Modi takes part in Ganga aarti after roadshow in Varanasi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins Varanasi roadshow, garlanding Madan Mohan Malaviya statue. The roadshow stretched over 6 km, going from the Lanka area to Dashashwamedh Ghat via Godoliya.
The Prime Minister participated in the Ganga arti at Dashashwamedh Ghat after the roadshow. After the event, he will have a conversation with eminent personalities of Varanasi at Hotel De Paris.
On April 26, the PM will address booth heads and party workers at 9.30 a.m. and go on to worship the city god Kal Bhairav at 11 a.m.
“At 11.30 am, PM will file his nomination for Varanasi Lok Sabha seat,” said a BJP press statement. “In this (nomination) programme, Akali Dal’s senior leader and former Chief Minister (Punjab) Shri Parkash Singh Badal ji , Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) chief Shri Nitish Kumar ji , Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray ji , Central Minister and president of Lok Janshakti Party Ram Vilas Paswan ji will be present.”
India will be poverty-free when it turns Congress-free: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. File
As the Congress has failed to eradicate poverty in its five decades of rule, the country will actually become poverty-free when it becomes Congress-free, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.
Mr. Singh claimed that the BJP-led NDA government had been able to take 7.5 crore people above the poverty line. Those still living below it would be elevated in the coming five years, he said.
“The Congress has ruled the country for five decades, but India still fights poverty. The 'garibi hatao' call only remained a slogan as Congress governments failed to take any concrete step to eradicate poverty,” he said.
Referring to Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s promise to make India poverty-free, Mr. Singh said Mr. Gandhi’s tall claims were aimed at misleading the people for votes.
“The fact is, the country can actually become poverty-free if it becomes Congress-free,” he said.
Mr. Singh was addressing a series of election meetings in Odisha’s Jajpur, Bhadrak and Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha constituencies where polling will be held along with State aAssembly elections in the fourth phase on April 29.
The Union Minister also accused the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government of failing to develop the state during its 19 years of rule.
Mr. Singh alleged that the basic requirements of the people have not been fulfilled as the BJD government has no intention to develop the state.
“The BJD government denied justice to the people of Odisha by not implementing the Ayushman Bharat and several other welfare schemes of the central government,” he said.
Stating that Ayushman Bharat Yojana has been implemented in other states, Mr. Singh said the poor people of Odisha are being deprived of the benefits of the National Health Protection Mission because of BJD government’s apathy.
He appealed to the people to give five years to the BJP and allow it to make Odisha the number one state in the country via speedy and balanced development.
Mentioning the air strike carried out by India inside Pakistan after the Pulwama terror attack that killed 42 CRPF jawans, Mr. Singh said, “The (Narendra) Modi government has given a fitting reply to Pakistan and terrorists. The country is safe under Modi’s leadership.”
The Modi government has also elevated India’s status across the globe by making development in the economic front, he said.
The BJP’s manifesto promises people pucca houses, cooking gas connection and electricity by 2022, Mr. Singh said.
LS polls will see end of “Namo, Namo” chant: Mayawati
BSP chief Mayawati during an election rally.
Lashing out at the BJP, BSP supremo Mayawati on Thursday said this Lok Sabha election will see the end of those who chant “Namo, Namo“.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister was addressing a joint rally with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Ms. Dimple Yadav, the sitting SP MP and wife of Akhilesh Yadav, is seeking re-election from the seat as the joint candidate of the SP-BSP alliance.
“This election will see end of those chanting ‘Namo, Namo’,” she said at the rally.
Playing the caste card to the hilt, Ms. Mayawati reminded the electorate that the Congress did not implement the Mandal Commission report.
She also told the gathering that when the Congress was in power, it did not give Bharat Ratna to BR Ambedkar.
Ms. Mayawati also hit out at the BJP government at the Centre, charging it paid lip service to the poor, the downtrodden, the youth and farmers by making lofty promises and not fulfilling any.
“Chowkidari ki nataak baazi nahin chalegi,” she said in reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BSP supremo made a fervent appeal to the voters to re-elect SP candidate Dimple Yadav by pressing the ‘Cycle’ button.
At the same time, she urged voters to ensure transfer of votes to BSP candidates fielded elsewhere as joint nominees of the alliance to ensure a clean sweep by the SP-BSP alliance in the state.
Opposition alliance will give new PM to the country: Akhilesh Yadav
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav addresses a press conference at the party office in Lucknow, Monday, April 22, 2019. (PTI Photo/Nand Kumar) (PTI4_22_2019_000190A)
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav addresses a press conference at the party office in Lucknow, Monday, April 22, 2019. (PTI Photo/Nand Kumar) (PTI4_22_2019_000190A)
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed the confidence that the SP-BSP-RLD alliance in Uttar Pradesh will give a new prime minister to the country.
He was addressing a joint rally in Kannauj with BSP supremo Mayawati and RLD president Ajit Singh.
The SP chief said the BJP would not be able to talk about their performance. “So, how can they face the SP-BSP-RLD alliance,” he asked.
The alliance has been formed with the aim of ensuring social justice and take the ideals of B.R. Ambedkar, Ram Manohar Lohia, Kanshiram and ‘Netaji’ (Mulayam Singh Yadav) forward, he said.
Eyeing Bundelkhand, Priyanka holds two roadshows in two days
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra waves at the supporters during an election campaign roadshow in support of the party’s candidate Shiv Sharan Kushwaha (to Priyanka's right) for the Lok Sabha elections, in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh on April 25, 2019.
Seeking to woo voters ahead of the April 29 polling for the three out of four Lok Sabha seats in Bundelkhand, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra held a roadshow in Jhansi, the second in two days in the region.
Bundelkhand has four Lok Sabha seats — Jalaun, Jhansi, Hamirpur and Banda.
On the second day of her Bundelkhand visit, she held the roadshow in a busy commercial area of Jhansi, sitting atop a vehicle in a violet saree and exchanging pleasantries with people who lined up on both sides of the narrow and congested roads.
As young voters and Congress workers showered flowers on her cavalcade, she was greeted with slogans of “chowkidar chor hai” from the crowd at some places.
Ms. Priyanka got off her vehicle near a temple and offered prayers.
Jhansi is the largest town in Bundelkhand, a parched and underdeveloped hilly region spread over Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
On Wednesday, she held a roadshow in Mahoba of the Banda constituency, which goes to the polls on May 6 and an election meeting in Hamirpur, voting for which will be held on April 29.
She had also addressed a public meeting in Hamirpur, accusing the NDA government of pursuing anti-people policies. “The Modi government is ignoring the poor, farmers and women. It is bothered only about power,” she said.
“What have you done in the past five years, what has happened to the promises made five years ago?” she asked the BJP, urging people to elect a government having a “feeling” for people. “Elect a government, a leader who is your 'hamdard' [sympathiser],” she said.
While the erstwhile Bahujan Samaj Party government under Ms. Mayawati in 2011 proposed to create Bundelkhand State comprising seven districts of U.P., outfits like the Bundelkhand Akikrit Party and the Bundelkhand Mukti Morcha wanted the inclusion of six districts of Madhya Pradesh as well.
During canvassing for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP leader Uma Bharti too promised a separate state of Bundelkhand within three years of her party coming to power. A similar promise was made by the Congress in the last Lok Sabha elections.
All the four Lok Sabha seats were won by the BJP in 2014 with a massive 44.86 per cent vote share. In the 2017 Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress were not able to dent the BJP’s support base here.
The BJP, in 2017, successfully carried on its momentum in Bundelkhand and bagged all the 20 Assembly seats in the region.
The BJP had dominated the region throughout the 1990s. Beginning with the 1991 Lok Sabha elections, the party won all four Lok Sabha seats.
Opposition cannot keep country safe: Amit Shah
BJP president Amit Shah. File
BJP president Amit Shah claimed that Opposition leaders cannot take care of the country’s security. He was addressing a rally in the Ghazipur constituency of Uttar Pradesh. Union Minister and MP Manoj Sinha is seeking re-election from the constituency.
Mr. Shah alleged that Ms. Mayawati, Mr. Akhilesh and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi were upset with the Balakot air strike.
“These ‘ mahamilavati ’ people talk about the country. Akhilesh, Mayawati and the Congress cannot keep the country safe,” he said. The BJP cannot do “ ilu-ilu” with terrorists, an apparent reference to the popular short form of ‘I love you’.
AAP MLA Nazar Singh Manshahia joins Congress in Punjab
Vikas Vasudeva reports from Chandigarh:
Nazar Singh Manshahia, sitting Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Punjab's Mansa Assembly constituency, joined the Congress.
Mr. Manshahia said he wanted to serve the people of Punjab, which he felt the Congress was best equipped to do. "The AAP had completely lost the narrative in Punjab, with no positively agenda or ideology to guide it," he said.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said his joining would further strengthen the Congress, which was riding a wave of strong public mood in its favour.
GST will be simplified if Congress is voted to power: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi. File
Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing “injustice” to the people of the country in the last five years, saying the ‘acche din ayenge’ slogan has now been replaced by ‘chowkidar chor hai’.
Mr. Gandhi was addressing an election rally at Jalore in Rajasthan.
“Demonetisation and GST were ways to rob poor, labourers, small traders, the Congress’ NYAY scheme will benefit them. Five years ago, there was a slogan, ‘acche din ayenge’. Now people say ‘chowkidaar chor hai’ everywhere in the country,” he said.
If the Congress came to power, GST would be be simplified, 22 lakh government jobs given in one year and no permission would be required for three years for start-ups. “Not a single farmer of the country will be jailed for not paying bank loans if we are voted to power,” he said.
ECI letting Modi violate model code: Mayawati
BSP supremo Mayawati.
BSP chief Mayawati accused the Election Commission of India of ignoring the alleged model code violations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“PM Modi is moving about freely despite facing numerous serious allegations of the model code of conduct violation, thanks to the ECI. That’s why he has started crossing the limit as far as respect for women is concerned. Hasn’t the BJP/RSS imposed a lajawab neta upon the country” she asked.
Congress picks Ajay Rai to contest from Varanasi
Congress party's Ajay Rai will contest from Varanasi
Ending speculation about whether Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, the Congress picked Ajay Rai again for the seat.
Last week, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, to a question on whether he planned to field his sister against Mr. Modi, said, “I will leave you in suspense. Suspense is not always a bad thing.”
The Congress fielded Ajai Rai against Modi in 2014 as well. He finished third in the contest, after Mr. Modi and Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal.
AAP releases manifesto, bats for statehood
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its manifesto for Delhi.
"If we get all seven MPs, then we will do whatever is needed to get full statehood," AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said.
"The 2019 election is to save the nation, save the Constitution. We are Indians first, then Hindu or Muslim," he said.
Mr. Kejriwal said his party would support any non-BJP government at the Centre.
Modi rebuffs Opposition's criticism about using national security to garner votes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during an election rally at Darbhanga in Bihar on Thursday, April 25, 2019.
Rebuffing the Opposition criticisms that the ruling NDA was using the national security issue for electoral gains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said rooting out terror was essential so that the money could be used to improve the living conditions of the poor.
Addressing a rally in the north Bihar town of Darbhanga, he claimed that the Congress-led Opposition was in jitters after the “favourable response” to the NDA in the first three phases of elections.
He alleged, “The 'mahamilavati' gang has given up seeking proof of the Balakot air strike and started finding fault with EVMs.”
Mr. Modi commended Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi for bringing electricity to the remotest village in the State and making the ‘lantern’, the Opposition party's poll symbol redundant in Bihar.
Parrikar’s son among 2 shortlisted by BJP for Panaji bypoll
Utpal Parrikar. File photo
Utpal Parrikar, elder son of the former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, is one of the two persons shortlisted by the BJP for the upcoming bypoll to the Panaji Assembly seat, a party leader said.
Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar on Wednesday held discussions with various party units, including the Panaji block committee, to discuss the names of probables, he said.
“Two names have been shortlisted, one is Utpal Parrikar and the other is Siddharth Kunkolienkar,” the senior BJP leader said on the condition of anonymity.
Both the names would be sent to the party’s parliamentary board in New Delhi for a final decision, he added.
The Panaji Assembly bypoll, scheduled on May 19, was necessitated following the death of Manohar Parrikar last month.
Utpal Parrikar, 38, who has a Masters degree from the U.S. and is presently into business, had said he would be ready to take any responsibility given to him by the BJP.
Mr. Kunkolienkar first won the Panaji seat in the 2015 bye-election. He again bagged the seat in the 2017 Assembly polls, but vacated it later that year to make way for Manohar Parrikar to be inducted into the House.
The Congress has announced former Minister Atanasio Monserratte as its candidate.
Cong slams government on minimum support price
The Congress slammed the Modi government on the issue of minimum support price (MSP), alleging that farmers were getting 20% less than the MSP.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, citing a media report, said the promise made in 2014 was to give farmers an MSP 50% over the cost of production, but they were getting 20% less than the MSP. “This is Modiji’s injustice.”
Mandi prices of four major rabi crops were 4-20% below their MSPs since the winter harvesting began from April 1, the report said, citing official data.
The Congress has been attacking the government, alleging large-scale farmer distress, a claim strongly rejected by the government.
Crorepatis, criminals in fray for fourth phase
Of the 306 crorepati candidates in the fray for the fourth phase of the general elections, 109 are from Maharashtra.
A report by the Association for Democratic Reforms analysed affidavits of 928 of the 943 candidates in the fray across the country, of which 320 are from Maharashtra. This is the fourth and last phase of polls in the State, where 17 constituencies will go to the polls, including six from Mumbai.
High voting rate in Thrissur leaves all parties optimistic
All the three fronts are claiming advantage over the increase of 5.69 percentage points in voting in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, which witnessed a triangular tussle this time.
The United Democratic Front, the Left Democratic Front and the National Democratic Alliance camps are busy evaluating various socio- politico-religious factors that contributed to the high voter turnout.
The final polling tally of Thrissur is 77.86%.
(With inputs from news agencies)
