Indian Politics Highlights: BJP's Central Election Committee meeting under way

Focus on OBC's

The BJP's second list of candidates will likely have more from the OBC community as the party tries to do a balancing act.

Campaigning to intensify

With the first phase of polling less than a month away, campaigning is building up despite the heat. Meanwhile party hoppers are likely to have a field day as was evident when BJP strongman Prahlad Gunjal joined Congress last night.

Haryana CM Saini allocates portfolios, keeps key home dept with himself

Over a week after Nayab Singh Saini took oath as the chief minister and days after he expanded his cabinet, Haryana Council of Ministers on Friday were allocated portfolios, with Saini keeping the key Home Department.

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'Once again Modi' are not the words of only BJP workers, but all Indians: B Y Vijayendra

B Y Vijayendra.

At the inauguration of BJP Lok Sabha Election media centre in Bengaluru, state BJP chief B Y Vijayendra said, ""Once again Modi" are not the words of only BJP workers. People of India want Modi as PM. His popularity is rising day by day. People of India believe in Modi. His vision is the development of India. Karnataka is South India's gateway to BJP. Congress doesn't have candidates in Karnataka for the Lok Sabha election. JD(S) is also with us."

Tamil Nadu CCM and DMK chief MK Stalin campaigns for upcoming elections in Thanjavur district

BJP fields Radhika Sarath Kumar from Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar

The BJP has nominated actor-politician Radhika Sarath Kumar as its candidate in the Virudhunagar constituency for the April 19 Lok Sabha polls.

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Kolara, Hassan and Mandaya Lok Sabha seats are being given to JD(S): Radha Mohan Das Agarwal

Karnataka state election in-charge Radha Mohan Das Agarwal has said that Kolara, Hassan and Mandaya Lok Sabha seats are being given to JD(S). "We should support JD(S)," he said.

Tripura CM Manik Saha participated in padayatra for the by-election in Ramnagar Assembly constituency, visuals below

Atmosphere in Karnataka is in favour of PM Modi, says B Y Vijayendra

On the candidates' list of Congress, Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra said that 'Congress could not get one able candidate in 28 Lok Sabha constituencies of Karnataka'. "When none of their ministers was willing to contest the elections because of the 'Modi Wave', they were forced to fall back on their ministers' families. The atmosphere in Karnataka is in the favour of BJP, NDA and PM Narendra Modi," he said.

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BJP candidate Bhikaji Thakor from Gujarat's Sabarkantha will not contest Lok Sabha polls, says 'does not wish to'

Credit: X/@ANI

I.N.D.I.A. bloc like 'filtered coffee', Congress comeback cannot be ruled out, says Shatrughan Sinha

Credit: PTI File Photo

Senior TMC leader and MP Shatrughan Sinha has dubbed opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A. as "filtered coffee" which is gaining momentum ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and emphasised the importance of not discounting the Congress, citing its track record of comebacks in politics.

He claimed that I.N.D.I.A. alliance is like "filtered coffee" with "solid leaders" such as Akhilesh Yadav of Samajwadi Party, Tejashwi Yadav of RJD, and many others being part of the bloc.

Six disqualified Himachal Congress MLAs join BJP

Six former MLAs of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, who were disqualified as Congress legislators after defying a party whip, joined the BJP on Saturday amid the continuing political crisis in the state.

They joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Anurag Thakur, former Himachal chief minister Jai Ram Thakur and its state unit president Rajeev Bindal.

Jairam Ramesh calls electoral bonds 'pre-paid bribe', says Congress never supported the scheme

Credit: PTI Photo

On electoral bond, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said that BJP used private companies and there are four ways to this scam. "The first was, 'chanda do dhanda lo', the second is a post-paid way called 'theka lo, ghuse do', you get a contract first and then you give the bribe, third way is post raid, first ED or CBI are sent to the companies and to escape from them, these companies would buy electoral bond, fourth way, usage of shell companies."

Electoral bonds aren’t private investment, says Jairam Ramesh

Clarifying that Congress is not against private investment, Jairam Ramesh said it is necessary for economic growth. He said, "Between 2004 and 2014, GDP contribution in private investment has gone down from 32 per cent to 18 per cent. But electoral bonds aren’t private investment. BJP has used private companies. Our target isn’t any company but the BJP government. PM Modi, Home Minister are our target.”

'...there are allegations against Mahua Moitra that she shared the password her account with some unknown person, it is a matter of our internal security of the country...' Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on CBI raids at TMC leader Mahua Moitra's residence

BJP Vadodara candidate Ranjanben Bhatt has also pulled out of LS poll race for 'personal reasons'

'(ED) asked for five days, but the Court has granted only three days custody...': BRS leader K Kavitha's advocate Lalita Reddy

'they have had to suspend 15 BJP MLAs to pass the budget...': Himachal Pradesh State LoP and BJP leader Jairam Thakur on Congress 'crisis' in the state

9 MLAs (3 independent & 6 from Congress) have joined the BJP and Himachal Pradesh State LoP and BJP leader Jairam Thakur did not told back slamming the state Congress government. "A very different political situation is there in the state. The reality is that the Congress party doesn't have the majority, the biggest example of this is that they have lost the Rajya Sabha seat, and also they have had to suspend 15 BJP MLAs to pass the budget. Filing FIR against the families of those MLAs who come in support of the BJP is wrong, hence all the 9 MLAs have decided to join the BJP and strengthen PM Modi, HM Amit Shah and party's president JP Nadda," he said.

'No matter what BJP does, Mahua Moitra will again become the MP of Krishna Nagar': TMC leader Kunal Ghosh

'We have already alleged that the BJP used immoral ways to win the Rajya Sabha elections and today it has been proven': Himachal Minister Rajesh Dharmani after the 6 disqualified Congress MLAs join the BJP

Congress like well-established company with fluctuating market cap; BJP startup: Jairam Ramesh

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose calls Kejriwal arrest as 'fundamental assault on democracy'

'I thank PM Modi. I wanted it and he granted it': BJP south Chennai candidate and former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan

CBI conducts raids at the TMC leader Mahua Moitra's office, in Krishnanagar

'From Tripura, we will gift PM Modi 2 seats; we will be victorious in by-elections as well': Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha

'We have faith in the judiciary. This will be the 'last nail in the coffin' moment for the BJP...': Punjab CM

Apna Dal Kamerawadi withdraws the candidates it had fielded against Samajwadi Party

BRS chief KCR announced Padma Rao Goud as the candidate from the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency.

'Forced to depend on the intervention of the Supreme Court': Karnataka State Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on state's water crisis and drought relief

"We have exhausted all available remedies, of meeting them, urging them and pleading with govt of India to discharge its duties but all our requests have gone in vain. The GoI continues to ignore and neglect the memorandum submitted by the Government of Karnataka on behalf of its people. Since people are under distress we are forced to depend on the intervention of the Supreme Court... We have released Rs 870 crore to districts to manage the drinking water situation and fodder requirement for livestock. There's a drinking water problem in about 1000 villages of the state, out of which, in about 250 villages water is being supplied through water tankers. In 759 villages water is being supplied by hiring private borewells... We have opened 10 cattle camps and 15 fodder banks wherever the need has arisen... Since farmers are in distress, we have distributed close to Rs 650 crores as crop compensation to farmers. Each farmer has got about Rs 2000. We have done everything possible at our level, beyond this, the central government must come to our aid," Gowda said.

Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay praises 'Modi Ka Guarantee phenomenon' in tweet about Indian PM's visit

'Officials are analysing the decision of the court. We have sought an appointment with CM Yogi Adityanath...': Uttar Pradesh Minister OP Rajbhar on Allahabad High Court striking down Madrasa Act

'If the party told me to contest elections against PM Modi or Shivraj Singh Chouhan, I would follow their orders': Congress leader Digvijaya Singh

Queried about why Singh was not contesting from the Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency in the upcoming elections, the senior Congress leader gave a guarded answer.

Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, UP CM Yogi Adityanath arrive at the party headquarters to attend the BJP Central Election Committee meeting.

AIADMK changes party's Tirunelveli Constituency Lok Sabha candidate. Muthuselvan will be the party's Lok Sabha candidate from Tirunelveli instead of Jhansirani, as declared earlier.

Former Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Rajeev Kumar Thakur joins the BJP in the presence of Bihar deputy CM Samrat Choudhary.

Karnataka approaches SC against Centre seeking release of NDRF grants to tackle drought

'Lalu Prasad (Yadav) is such a politician who is an expert in selling tickets. He has not spared his own daughter. Firstly, he took a kidney from her and then gave her the ticket...': Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary

RJD MP Misa Bharti hit back at Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, saying: 'We did not expect that he would use such language'

'Biju Janta Dal will be contesting in all the 21 parliament seats and 147 assembly seats': BJD MP Amar Patnaik

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin goes after Governor RN Ravi after Supreme Court rap, saying: 'he should have resigned by now'

BJP's Central Election Committee meeting at the party headquarters in New Delhi begins

The states for which candidates were tipped to be discussed include Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, to finalise names for remaining seats

West Bengal: Left announces candidates for 4 more seats; CPI(M) state secretary Salim to contest from Murshidabad

Former JDU MLA from Rupauli, Bima Bharti joined RJD after tendering her resignation from JDU earlier today

Six rebel MLAs and three independent MLAs of Himachal Pradesh who joined BJP, earlier today, receive a grand welcome in Shimla from BJP party workers

Family members meet BRS leader Kavitha in ED custody