LS polls Highlights: SP changes mind, now Akhilesh Yadav to contest from Kannauj

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

3:43 PM

If you have two houses, Congress govt will take one: PM Modi

"If you have two houses, Congress govt will take one, if you have two vehicles, they will take one and give to their vote bank," PM Modi said today at the Sagar rally.

3:40 PM

Cong is preparing to cut quota of SC, ST and OBC and to implement reservations based on religion: PM Modi

3:29 PM

News update: Stable and strong government must for development of country, says PM Modi at Sagar rally

At an election rally in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that a stable and strong government is a must for the development of country.  

3:25 PM

General Elections 2024: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi addresses second rally in a day at Wayanad

"Rahul ji will continue to work for you with complete dedication, as he has done in the last 5 years. He will work day and night to resolve your issues," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said today. "He will always be by your side," she added.

3:11 PM

Election Commission begins examining complaints against PM Modi's speech

The Election Commission is learnt to have started examining complaints against a speech made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rajasthan in which he suggested that if the Congress came to power, it would redistribute the wealth of people to Muslims, news agency ANI reported. The Congress and the CPI-M had separately asked the poll body to move against PM Modi's speech on Sunday.

2:48 PM

Lawmaker Vishwajeet Kadam shuns campaigning for Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate, Congress to hold urgent meet

The Maharashtra state unit of Congress will hold an urgent meeting in Sangli to pacify lawmaker Vishwajeet Kadam and other party workers. Kadam has been staying away from campaigning for the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Chandrahar Patil in Sangli, which goes to poll in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 7.

 

 

1:56 PM

BJD chief and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik kicks off poll campaign from Hinjili constituency

"Development is our identity. However, opposition parties are playing politics on every issue and opposing developmental activities. They had opposed projects including the Shree Mandir Prikrama project. People of the state are aware of it. The coming decade will belong to Odisha. This decade will be a golden era for the youth of the state as the government is placing emphasis on employment and skill development. We will bring a Youth budget in the state. Odisha is the first state in India to present a separate agriculture Budget," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said today. 

1:51 PM

Should approach Centre to provide security for Abhishek: BJP's Sukanta Majumdar on CM Mamata’s allegations

“It is totally a false allegation because BJP believes in non-violence. There are several states ruled by the BJP in the country, but nowhere will you find violence during elections. If she feels that Abhishek Banerjee’s life is under threat, she should approach the central government to provide security for him," West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said today on CM Mamata Banerjee’s allegation of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee’s ‘life is under threat’ due to BJP.

1:38 PM

PM Modi waived off loans worth Rs 16 trillion of his billionaire friends: Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of waiving off loans worth Rs 16 trillion of his billionaire friends, adding the country will never forgive him for this "crime". Gandhi stated this money could have been used to cure the pain of Indians but was spent on creating hype for the ilk of those like 'Adanis'. "Narendra Modi has waived off the loans of his billionaire friends amounting to Rs 1,60,00,00,00,00,000 i.e. 16 trillion rupees. With this much money: 16 crore youth could have got jobs of Rs 1 lakh per year, by giving Rs 1 lakh per year to 16 crore women, the lives of their families could have been changed. Countless suicides could have been prevented by waiving off the loans of 10 crore farmer families," he wrote on X.

1:15 PM

What did Sam Pitroda say about inheritance tax?

Sam Pitroda, the chairperson of the Indian Overseas Congress,  today stated that inheritance tax, as it existed in the United States, is an "interesting idea". Pitroda had to face a barrage of criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress distanced itself from his statements. Read here for a more detailed story.

1:07 PM

Both Left, Congress taking PFI support in polls: Home Minister Amit Shah

BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah today slammed the Congress and the ruling Left in Kerala, stating both were taking the support of a banned organisation, Popular Front of India, to win in the Lok Sabha polls in the state. Shah claimed that while the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), political wing of PFI, openly proclaimed its support for the Congress-led UDF in Kerala, the LDF was silent on the ban on PFI.

1:03 PM

Three blasts damage bridge in Manipur town days before phase 2 of Lok Sabha polls

Three medium-intensity explosions have been reported to have damaged a bridge in Manipur's Kangpokpi district overnight, spanning Tuesday to Wednesday. The blasts took place near Saparmeina along National Highway-2, connecting Imphal to Nagaland's Dimapur.

1:00 PM

Communists are finished in the world and in India; it is time for BJP: Home Minister Amit Shah

Communists are finished in the world and in India. Congress too has declined. It is time for BJP, Amit Shah said today at an event in Kerala. 

12:58 PM

Claws of Congress will snatch property you accumulated through hard work, says PM amid row on inheritance tax

"The property you have accumulated through your hard work will not be given to your children. The claws of Congress will snatch that too from you. As long as you are alive, Congress will impose higher taxes and when you are no longer alive, it will burden you with inheritance tax.  Those people who considered the entire Congress party as their ancestral property and handed it over to their children, now do not want Indians to pass on their property to their children," PM Modi said at a rally in Chattisgarh today.

12:42 PM

Does not reflect Congress' position: Jairam Ramesh on Sam Pitroda's comment on inheritance tax

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh today clarified that Sam Pitroda's comments on inheritance tax do not reflect the party's position. "Surely, in a democracy an individual is at liberty to discuss, express, and debate his personal views. This does not mean that Mr. Pitroda's views always reflect the position of the Indian National Congress. Many times they do not," Ramesh said in a post on X.