Page 10 - Mallikarjun Kharge

LS polls 2024: PM Modi should focus on development issues, says Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to talk about development matters rather than other issues in his campaign speeches, and said "mutton-chicken", "Hindu-Muslim" are his words and not ours. His remarks came after Prime Minister Modi in an interview to News 18 said he won't be fit for public life if he starts playing the Hindu-Muslim card. "Why is the PM not seeking votes on the work he did in the last 10 years," he said at a joint press conference with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav here. On PM Modi's remarks that he has never discriminated between Hindu and Muslim, Kharge responded, "Had the prime minister not said mutton, beef, chicken, fish and mangalsutra. These words are not mine but his (PM's). "I am saying that leave these things, tell people about the work you did and seek votes on its behalf. They talk of mutton-chicken not us," Kharge said. The Congress chief asserted that the opposition INDIA bloc is in a strong position afte

LS polls highlights: Congress plotting to send Ram Lala to tent again, says PM Modi

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

LS polls: Vote in large numbers, help INDIA bloc form govt, appeals Cong

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged people to cast their votes in large numbers in the fourth round of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls and help the INDIA bloc form government at the Centre. In a post on X, Gandhi appealed to the electorate not to be distracted and vote on issues that concern it. "Today is the fourth phase of voting. After the first three phases, it has become clear that on June 4 an INDIA (bloc) government is going to be formed," he said. "Remember, your one vote will not only protect your democratic rights but will also change the fate of your entire family," Gandhi said as polling was underway in 96 parliamentary constituencies across 10 states and Union Territories. Polling is also being simultaneously held in all 175 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, which is witnessing a triangular contest involving the ruling YSRCP, Congress-led INDIA bloc and the NDA, comprising the BJP, Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP and the Pawan

Checking a 'routine exercise', Shah's chopper was also searched: Bihar CEO

The Bihar Chief Electoral Officer on Sunday dismissed charges that checking of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's helicopter on Saturday was an "instance of targeting the opposition", asserting it was a "routine procedure" and those of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief J P Nadda were also searched. Kharge had addressed a couple of election rallies in the state on Saturday and his helicopter was checked by authorities at Samastipur, the venue of his first public meeting, triggering protests from his party and alliance partners. The Bihar CEO, in a social media post, said, "The allegation that only the helicopter of a leader of one national party was checked is baseless." In the post, the CEO did not mention Kharge or Congress by name but pointed out that helicopters of Shah and Nadda were similarly checked when they were in Bihar last month. "The checking of helicopters during elections follows the SOP laid down by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). The ...

EC's reaction to Kharge's letter 'inappropriate, unwarranted', says Gehlot

The Election Commission's reaction to a letter by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to INDIA bloc partners expressing concern over delays in releasing voter turnout figures for the first two poll phases was "completely inappropriate and unwarranted", former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said on Saturday. The commission on Friday, in a response to Kharge's letter, called it an attempt to push a biased narrative under the guise of seeking clarifications. In a post in Hindi on X, Gehlot said, "The language of the letter of the Election Commission, which came on the legitimate questions raised by @kharge ji, seems more like that of a political party than a constitutional institution. Instead of working with its responsibility, the Election Commission is seen standing with one party in these elections and that is creating doubts in the minds of the common people." He added that such a reaction is not good for the Election Commission's image. "It is surprising that the Election .

LS polls: Extremely difficult for Modi to form next govt, says Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday claimed that it will be "extremely difficult" for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to form the next government in the country. Addressing a press conference here, along with Bihar allies Dipankar Bhattacharya, who heads the CPI (ML) L, and Manoj Kumar Jha of the RJD, Kharge also said the PM's speeches, of late, have been "devoid of the earlier spark". "I was addressing rallies in Andhra Pradesh when Modi was in adjoining Telangana. The bluster (abhiman') and pride (garv') that characterised his speeches in the past were missing, said Kharge. "After three phases of Lok Sabha polls, I can safely say it is going to be extremely difficult for Modi to become the PM again - a reason why he has given up speaking about achievements of his 10 years in power and is trying to create a Hindu-Muslim divide, the Congress chief alleged. He also slammed the PM for holding out an olive branch to former BJP ally in Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray and NCP ..

'Means to deter an elector': EC pulls up Kharge over turnout data charge

On May 7, Kharge wrote to the leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc regarding the alleged discrepancies in the voting data

LS polls Highlights: EC says Kharge's charges of delay in release of voter turnout data unwarranted

Lok Sabha elections latest updates: Catch all the news related to the General Elections here

Lok Sabha polls: PM Modi worried after 3rd phase, says Mallikarjun Kharge

Hitting out at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said Modi and his cabinet colleague Amit Shah are "worried" after the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections and they started abusing the Congress party. Addressing a press conference here, Kharge said to the BJP leaders, instead of seeking votes on their "development," they are abusing the Congress leaders and distorting their (Congress) leaders' speeches, which according to him, is not required. Stepping up the attack on the saffron party, he asked "What is PM Modi doing if Congress is getting tempo loads of money from "Adani and Ambani?" "After three phases of polls, Modi and Shah Saab got worried. They stopped talking about their manifesto, but only are abusing Congress," Kharge said. He further alleged that PM Modi is fond of words starting with 'M'-Mangalsutra, Mutton and Mughals. It is not good for a Prime Minister to use childish language, he advised. "They are not seeking

LS polls: INDIA bloc leaders to meet EC over voter turnout, other issues

Leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc are likely to meet the Election Commission on Friday over their demand to promptly release the absolute voter turnout figures in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls after each phase, sources said. While the sources had earlier said that the meeting was scheduled for Thursday, it was later changed to Friday. The opposition leaders will also raise the issue of alleged "use of religious symbols" by the BJP in its campaign, the sources added. INDIA bloc parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), have written to the poll panel separately so far, expressing concern over the alleged "delay" in the release of the voter turnout data in the first two phases. Amid the opposition's allegations, the poll body had asserted that booth-wise data of the "actual number of votes polled" is available to the candidates soon after the voting ends. In a statement issued last week, the EC also said it attaches "due importan

LS polls highlights: BJP chief Nadda summoned by Karnataka police over Muslim reservation clip

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE updates: Catch all the news related to the General Elections here

Highlights of the day: Baba Kalyani rejects claims of nephew, niece seeking HUF partition

Latest news updates: Catch all the news updates from around the world here

LS elections: Sonia, Rahul among 40 star campaigners for Cong in Haryana

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Kumari Selja are among its 40 star campaigners in Haryana for the Lok Sabha elections. The list of star campaigners, shared by the Congress' Haryana unit, also includes general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi and Randeep Singh Surjewala, and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Congress' Haryana in-charge Deepak Babaria, party leaders Ajay Maken, Anand Sharma, Bhupesh Baghel, Sachin Pilot, Shashi Tharoor, Rajiv Shukla, Kanhaiya Kumar and Alka Lamba are also among the national-level leaders who will campaign in Haryana. Among other state-level leaders who will campaign for the Congress are Haryana unit chief Udai Bhan and Birender Singh, Ajay Singh Yadav, Deepender Singh Hooda, Aftab Ahmed, Ashok Arora, Kuldeep Sharma, Geeta Bhukkal, Neeraj Sharma and BB Batra. Elections to Haryana's 10 Lok Sabha seats will be held on

Kharge writes to opposition leaders on 'discrepancies' in EC's polling data

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to the leaders of various parties of the INDIA opposition bloc on Tuesday, questioning the alleged discrepancies in the voting data released by the Election Commission (EC). In his letter, Kharge urged the INDIA bloc leaders to raise their voice against such discrepancies, for "our only objective is to protect the culture of a vibrant democracy and the Constitution". "Let us ensure the independence of the Election Commission of India and make it accountable," he said in his letter. "As the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), it should be our collective endeavour to safeguard democracy and protect the independent functioning of the ECI. All the aforementioned facts force us to ask a question -- could this be an attempt to doctor the final results?" he asked. "We all know how Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and the BJP are visibly flustered and frustrated by the voting trends and their receding electoral fortunes in the

LS polls: Congress will win thumping majority in Karnataka, says Kharge

After casting his vote here on Tuesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the grand old party will register a thumping majority in Karnataka and that there "was no doubt" about it. The second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka is underway in 14 constituencies. The 81-year-old Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha was accompanied by his wife Radhabai Kharge to a polling booth at Basavanagara here. While speaking to reporters here, he said, "Things are good, good reports are coming from everywhere. Alliance partners (INDI Alliance) are getting strength in this third phase (nationally). Definitely in this phase too we will get good support from the people," he added. Kharge said that he has been voting from Basavanagara in Kalaburagi since he became eligible for voting at the age of 21 (It is now 18). "I never got it (polling locality) changed. When I became Minister, when I became opposition leader, KPCC (Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee) President, opposition

BJP an 'autocratic regime, drunk with power': Congress Chief Kharge

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Ruling party will 'go to any extent to stay in the chair', Mallikarjun Kharge says as India votes for Phase 3 of elections

LS polls: Vote to save Constitution, democracy, says Cong chief Kharge

Urging people to vote in large numbers in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday said they will exercise their franchise not just to elect their representatives but to decide whether they want to secure their constitutional rights or witness the nation "veer towards dictatorship". Voting is being held in 93 constituencies spread over 11 states and Union territories in the third phase of the parliamentary polls. In a post on X, Kharge said, "Vote to save Constitution, vote to protect democracy! 11 crore people in 93 constituencies shall exercise their democratic right, not just to elect their representatives, but shall decide whether they want to secure their constitutional rights or witness our great nation veer towards dictatorship." "I sincerely urge you to choose democracy, so that our institutions can return to their independent form and are not pressed under the thumb of brute power," the Congress chief added. "We are right in the middle

LS polls highlights: Congress govt will ensure 50% reservation cap is removed, says Rahul Gandhi

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

Kharge, Rahul condemn terror attack on IAF convoy, condole officer's death

Congress President Malikarjun Kharge extended condolences to the kin of the Air Force officer who perished in ambush by suspected terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.In a post on X, Kharge wrote, "Deeply pained by the cowardly terror attack on the IAF vehicle in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir. We strongly and unequivocally condemn this dastardly terror attack and join the nation in standing together against terrorism.""Our deepest condolences to the family of the brave air warrior who made the supreme sacrifice. We hope that the injured air warriors recover at the earliest and earnestly pray for their well-being. India is united for our soldiers," he added.Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also extended condolences over the death of personnel of the Indian Air Force.Condemning the attack by terrorists on the Air Force's convoy, Rahul Gandhi in a post on X, wrote, "The cowardly terrorist attack on our Army convoy in Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir is extremely shameful ..

LS polls Highlights: My heart bleeds for the woman molested at Raj Bhavan, says CM Mamata

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