LS polls highlights: If INDIA bloc wins election, partners will decide on PM's name, says Kharge

General Elections 2024: Catch all the latest news updates on the Lok Sabha polls here

At a press conference in Chandigarh, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge stated that If the INDIA bloc wins the Lok Sabha elections, its partners will sit and decide on the prime minister's name. 

At an election rally in  Praygraj, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeted the Opposition INDIA bloc, alleging that the Samajwadi Party and Congress were more concerned about their vote bank than the 'Kumbh mela.'

The Election Commission of India on Tuesday directed BJP's Abhijit Ganguly not to campaign for 24 hours over remarks on CM Mamta Banerjee.

In an online press conference today, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal stated that the NDA government at the Centre will not make a comeback and the Opposition INDIA bloc will bag more than 300 seats in the Lok Sabha polls.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge today Kharge hit out at the BJP and accused the saffron party of repeatedly instigating people and "emotionally looting" them in the name of Ram Temple, Hindu-Muslim and India-Pakistan and claimed they have now understood their true colours. "After travelling across the country, we are getting the sense that there is a big undercurrent in our favour. The Congress party and coalition partners of INDIA bloc will get more seats this time. We will be able to stop the BJP from getting the seats required for coming to power. I feel the BJP will not be able to form its government," he told PTI.

Ahead of the sixth phase of polling for Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday is scheduled to address two poll rallies in East Champaran and Maharajganj in Bihar before proceeding to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh for another public meeting. PM Modi will also hold a “Nari Shakti Samvad” in his Lok Sabha constituency, Varanasi, later in the day. 

Ahead of the polling for the General Elections later this week, the AAP alleged that the seven outgoing Lok Sabha MPs of the BJP failed to employ 66 per cent of the funds meant for development works in the constituency. Data on the MPLAD portal, however, displayed that the MPs have spent almost the entire amount that was released by the central government. AAP leader Jasmine Shah claimed that as per data from Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, all the seven MPs had received Rs 124 crore for five years. "The BJP MPs could not utilise Rs 81 crores out of the Rs 124 crores that could have been used for installing CCTVs, maintaining law and order, making roads and drainage systems," he said.

Several incidents of violence marred the fifth phase of General Elections in the constituencies in West Bengal, with 73 per cent of the 12.5 million voters exercising their franchise till 5 pm on Monday, officials said. Voter turnout was lesser than the previous four phases, and also in comparison to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

 

6:20 PM

Naveen Patnaik should clarify on the missing keys of Puri Jagannath temple's Ratna Bhandar: Amit Shah

Naveen Patnaik should clarify on the missing keys of Puri Jagannath temple's Ratna Bhandar: Amit Shah at poll rally in Odisha's Nayagarh

6:18 PM

Two polling booths in Jhansi record 100 per cent turnout

Two polling booths in the Jhansi Lok Sabha constituency, where elections were held in the fifth phase on May 20, have recorded 100 per cent voter turnout, officials said on Tuesday.

According to an official statement issued by District Election Officer (DEO) and District Magistrate Akshay Tripathi, all 375 voters -- 198 men and 177 women -- at booth number 277 in Saulda of Mehrauni Assembly cast their votes. Similarly, at booth number 355 in Bamhora Nagal village, all 441 registered voters -- 235 men and 206 women -- participated, it said.

Both these booths are located in the Lalitpur district.

In another village, Budhni Narahat, there is still confusion regarding 100 per cent voting due to technical issues, the statement said, adding there is a possibility that 100 per cent turnout will be declared there as well.

5:53 PM

Congress slams Sambit Patra’s ‘Lord Jagannath is Modi’s bhakt’ remark

Election 2024 Live News: On BJP leader Sambit Patra’s ‘Lord Jagannath is Modi’s bhakt’ remark, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, “It won’t be accepted the way they (BJP) are disrespecting the Hindu gods and faith of crores of Hindus by becoming PM Modi’s ‘andhbhakt’. BJP leader Sambit Patra surprised people yesterday by saying that ‘Lord Jagannath is Narendra Modi’s bhakt’. Who gave him the right to say something like this? He is now apologising when they are facing its consequences.”

5:08 PM

If INDIA bloc wins election, partners will sit and decide on the PM's name, says Kharge

At a press conference in Chandigarh, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge stated that If the INDIA bloc wins the Lok Sabha elections, its partners will sit and decide on the prime minister's name. In UPA I and UPA II, the coalition completed the full term, Kharge said responding to PM Modi's "five PM" jibe.

4:59 PM

Congress demands apology from PM Modi over Patra's remark on Lord Jagannath

The Congress on Tuesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a controversial statement on Lord Jagannath made by BJP Puri Lok Sabha candidate Sambit Patra. Patra while giving sound bites to reporters on Monday, had said that the state's most revered deity "Lord Jagannath is a devotee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."

4:56 PM

PM Modi used all forces to keep me behind bars but miracle happened and I am before you: Arvind Kejriwal

At a poll rally in Jharkhand, AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal said that PM Modi used all forces to keep him behind bars but a miracle took place and he was able to get out of jail. Kejriwal added that PM Modi plotted to finish AAP and JMM but the parties got stronger and he could not topple Delhi, Punjab, Jharkhand govts.

4:37 PM

There was a competition of appeasement between SP and Congress: PM Modi

"Every corner of India says that the INDI alliance will not bring development. Look at the example of Kumbh Mela held in Prayagraj... What used to happen during the time of SP-Congress? There used to be a stampede in the crowd. People used to lose their lives. There was chaos everywhere. They were more concerned about their vote bank than Kumbh. They were afraid that if they were seen doing too much for Kumbh, their vote bank might get offended. There was a competition of appeasement between SP and Congress," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today.

4:28 PM

INDIA bloc's agenda is to bring back Article 370, revoke CAA: PM Modi

At a rally in UP's Praygraj, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The SP-Congress and INDI alliance members cannot digest the praise of India. The 'shehzada' of Congress goes abroad to abuse India. On what agenda are these INDI alliance members fighting the elections?  Their agenda is- Article 370 will be implemented again in Kashmir, they will remove CAA, they will repeal the stringent laws that have been made against corruption. Every corner of India says that the INDI alliance will not bring development."

 

4:24 PM

News update: INDIA bloc members cannot digest India's praise, says PM Modi at rally in Prayagraj

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also added that the SP, Congress stand for anti-development ageda.

4:22 PM

INDIA bloc wants to loot, divide people on lines of religion: CM Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today claimed that the INDIA bloc is planning to loot the country by dividing the people on the basis of caste and religion. "The BJP is serving the public under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We do not practice discrimination and are working with the spirit of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. At the same time, INDI alliance wants to loot the country by dividing the country's people on the basis of caste and religion, which we will not allow to happen," he said.

3:50 PM

Bengal CM Mamata says heartbroken over plight of Sandeshkhali women, pans BJP for 'conspiracy'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was heartbroken over the plight of women in Sandeshkhali but asserted that the BJP should not have played with the dignity of women in the trouble-torn area as the "saffron camp's conspiracy now stands exposed".

3:44 PM

Should a leader hailed by enemy allowed to form govt?: Rajnath on Pak leader's praise for Rahul

"Ex-Pakistan minister Fawad Hussain has said that Pakistani terrorists were behind the Pulwama and Uri attacks. Same Fawad Hussain does not praise PM Modi but he is praising Rahul Gandhi with comments such as 'Rahul on Fire'. I want to ask you whether such a leader who is praised by enemies should be respected. Should he be allowed to form the government? Which direction they want to take the country? I appeal to you to save the country," Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said.

3:34 PM

PM Modi 'Jhoothon Ka Sardar', says Congress president Kharge

Addressing a rally in Haryana, Congress chief Kharge said people are fed up with the BJP. "There are a few people who say 'Modi, Modi'. He is a 'jhoothon ka sardar' (King of liars). Still you say 'Modi Modi'. I do not want to abuse anyone and I am not against Modi. But I am certainly against Modi's ideology and am fighting against it," Kharge said in the state's Jagadhri city.

3:05 PM

Stampede-like situation at Akhilesh Yadav's Azamgarh rally

A stampede-like situation arose at the public meeting of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Azamgarh constituency today. Earlier, a similiar situation had taken place during the Phulpur rally.

2:52 PM

PDP supports INDIA bloc on ideological basis, Constitution must be guarded: Mehbooba Mufti

Despite fielding her party's candidates against the National Conference on three Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said her party continues to be a part of INDIA bloc on ideological basis and agrees with it on the need to safeguard the Constitution.

 

The NC, also a part of the INDIA bloc, has put up three candidates on Srinagar, Baramulla, and Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seats after reaching an agreement with the Congress, which has put up its candidates in Jammu, Udhampur, and Ladakh.