Lok Sabha highlights: EC bans Navjot Sidhu, Rahul clarifies before SC

Congress President is seeking re-election from the constituency and is fighting against Bharatiya Janata Party's Smriti Irani

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed two rallies in Nashik and Nandurbar districts in Maharashtra while Congress President Rahul Gandhi held roadshows in Amethi district of Uttar Pradesh.

Bharati Pawar and Union minister of state for defence Subhash Bhamre are the Bharatiya Janata Party candidates from Nashik's Dindori seat and Nandurbar segment respectively.

Gandhi conducted roadshows in Tiloi and Salon Lok Sabha segments during his stay here and also addressed nukaad sabhas. The Congress chief is seeking re-election from the constituency and is involved in a direct fight with BJP's Smriti Irani.

Meanwhile, campaigning for the third phase of polling in 116 parliamentary constituencies on April 23 ended. Polling will be held in the 115 seats, spread across 14 States and Union Territories.

Polling will be held in Gujarat (20), Kerala (20), Goa (2), Dadra and Nagar Haveli (1) and Daman and Diu (1), Assam (4), Bihar (5), Chhattisgarh (7), Jammu and Kashmir (1), Karnataka (14), Maharashtra (14), Odisha (6), Uttar Pradesh (10) and West Bengal (5).

BJP President Amit Shah from Gandhinagar in Gujarat, Congress President Rahul Gandhi from Kerala's Wayanad and Samajwadi Party's Mulayam Singh Yadav from Mainpuri in UP are the key contestants for Tuesday's poll.

The Lok Sabha elections are being held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The results will be declared on May 23. Elections will be held in Amethi on May 6.

11:35 PM

Congress fields in 2008 Olympic medalist Vijender Singh from South Delhi seat

The Congress fielded champion boxer Vijender Singh, who won the bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, from the South Delhi constituency. 

 

He will take on BJP's sitting MP Ramesh Bidhuri and AAP's Raghav Chadha.

Sources said the party is confident that Singh will be able to garner massive support in the constituency, which has a large number of Jat and Gurjar voters

10:50 PM

72-hour campaigning ban on Sidhu

The Election Commission Monday censured Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu and barred him from campaigning for 72 hours for alleged communal remarks during an election rally in Bihar.

 

The ban comes into force from 10 am on Tuesday.

9:36 PM

BJP names two nominees for Delhi

2:16 PM

Increase your income by making ethanol out of sugarcane: PM Modi to farmers

PM Narendra Modi starts public meeting in Nandurbar district in Maharashtra.

 

"I have a close relationship with Nandurbar. The way this chaiwala has run the country, I hope people of Nandurbar are happy."

 

Farmers can increase their income by making ethanol out of sugarcane. Ethanol could be made in India and added to petrol instead of buying it from other countries but Congress didn't let it happen, says PM Modi, adding refineries are being created to help sugarcane farmers.

1:58 PM

Press can write whatever they want without fear: Rahul

Press can write whatever they want once Congress comes to power, says Rahul Gandhi

1:47 PM

No farmer will be jailed for not paying back loan: Rahul Gandhi

Billionaires take loans and live a lavish lifestyle without paying back. But farmers take Rs 20,000 loan and get beaten for not being able to pay it off. If Congress comes to power, no farmer in India will be jailed or mistreated for not paying it back, says Rahul Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi district.

1:29 PM

Farmers will be told how much loan to be waived off each year: Rahul

Modi waived off loans of businessmen but didn't do anything for farmers. When we come to power, we will present 2 Budgets — 1 national and 1 for farmers — and every Tiloi farmer will be told how much loan will be waived off in start of each year, says Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

1:23 PM

2.2 million government jobs guaranteed: Rahul Gandhi

I guarantee 2.2 million government jobs to be filled in a year, says Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Amethi

1:05 PM

Former BJP MP from Hamirpur Suresh Chandel joins Congress

12:51 PM

12:43 PM

12:36 PM

It's the strength of your one vote that India can take on all the challenges: PM Modi

It's not just the Indian government but each Indian citizen who stands proud today. It is because of your one vote that this celebration of India and Indians has been possible the world over. It is the strength of your one vote that India has been able to take on all the challenges facing it with might, says PM Modi while addressing a public meeting in Dindori, Maharashtra

12:14 PM

Will do my best to fulfill my responsibility: Delhi NE candidate Sheila Dikshit

11:16 AM

PM Modi to visit Maharashtra, Rajasthan today

PM Modi on Monday will be heading to Maharashtra and Rajasthan to talk about BJP's development agenda.

Modi will be visiting Maharashtra's Dindori and Nandurbar, and Udaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

10:53 AM

Congress announces candidates for 7 Lok Sabha seats from Delhi

Congress Central Election Committee announces candidates for the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha from NCT of Delhi