LS polls highlights: My aim is to increase speed and scale of development, says PM Modi to ANI

General Elections 2024 news updates: Catch all the news updates of the announcements related to Lok Sabha polls here

3:14 PM

Detailed roadmap in BJP manifesto for every section of society in India: PM Modi

"Yesterday in Delhi, BJP has released its Sankalp Patra. BJP's Sankalp Patra means Modi's guarantee... Under Modi's guarantee, India will become the center of world-class infrastructure. Under Modi's guarantee, India will achieve a memorable achievement like Gaganyaan in the field of space. Under Modi's guarantee, farmers will continue to get the money of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Along with all this, 3 crore new houses will also be built for the poor. Every citizen above 70 years of age will get free treatment...In BJP's development approach, a broad roadmap is available for every section and every society of Kerala," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a rally in Thiruvananthapuram today.

2:42 PM

TMC in WB providing shelter to anti-govt forces, claims Union minister Anurag Thakur

During his election campaign in Siliguri, Union Minister Anurag Thakur questioned why actors of terror activities, committed in the state or elsewhere in the country, "find protection and shelter in West Bengal." "Why is this so?" he asked. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested two key accused, including the mastermind, in Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast case from West Bengal, a development that led to a slugfest between the BJP and the state's ruling TMC.

2:39 PM

Congress in backdoor deal with banned organisation to secure victory in Kerala, says PM Modi in Alathur rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today came down heavily on Rahul Gandhi who is contesting the elections from Kerala's Wayanad, indirectly signaling that he is taking the help of the political wing of a banned organisation to win this election. "A big leader of Congress has found it difficult to save the respect of his family seat in Uttar Pradesh and has made his new base in Kerala. To win the elections, Congress has entered into a backdoor agreement with the political wing of an organization which has been banned in the country for its anti-national tendencies. Have you ever heard this from them?" PM Modi said speaking at a public meeting in Kerala's Alathur.

2:35 PM

'On 40-day tour': Manoj Tiwari's slams Cong rival Kanhaiya as LS battle heats up in NE Delhi

A day after Congress fielded Kanhaiya Kumar from the North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat, BJP nominee Manoj Tiwari took a jab at his rival, saying he was on a "40-day tour" of the constituency and could see how an MP works in his area. Kumar, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) president, was involved in an incident on the campus in February 2016, in which slogans were raised allegedly against the country.

2:31 PM

Kerala will ensure its voice is heard in Parliament this time, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that Kerala will ensure its voice is heard in Parliament after the upcoming General Elections. PM said that it will be a year of progress in Kerala and referred to the various promises and development programmes mentioned in the BJP's manifesto -- called 'Modi ki Guarantee' -- that was released on Sunday. He also took multiple jabs by alleging that it created a weak image of India in the world, while the BJP had built the country into a strong nation.

1:53 PM

Chief poll official declares paid holiday for voters on polling day in Delhi NCT

The Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi P Krishnamurthy has announced the implementation of the Election Commission of India (ECI) order, granting a paid holiday to employees on the day of polling in the NCT of Delhi. The polling day in the NCT of Delhi is scheduled for May 25.

 

1:50 PM

Congress MP Mukul Wasnik calls BJP's manifesto 'jumla patra'

Congress MP Mukul Wasnik called the party's manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections as a "Jumla patra," stating that the party has not provided any explanation for the promises it had made in the past.

 

Wasnik said, "10 years ago, the Bharatiya Janata Party had made many promises to the entire country. Now that the elections are around the corner and the BJP has put forward their manifesto, it is necessary that the party also clears out all the promises fulfilled by them in the past."

1:03 PM

Election Commission has seized over Rs 100 crore per day since March 1

Ahead of the General Elections starting on April 19, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said it was on track of record highest seizure of inducements in the 75-year history of Lok Sabha polls in the country. The seizure has reached Rs 100 crore each day since March 1, the poll body stated.

12:32 PM

State govt is hindering efforts of NDA government: PM Modi on Kerala's development

 "LDF-UDF are deteriorating the condition of Kerala...The state govt is also hindering the efforts that the NDA government is making for the development of Kerala and the region. These people also want to stop the projects of National Highways...Whether they are in Tripura, WB or Kerala, the Left parties have only one character- Nothing Left and Nothing Right," PM Modi said at a public rally in Palakkad.

 

12:28 PM

Language is not something that is imposed from the top: Rahul Gandhi at Wayanad rally

"Today, the main fight is against the ideology of the RSS. The BJP people, the Prime Minister, they say one nation, one people, one language, one leader. Language is not something that is imposed from the top. Language is something that comes out from inside the person, inside the heart of the person. To tell a person from Kerala, that your language is inferior to Hindi is an insult to the people of Kerala. This idea that India should have only one leader is an insult to every single young Indian person," Rahul Gandhi said at the Wayanad rally.

12:21 PM

Today's India has power to rescue people from war-torn countries: PM Modi

"This election is to decide the future of India. It is for guarantee of your bright future. Kerala people have seen how NDA has worked to boost the stature of India. People going abroad get respect. Today's India has power to rescue people from war-torn countries. We made indigenous vaccine and helped other countries as well. The work of last 10 years is just a trailer," PM Modi said at the Alathur rally.

12:14 PM

News update: Poll officials search Rahul Gandhi's chopper

12:13 PM

Uttrakhand to cast votes at over 11,000 polling booths on Apr 19

The polling for all five Lok Sabha seats in Uttarakhand is set to take place in a single phase on April 19. To boost voter turnout in the hill state over 11,000 polling booths are being set up across the state. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Kumar Jogdande said, "A total of 11,729 polling booths are being set up in the state for the Lok Sabha elections, where around 75,62,830 voters are likely to exercise their right to vote."

11:56 AM

BJP manifesto promises Modi's guarantees, says prime minister in Kerala

BJP manifesto promises Modi's guarantees and speaks about development programmes, said PM Modi said at an electoral rally in Kerala. PM Modi also said that a survey for bullet trains in east, north, south India will commence once NDA comes back to power.

11:49 AM

People no longer support the LDF and UDF: PM Modi at Kerala rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that the politics of Kerala is seeing a major shift and people of that no longer support the LDF and UDF.