Lok Sabha Elections: 'TMC Is Part Of INDIA Bloc,' Says Mamata; Cong Says 'Will Decide PM Face If...'

Union Minister and BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said, "Narendra Modi will become the PM for a third time; there is unprecedented support for people of Sambalpur, especially women who are giving blessing to PM Modi. People are upset with the corrupt (state) government here for the last 24 hours. People want a change. PM Modi has vowed to make Odisha the No. 1 state. Odisha is going to witness a change of regime this time."

Welcome to our live blog, where we'll be bringing you all the latest updates and developments about elections on 16 May 2024. Stay with us!

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that her party Trinamool Congress will extend outside support to the opposition INDIA alliance to form the government at the Centre.

“BJP is claiming that it will win 400 seats, but people are saying it will not happen. The entire country has understood that the BJP is a party full of thieves. We (TMC) will support the INDIA bloc from outside to form a government at the Centre,” the TMC chief said at a rally in Hooghly.

The main parties contesting in the Lok Sabha elections are, needless to say, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which leads the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) currently in power at the Centre.

Attempting to take on the BJP are several parties, a couple of which have united under a bloc they have named 'INDIA' - The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance.

'INDIA' bloc is a multi-party political alliance of 41 parties, led by India's largest opposition party the Indian National Congress.

The BJP on Wednesday urged the Election Commission of India (EC) to take strict action against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that the Narendra Modi government has created two categories of soldiers, one comprising those from poor families and reserved classes, and the other from rich families.

“This is a lie. This is an attack on our armed forces. They (Congress) want to make it a controversial topic and lower the morale of the armed forces. This is not a topic of elections. This is a matter of national security,” said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar after meeting poll panel officials.

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar claimed that the stand taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recent days can increase communal disharmony in the country instead of bringing communities closer.

"Narendra Modi is the first prime minister of the country who has taken positions that would increase the communal disharmony between various religions and castes. I heard his speech today in Nashik, and it was as per my expectations. He should have taken positions that will bring the communities and religious groups closer," Pawar said.

-PTI

The schedule for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 was announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 16. The voting for Lok Sabha elections 2024 is taking place in seven phases and started on April 19. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.

Voting for Phase 1 took place on April 19, second phase on April 26 and third phase on May 7. Polling for Phase 4 to Phase 7 will take place on: May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.

• Phase 1/April 19 - 21 states/UTs - 102 constituencies

• Phase 2/April 26 - 13 states/UTs - 88 constituencies

• Phase 3/May 7 - 12 states/UTs - 12 constituencies

• Phase 4/May 13 - 10 states/UTs - 96 constituencies

• Phase 5/May 20 - 8 states/UTs - 49 constituencies

• Phase 6/May 25 - 7 states/UTs - 57 constituencies

• Phase 7/June 1 -  8 states/UTs - 57 constituencies

Lok Sabha Elections Full Schedule Here

The Ram temple was built in Ayodhya because of the efforts of the BJP government and this time when the party returns to power, "even Lord Shri Krishna in Mathura will smile", Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said on Wednesday. The BJP leader was in Delhi to campaign for his party for the Lok Sabha elections.

"If Lord Ram is smiling in his temple in Ayodhya, it is because of the efforts of the (Narendra) Modi government... So once again it will be the Modi government and this time, even Lord Shri Krishna in Mathura will smile. For this votes should go only to the BJP," he said.

On May 13, shops in almost all five districts of the Srinagar constituency were closed, and the roads were unusually quiet. Traffic was off the road. No one knew exactly why, but it seemed as if people were treating the polling day as a holiday. Children turned the empty roads into cricket pitches.

Outside the polling booths, groups of youngsters and elderly had gathered in front of closed shops, engaged in deep conversation. The usual atmosphere of fear and heavy security, which often dominated elections in the Kashmir region, was absent this time. Instead, there was a peaceful air.

READ FULL STORY

Congress leader Haroon Yusuf on Wednesday attacked the BJP government at the Centre, alleging that there has been a spike in the crime rate of the country in the last 10 years.

Exuding confidence that the INDIA bloc, of which the Congress is a part, will form government, he said the issue will addressed on a priority bases when the alliance comes to power.

Chairperson of the Congress' media and strategic campaign committee for the Lok Sabha elections, Yusuf in a statement said his party's poll manifesto has emphasised on controlling crime, particularly those against women and children.

-PTI

The affidavit of Comedian Shyam Rangeela, who had filed a nomination to contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat was rejected by the Election Commission on Wednesday. In a video message, Rangeela has alleged a series of hurdles in the nomination process, claiming he was barred from submitting his papers on time. 

"Today, the District Magistrate told me that there was some issue with my documents and that I did not take the oath. They did not let the lawyers go in with me and called me alone. My friend was beaten up. Modiji may act and cry, but I don't want to cry here," he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to arrive on a two-day visit to Kashmir on Thursday, a local BJP leader said here. “The Home Minister will arrive here tomorrow evening and meet several delegations,” BJP spokesman Altaf Thakur told PTI.

“Our local party leaders, delegations from the Pahari community, trade bodies and civil society are scheduled to meet the Home Minister,” Thakur added.

The BJP has not fielded its candidates for the three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir but has unofficially extended support to some of the new political parties formed after the abrogation of Article 370.

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that his Delhi counterpart and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal will visit Punjab on May 16.

Kejriwal will hold roadshows in Punjab after paying his obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar, Mann said. 

With the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 just around the corner, the Election Commission of India has started issuing voter slips and sending them to the houses of eligible voters. However, not all eligible voters have received their voter slips.

With several voters yet to receive their voter slips, a common question arises - can I still cast a vote in the elections without a slip?

The answer is YES. Eligible voters can vote without the slips if their name is mentioned on the electoral roll. Know More On This And Other Election FAQs Here

A senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), Ghulam Qadir Wani, has said that the outfit is ready to join electoral politics if the Centre lifts the ban on them and has called upon its supporters to cast their vote in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

The JeI, which last participated in elections in Kashmir before the start of militancy, has been banned since the Pulwama terror attack in 2019, with most of its leadership behind bars.

Reacting to Wani’s remarks, National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah said the Centre should follow through and revoke the ban on the JeI to enable it to participate in the Assembly elections when they happen in J&K, PTI reported. 

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday said that the prime minister claimed on Tuesday that if he played the Hindu-Muslim divide, he would not be fit to be in public life but the very next day, “he played his usual game of dividing Hindus and Muslims”.

“Hon’ble Prime Minister’s statements are increasingly bizarre and show that his speech writers have lost their balance,” the Congress leader said in a post on ‘X’.

“The Hon’ble PM’s accusation that Dr Manmohan Singh had drawn up a plan to spend 15 per cent of the Union Budget exclusively on Muslims is totally false. His further allegation that Congress will present a Muslim budget and a Hindu budget is so outrageous that it can be only characterised as a hallucination,” the former finance minister said.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Hubballi, religious polarisation is once again at the forefront with the politicisation of the recent murder of college student Neha Hiremath. Hiremath was stabbed by her former classmate Fayaz Khondunaik on April 18 after an alleged fallout. Her father, Niranajan Hiremath, a Congress collector, has alleged the murder is a case of “love-jihad”. In Fayaz’s village, the situation remains tense. His mother, Mumtaz Khandunaik, a school teacher, has publicly apologised to people at large for what her son did and has called for strict punishment for the accused. “It was not ‘love-jihad’ though. They were friends and had a fallout,” she says. “Fayaz should not have done what he did; Islam does not allow such acts.”

READ FULL STORY

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Thursday reacted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's 'PoK is part of India, we will take it' remark. 

"He (Amit Shah) said that if we (NDA) get 400 seats then we will take back PoK. If you don't get (400 seats), you won't take PoK back? We want that you do (take back PoK). What kind of a statement is this? You are a Home Minister, this is a democracy, you should issue any statement responsibly."

Mumbai police has issued a traffic advisory in Dadar's Shivaji Park to avoid vehicular congestion during ‘Jahir Sabha’ event organised by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on May 17.

Prime Minister Modi, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and others are expected to participate. Mumbai Police has declared ‘no parking zone’ in several areas for Jahir Sabha event.

The traffic restrictions will come into force from 10 pm on May 16 to midnight tomorrow.

The release of the Kangana Ranaut-starrer "Emergency" has been postponed amid the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections, the makers have announced. Ranaut has been fielded by the BJP for the Mandi constituency in Himachal Pradesh in the polls.

Manikarnika Films Production, the studio behind the upcoming political drama, shared the update on its official X page on Wednesday evening.

"Our hearts are filled with love pouring in for our queen Kangana Ranaut. As she prioritises her duty to the nation and her commitment to serve the country, the release date of our much awaited film 'Emergency' has been postponed," the banner said in the post.

A new release date of "Emergency" will be announced soon, it added.

-PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said the BJP will change the Constitution and end reservation if it comes to power after the Lok Sabha polls.

"The people of BJP have always been against reservation. They will change the Constitution and end reservation after coming to power," he said at a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav here.

Kejriwal reiterated his claim that Yogi Adityanath will be removed as Uttar Pradesh chief minister if the BJP again comes to power.

A BJP worker was killed and seven others were injured in a clash between supporters of the ruling BJD and the saffron party in Odisha's Ganjam district, police said on Thursday.

The incident took place in Sri Krushna Saranapur village in Khallikote police station area on Wednesday night over putting up posters for poll campaigning.

The deceased has been identified as Dilip Kumar Pahana (28), who was a resident of the village. He succumbed to injuries during treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital here, a police officer said.

PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a joint press conference with Akhilesh Yadav today in Lucknow. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says took a jibe at BJP and said, "Out of 543 seats, BJP itself believes that they will not get more than 143 seats."

When Delhi CM Kejriwal was questioned about the controversy surrounding Swati Maliwal, he passed the microphone to Akhilesh who said, "There are more important things than this."

AAP MP Sanjay Singh who has so far issued statements on the alleged assault on Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal said: "The entire country was in pain after seeing what happened in Manipur but PM Modi was silent on the issue. Prajwal Revanna raped thousands of women but PM Modi was asking for votes for Prajwal Revanna. When our wrestlers were protesting at Jantar Mantar, Swati Maliwal who was DCW chief was beaten up by the police. PM Modi remained silent on these issues. AAP is our family and has given a clear statement. BJP and PM Modi should answer all these issues that I mentioned. Politics should not be done on Swati Maliwal's issue."

Also Read | AAP's Sanjay Singh Meets Swati Maliwal, Says Kejriwal Directed Stern Action On Assault Case

• 'Work of giving citizenship to those who are victims of partition has already started under CAA.'

• 'Samajwadi Party, Congress spread lies about CAA and tried to push country towards riots.'

• 'Excitement shown by people of Srinagar in polls is proof no one can bring back Article 370 and do politics of vote bank.'

• 'Samajwadi Party, Congress are two parties but have one shop where they sell appeasement, lies, corruption.'

• 'Samajwadi Party, Congress want to divide country's budget and allot 15 per cent to minorities.'

• 'Yogi Adityanath has run my cleanliness campaign successfully in UP by acting against mafia, rioters and extortionists.' 

"If we look at his (PM Modi's) statements in the last one month you will get your answer. The people will answer them automatically. How can the PM say that he does not do religion-based politics. They never give even a single ticket to any Muslim," Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said.

A voter can check the EPIC number on their Voter ID card to find out which polling booth they are supposed to vote at.

What is EPIC number

The Election Photo ID Card (EPIC), also known as the Voter ID card, has a unique 10-digit alpha-numeric code which is assigned by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The number is a proof that you are a registered voter.

On any Voter ID card, the EPIC code is on the front. One can also get the EPIC number from the National Voters' Service Portal (NVSP).

How to find EPIC number online?

• Open the official NVSP portal.

• Under ‘Services’, click on ‘Search in Electoral Roll'.

• Select ‘Search by Details’ or ‘Search by Mobile’.

• Fill the required details in to see the EPIC code.

How To Find Polling Booth With EPIC Number

• Visit electoralsearch.eci.gov.in.

• Enter the EPIC code, state, captcha code, and click ‘Search.’

• The booth details will be displayed on the screen of your device.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Ravikaran Singh Kahlon on Thursday joined the BJP on Thursday, a day after he was expelled by the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led party.

Ravikaran Singh Kahlon was welcomed into the party fold by Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar and party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

Ravikaran Singh Kahlon is the son of former Punjab Assembly speaker and rural development and panchayat minister Nirmal Singh Kahlon.

A day after the Indian government informed of having distributed the first set of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) certificates, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the Samajwadi Party and Congress of "spreading lies about CAA" in an attempt "to push country towards riots."

PM Modi also asked the crowd if there is anyone alive who can remove CAA, something that the Opposition has vowed to do if it comes to power.

"Till today these INDI Alliance people say that the CAA brought by Modi will eb removed the day he goes, brothers and sistiers has anyone taken birth in this country who can dare to remove CAA," the Prime Minister said. READ FULL STORY

Addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that winning even a single seat in the state is difficult for INDI alliance.

Modi and Yogi are going to change picture and fate of Purvanchal in next five years, PM said at the rally in UP's Jaunpur.

Here's What Else PM Modi:

"Our election motto is ensuring satisfaction, while that of INDIA block is appeasement"

"Country got Ram temple after 500-year wait, everyone is pleased but opposition is hurling abuses"

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said it was inhuman for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a roadshow in the same area of Mumbai where the hoarding collapse incident claimed the lives of 16 persons.

He said that roads and Metro rail services were shut 12 pm onwards on Wednesday on account of PM Modi's roadshow from Ghatkopar west to Ghatkopar east.

"Never ever has such an incident happened where roads were shut for one person's campaign, causing inconvenience to people. It is inhuman to hold a roadshow where people died after the hoarding collapse," the Sena (UBT) MP said.

(via PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi on Thursday said, "I am confident that even if I don't ask for anything, you will vote and send Lotus to Delhi with a huge margin. But, I have come to you today to seek your blessings."

Addressing a public rally, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said, "The alliance of Congress and Samajwadi Party whenever happened, it caused pandemic... During the UPA government, they formed the Justice Ranganath Misra Committee. It said that 6% reservation should be given to Muslims. BJP opposed the decision of the committee... They always wanted to rob the rights of SC, ST and OBC."

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah during his address in Bihar's Madhubani on Wednesday said, "People like Farooq Abdullah, Mani Shankar Aiyar say don't talk about Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as Pakistan have atom bombs. Rahul Baba (Gandhi) you may be afraid of Pakistan's atom bomb... the country is so strong under the leadership of PM Modi that there is no need to be afraid of any atom bomb. Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was ours and will remain ours. We will take it back."

BJP national president JP Nadda on Wednesday said, "Under the Biju Janata Dal corruption has risen...They have done corruption of crores of rupees. Will you let these people come to power again?...This is the time bless BJP party by making it win..."

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge during a presser in Odisha's Bhubaneswar on Thursday said, "The Congress has suffered setback for 24 years on Odisha. Naveen Patnaik has been working for the past 24 years here, but after working for so many years, and with whom he worked... Modi Ji is with him for the past 10 years... We initially thought they are working together for the welfare of the state, but they failed to perform and their fight in the open shows how the state is suffering loss."

Addressing a public rally in Madhubani, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said, "Can Rahul Baba develop Bihar and Madhubani? 'Ye to thodi garmi badhte hi Bangkok Thailand Chhutti pe chale jate hain'... And PM Modi on the other hand, is celebrating Diwali on the borders with our soldiers... Just like Mahabharat, there are clear camps on both sides, one of Pandavas and the other of Kauravas..."

Addressing a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said, "In INDI alliance only those people are there who raise question on the valour of the soldiers of the country. Their agenda is to again impose Article 370 in J&K and will they also say that they will abrogate CAA..."

In his reaction on Union Home Minister Amit Shah calling higher voting percentage in Kashmir greatest testament to rightness of abrogating Article 370, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday said, "Good polling happened because people are angered. People are angered because Article 370, flag were snatched away. If the situation is alright here, then why Home Minister himself is coming to review security here."

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi appealed to the people of India to "not make Modi ji the PM the third time. Poverty has become a major issue. He has not been able to control unemployment and inflation is rising."

"The way PM Modi brought 'Agniveer' scheme in Armed Forces, he will bring this scheme in paramilitary forces also," Owaisi added.

Hitting out at the INDI alliance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Running the country is not possible for the children born with a silver spoon...They can't do this..."

While addressing an election rally in UP's Pratapgarh, the PM further said, "...after June 4 Modi government will definitely form, but despite this several other things will also take place...INDI alliance will be broken and scattered. 'Shehzade' of Lucknow and Delhi will go on vacation.."

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, while speaking to reporters in Uttar Pradesh, said, "The situation is looking better than we had expected... the atmosphere is changing... if we get a majority, we will decide (PM candidate from India alliance)."

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "I will not do Hindu-Muslim" statement, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, "Who is the PM calling 'ghupeti'? Managlsutra taken away from Hindu women will be given to whom?"

"He is referring to Muslims only. Who had said "recognise people from their clothes?" Owaisi asked.

The cumulative turnout in the first four phases of the Lok Sabha elections has been recorded at 66.95 per cent, the Election Commission said on Thursday, adding 45.10 crore of the nearly 97 crore electors have voted so far in the ongoing electoral exercise.

In a statement, the poll panel urged electorate to come out and vote in large numbers in the coming phases. READ MORE

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury reacted to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee extending outside support to INDIA bloc in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. He asked, "What triggered Mamata Banerjee to quit the INDIA alliance?"

"...INDIA alliance has been striding ahead and it is on the verge of forming a government, and this is why as an opportunist political leader she thought of extending support in advance so that her support to INDIA bloc will help her in fighting elections in West Bengal," Chowdhury said.

The Congress further said that now the Bengal CM understands the "crude reality" that voters are leaning towards the INDI alliance. "Mamata Banerjee in this vortex of political environment will be isolated because she is the leader who once boasted of heading the alliance," he added.

BJD leader and a close aide of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, VK Pandian, hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party who said that "they they are selecting somebody who will be more honest than Naveen Babu."

"That means people of Odisha that there is absolutely nobody in BJP's stock who is going to be the CM face for next 25 years. I don't think there is anyone in Odisha or in India who will be more honest than Naveen Babu. He is known for his impeccable honesty and that is why they bless him continuously," Pandian said.

Reacting to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's recent 'outside' support offer to the INDIA bloc, the Opposition alliance she pulled out of once over seat-sharing talks, BJP leader and actor Mithun Chakraborty said in state's Serampore, "It is very good...Think of what you will do when we win 400 seats and come to power."

Clearing doubt whether her party TMC is part of the grand INDIA bloc of Opposition or not, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she only said there is no coalition in the state, adding that it was she who helped form the INDIA bloc at the national level.

“I have said that there is no coalition (referring to INDIA alliance's seat sharing) in West Bengal, but it was me who helped form the INDIA alliance at the national level. And we will form the government at the Centre as part of that alliance. We (TMC) are part of the alliance, and we will be a part in future,” said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee while addressing a public rally in Haldia earlier today.

Banerjee on Wednesday said her party will extend support to the opposition INDIA bloc from outside to form the government at the Centre.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said, "Each and every Mumbaikar has made up the mind to once again elect Narendra Modi and make him the Prime Minister, so that the country's future is secure and the city is secure and the state is progressing."

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said, "We are and will be part of INDIA bloc at national level."

In his reaction on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s remark on INDIA alliance, the state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar on Thursday said, “CM Mamata Banerjee knows that the situation within the state is not in her favour. Her core vote bank is going with Congress and CPI(M), so she is saying such things to stop this movement. She is not a part of any alliance. No one believes Mamata Banerjee at the national level."

In reaction on RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav's 'public is upset with BJP' remark, Bihar Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary on Thursday said, "The corrupts are certainly upset with the BJP. Those who do corruption will be put behind the bars, no one can save them. Whether Kejriwal, Lalu Prasad or Hemant Soren, they will have to remain behind the bars."

Delhi CM and AAP chief on Thursday said, "If BJP gets majority in Lok Sabha, it will end reservation for SC, ST, OBC."

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said, "Our future plan is also ready. The day our government is formed and in the first cabinet meeting the implementation of new schemes will begin. Last cabinet meeting in the chairmanship of PM Modi- he had asked us to give instructions to our ministry to chalk out the plan for 100 days..."

Delhi CM and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said, "They are saying that I have to go to jail again after 20 days...If you press the 'Jhaadu' button, I would not need to go to jail. I would have to if you press any other button. When you press the button, remember why you are doing it, for Kejriwal's arrest or freedom. They are saying '400 paar'... They want 400 seats to end the reservations. If they get the majority, they will end the reservations and the Constitution. There would be no elections, there would be dictatorship..."

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday said, “The people of the country are saying ‘Change in (20)24’. The public is upset with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Youth, whose (exam) paper has leaked in the past, is saying that they will leak BJP’s election.”

Election Commission of India(ECI) on Thursday conveyed its displeasure to Andhra Pradesh chief secretary, DGP over post-poll violence in the state.

AAP MP Swati Maliwal on Thursday said, “Crucial election going on now; Swati Maliwal not important, country is.”

Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said, "Arvind Kejriwal is going to join BJP anytime after elections..."