LIVE: While boasting on air strikes, Modi insulted war strategy, says Cong

Narendra Modi will address public meetings in Punjab and Himachal today. Catch LIVE updates on Lok Sabha elections 2019 campaigns

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a packed Monday ahead of him with rallies scheduled in MP's Ratlam before making his way to Himachal Pradesh's Solan and Punjab's Bhatinda. Meanwhile, BJP President Amit Shah was scheduled to address a rally in West Bengal's Jadavpur, but was reportedly denied permission. Accusing the West Bengal government of not allowing its president Amit Shah's rally in Jadhavpur, the BJP said the Election Commission has become a "mute spectator" to the Trinamool Congress's alleged undemocratic means to target the saffron party.

BJP media head and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Baluni said his party will hold protests and also move the EC.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address public meeting in Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur today.

On Sunday, elections were held in 14 seats in Uttar Pradesh, 10 seats in Haryana, eight constituencies each in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, four in Jharkhand and seven seats in Delhi where votes were cast by a number of public figures, including President Ram Nath Kovind, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

The Election Commission (EC) said 63.48 per cent turnout across the states and Delhi, with West Bengal recording over 80 per cent polling and Delhi registering just 60 per cent.

Glitches in EVMs were reported in Delhi, and the other places where polling took place. However, poll officials said the voting machines were replaced. Over 1,200 VVPAT machines were changed across the city delaying the polling process.

With yesterday's polling, votes have already been cast in nearly 89 per cent of the 543 constituencies, while the last phase of voting will take place on May 19 for the remaining 59 seats.

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UP CM in Kushinagar: Nandi (bull) is going to SP's rallies and asking "where are the friends of butchers?" saying it'll give them a lesson. I said to Nandi baba, elections are going on, MCC is in place, please spare them at this time, you can continue your work after elections.

2:40 PM

Navjot Singh Sidhu on medication due to continuous speech damaging his vocal cords

Navjot Singh Sidhu on steroid medication and injections due to continuous speech damaging his vocal cords. At the moment Sidhu is under the medication and in process of a quick recovery to return-back to campaigning at the earliest.

2:32 PM

While boasting on air strikes, Modi insulted war strategy, says Congress

The Congress on Monday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks that cloud cover could help IAF planes evade Pakistani radars during the Balakot strikes, saying that while "boasting" he "disrespected war strategy" and committed an "unforgivable crime".

 

In an interview to a private news channel aired on Saturday, Modi said he relied on his "raw wisdom" to dispel doubts of defence experts who wanted the air strikes to be deferred due to inclement weather.

 

Taking a swipe at Modi, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted, "In 70 years no PM has made fun of military might, but Modi ji kept his raw wisdom above military's professionalism." "He is so busy garnering votes in the name of military that he ended up insulting the forces. While boasting, Modi ji disrespected war strategy and committed an unforgivable crime," he said.

2:16 PM

Sam Pitroda must be ashamed of remark on 1984 riots, says Rahul

Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab: What Sam Pitroda said about 1984 is absolutely wrong and he should apologise to the nation for it. I told him this over the phone, I told him what he said was wrong, he should be ashamed and apologise publicly.

2:13 PM

'Hua to hua' remark shows arrogance of Congress: Modi

Tearing into Congress leader Sam Pitroda's "hua to hua" (whatever happened, happened) remark on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said people are now saying "enough is enough" in response.

 

He sought to dismiss "claims by pundits and planted reports from Delhi" that there was no "Modi wave". "The wave is coming out from each home," he said.

 

Addressing an election rally here in Madhya Pradesh, Modi said in incidents like the Bhopal gas tragedy and scams like CWG, 2G spectrum and coal allocation happened under the watch of the Rahul Gandhi-led party, which brazenly says "hua to hua".

 

Modi also reiterated his claim that the Gandhis used warship INS Viraat for "picnic". But when questions were raised about it, the Congress said "hua to hua", he added.

2:02 PM

BJP accuses Congress of violating MCC by shaking 'hands' near polling booth

BJP leader Ashwani Upadhyay on Monday registered a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against Congress stating that the party cadres are violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by shaking 'hands' (Congress symbol) near polling booth in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.

 

In his complaint to the EC, Upadhyay mentioned that Congress workers and their election agents are affecting voters by 'shaking hands' in the 100 meters radius of the booth, which is a violation of public representative law and election code of conduct.

 

As per the guidelines issued by the EC, no names of any party and its election symbol should be seen within a distance of 200 meters from the polling station.

1:49 PM

Diggi Raja didn't feel the need to cast his vote: PM Modi in Ratlam

PM Modi in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh: The country is electing its representatives, even I went to Ahmedabad to cast my vote. President and Vice President of the country were standing in queues to cast their votes. But Diggi Raja didn't feel the need to cast his vote.

 

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Who's with whom: Indian parties seek partners as election nears end

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling coalition is confident of a second term in office but opposition parties are talking to each other to seal an alliance, hoping to topple him after general election results are announced on May 23.

1:36 PM

Here's how you can track actual poll results on May 23

1:29 PM

BJP promised ache din in the manifesto and their promises were hollow like the Congress party: Mayawati

BSP supremo Mayawati, addressing an election rally in Gorakhpur, attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Demonetisation and GST.

 

She said, "Demonetisation and GST were implemented in a hurry and this is why poverty in the country has risen. It's having an adverse affect on our economy. Our borders are not secure and that's why terror attacks are happening. Our jawans are losing their lives. However unfortunately BJP is using this issue to get electoral advantage."

1:28 PM

BJP President Amit Shah in Joynagar, West Bengal: I was to visit 3 places today, but Mamata's ji's nephew is contesting from one of the seats so she is scared her nephew will lose, and that's why she cancelled the permission for our rally.

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Tamil Nadu: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao offers prayers at Ranganathaswamy Temple in Tiruchirappalli. Rao is scheduled to meet Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President MK Stalin in Chennai later today.