Campaign ends for four Bihar Lok Sabha seats
Campaign ended on Tuesday evening for four Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar Gaya, Jamui, Nawada and Aurangabad all of which go to polls in the first phase of elections on April 11.
Leading the charge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held rallies in Jamui and Gaya, Lok Sabha seats which are being contested by BJP alliance partners LJP and JD(U) respectively.
BJP president Amit Shah held a rally in Aurangabad, from where party MP Sunil Kumar Singh is seeking re-election.
The Opposition “mahagathbandhan” has fielded Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM)) candidate Upendra Prasad from the seat.
LJP leader Chirag Paswan is contesting from the Jamui reserved seat. He is the sitting MP and is locked in a virtual straight contest with Bhudeo Chaudhary of RLSP. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has addressed a rally in Jamui.
The Home Minister also held a rally in favour of Chandan Kumar the Lok Janshakti Party nominee in Nawada one of the BJP’s sitting seats which the party had to forgo to accommodate Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) which returned to the NDA a couple of years ago. Mr. Kumar is the brother of mafia don-turned-politician Suraj Bhan Singh.
The Opposition candidate here is RJDs Vibha Devi whose husband Raj Ballabh Yadav was recently disqualified from the State Assembly following conviction in a rape case.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi held a rally in Gaya where mahagathbandhan candidate happens to be former Chief Minister and HAM president Jitan Ram Manjhi. Mr. Gandhi’s rally was also attended by Shatrughan Sinha, the maiden appearance by the Patna Sahib MP in Bihar after his induction into the Congress last week.
A reserved constituency which is considered a stronghold of Manjhi caste, the former Chief Ministers primary challenger is Vijay Manjhi of the JD(U).
Other prominent leaders who toured the State for campaign include former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP national vice-president Shivraj Singh Chouhan. — PTI
₹116 cr in cash seized since March 10 in A.P.: poll officer
A sum of ₹116 crore in cash was seized as of Monday as part of enforcement measures in effect for the general elections in Andhra Pradesh, chief electoral officer of the state, Gopal Krishna Dwivedi (CEO) said in Amaravati on April 9.
As much as 101 kg of gold and 330 kg of silver totally worth ₹33.2 crore and liquor worth over ₹23 crore were also seized during the search, the CEO told a press conference.
Besides, freebies like sarees, cricket kits, clocks and other goods worth ₹7.28 crore were confiscated, he said.
The gross value of the seizure was over ₹200 crore making the state one among those where such a huge amount of cash was seized, he said.
A total of 28,049 election-related cases, including 4,510 pertaining to violation of model code of conduct, was registered by the police and 1,957 arms licences were cancelled.
Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Ravi Shankar Ayyanar was also present at the press conference. — PTI
Delhi BJP files complaint against Congress for MCC violation
The Delhi unit of BJP has written to the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi, demanding action against the Congress for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct.
Delhi BJP general secretary Rajesh Bhatia, in the letter to the EC on Tuesday, said he had seen two autorickshaws, plying near the India Gate roundabout, with posters promoting the Congress party, with the slogan, “Congress party se high-five“.
“It means that the autorickshaws are being used by the party for campaigning. Who gave the approval to the party for using public transport for campaigning?” he said.
He urged the Delhi poll body to probe the complaint and take action against the Congress party for the alleged violation.
Modi bats for strong govt at Centre
A strong government at the Centre was imperative for a strong India and the February last air strike on a terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan, had created a fear among terrorists and those in power in that country were getting nightmares, , Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at an election rally in Chitradurga.
Mr. Modi also attacked the ruling Congress-JD(S) combine in Karnataka, saying when the whole world stood with India in the aftermath of the air strike, the two parties were in tears.
Greeting first-time voters across the country, he asked them to vote after thinking, to bring in a strong government at the Centre.
‘Chowkidar’ a coward who runs away from debate: Rahul in Assam
Congress president Rahul Gandhi speaks with party candidate Sushmita Dev during an election rally, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, at Panchgram in Silchar, Assam on April 9, 2019.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “thief and a coward” who runs away from a direct debate with the leader of the main Opposition party.
Launching a tirade against Mr. Modi, the Congress leader alleged that the Prime Minister’s schemes had benefited only rich businessmen like Anil Ambani, Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi.
“The chowkidar [watchman] is not only chor [thief], but also a coward. As he talks about corruption, I told the chowkidar to debate with me. He does not have the guts and fled away.
Modi should be ashamed to seek votes in the name of soldiers: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. File
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “seeking votes in the name of soldiers and martyrs.” She said, “Armed forces belong to everybody. It is our pride. He should first answer why so many jawans were killed in Pulwama despite intelligence inputs of such an attack.”
Mr. Modi and the BJP should not think the armed forces were their fiefdom, she said at an election rally at Islampur in Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal.
“For the last five years he could not build a Ram temple [at Ayodhya]. But whenever election approaches, he rakes up the issue. People are not fools. You cannot befool them every time,” she said and added that she had respect for every religion in the country.
Comparing Mr. Modi and BJP president Amit Shah to Duryodhana and Dushshasana of the Mahabharata, she alleged that they were trying to take away the independence of the country.
Hints at possibility of a post-poll alliance
At a rally in Raiganj earlier, Ms. Banerjee hinted at the possibility of a post-poll alliance. She said, "In every State, alliances have been formed to oust Modi... Once he is voted out of power, all of us can work together to build a new India."
She blamed the BJP for not renaming the State as Bangla. "The BJP doesn’t like West Bengal and Bengalis; that is why they have stopped the process of renaming the State as Bangla." The State Assembly had unanimously decided to rename the State, but it's pending with the Centre, she pointed out.
The Trinamool Congress would play a "crucial role" in government formation. "The Congress cannot form a government on its own, it will have to seek help from others," she said.
'Modi baptised in politics through riots, killings'
Earlier in the day, addressing a rally in Rajganj, Ms. Banerjee said, “Mr. Modi has been baptised in politics through riots and mass killings. He is the king of fascists. Had Adolf Hitler been alive, he would have committed suicide seeing Modi’s activities.”
The Chief Minister also said, “It is because the Congress failed to put up a credible fight against the BJP, the saffron party grew from strength to strength.”
In every State, alliances have been stitched to oust Mr. Modi from power, she claimed. “Once Modi is voted out of power, all of us will work towards building a new India,” she said, adding that the TMC had “never compromised in its fight against communalism”. — PTI
Modi will become PM again: Gadkari
Narendra Modi with Nitin Gadkari. File photo.
Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said the party would secure a majority in the Lok Sabha election and Narendra Modi would become the prime minister once again.
The Minister for Road, Transport and Highways told PTI in an interview that in a democracy, the prime minister decided on allotment of portfolios.
“It is the right and privilege of the prime minister to give a department to a minister. I am confident that we will get a majority and Modiji will become the prime minister again,” he said in reply to a query on whether he was harbouring prime ministerial ambitions if the BJP is voted to power once again. - PTI
Only Modi can give a strong government: Amit Shah
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah along with Telangana BJP leaders during an election campaign in Shamshabad, Hyderabad on Tuesday.
BJP president Amit Shah made a strong pitch for return of the party-led NDA government at the Centre, saying only Narendra Modi can give a strong government.
Addressing an election rally at Shamshabad near Hyderabad, Mr. Shah said the BJP’s manifesto was nothing but a document to make the country great.
Referring to the Pulwama terrorist attack and the subsequent air strike by India targetting terror camps in Pakistan, he asked whether Congress president Rahul Gandhi could give a fitting reply like Mr. Modi.
“The biggest work that the Modi government did was to secure the nation,” he said. Mr. Shah also sought to know whether the “thukada-thukada gang” and “Rahul baba and company” could give a “capable leadership” to the country. “Can they give a strong government?. Only and only Modi can give a strong government to the country,” he said.
I-T raids show who the 'chor' is, says Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flanked by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and NDA leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Ramdas Athavale at an election rally in Katie, Maharashtra on Tuesday.
At a rally in Latur, Maharashtra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took potshots at the Congress, saying, "The Congress says chowkidar chor hai , but crores of rupees are found with Congress leaders and their aides." He was referring to the recent Income Tax department searches in several places.
"It shows who the chor is. It shows why you are scared of the chowkidar . Bundles of notes are found in Madhya Pradesh just within 6 months of forming the govt," he says in a veiled attack on Chief Minister Kamal Nath.
Mr. Modi urged the first-time voters to exercise their franchise. "The first-time voters should dedicate their votes to the brave Air Force fighters who attacked the Balakot terror camp in Pakistan."
BJP manifesto is short-sighted and arrogant, says Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi at an election meeting in Zaheerabad, Telangana. File
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has termed the BJP's election manifesto the voice of an isolated man, short-sighted and arrogant.
In a tweet, he said, "The Congress manifesto was created through discussion. The voice of over a million Indian people it is wise and powerful. The BJP Manifesto was created in a closed room. The voice of an isolated man, it is short sighted and arrogant."
In its manifesto, which was released on Monday, the BJP made a string of promises , including expeditious construction of a Ram temple, a firm hand in dealing with terrorism and doubling of farmers income in the next three years. The party also promised to make India the third largest economy globally by 2030 and scrap Article 370 that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir if it comes back to power.
The Congress dubbed the BJP’s manifesto a “jhansa patra” (deception document) and a “bubble of lies”. It would have been better had the BJP issued a “maafinama” instead, it said.
Over 16.85 lakh voters to decide fate of 12 candidates in Udhampur
The fate of 12 candidates, including Union Minister Jitendra Singh, will be decided by over 16.85 lakh voters of Udhampur in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election on April 18.
The constituency is spread over 17 Assembly segments in six districts -- Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Kathua.
According to the figures provided by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu and Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar, there are 16,85,779 registered voters in Udhampur, including 8,76,319 men, 7,89,105 women, 20,312 service voters (20,052 men and 260 women) and 43 transgender electors. - PTI
History shows vote transfer will be a tall order for alliance in Karnataka
If the “unprecedented” alliance between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) is to succeed in the Lok Sabha election, voters need to buck the trend of voting differently in State and national elections.
On paper, the combined vote share of the alliance in the recent Assembly polls threatens the dominant BJP in most parliamentary seats. However, Assembly constituency-wise polling numbers from recent elections point to a significant chunk of voters shifting their allegiance in the year’s gap between State and parliamentary polls. These “lost votes” seem to be heading to the BJP, rather than the coalition partners.
This changing voter behaviour is clear in the tabulation of areas where parties lost votes (a loss of more than 2,000 votes is considered to be significant) between a parliamentary election (2009, 2014) and the preceding Assembly election (2008, 2013).
The BJP has lost votes in just 60 Assembly constituencies — or 13% of the total segments — between national elections and State elections. Three-fourths of these constituencies were held by BJP MLAs. These “lost votes” were primarily in south Karnataka and the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, where the Congress and JD(S) have the upper hand. In the other areas, the BJP managed to retain and build on its voter base even is if it lost the previous year’s Assembly election.
While the Congress improved its tally in the 2008 and 2013 Assembly elections, in the succeeding Lok Sabha elections, it lost votes in 189 Assembly constituencies (or 42% of the total segments that form parliamentary constituencies). Nearly six in 10 of these seats were held by Congress MLAs — which suggests that a large number of voters chose a non-INC candidate in the parliamentary polls.
It's a contest between 'chor' and chowkidar: Manoj Tiwari
BJP supporters during the release of the party manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Monday.
BJP supporters during the release of the party manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Monday.
The coming election would be a contest between ‘chor and chowkidar’, and the citizens of the Capital will decide which political party fitted which role, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said at a public meeting at north-west Delhi’s Wazirabad.
The North-East Delhi MP took the opportunity to reiterate the works undertaken by the Modi government. “People who level baseless charges will be taught a lesson. Delhiites will decide who the 'chor' is and who the 'chowkidar' is,” he said.
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