai karte nahi hai, Modi ji ki history hai jo BJP ya PM Modi ne kaha woh patthar ki lakeer hai. Modi ki har guarantee poori hoti hai...," he said in  interview to news agency ANI.

Kovind panel may submit report on simultaneous polls today; may recommend amending at last five articles of Constitution

The high-level committee on simultaneous polls headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind is likely to submit its report on 'one nation, one election' on Thursday, it is learnt.

Though there was no official word yet, sources said the report could be submitted to President Droupadi Murmu.

The panel may recommend amending at last five articles of the Constitution to enable holding of simultaneous polls in the country.

The proposed report would also focus on having a singular electoral roll for holding Lok Sabha, state assembly and local body polls.

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One Nation, One Election panel

The day is not far, when BJP will come to power in West Bengal and stop infiltration: Amit Shah

"The day is not far, when BJP will come to power there (West Bengal) and will stop infiltration. If you do this kind of politics and with such an important national security issue, you allow infiltration by doing appeasement politics and oppose the refugees from getting citizenship, then people will not be with you. Mamata Banerjee does not know the difference between a person taking refuge and an infiltrator...," says Amit Shah in an interview to ANI.

'CAA law will never be taken back. It is our sovereign right to ensure Indian citizenship in our country, we will never compromise on it', says Amit Shah in interview to ANI

"My son KE Kantesh didn't get the ticket, and BS Yediyurappa's son got the ticket again," Former Karnataka deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa says

"BS Yediyurappa had promised that he would give the ticket to KE Kantesh from Haveri. So I sent my son Kantesh there to campaign...But today my son KE Kantesh didn't get the ticket, and BS Yediyurappa's son got the ticket again," he said.

'It’s a very proud moment for me to be selected as the BJP candidate from prestigious Dakshina Kannada': Captain Brijesh Chowta

'Announcement will be made in the next 24 hours. Gaya seat is a natural choice': HAM leader Santosh Kumar Suman

"The official announcement will be made in the next 24 hours. Gaya seat is a natural choice. Our party workers also want that the seat should be given to HAM. We are waiting for official announcement. We are already preparing for election," he said.

No need for much preparation, says confident Bommai

"There is no need for much preparation because I represented these districts- both Haveri and Gadag which come under this Lok Sabha, as an MLC from local bodies for 12 years," Former CM said.

Basavaraj Bommai.

Preneet Kaur, suspended Congress MP & wife of former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, to formally join BJP in Delhi today: ANI

Preneet Kaur.

'Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal will respond to Amit Shah on CAA, press conference at 12 noon', Aam Aadmi Party handle on X states

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Issues of farmers, inflation, unemployment, Agniveers, never discussed on TV; channels show Modi ji all 24 hours: Rahul Gandhi says at Bharat Jodo

Hindu refugees from Pakistan stage protest outside Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's residence over his remarks on CAA; WATCH

Amit Shah didn't address any questions I raised on CAA, only focused on abusing me: Arvind Kejriwal in Press Conference

"I am not important. Country is important. I want to ask how will all the new citizens from Bangladesh and Pakistan will be fed and employed in a country which is unable to provide jobs for its own citizens. How will you provide houses to all those you are encouraging to migrate from neighboring countries? And they are going to be huge in numbers," Arvind Kejriwal says during Press Conference.

"You say that those who came before 2014 will be granted citizenship, tell me, what about those who came after that? I also want to raise this point that earlier infiltrators were scared due to illegality of it, now there will be no fear. They are being welcomed with open hands. Pakistani infiltrators will now be given jobs, and ration cards? Delhi government keeps asking Centre to increase ration cards in Delhi as poverty is high but the Union govt resists. Now, in face of such reality, you will give ration cards to Pakistani, Bangladeshi infiltrators? You are killing rights of people here, and then diverting our taxpayers money to give rights and foods and and houses to Pakistanis and Bangaldeshis? Will the country be safe in such an atmosphere? What if Pakistan sends in people under the guise of this act? The world is closing doors on immigrants and we are welcoming them with open arms? Why don't you bring back those who have left this country in last years?" Arvind Kejriwal further added.

How will you provide houses to all those you are encouraging to migrate from neighboring countries, asks Kejriwal during Press Conference in response to HM Amit Shah's remarks

Increase in ration cards for people of Delhi being denied by Centre, but Pakistani infiltrators will now be given jobs, and ration cards from taxpayers money, says Kejriwal, hitting out at HM Amit Shah

He further asked if the country will be safe with Bangladeshis & Pakistanis near us.

"Panel is rigged, opposition's voice muffled" says Adhir Ranjan after EC poll meet; suggests Sukbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar as probable candidates for EC positions

Adhir also claimed that shortlisted candidate names were not provided to him.

"Since you all are insisting so much, I will quench your thirst. Six names were shortlisted and from them  Sukbir Singh Sandhu and Gyanesh Kumar have been selected," Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary says.

Lok Sabha MP and former Congress leader Preneet Kaur joins BJP

Suspended Congress MP and wife of former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, Preneet Kaur, joined BJP. She will contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha election from Patiala on BJP ticket, as reported by PTI.

Preneet Kaur, suspended Congress MP and wife of former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, joins BJP in Delhi.

'Kejriwal wants to do politics of a particular religion', says Delhi BJP President on CM's statement about CAA

CAA was part of BJP's manifesto. Under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha, and now it is implemented... We all know that India was divided based on religion...Arvind Kejriwal wants to do the politics of a particular religion.

Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva

'Honoured and privileged', says Maharaja of Mysore and BJP leader Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar on his candidature from Mysore

Hindu, Sikh refugees protest near Arvind Kejriwal's residence over his comments against CAA

Hindu and Sikh refugees living in various parts of Delhi staged a protest near Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Civil Lines residence on Thursday, demanding an apology from him over his statements against the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

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Priyank Kharge flays One Nation One Election plan

"How can there be One Nation, One Election when the current regime is not accepting the people's mandate? Also, it's completely against the spirit of decentralisation of the panchayats and everything else. So let's see what the recommendations are," says Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge when quizzed about the One Nation One Election plan.

Nitish to expand cabinet soon

"Everything will be done soon... we will inform about everything," says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar when asked about seat sharing in NDA and Bihar cabinet expansion.

It's one nation, no election for BJP: Jairam Ramesh

"The prime minister's objective is very clear. He is going around asking for clear majority, two-thirds majority, 400 seats and the cat is out of the bag. They want to completely dismantle Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution, with what objective? One nation, no election - that's what they want," said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on the One Nation One Election proposal.

Akali Dal flays Kejriwal

"Kejriwal has an anti-Sikh and anti-minority mindset. Shiromani Akali Dal had been saying from the beginning that Sikhs from Pakistan and Afghanistan have faced a lot of problems there...Several of them have come here over the past several years. We have been saying that they should be granted (Indian) citizenship. We supported CAA at the Parliament too...I knew of Kejrwal's anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh mindset from the beginning. These things are coming to light gradually," says Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal about Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's statement on CAA.

CAA grants legal validity to discrimination: Pinarayi

"Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is unconstitutional and poses a challenge to the idea of India. It grants legal validity to religious discrimination. Kerala government will neither bow down nor keep silent on the CAA," says Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

AAP releases first list of 8 candidates for LS polls

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its first list of eight candidates for Punjab for the Lok Sabha polls, fielding five Cabinet ministers. AAP also named a former Congress MLA and a Punjabi actor as its candidates for the polls.

BJP is trying to create havoc in the country: Mallu Bhatti

"The Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to create havoc in the country by doing implementing CAA," says Telangana Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka.

Pinarayi questions Rahul's silence on CAA notification

"Congress, its national president and Rahul Gandhi are yet to comment on notification of CAA rules," says Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan.

We're going ahead together: Vikramaditya

"We are going ahead together. The party has announced a few names (of candidates). In the time to come, candidates will be announced for the remaining Lok Sabha seats too...Our state in charge is in contact with our CM and state president. A meeting will be called soon. Names of candidates will be decided...We will go to the people together and all efforts will be made to get blessings of the people," says Himachal Pradesh minister and Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh when asked about Lok Sabha elections 2024.

BRS announces two candidates

BRS announces has two candidates for 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Ragidi Lakshmareddy will contest from Malkajigiri and Atram Sakku is being fielded from Adilabad.