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Highlights: Oppn missed chances; BJP may win 300 LS seats, says Prashant Kishor

LIVE updates: PM Modi's Madhya Pradesh campaign ahead of LS polls, AAP leaders to sit on a day-long fast at Jantar Mantar, and more. Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor

Political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan)

Lok Sabha polls: Political strategist Prashant Kishor affirmed BJP's assertions, stating that the ruling party is poised to significantly increase its seats and vote share in the southern and eastern regions of India, where its influence has been weak or nonexistent, except for Karnataka. Kishor emphasized that despite the BJP's apparent dominance, neither the party nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi are invincible. He noted that the opposition had three viable opportunities to halt the BJP's momentum but failed to capitalize due to lackluster efforts and misguided strategies.

Kishor furhter predicted that the BJP will emerge as either the first or second-largest party in Telangana, marking a noteworthy development. He also projected that the BJP will secure the top spot in Odisha. Additionally, Kishor anticipated that the BJP is likely to emerge as the leading party in West Bengal, which may be surprising to many. Furthermore, he also suggested that the BJP's vote share in Tamil Nadu may reach double-digit percentages.

Addressing an election rally in Bihar's Nawada district, PM Modi lashed out at Congress, charging that its recently released manifesto smacked of "politics of appeasement" and read as if it was brought out by the Muslim League. "The opposition parties are so scared of Modi ki guarantee that they want me to be banned from making such promises to the people... Modi is not someone who will rest on his laurels. He is born to work hard," the prime minister said.

Top AAP leaders gathered at Jantar Mantar today to stage a day-long fast in protest against the arrest of party national convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. 'Supporters of Kejriwal from across the nation and abroad will join the fast as a demonstration of solidarity,' says AAP's Gopal Rai. He also urged people to fast at home to support the Delhi CM. At 11 am, all AAP MLAs and officials are expected to gather at Jantar Mantar for the mass fasting. Security has been heightened along the protest routes, anticipating a large gathering that may affect traffic in central Delhi, with extensive barricading in place.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch the BJP's campaign for the Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh today by leading a roadshow in the Jabalpur constituency. Party leaders announced that he will also address a rally in Balaghat on Tuesday. The roadshow, spanning 1.2 kilometers, will commence from Shaheed Bhagat Singh crossing this evening and conclude at Adi Shankaracharya crossing in the Gorakhpur locality of Jabalpur. Both Balaghat and Jabalpur constituencies fall under the Mahakoshal region of Madhya Pradesh which has considerable tribal votes.
9:12 PM

LS polls 2024: Maharashtra CM Shinde, Union minister Gadkari hold joint roadshow in Nagpur

8:12 PM

LS polls: What is wrong if I gained weight, asks Sanjay Singh after gaining kilos during his stay in prison

"The first 11 days (in jail) were tough but my rights were similar to that of a jailed person...From 3pm - 7pm, we were not allowed to go out...What is wrong if I gain weight?...I weighed 79 kg but my weight increased to 81.7 kg when I left (the jail)..." said AAP leader Sanjay Singh. 
7:42 PM

Party workers are very upset, says BJP leader Ernest Mawrie said on party not contesting LS polls in Meghalaya

“We have a base in all the constituencies but I am very surprised that the high command has decided not to contest this Lok Sabha elections. Party workers are very upset. I must say, it is a wrong decision,” said BJP leader Ernest Mawrie said on his party not contesting the general elections in Meghalaya.
7:15 PM

Lok Sabha 2024 updates: Saw Nitish Kumar touching PM Modi's feet; felt very bad, said Tejashwi Yadav

"Today I saw a picture of Nitish Kumar where he touched the feet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi...We felt very bad. What has happened? Nitish Kumar is our guardian...There is no other Chief Minister as experienced as Nitish Kumar and he is touching the feet of Prime Minister Modi," said RJD chief Tejaswi Yadav. 
6:37 PM

When you are doing same work for last 10 yrs without any success, then you should take break: Kishor on Rahul

"But it seems to Rahul Gandhi that he knows everything. Nobody can help you if you do not recognise the need for help. He believes he needs someone who can execute what he thinks is right. It is not possible. He should put a semicolon now. When you are doing the same work for the last 10 years without any success, then there is no harm in taking a break. You should allow someone else to do it for five years," said political strategist Prashant Kishor in an interview to PTI. 
6:07 PM

LS polls: The countdown of BJP government has now started, says AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj

"It can be said, Aam Aadmi Party is back to its 2011, 2012 mode, the way patriotic songs were sung today, people came together to sing songs for the country, kept fast. The countdown of the Bharatiya Janata Party government has now started and there is a lot of anger among the people. The people are sad about how the Chief Minister elected by them has been put in jail..." said Delhi minister and AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj.
5:26 PM

LS polls 2024 update: Whatever promises BJP had made in its manifesto have been fulfilled, says Rajnath Singh

"Whatever promises we (BJP) made in the manifesto, we have fulfilled them...The growth rate of the economy is soaring, the fiscal deficit is decreasing, exports have transcended, and investment is at its peak...As far as PM Modi's guarantee is concerned, the nation has full faith, whereas people are unfaithful towards Congress guarantees," said Rajnath Singh at a press conference in Jaipur.  
4:39 PM

Lok Sabha 2024: Congress manifesto is essence of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, says Ashok Gehlot

"Congress' manifesto is the essence of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra and Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra...A big step has been taken towards social security...I think this is such a great manifesto that the Prime Minister would not have found words to criticize it, so he found a way to use the slogan of Muslim League so that people get confused," said Ashok Gehlot while speaking to reporters in Ahmedabad. 
4:10 PM

Groups urge BJP to include sustained funding support for rare disease patients in manifesto

Advocacy groups for rare disease patients have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP manifesto committee head Rajnath Singh for including sustainable funding support for such patients in the party's Lok Sabha poll promises. The appeal has been made by the Lysosomal Storage Disorders Support Society (LSDSS), the Rare Diseases India Foundation (RDIF) and the Niemann Pick Disease Charitable Trust (NPDCT).
3:45 PM

AAP workers observe fast in Jammu to protest Kejriwal's arrest

Several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers staged a day-long fast on Sunday in protest against the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister and party convenor Arvind Kejriwal. The protest took place at a park in the Gandhi Nagar area of the city, with participants accusing the BJP of fabricating false charges against Kejriwal ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
3:16 PM

SC allows retired cop monitoring Manipur violence probe to travel abroad

The Supreme Court granted permission to former Mumbai Police Commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar, who has been appointed to monitor the probe into cases related to ethnic violence in Manipur, to travel abroad. This decision was made by a three-judge bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud, following Padsalgikar's request in a letter seeking permission to travel to the United States and Europe.
3:04 PM

Oppn missed chances; BJP may win 300 LS seats, says political strategist Prashant Kishor

Prashant Kishor affirmed the BJP's assertions, stating that the ruling party is poised to significantly increase its seats and vote share in the southern and eastern regions of India, where its influence has been weak or nonexistent, except for Karnataka. Kishor remarked, "They (BJP) are likely to emerge either as the first or second party in Telangana, a significant development. In Odisha, they are expected to lead the pack. Surprisingly, the BJP is likely to secure the top position in West Bengal." 
2:04 PM

PM wants to end corruption, INDIA alliance wants to save corrupt people, says BJP Prez Nadda

LS poll campaign: BJP national president J P Nadda asserts that leaders of the INDI Alliance, many of whom are either on bail or in jail, were focused on shielding corrupt individuals. Nadda highlighted that leaders like Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are currently incarcerated, while figures from the Congress party, including Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul, are out on bail. He claimed that opposition leaders present a stark contrast to the Prime Minister, who is viewed as a symbol of development and is committed to combating corruption.
1:16 PM

Guarantees of Modi are troubling INDIA alliance members, they are not liking it: PM in Bihar

Lok Sabha elections: Addressing a public rally in Nawada, Bihar Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at INDIA bloc saying the alliance is being troubled by guarantees of Modi govt. 'A very big leader of INDI alliance said that Modi, whatever guarantees you give, there should be a ban on them. Are you scared of Modi's guarantee?,' PM Modi said.
1:13 PM

6 security personnel, 12 terrorists killed in separate incidents in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan

Six security personnel, including a senior police officer, died while 12 militants were killed in separate terror incidents and security operations in Pakistan's violence-hit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan armed forces, said in the Balochistan province, four militants were killed in two separate incidents. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight militants were killed in the Kot Sultan area of Kulachi tehsil in Dera Ismail Khan district.

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First Published: Apr 07 2024 | 8:21 AM IST

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