Ghulam Nabi Azad Not to Contest Lok Sabha Polls, Was Nominated By Party From Anantnag-Rajouri

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday filed a complaint against West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee with the Election Commission, alleging that the Trinamool Congress chief tried to incite violence during a public meeting.

Yoga guru Ramdev on Wednesday appealed to people to cast their votes in national interest and elect a government which is capable of making the country an economic and strategic superpower. "You must cast your vote in national interest. Elect a government which is capable of making India an economic and strategic superpower. Vote for a government which does not only work for development, but also cares for the country's cultural legacy," Ramdev told reporters in Haridwar. "The spiritual life is governed by our culture and Sanatan's constitution but the country is run by the Constitution of India which gives us our biggest right to vote. We should all vote for people who are rooted in Sanatan," he said.

The gazette notification for election to the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana would be issued on April 18, setting the stage for a keen electoral battle among the ruling Congress, BJP and BRS.

Nominations would be accepted from April 18 to 25.

The papers would be scrutinized on April 26 and the last date for the withdrawal of nominations is April 29, as per the schedule announced by the Election Commission.

Polling for the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Telangana would be held in single phase on May 13.

The Election Commission is working like an "extended wing of the BJP", the AAP alleged on Wednesday after the poll panel ordered social media platform 'X' to take down select posts of the party for Model Code of Conduct violations.

The code came into force on March 16 with the commission announcing the schedule of the Lok Sabha polls. Counting of votes is scheduled on June 4. The Election Commission (EC) has also ordered 'X' to take down certain posts of YSR Congress, N Chandrababu Naidu and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for violation of the Model Code of Conduct, the microblogging site had said on Tuesday.  Addressing a press conference, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said the party has filed two complaints with the EC over BJP's posts and hoardings but no action has been taken.  "It is the country's misfortune that the EC is working as an extended wing of the BJP. We have filed two complaints with the EC but no action has been taken," she said.  The orders by the EC were issued on April 2 and April 3 and a follow-up email was sent by it on April 10 in which it cited a violation of the "voluntary code of ethics" if 'X' fails to remove the four posts reported to it.

 Just two days ahead of the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP on Wednesday expelled one of its leaders in Manipur, E Dwijamani Singh, from the party for six years.

Singh of Hiyanglam Mandal of the saffron camp was expelled for "violation of party's rules and regulations", a statement issued by the BJP's Manipur unit said.

Singh, an ex-MLA of the Congress, joined the saffron camp in 2022 after being denied a ticket by the grand old party.

Immediately after his expulsion from the BJP, Singh returned to the Congress.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh questioned the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s election manifesto that pledged to dismantle India's nuclear weapons, accusing it of compromising national security.

“CPI(M) has released its manifesto in which they have said that if they come to power, they will destroy India's nuclear weapons. I want to ask the Congress party what will you do with this promise of CPI(M)," he said. 

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday intervened to halt the proposed tour of West Bengal's Governor, CV Ananda Bose, to Cooch Behar. The governor was scheduled to embark on a visit to Cooch Behar on the 18th and 19th of April. However, this plan raised eyebrows as it fell within the silence period preceding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Sources close to the matter revealed that the Election Commission deemed the governor's planned visit as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which is in effect during the electoral process. 

Chairman of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad takes on Rahul Gandhi and Omar Abdullah for backing Lal Singh, who supported the Kathua rapists.

He says, "They are even worse than BJP...Rahul Gandhi once said that to make the arrest until we won't leave; Omar Abdullah stated that unless he goes to jail, we cannot breathe; what happened to jail? Today they are walking in the streets madly..."

On PM Modi's answer on electoral bonds in ANI interview, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Electoral bonds were a way to bring transparency in public elections. SC found some shortcomings and those shortcomings will be fulfilled..." 

Speaking on AFSPA, the BJP leader said , "I feel in a few days AFSPA will be withdrawn from Assam."

On Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's ‘Ram Navami’ attack on BJP over inflation, unemployment, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma replied, "BJP has been involved in the main issues- giving people electricity, giving people employment...Congress thinks they are main but we do not think so. For us, unemployment, J&K, Naxal and UCC are the main issues..."

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has jibed at the BJP, saying, "I have said this earlier, I am saying it now, BJP will be wiped out from the west (Western UP). It is so as they have betrayed the farmer. They said that would double the farmer's income but have failed even to provide MSP... It's not '400-paar' but 400-haar'. BJP has become a godown for the corrupts, all the corrupts are there now. Don't you see what has happened in Electoral bonds? BJP can't answer it. Extortion has been done through ED and CBI. This govt is playing with institutions. If institutions are weakened so does democracy.

Senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Nazrul Islam on Wednesday apologised for making a derogatory statement against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that his remark was not intended to hurt anyone.

His apology came a day after the state BJP demanded Islam’s arrest for the comment that the prime minister "would be buried 400-foot below" in the election, instead of winning 400 seats.

“During a political speech, I was speaking against the prime minister’s claim of winning 400 seats. I intended to say that they (BJP-led NDA) would not get 400 seats and they will be out of power,” Islam said in a video statement.

The JMM central committee member said, “I am an educated person and a professor. I cannot speak such words against the prime minister. But if, for some reason, my words have accidentally hurt anyone, I sincerely apologise.” He made the remarks against Modi at a public meeting in Sahibganj on Sunday.

Former Tripura CM and BJP nominee Biplab Kumar Deb is banking on the development and welfare schemes of the government to win the Tripura West Lok Sabha constituency while his opponent Asis Kumar Sabha of Congress is hopeful that the anti-incumbency factor will help him win the elections.

Deb, who built a solid BJP organisational base in the northeastern state and led the saffron party to form its first government in Tripura in 2018 ending the 25-year-old CPI(M) rule in the state, is hopeful of winning the seat by a huge margin as the BJP government has taken several welfare measures and infrastructure projects in the state.

The Tripura West parliamentary constituency, an unreserved seat comprises of 30 Assembly segments and has a considerable number of ST and minority voters apart from Bengali voters.

Minority voters are key in at least nine Assembly segments while tribal voters appear to be a factor in five non-ST Assembly seats.

Pratima Bhoumik had won the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat in 2019 by over 3 lakh votes by defeating Congress nominee Subal Bhowmik.

A lot has changed in the political landscape of the constituency since the 2019 Lok Sabha election as Subal Bhowmik has joined the BJP and is now the saffron party's state vice president and the CPI(M) has now teamed up with the Congress to take on the saffron party.

BJP state general secretary Amit Rakshit claimed that Deb's winning margin will be more than the margin of Pratima Bhoumik in 2019.

"In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, our candidate won by a margin of more than 3 lakh votes and this time it may cross the margin because of Modi's magic and popularity of former Chief Minister (Biplab Kumar Deb) among women and youths," he said.

"The BJP is seeking votes for development and welfare of the poor and lower middle class. It is a fact, that Modi ji has rolled out enormous welfare schemes - PMAY, Jal Se Nal, Ayushman Bharat, Ujjawala Yojana and free rice. Besides, the state has got six national highways and better rail connectivity. Therefore, the advantage will go to the BJP's side in the elections," said Sanjib Deb, a senior journalist.

He, however, said unemployment appears to be a major factor in the parliamentary election.

"Tripura has traditionally depended on jobs in the government sector. It is true the BJP government failed to fill up vacant posts at the expected level. More so, skyrocketing prices of essential items and medicines will also impact the electoral outcome", he said.

"There is no doubt an anti-incumbency wave is sweeping Tripura. The people are angry over the growing unemployment, price rise, rise in medicine prices, drug addiction over the past few years. But, the BJP which is mainly depending on welfare schemes is likely to navigate the anti-incumbency factor by using its strong organisational set-up," Sekhar Dutta, a poll strategist told PTI.

When asked about the Congress party candidate's prospect (in Tripura West) Lok Sabha seat, senior Congress MLA Sudip Roy Barman alleged that people are angry with the Modi government's rule over the past 10 years and will give a fitting reply in the elections.

"If 80 per cent of voting remains free, fair and peaceful, the Congress will win the Lok Sabha seat. We urge the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure a conducive atmosphere for peaceful and fair election," Roy Barman said.

"During the election campaign, we focused on the impending threat to the constitution and democracy under the Narendra Modi government. If they return to power then the country's secular fabric will be dismantled to pave the way for autocratic rule. We do believe, the people will give their mandate in favour of INDIA Bloc," he said. 

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday released fifth list of candidates for the Odisha Assembly Elections 2024.Odisha Chief Minister and BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik will contest from Kantabanji seat apart from his home turf Hinjili, which was declared before.

 Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Jharkhand unit on Wednesday announced that Mamata Bhuiyan will be its candidate for the Palamu Lok Sabha constituency in the state. As per a seat-sharing formula among the JMM-led alliance partners in the state, the RJD was allotted only the Palamu Lok Sabha constituency out of the 14 seats in the state.

Bhuiyan has recently switched to RJD from the BJP. She will contest against the BJP's V D Ram in the seat. Ram a former Director General of Police, Jharkhand had won the seat in 2019 defeating RJD’s Ghuran Ram by a margin of 4.77 lakh votes.

“I am saying it now, BJP will be wiped out from the west (Western UP). It is so as they have betrayed the farmer. They said that would double the farmer's income but have failed even to provide MSP... It's not '400-paar' but 400-haar',” said Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav in Bijnor. 

Mamata Banerjee-led TMC released manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Wednesday

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BJP leader & candidate from Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency Jagadish Shettar, filed his nomination for the general elections. Goa CM Pramod Sawant and former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa were also present. 

Addressing a rally in Tripura's Agartala, PM Modi said that the Congress and Left governments followed a “Loot East Policy”, which has changed to “Look East Policy” under the BJP-led NDA government. 

"Earlier, political parties only remembered the North East when they needed your votes. During Congress' rule, only one policy was for the North East.- loot east policy..." said PM. 

PM Modi on Wednesday addressed a mega rally in Tripura's Agartala ahead of the crucial Lok Sabha elections. 

If INDI bloc wins in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, we will repeal 'discriminatory' CAA, NRC, said West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Assam. “If we win, we will not implement NRC and CAA in the state...How many people will be kept in the detention camp? This election is going to be terrible. I have never seen such a black and corrupt election before...Riot is their (Modi govt) only guarantee. I don't believe that Modi will do anything for anyone. This government is a 'jumlebaaz' government...I am not afraid of any threats,” said Banerjee. 

'Jai Shri Ram' slogan were being raised by PM Narendra Modi and people present at the Nalbari rally as PM was addressing the gathering during the 'Surya Tilak' ritual of Ram Lalla being performed in Ayodhya. 

“There is a new atmosphere in the entire country and this birthday of Lord Ram has come after 500 years, when he got the privilege of celebrating his birthday in his own home,” said PM. 

"Today Modi's guarantee is going on in the entire country and the North East itself is a witness to Modi's guarantee. The North-East, which was given only problems by Congress, has been transformed by the BJP into a source of possibilities. Congress fueled separatism and Modi made efforts for peace and security. What Congress could not do in 60 years, Modi did in 10 years..." said PM Modi during Nalbari rally. 

PM Modi addresses poll rally in Assam's Nalbari for Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) candidate. 

Ballia's BJP candidate Neeraj Shekhar said his father was against the idea of him joining politics. Neeraj Shekhar is the son of former PM Chandra Shekhar. 

“Pitaji didn't want anyone from the family to come in politics as long as he was alive. I was elected for the first time in 2007. My father was against Parivarvaad. But people of Ballia chose me. My father wanted the welfare of last person of the society. PM Modi is also having the same vision,” said Neeraj Shekhar. 

Former Congress MLA for Pulakeshinagar R. Akhanda Srinivas Murthy joined BJP in the presence of BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday. 

Responding to BJP's attack over dynasty politics, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday during INDI alliance's press briefing in Ghaziabad asked BJP to not field any one associated with any family in the upcoming elections. 

"PDA is going to defeat NDA. As far as 'Pariwarwaad' is concerned, I want BJP to take a resolution that they will neither give a ticket to 'pariwar wale' nor take votes from 'pariwar wale'. They (BJP) cannot even take the name of the INDIA alliance properly...The people who came in 2014 will be gone in 2024..." said Akhilesh Yadav. 

“This election is an election of ideology. On the one hand, RSS and BJP are trying to destroy the Constitution and the democratic system, and on the other hand, the INDIA alliance and Congress Party are trying to defend and protect the Constitution and democracy. There are 2-3 big issues in the elections. Unemployment is the biggest and inflation is the second biggest but BJP is engaged in creating distractions. Neither the Prime Minister nor the BJP talks about the issues,” said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at INDI alliance's press briefing in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad. 

“I do not do prediction of seats. 15-20 days ago I was thinking BJP would win around 180 seats but now I think they will get 150 seats. We are getting reports from every state that we are improving. We have a very strong alliance in Uttar Pradesh and we will perform very well,” said Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, April 17, on the INDI alliance's press briefing in Ghaziabad. 

AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) to launch its website related to the Lok Sabha election campaign at a press conference today. This website will be related to the theme of Ram Rajya, through which AAP will go among the public by linking its works with Ram Rajya, said AAP. 

The Election Commission of India has issued a notice to BRS President and Former Telangana CM K. Chandrashekar Rao over his remarks against the Congress Party in Sircilla on April 5. The Commission has asked him to explain his stand regarding his comments by 11 am, 18th April.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress will be releasing its poll manifesto on Wednesday. TMC was initially a part of Opposition's INDI bloc, however, later Mamata walked out after failed seat-sharing talks. 

INDI camp leader Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav will campaign for Congress candidate Dolly Sharma in Ghaziabad today. The two leaders will also address a  joint press conference. 

ED has arrested four persons JMM leader Antu Tirkey, Priyaranjan Sahay, real estate trader Vipin Singh, and Irshad in a land scam case. Their places were raided yesterday after which they were brought to the ED office in Ranchi late at night and arrested subsequently.

After a roadshow in Assam, PM Modi will address an election rally on Wednesday here in Nalbari for Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) candidate. 

“This is the first Ram Navami when our Ram Lalla has been enthroned in the grand Ram temple of Ayodhya. Today Ayodhya is in an unparalleled joy in this celebration of Ram Navami. After waiting for 5 centuries, today we have got the privilege of celebrating this Ram Navami in Ayodhya in this manner,” said PM Modi in a post on X as he wished the country on the occasion. 

AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday declared his party's support for Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar who is contesting the election from Akola Lok Sabha constituency.

Notably, the AIMIM and VBA had tied up for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but the alliance broke during the Maharashtra assembly elections held later that year.

The Mumbai police have registered a case against unidentified persons for misusing the letterhead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to announce a "candidate" for the Palghar Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra, an official said on Tuesday.

The bogus letterhead was circulated on popular messaging platform WhatsApp in which the BJP "candidate" of the adjoining Palghar constituency was announced, he said.

The case was registered at the Marine Drive Police Station in south Mumbai under relevant IPC sections on a complaint of a local BJP functionary.