Lok Sabha Elections 2019: After Advani, BJP asks Joshi not to contest

BJP President Amit Shah and UP CM Adityanath will address rallies in UP and Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be in Rajasthan. Catch LIVE updates on campaigning for Lok Sabha Elections 2019

With two weeks to go before the Lok Sabha Elections 2019, all political parties have been canvassing for votes in full swing. From formulating campaign strategies to stitching alliances, each is working to clinch as many seats in the upcoming polls as possible. Today, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah addressed a rally at Moradabad's Ramleela maidan, while Congress President Rahul Gandhi held rallies in Rajasthan, Suratgarh city in Ganganagar district and Bundi. He also held dialogues with selected booth-level workers in Jaipur. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath campaigned in Azamgarh and Gorakhpur.

Here is what made news about 2019 elections today.

11:40 PM

Congress pits Sanjay Kapoor against BJP's Jaya Prada in UP constituency

Congress has announced three more candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, pitting Sanjay Kapoor against BJP's Jaya Prada in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur constituency.

11:39 PM

Prominent candidates's nominations found valid for first-phase Lok Sabha polls

Nomination papers of all prominent candidates were found to be valid after scrutiny for the first phase of polling to be held on four Lok Sabha seats of Bihar on April 11.

11:18 PM

Mamata targets BJP for sidelining L K Advani, says old is gold

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of sidelining its senior leader Lal Krishna Advani and denying him Lok Saha ticket from Gandhinagar parliamentary seat in Gujarat.

 

"It is my personal feelings. I am feeling bad. Advani was the actual mentor for the BJP. They have forgotten the old days because of the new crop of leaders. But old is gold. It is an insult to him. But this is my personal feeling. They may not agree to it," the Chief Minister said.

Mamata Banerjee

10:36 PM

Supporters of  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hold cutouts of party president Amit Shah with the party symbol during a public rally in Ahmadabad | Photo credit: PTI

10:32 PM

Lok Sabha polls: EC appoints special observers for eight states

The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday appointed four special observers, two retired IRS and two IPS officer, to spearhead its efforts to check the abuse of black money and illegal inducements to voters and monitor deployment of security forces in select sensitive states during the Lok Sabha polls.

Representative image of a VVPAT machine

10:10 PM

Congress announces candidates for Navsari, Kutch Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat

Congress on Tuesday announced names of leaders from Dalit and Koli communities from Navsari and Kutch Lok Sabha constituencies in Gujarat. With the announcement of candidatures of Naresh Maheshwari from Kutch, a seat reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC), and Dharmesh Patel from Navsari, the total number of candidates declared by the party has reached six.

9:50 PM

BJP will win all 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana: Manohar Lal Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar held a roadshow on Tuesday and exuded confidence that the ruling BJP will win all the 10 Lok Sabha seats from the state. Khattar said the BJP will seek votes on the basis of development work undertaken by both the state and the central government.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

9:36 PM

Indian Armed forces left without anything during UPA regime: Sitharaman

Attacking the previous Congress-led UPA regime for 'not buying even one thing' for the armed forces during its 10 year tenure, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the personnel did not even have bullet proof vests, leave alone Rafale jet, which was never bought. "I want to ask why during the UPA period not even one thing was bought for our armed forces", said Sitharaman.

9:25 PM

EC appoints 'Special Expenditure Observers' in several states for elections

8:49 PM

Consulted 'big economists' including Rajan for minimum income scheme: Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday said his party consulted "big economists" including former RBI governor Rahuram Rajan before it came up with the idea of minimum guaranteed income to the poorest 20 per cent households in the country.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi. Photo: @INCIndia

8:43 PM

Congress will give complete exemption to entrepreneurs for 3 years: Rahul Gandhi

8:35 PM

PM Modi 'only' PM to respond to Pakistan like US: Amit Shah

BJP president Amit Shah claimed that Narendra Modi was the "only" prime minister who had responded to terror activities in Pakistan like the United States.

"We attacked Pakistan without any delay after the Pulwama attack, while the Opposition leaders were insisting for negotiation, Shah said at a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district. The Bharatiya Janata Party chief alleged that the Opposition was insulting the soldiers who died in the Pulwama attack by asking questions on the number of casualties in the Balakot airstrike.

8:21 PM

Election 2019: Facebook rolls out 'Candidate Connect' feature

Facebook has launched a feature 'Candidate Connect' through which Lok Sabha candidates can record their poll promises in 20-second videos. Facebook has already started removing fake accounts and "bad actors who mislead people" and has brought in transparency in political advertisements.

8:13 PM

Happy that women will benefit under NYAY scheme: Priyanka Gandhi

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said she's happy that women will receive Rs 72,000 per year directly into their bank accounts under the minimum income guarantee scheme announced by party chief Rahul Gandhi.

8:06 PM

Thankful to PM Modi, Amit Shah for having confidence in me: Jaya Prada