Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge appoints the presidents of the seven districts in Karnataka ahead of Lok Sabha elections.

Sultanpur, UP: On Varun Gandhi's ticket being denied, BJP MP Maneka Gandhi says, "...Let's see after the elections, there is still a long time to go...I am in the BJP and I am very happy that I am in BJP"

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee President Y S Sharmila on Monday said five Lok Sabha and 114 Assembly candidates have been confirmed for the ensuing polls in the state. Sharmila, who is attending the Congress central election committee meeting at AICC office in New Delhi said these candidates were finalised in the meeting today. "The names of remaining candidates will be confirmed soon. The first list of candidates could be released tomorrow," said Sharmila in a press release.

PTI

The National Conference has declared Mian Altaf as parliamentary candidate from south Kashmir's Pir Panjal for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. Altaf said, "There is no doubt that this is an important seat...This state was made a Union Territory and you can see the issues that it led to...I was not waiting for my candidature but there are a few things you are destined for and they do happen...I pray to the Almighty for my victory."

A meeting is being held at the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi in the presence of BJP national president JP Nadda, union minister Ashwini Vaishnav and other party leaders.

The Trinamool Congress on Monday urged the Election Commission to immediately restrain central agencies like the ED, CBI, Income Tax Department and NIA from taking action against candidates, leaders and workers of the Trinamool Congress and other parties opposed to the BJP till the conclusion of Lok Sabha elections.

A delegation of TMC leaders that included Derek O'Brien, Dola Sen, Saket Gokhale and Sagarika Ghose met the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners and submitted a memorandum alleging misuse of central agencies by the BJP against the opposition parties.

The BJP today urged the Election Commission to take the strictest action against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and issue directions to lodge an FIR against him for his "match-fixing" remarks at an opposition INDIA bloc rally a day ago. A BJP delegation comprising Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and BJP national general secretary Arun Singh lodged the complaint against Gandhi with the poll panel, urging it to direct the Congress leader to tender an "unconditional public apology" to the nation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for levelling "false allegations" against him. 

Addressing the INDI bloc's 'Loktantra Bachao' (Save Democracy) rally at the Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, Gandhi had accused PM Modi of trying to do "match-fixing" in the Lok Sabha polls and warned that if the BJP wins the election through this endeavour and "changes" the Constitution, then the whole country would be "finished".

Seeking blessings of elders, traversing the length and breadth of the the city in roadshows and vowing to build a clean and pollution free city, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has set himself a target to win the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat by a margin of at least five lakh votes. Gadkari has claimed that he would not put up banners and posters across the city to seek votes for the April 19 election, but have ‘heart-to-heart’ and ‘home-to-home’ conversations with voters.

"I will follow the ideal principles of campaigning and reach out to the people and seek their blessings," Gadkari told news agency PTI, adding that he has visited elderly voters at their homes and sought their blessings by touching their feet. "I have set myself a target to win by at least five lakh votes. The circumstances are such and my work of the last 10 years is well known to the people," he reportedly said.

Amid speculations about leadership change, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today asked the people of his Varuna assembly segment to give the Congress candidate a lead of at least 60,000 votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, to ensure that he remains in the post. "In 2019 (Lok Sabha polls) Dhruvanarayan (Congress candidate) lost by a margin of only 1,817 votes.... This time in the Assembly you made me win by giving a lead of 48,000 votes (in Varuna). Will you give the same lead or more now? (Our candidate should win ) with a lead of at least 60,000 votes," Siddaramaiah said, according to PTI.

Addressing a public meeting, he reportedly said: "In Varuna you know me, as well as (HC) Mahadevappa (Minister). I'm your representative, (my son) Yathindra is a former MLA from here (Varuna). When we are all there there should be a lead of at least 60,000 votes." "If you make (Congress candidate) victorious by a lead of 60,000 votes, I will be happy. No one will be able to touch me. Should I remain (as Chief Minister) or not? So I request you with folded hands...I will come back to thank you after winning," he added.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today flayed the previous governments for unleashing a reign of terror and said that those who are pointing a finger at Prime Minister Narendra Modi are a hindrance ('avrodhak') in India's development, news agency PTI reported. Addressing the intellectuals meeting in Hathras and Bulandshahr, Adityanath reportedly said, "Viksit Bharat (developed India) and all-round development is Modi's guarantee. In developed India, every person, caste and community should get respect and opportunity to move forward without any discrimination. There should be no casteism and dynasticism. There should be development for all as that is the basis of the concept of Developed India."  

Delhi: A delegation of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is visiting the Election Commission of India (ECI) office in Delhi today.

The BJP is set to hold the second meeting of the party's manifesto committee on April 4, according to sources.

Industrialist and BJP leader Naveen Jindal has said that his life is an "open book", adding that people trust him and he has faith in the judiciary. His response came on the charges related to the alleged coal scam. Jindal, who recently quit the Congress to join the ruling BJP, was campaigning in Kaithal on Sunday. He has been fielded by the BJP as a candidate from the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat. He was asked by reporters about his response regarding people taking his name in the alleged coal scam. Replying to the question, Jindal said people and the media have the right to ask all kinds of questions. "My life is like an open book. We are simple people. My (late) father (O P Jindal) worked hard. My brothers also worked very hard and we set up many factories in which lakhs have got employment. During the past 20 years, we have paid taxes to the government in crores and lakhs of rupees.

Union Minister and Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy says, "...The work done by the Narendra Modi government since 2014, the situation that prevailed before 2014 and the situation after he became the PM - I request the people to think carefully and cast their votes. How was the law and order before PM Modi became the Prime Minister, how was the development and infrastructure activities, how was the connectivity - be it road, air, rail or cultural connectivity. India's pride before the world is enhanced..."

Kendrapara Lok Sabha MP Anubhav Mohanty, who resigned from BJD recently, joined the BJP. 

The BJP on Monday urged the Election Commission to take the "strictest action" against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the "match-fixing" remarks and other comments he made during an INDIA bloc rally here a day ago.

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah addressed a mega rally in Rajasthan's Jodhpur and lashed out at the opposition over corruption issues. 

BJP candidate from Medinipur, Agnimitra Paul says, "...Win or lose whatever happens on June 4, but before that Mahua Moitra will go to jail for what she has done. She has taken a bribe from a businessman to ask questions in the parliament to benefit him..." On Mamata Banerjee's remark over CAA, she says, "CAA has become the law and it will be implemented in West Bengal just like any other state in India. The CM say these things for cheap publicity. Doesn't she want citizenship for the people who face persecution?..."

Ahead of BJP's 44th foundation day celebration, the party issued a circular for its workers, which reads, “Each worker on the ground who is busy gearing up for the election needs to take a resolve that the party must come back with a decisive mandate. 'Abki Baar 400 Paar' and 'Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar' are what we need to work on.” 

Mian Altaf Ahmed, a gujar leader, will contest from Anantnag parliamentary seat on National Conference (NC) ticket. 

The BJP Lok Sabha election manifesto committee's first meeting concluded at 1:30 pm today at party's headquarter in New Delhi.  

Election Commission of India censured BJP MP Dilip Ghosh and Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for derogatory remarks against women. The Commission, in its order after the receipt of their replies to notices issued to them over MCC violations, said they are convinced that they made a personal attack and thus violated the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct. They have been warned to remain careful in public utterances during the Model Code of Conduct period. Their election-related communications will be specially and additionally monitored by the Commission from this time onwards.

Former AAP MP from Patiala constituency Dharamveer Singh joined the Congress. He will likely constest from Patiala seat on Congress ticket in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 

BJP's manifesto committee meeting under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is underway at the BJP headquarters in Delhi. 

Central Election Committee (CEC) of Congress to meet today to discuss candidates for both Lok Sabha and assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh.

UP Deputy CM KP Maurya reached for the BJP election manifesto committee meeting at party's headquarters in New Delhi. 

Congress' Central Election Committee to meet today at AICC headquarters in Delhi to discuss the candidates for Andhra Pradesh Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. 

In another blow to Congress in Madhya Pradesh, Chhindwara Mayor Vikram Ahakhe joined the BJP. Many of his supporters also jumped ship ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. 

National Vice President Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Shahid Siddiqui, resigned from the party.

Popular Odia filmstar and former BJD MLA Akash Das Nayak joined BJP in the presence of Odisha BJP state president Manmohan Samal, at the party headquarters in Bhubaneswar. 

At the election rally ahead of Lok Sabha Polls 2024, Union Minister and Udhampur constituency BJP candidate Dr Jitendra Singh says, "We are not competing with anyone. There is no one in our opposition. But it is people's enthusiasm that such a crowd gathers for PM Narendra Modi and the development... Every developmental work is done after 2014..."

With its bank accounts frozen by the central Income Tax department, the Congress' Madhya Pradesh unit on Sunday launched a "one note, one vote" campaign seeking donations to contest the Lok Sabha elections.