SP, Congress Families Turned Purvanchal Into Region of Mafia: PM Modi

The Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal has instructed the Angul Collector to investigate an attack on a BJP worker, which was allegedly by Chhendipada MLA Sushant Behera at a polling booth in Simili Sahi, Kosala panchayat, during the Lok Sabha Elections on May 25. The CEO reportedly issued the directive based on a complaint filed by Jayant Kumar Jena of the BJP legal cell.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday requested Odisha DGP to take strict action against a ruling BJD leader accused of physically assaulting a woman for refusing to vote for the ruling party in Hindol under Dhenkanal Lok Sabha seat. This comes days after the chief electoral officer (CEO) directed the Angul district administration to submit an action-taken report regarding a ruling BJD MLA allegedly involved in attacking voters in Chhendipada area. The woman from Hindol, in her police complaint, said she had gone to cast her vote at a booth in Rasol in Dhenkanal district during the third round of Lok Sabha and assembly elections on Saturday. She recounted, "The BJD leader, present at the booth, urged women to vote for his party. When I opposed him, the leader attacked me. I sustained a fracture in my hand and injuries on my head," she told reporters. The victim has lodged a complaint against the BJD leader at Rasol police station and expressed concerns about her safety. Expressing dismay, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Pradhan condemned the incident and criticised the behaviour of ruling party leaders towards women. He also shared a video of the assault on the woman. "I hope that @DGPOdisha will take strict action on this and arrest the Biju Janata Dal goons who carried out this incident as soon as possible," Pradhan said on X.

PTI

A man tried to breach security at Akhilesh Yadav's election rally in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, and was stopped by the security personnel.

Uttar Pradesh recorded a 54.04 per cent voter turnout in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission said on Sunday night. Fourteen constituencies in the state went to polls in the sixth phase on Saturday.

According to the revised polling percentage data issued by the Election Commission, Allahabad recorded a polling percentage of 51.82, Ambedkar Nagar 61.58, Azamgarh 56.16, Basti 56.67, Bhadohi 53.07, Domariyaganj 51.97, Jaunpur 55.59 and Lalganj 54.38. (PTI)

A total of 74.45 per cent of 94.48 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the simultaneous third phase of elections to six Lok Sabha seats and 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha on Saturday, an official was quoted by PTI as saying. Voting was held in 10,581 booths in Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Puri Lok Sabha seats, along with 42 assembly segments under these parliamentary constituencies.

"This (74.45 percent) is the final voter turnout excluding postal ballots," the official said.

The penultimate phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha election has recorded a 63.36-per cent voter turnout a day after polling was held. Of the six phases of polling held so far, the turnout in the fifth phase is the lowest at 62.2 per cent. In the sixth phase, 58 seats in eight states and Union territories went to polls on Saturday. 

PTI

Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday said, “The BJP crossed the 300 seat-mark after the fifth phase, and the sixth and seventh phases will help us cross the 400-mark.”

Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "... These people (BJP) should talk about the issues like unemployment, inflation and poverty. They should talk about how investment can come to Bihar... how migration can be stopped... the public wants freedom from their lies and illusions..."

BJP National President JP Nadda reaches Varanasi. 

JP Nadda to go for 'darshan' at Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Kaal Bhairava Temple and participate in several programs tomorrow. 

"People across the entire nation are tired of BJP's politics and they know that the Congress wants to work for the people," says Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. 

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Anurag Thakur says, "Rahul Gandhi, the one who misguides the nation, lies again and again, and has failed even after being launched 20 times, has one again lied. Congress insulted Constitution maker Babasaheb Ambedkar, made 62 amendments, and Rahul Gandhi tore the ordinance during his government. On the other hand, PM Modi began his tenure by bowing in front of the Constitution... Most of the schemes launched by PM Modi have benefitted ST, SC and OBCs..."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday addressed an election rally in Bihar's Karakat. While addressing the rally he said, "Six phases of elections have concluded. PM Modi has already won 310 seats in five phases. The sixth and seventh phases are to cross the number beyond 400. You should elect our candidate Upendra Kushwaha, it will make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister. On one hand, you have corrupt INDI alliance and on the other, you have clean Narendra Modi. On one hand, you have a leader born with silver spoon - Rahul Gandhi and on the other you have a leader who sold tea - Narendra Modi."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday targeted the Samajwadi Party, saying it defamed Mirzapur and turned the entire Uttar Pradesh and Purvanchal into "safe hideout" for the mafia. He also branded the opposition INDIA bloc as communal and casteist, and claimed they have decided to change the Constitution to give reservation to Muslims. Training his guns at the SP, he said people associated with it have animosity with law and order.

Addressing a public meeting in Ghosi, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The SP-Congress family, their 'parivarvaad' had made Purvanchal an area of mafia, an area of poverty, and helplessness. But for the last 10 years, Purvanchal has been electing the Prime Minister of the country, and for the last 7 years Purvanchal has been electing the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh hence Purvanchal is the most special. Ghosi, Ballia and Salempur are electing not just the MP but the PM of the country."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday accused the Samajwadi Party and the Congress of neglecting Purvanchal and turning it into a "region of mafia, poverty and helplessness". Addressing a public meeting in Ghosi here, the PM claimed the Congress declared educational establishments as minority institutions and gave reservation to Muslims there. The INDIA bloc wants to turn the majority community into the country's second-class citizens, Modi alleged. He also said those associated with the Samajwadi Party kept Purvanchal backward under a conspiracy and the people of the region will continue to punish them for this.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that he grew up washing cup plates and serving tea, adding that the relationship between Modi and tea is very deep."I grew up washing cups and plates as a child. I have grown up serving tea. The relationship between Modi and tea is also very deep," PM Modi said while addressing a rally here today.
 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said the Naxal problem in the country will end in the next two-to-three years, and except for a small pocket in Chhattisgarh the whole country is now free from the menace. In an interview with PTI late Saturday, Shah also said that there is no presence of the Maoists in the so-called Naxal corridor — from Pashupatinath to Tirupati. "Naxals were eliminated from all over the country. Once some people used to say about the Naxal corridor from Pashupatinath to Tirupati. Now, Jharkhand is completely free from Naxals. Bihar is completely free. Odisha, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are also completely free. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are also free," he said.

Addressing a public meeting in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "INDI alliance has decided to change constitution to give reservation to Muslims."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the 'successfull' Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir is the success of Modi govt's policy. He said the next step of the govt is the assembly polls. 

Addressing a public meeting in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "...The INDI alliance partners are saying that there will be 5 Prime Ministers in 5 years. Can such a big country run like this?...can a PM run the country who will be busy saving his post...So the country has decided to bring in a strong PM to build a strong country, and that is why NDA is getting massive support... No one wants to waste their vote on SP..."

Addressing a public meeting in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "On June 4 'phir ek baar Modi sarkar'...In six phases the public has confirmed BJP government once again..."

Finishing his lunch in a hurry at a roadside eatery in Bhangore's Kathalia, Moinuddin Mondal was about to rush with his 'magic-gari' to ferry school students when police stopped him for a security check. As the police rummaged through his micro-van, Mondal said, "This time, the security cover is more than in the previous elections. It is a good thing that they are trying to contain violence, considering what has been happening in this area over the last few years.

Three-time MP and Akali leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal speaks about bringing AIIMS, a central university, and other projects as some of her achievements as she braces for a multi-cornered electoral bout to get elected from the Bathinda parliamentary constituency for the fourth time in a row. She also invokes her late father-in-law and five-time Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, reminding voters that he used to remain among the public to address their issues. The Bathinda parliamentary constituency, which goes to polls on June 1, is considered a stronghold of the Shiromani Akali Dal with its candidate Harsimrat, the wife of party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, winning this seat since 2009.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold election campaigns in Punjab today. In a post on X, he wrote, “Shall campaign in Punjab today. Looking forward to address election meetings in Fatehgarh Sahib and Bhatinda.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will hold rallies in Bihar and Punjab on Sunday.

The sixth phase of Lok Sabha elections on Saturday registered a voter turnout of 61.20 per cent -- the lowest among all phases -- as per the data complied till 11.45 pm. The turnout in the fifth phase was marginally higher at 62.20 per cent. The Election Commission said the figures were approximate and would get updated. In the sixth phase, 58 seats in eight states and Union Territories went to polls on Saturday.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said people have seen a "changing India" under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and added that there is a "huge difference" between the India before 2014 and the India of 2024. CM Adityanath said that before 2014, there was "mistrust and identity crisis" but now the world looks at India with respect. Wherever Prime Minister Modi goes in the world, the entire country comes out to welcome him, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold several rallies in Uttar Pradesh today. He will hold rallies in Mirzapur, Ghosi and Bansgaon.