Lok Sabha Election 2024 | Congress Manifesto Is Red Alert for Country: PM Modi in Jamnagar

In a major development, Congress has fielded Tsering Namgyal as its candidate from Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency.

In a significant development, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released 18th list, made Hemant Vishnu Savara its candidate from Palghar, Maharashtra.

Hoardings featuring Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav being put up outside Congress office in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. 

The Congress is likely to announce its candidate for the high-profile seat today, since the last date of filing nomination is tomorrow (May 3). (With inputs from PTI) 

Former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam will join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena tomorrow morning. He met Chief Minister Shinde on Wednesday.
 

Addressing a public rally in Jamnagar, PM Narendra Modi says, "When Congress released its manifesto, I alerted the country, especially the intellectuals, that the Congress manifesto is a red alert for the country. I clearly said that I could see the image of the Muslim League in their manifesto, which many thought was a mere political statement... The narratives that had been imposed during the partition of the country by the Muslim League, unfortunately, similar scenes are being seen today. INDI alliance leaders, in their rallies, are asking Muslim voters to go for vote jihad. And these words came from a very senior Congress leader coming from a very well-educated family."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day visit to West Bengal from Thursday, during which he is scheduled to address several election rallies. 

The PM is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on Thursday evening and spend the night at Raj Bhavan, he said.

BJP sources said that Modi is scheduled to address election rallies in support of party candidates in Krishnanagar, Bardhaman Purba and Bolpur Lok Sabha constituencies on Friday. 

Shiv Sena leader and sitting MP from Kalyan seat, Shrikant Shinde filed his nomination papers from the Lok Sabha constituency, in the presence of Maharashtra CM and his father Eknath Shinde on Thursday. 

BJP candidate from Jharkhand's Ranchi, Sanjay Seth filed his nomination in the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. 

 Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal campaigned for AAP in Gujarat. "They have put Delhi CM & my husband in jail forcefully, for the last 40 days. They say that the investigation is going on, if investigations goes on for 10 years, will they keep him in jail for 10 years? It's clearly a dictatorship. He is well read, patriotic and truthful person. For the sake of social service, he left his job and went to the slums to work for them. When we got married, he asked me just one question, I want to do social service, won't you have any issue with that?..." said Sunita during campaign. 

"I am missing my father's presence, especially today. He used to take me for nomination. Today, when I am at his 'karmabhumi', I miss him, his guidance. But when I see the excitement in people, this strengthens me," says LJP (Ram Vilas) president and Lok Sabha candidate from Hajipur Chirag Paswan. He will be filing his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections today. 

On being asked about Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's candidature from Amethi and Raebareli, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said, "We want Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi from Raebareli but they have to hold election campaigns across the country. Both of them are our star campaigners but the CEC, Congress organization, and Congress workers want Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi and Priyanka Gandhi from Raebareli but it is their personal choice. They have to decide..."

He said that the Congress party will make a formal announcement by evening. “CEC has given the entire responsibility to the party president and I believe there will be an official announcement by the evening today,” Ramesh said. 

Not sex scandal, but mass rape, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacking Prajwakl Revanna. Revanna is accused of sexually harassing women and a look out notice has been issued against him. 

Launching a fierce attack on RJD, BJP national president JP Nadda said that RJD means 'Rishwatkhor Jungle Raj Daldal'. He was addressing an election rally in Bihar's Araria on Thursday. 

"I was 14-15 years old in 1975, when I joined the movement at the behest of Jayaprakash Narayan. I have seen Lalu Prasad of that time, who raised his voice against nepotism, bribery and corruption. Today the same Lalu Yadav is deeply immersed in corruption and has stood with those Congressmen against whom he had raised his voice during the Emergency...RJD means 'Rishwatkhor Jungle Raj Daldal'..." said Nadda. 

BJP held a three-kilometer-long roadshow in the Samajwadi bastion of Mainpuri with bulldozers, often associated with Yogi Adityanath where Jaiveer Shergill is contesting against Dimple Yadav. 

“Kalyan Singh who was the CM of the State and whose entire life went into the service of Shree Ramjanmbhoomi, after his death Samajwadi Party hasn't expressed a word of sympathy. When Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away, I went to his village to pay him the tribute, PM Modi gave his condolences... This dynastic Samajwadi party should be punished for getting in alliance with Congress..” said CM Yogi Adityanath during his roadshow in Mainpuri. 

Union Minister and BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Sambalpur, Dharmendra Pradhan held a massive roadshow ahead of filing his nomination papers in Sambalpur.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath held a roadshow in Mainpuri. BJP has fielded UP Minister Jaiveer Singh from this seat. Samajwadi Party has fielded Dimple Yadav. Mainpuri Lok Sabha Constituency 

will go to polls on 7th May.

"I have three challenges for the Congress and its whole ecosystem. First, I challenge Congress and its allies to give in writing that they will not change the Constitution to give reservation on religious basis, and will not work to divide the country. Second, Congress should give in writing that it will not do burglary of reservation being given to SC, ST, OBC, it won't snatch their rights. Third, Congress should give in writing that Congress and its allies won't do the dirty vote bank politics in states where they have their governments. 'Shahzade', if you have the courage then come. If you have to learn how to live and die for Constitution, then come to Modi," said PM Modi addressing an election rally in Gujarat's Anand on Thursday. 

National Conference leader Omar Abduallah on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla seat. 

On filing his nomination, Abdullah said this election is crucial as it is the first election since the abrogation of Article 370. 

"Today, after 20 years, I have filed my nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections. The previous assembly elections were held in 2014. In the last 10 years, Assembly elections have not been held in Jammu and Kashmir and the importance of this upcoming election is that it is the first major election after August 5, 2019. We are hopeful that we will achieve success on 5 seats of Jammu and Kashmir and on the seat of Ladakh..." said Abduallah. 

PM Modi, while addressing a rally in Gujarat's Anand, slammed the INDI bloc for vote-jihad pitch by its leader. Salman Khurshid's niece Maria Alam Khan's had made the statement. 

“A leader from the INDI alliance has exposed their strategy in front of the country. The INDI alliance has asked Muslims to go for Vote Jihad. This has come from an educated family, not from a child coming out of a Madrasa. INDI alliance is saying that all Muslims should get together and vote. The INDI alliance has insulted democracy and the Constitution. Any leader from Congress is yet to oppose this statement. They have given their tacit understanding. On one hand, the INDI alliance is trying to divide SC, ST, OBC and general categories, on the other hand, they are raising the slogan of Vote Jihad. This shows how dangerous their intentions are,” said PM Modi during a rally. 

"All preparations have been made and the Congress party will file the nomination tomorrow at 11 am...People of Amethi want to see Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi as a candidate from here. We have full faith that the candidature of Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi will be announced today." said Congress leader Deepak Singh. 

BJP candidate for Kurukshetra, Naveen Jindal, on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Voting will be held in Kurukshetra on May 25. He was accompanied by Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini. 

Odisha CM and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Thursday filed his nomination papers from the Kantabanji Assembly seat. CM Patnaik is contesting the Odisha Assembly elections from Kantabanji and Hinjili Assembly seats. 

The Assembly elections will be held in Odisha in four phases from May 13 to June 1 along with the Lok Sabha elections.

BJP's Saran Lok Sabha candidate Rajiv Pratap Rudy holds election campaign in Saran. He will file his nomination papers today.

 RJD has fielded Rohini Acharya from the constituency. Saran is set to vote in the 5th phase on May 20.

The election commission held 'Voters Awareness Programme' in Belagavi using hot air balloons. 

 Repolling necessitated by a misplaced voters' register at a booth in Ajmer Lok Sabha constituency began at 7 am on Thursday. The Election Commission of India had declared polling held at this booth in the second phase on April 26 void after 17-A register (of voters) got misplaced by the presiding officer and announced repolling.

On being asked about Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's candidature from Amethi and Raebareli, Congress leader Surendra Rajput said, "We are contesting the elections as per our strategy. You will get to know about our candidates from Amethi and Raebareli in some time. We are winning there, we are fully prepared. Our workers are going from village to village, city to city. The Congress Party is moving towards a major victory there."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be in Karnataka on Thursday to address two public meetings, the party's state unit said.      

He is slated to address an election rally at the Freedom Park in the district headquarters town of Shivamogga at 1 pm.  He will then fly to another district headquarters town of Raichur for the second event at 4.25 pm.

Election Commission has served notice to Congress MLA Raju Kage for allegedly giving a controversial statement during an election campaign in Madabavi Gram Panchayat on 30th April. 

In his speech, he allegedly threatened the voters in the Jugulato region to cut electricity if they didn't vote for the party by a huge margin.

Sunita Kejriwal, wife of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, left for Gujarat from the Chief Minister's residence in Delhi. She will campaign for Aam Aadmi Party candidates in Bharuch and Bhavnagar, Gujarat today. 

Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party released fresh list of candidates for upcoming Lok Sabha elections. 

As part of the ongoing Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign in Ahmedabad, mehendi competition was organised in the city where youngsters participated with the aim of boosting polling percentage among eligible voters.Participants infused their Mehendi designs with symbols representing electoral participation and democratic principles.

"The mood of the people has changed. The issues of the Congress and the people are the same, be it inflation, unemployment, rich-poor disparity or mutual harmony... The manifesto has given good guarantees. People have started downloading the manifesto more after it was criticised by the Prime Minister. I have heard that lakhs of people are downloading the Congress manifesto and it has become even more popular..." said Congress leader and former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot. 

“From the last 40 years, Hyderabad has not got its representative. A representative of the Razakars is there (Parliament). Elect Madhavi Latha with a thumping majority, and free Hyderabad from Razakars,” said Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah while campaigning for Latha in Hyderabad. 

Samajwadi Party candidate from Ballia Lok Sabha constituency Sanatan Pandey said that loans of farmers would be waived off if the alliance is voted to power. 

"We will waive off farmers' loans. You might wonder where the money will come from. We will bring back the financial fugitives who have run away with Rs. 15 lakh crores... Neither of the fugitives are Thakur, Brahman, Yadav, nor Muslim. All the fugitives are from Gujarat and related to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in one way or another..." said Pandey. 

Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday increased the polling time for the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana by an hour in view of heat wave conditions prevailing in the state. 

The new timing would be 7 am to 6 pm against the earlier 7 am to 5 pm.Polling for all 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held on May 13 in the fourth round of the seven-phase elections.