LS polls highlights: EC has agreed to count postal ballots first, says Cong leader Singhvi

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

8:34 PM

Calcutta HC grants interim protection to BJP candidates Rekha Patra, Pranat Tudu

The Calcutta High Court on Monday granted interim protection to BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidates Rekha Patra and Pranat Tudu in connection with police cases lodged against them. The two BJP candidates had moved the high court, alleging that false police cases were lodged against them in order to hinder their presence during the counting process of the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday. Justice Amrita Sinha directed that police will not take any action against BJP's Basirhat candidate Rekha Patra till July 5 in connection with a case lodged against her in North 24 Parganas district.

8:01 PM

Decided to keep central forces in some states to prevent post-poll violence: CEC

In a bid to prevent post-poll violence, the Election Commission (EC) has for the first time decided to continue with the deployment of central forces in some states even after the expiry of the Model Code of Conduct period, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said on Monday. He said while the EC believes that there would be no post-poll violence, to prevent any flare-up, the election body has, for the first time, decided to deploy central forces even after the provisions of the model code are lifted following Tuesday's counting of the votes cast in the Lok Sabha polls.

7:36 PM

LS polls: Delhi gears up for counting day; 70 companies of forces to be deployed at 7 counting centres

Around 70 companies of the forces will be deployed at all seven counting centres across the national capital as part of the elaborate security arrangements made by the Delhi Police for the vote-counting day on June 4. "Elaborate security arrangements have been made by Delhi Police for the vote-counting day of Lok Sabha Elections 2024. On June 4, during the counting process, around 70 companies of the force will be deployed at all seven counting centres across Delhi," said the police.

7:18 PM

BJP will form govt in Odisha, no alternative to PM Modi in country: Biplab Kumar Deb

A day before the announcement of Lok Sabha poll results, former Tripura Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Biplab Kumar Deb said that BJP is set to form the government in Odisha adding that there is no alternative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the country. 'There is no alternative to Prime Minister Modi, he is the need of the country. BJP will form the state government in Odisha. As per my assessment in Lok Sabha, we won't get less than 17 seats. People are upset in Odisha due to the bad governance under CM Naveen Patnaik. People were angry as Odisha had everything people are going to Gujarat for labour," Biplab Kumar Deb told reporters.

6:44 PM

LS polls: EC has agreed to count postal ballots first, says Cong leader Singhvi

The opposition on Monday said the Election Commission (EC) has agreed to its request of counting the postal ballots first on June 4, when the results of the Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be declared, and stressed that this is the participatory manner of promoting the spirit of democracy in a non-adversarial fashion. Leaders from the INDIA opposition bloc had urged the EC on Sunday to ensure that on June 4, the postal ballots are counted and their results declared before the outcome of the EVMs is announced, and said the poll panel should issue clear guidelines on the counting process and ensure that those are implemented.

6:14 PM

INDIA bloc will win more seats than BJP in Rajasthan: State Congress chief Dotasra

Ahead of counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections, Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra on Monday claimed that the opposition INDIA bloc will win more seats in the state than the BJP. He also alleged that the Election Commission is working under the pressure created by the BJP. "The people of Rajasthan have voted in favour of the INDIA bloc candidates, and we will win more seats than the BJP," Dotasra told reporters here.

6:01 PM

LS polls: BJP alleges attack on party workers in Bengal after final phase

Allegations of intimidation and attacks were raised by the BJP on Monday in different parts of south Bengal, including in Sandeshkhali, against supporters of the TMC, following the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections. A senior police officer of North 24 Parganas district, however, said the situation was largely peaceful in Sandeshkhali, which had made headlines after local TMC leaders were accused of sexual assault on women and land grabs. The region had witnessed large-scale protests in February following the allegations.

5:25 PM

LS polls: 2,572 crorepatis; 1,643 candidates with criminal cases in fray

As India braces for Lok Sabha election results on Tuesday, there are 2,572 candidates who are crorepatis while 1,643 candidates have criminal cases registered against themselves, according to poll rights body ADR. An analysis by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch has shed light on the profiles of the candidates. Out of the 8,360 candidates contesting, 8,337 have been analysed, revealing significant insights into their backgrounds, including criminal records, financial status, education, and gender representation.

5:06 PM

Lok sabha polls: Date, time, and where to watch poll results

According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the counting of votes for the 2024 Lok Sabha election and the state polls will begin at 8 am on Tuesday, June 4. Read more details here,

5:01 PM

Poll body sets 7pm deadline for Jairam Ramesh on claim about attempt to influence DMs

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's request for a week's time to file evidence to back up his allegations against Union minister Amit Shah, has been rejected by the Election Commission. He has been given time till  7 pm today to file his response,

4:48 PM

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Over 8,000 candidates compete in LS elections; 47% independent contestants

Over 8,000 candidates are contesting in the General elections of which 16 per cent have been fielded by national parties, six per cent by state parties, while 47 per cent of candidates are independents, a report by PRS Legislative Research said. This is the highest number of candidates since 1996, when a record 13,952 candidates were in the fray. In the 2019 polls, there were 8,039 candidates.

4:29 PM

ECI sets 7pm deadline for Jairam Ramesh on claim about attempt to influence DMs

The Election Commission of India (ECI) today dismissed Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s request seeking a week’s extension to back up his allegation that Union home minister Amit Shah called up 150 district magistrates and collectors ahead of the June 4 counting of votes for the General Elections. the poll body asked Ramesh to respond by 7:00 pm today.

3:57 PM

Supreme Court bars YSRCP MLA accused of smashing EVM from entering counting station

The top court today barred YSR Congress Party lawmaker Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, who allegedly smashed an EVM at a polling station, from entering the counting centre of Macherla assembly constituency on June 4. A vacation bench saw the video of the May 13 incident and questioned the anticipatory bail granted to Reddy, and termed it as a "sheer mockery of the justice system".

3:41 PM

Can't do anything if a candidate withdraws willfully, says CEC on Surat LS polls

Elections should have taken place, we can do nothing if a candidate withdraws voluntarily, CEC Rajiv Kumar on Surat LS polls

3:15 PM

Lok Sabha polls 2024: CM Siddaramaih rubbishes exit polls, says Cong will win 15-20 seats in Karnataka

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaih on Monday concurred with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statement terming exit polls as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's media poll, as he asserted that the party will win 15-20 Lok Sabha seats out of 28 in the state.

Rahul Gandhi on Sunday dubbed the exit polls as "Modi media poll".