Lok Sabha elections 2024 updates | Highlights on May 12, 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a roadshow in Bihar’s capital Patna with a massive crowd turning up to greet him.

Standing atop a saffron-coloured vehicle, modelled as a chariot, PM Modi was seen waving at the large number of people gathered on both sides of the road.

The 2.5-km long roadshow that commenced at 7.15 PM from Bhattacharya Road-Pirmuhani crossing will culminate at Udyog Bhavan in the vicinity of Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

Mr. Modi was accompanied by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary and BJP candidate from Patna Sahib Lok Sabha seat Ravi Shankar Prasad.

People gathered on both sides of the road cheered for the prime minister and waved cutouts of the BJP’s election symbol ‘lotus’ as Mr. Modi greeted them from his vehicle.

The crowd also shouted slogans and showered flower petals as the decorated vehicle with PM Modi standing atop it passed.

After the roadshow, the PM will stay the night at the Raj Bhavan.

On Monday, the prime minister is scheduled to visit Takht Harmandir, the famous Sikh shrine, situated in the old city area, where Guru Gobind Singh was born and spent his childhood.

Later in the day, he will address three election rallies in Hajipur, Muzaffarpur and Saran. - PTI

In an apparent bid to corner Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in his family stronghold of Rae Bareli, Union Home Minister Amit Shah posed five questions before him and asked him to make his stand clear on those questions.

“I want to ask five questions publicly - triple talaq, which was abolished by Modi ji... Was it good or bad? Rahul baba, answer the people of Rae Bareli whether you want to bring back triple talaq? They were saying that they will bring it back. Today, I want to ask in the presence of the public of Rae Bareli to make (your stand) clear,” Mr. Shah said.

“Instead of Muslim personal law, should there be a Uniform Civil Code or not? They say that they will bring (back) the Muslim personal law,” he said.

On surgical strikes, Mr. Shah said, “Modi ji conducted the surgical strikes, was it good or bad? Rahul baba raises questions on surgical strikes. (I) want to ask him, do you support the surgical strikes or not? “I also want to ask him why you did not go to the Ram temple in Ayodhya (after ‘Pran Pratishtha’). Give an answer,” Mr. Shah said.

“At last, Rahul baba should tell the people of Rae Bareli that do you support the scrapping of Article 370 or not? Rahul baba should answer these five questions,” Mr. Shah said, adding that the former Congress president should seek the votes of the people of Raebareli after answering these questions. - PTI

Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will campaign for the Lok Sabha poll candidates of the INDIA bloc parties in Lucknow, Jamshedpur and Mumbai next week.

The national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will campaign in favour of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) candidates across the country, Sandeep Pathak, the party’s national general secretary (organisation) said in a statement.

Mr. Kejriwal will campaign in Lucknow on May 15, in Jamshedpur on May 16 and in Mumbai on May 17, he added. - PTI

BJP leader Tejasvi Surya called Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal the “poster boy of corruption”, saying he has no moral right to comment on graft or transparency.

The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha chief was taking part in a roadshow for the BJP’s Chandni Chowk candidate Praveen Khandelwal.

“Do you really think Kejriwal has any credibility left? He has made many u-turns in his political life. Many young people like us participated in the 2013 Anna Hazare movement, thinking it to be a non-political campaign against corruption,” the Bangalore South MP said. - PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow in Delhi said if people choose Aam Aadmi Party on May 25, he won’t have to go back to jail. Accompanied by his Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Mr. Kejriwal held a roadshow in Moti Nagar in support of party’s New Delhi Lok Sabha candidate Somnath Bharti.

“I have to go back to jail after 20 days. If you choose jhadu (AAP’s symbol), I won’t have to go back to jail,” the chief minister said.

The AAP national convenor is out on interim bail till June 1. He has to surrender on June 2.

“They sent me to jail because I worked for you. The BJP does not want that work of Delhi people are done,” he said. Mr. Kejriwal alleged that his insulin injections were stopped for 15 days inside TIhar jail. “If I went back to jail, the BJP would stop your work, free electricity, degrade schools and shut down hospitals and Mohalla Clinics,” he charged. He also asked people to vote for Bharti since he would be available for people in need even at odd hours.

The polling for all seven seats in Delhi will take place on May 25. - PTI

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said the country need not have to wait till September 2025 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not remain at the helm after June 4, when results of Lok Sabha polls will be declared.

Mr. Tharoor’s comments come a day after AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal claimed Mr. Modi is asking for votes for Home Minister Amit Shah, who will be his successor after Mr. Modi “retires” on turning 75 in September 2025.

“A new government will come to power at the Centre in June. There is no need to wait till September 2025,” Mr. Tharoor said while responding to a query on Mr. Kejriwal’s remarks. 

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, the Thiruvananthapuram MP alleged Mr. Modi has lowered the standard of public discourse and the language being used by him is not good for the country. - PTI

Posing a series of questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a day he is addressing four poll rallies in West Bengal, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh asked why the Jal Jeevan Mission failed in 40% of households in Hooghly.

The “washing machine” of BJP is active in the state ahead of polls, he said.

In a post on X, Congress’ General Secretary Ramesh also raised questions on the cleaning of Ganga and accused the union government of withholding ₹7,000 crore of ration funds.

He said 4,35,311 households in Hooghly remain deprived despite the scheme’s 2024 deadline for providing connections. - PTI

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on May 12 asserted that his party along with the INDIA bloc will come to power and govern the country in the days ahead, after the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

The state Congress chief also said that he and his party are not bothered by the BJP-JD(S) alliance continuing for the biennial election to six seats (three each from graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies) of the Karnataka Legislative Council on June 3. - PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi can be scared of “atom bomb” but the BJP is not, and that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir belongs to India and “we will take it”.

He was referring to Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s remarks on Pakistan having an atom bomb.

Addressing an election rally in Pratapgarh in support of BJP candidate from Kaushambi (SC) Lok Sabha seat, Mr. Shah said, “Rahul baba, if you want to be scared of the atom bomb, then be scared, we are not scared. Pakistan occupied Kashmir belongs to India and we will take it.” In a video which had gone viral, Mr. Aiyar was heard saying that India should give respect to Pakistan as it is a sovereign nation and engage with it as it also possesses an atom bomb.

- PTI

Claiming that PM Narendra Modi was continuing to “peddle lies” about Sandeshkhali, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday questioned why he was maintaining a stoic silence on the allegations of molestation against Governor CV Ananda Bose and not asking him to resign.

Addressing an election rally in North 24 Parganas’ Amdanga, which is a part of the Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency, she said the PM should be ashamed that the “BJP’s conspiracy” about Sandeshkhali has become public.

“The PM is still peddling lies about Sandeshkhali. He should be ashamed as the BJP’s conspiracy has now become public,” Ms. Banerjee said, apparently referring to a purported video in which a local BJP leader was heard saying that over 70 women had received ₹2,000 each for taking part in protests against TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh who is accused of sexual assault and land grab.

- PTI

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday sought intervention of the Election Commission to stop the alleged harassment and arrest of her party workers, a day ahead of the polls in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat Waheed Para has accused a senior IPS officer of trying to engineer a low voter turnout in areas where the party has a strong support base.

“I am writing to you with a profound sense of urgency and grave concern regarding the troubling developments in the run-up to the elections in the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, scheduled for May 13. It has come to my attention that the state administration, under the control of the Union government, is shamelessly engaged in activities aimed at intimidating voters and supporters of the People’s Democratic Party,” Ms. Mufti said in the letter to the commission.

- PTI

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said the ongoing Lok Sabha election is between people who want to “change the constitution” and those protecting it.

Mr. Yadav took part in a rally here in support of Tanuj Punia, the INDIA bloc candidate who is contesting Barabanki Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket.

“On one side are the people who want to change the Constitution and on the other side are the people of INDIA bloc, SP and Congress who want to protect it,” Mr. Yadav said while addressing the rally.

“The election here has turned out to be between people of Barabanki and false guarantees,” he said.

- PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a blistering attack on senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, accusing her of “spending more than 70% of her MP funds on minorities” and the Gandhi family of being experts in lying.

Rahul Gandhi is fighting the Lok Sabha elections from Raebareli the seat held by his mother Sonia Gandhi for the last two decades. 

At an election rally in Raebareli, Mr. Shah said, “You gave the Gandhi family a chance for years, but no development work has been done... They (Congress) do not believe in development. They do not even come to you in your happiness and sorrows.” Asking people to vote for BJP candidate Dinesh Pratap Singh, the Union Minister said, “We will connect Raebareli with Modiji’s development journey.” 

“The ‘shahzada’ (prince) has come here to seek votes. You have been voting for many years. Have you received anything from the MP fund? If you have not received it, then where did it go? It went to their vote bank. Sonia Gandhi has spent more than 70% of the MP funds on minorities,” Mr. Shah claimed.

- PTI

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of giving the country’s “entire wealth” to “four or five rich people”.

Addressing a rally in support of her brother and Congress’ Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat candidate Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi said, “Narendra Modi is the MP from Varanasi for the last 10 years but he has not visited any village there or asked a farmer how he is living.” She also said, “Privatisation is not bad in itself but if the prime minister gives the entire wealth of the nation to four or five rich people, then that is not right.” 

Today coal, electricity, ports and airports of the country are all with the friends of the Prime Minister, the Congress leader alleged.

- PTI

RJD president Lalu Prasad on Sunday came out with a statement taunting Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his roadshow scheduled in the capital of Bihar.

The former Bihar CM reminded Mr. Modi of “unfulfilled promises” to underscore that the State would gain little from the Prime Minister’s ‘nukkad natak’ (street plays).

“This is Bihar. After three phases, the prime minister has been brought on the road. In the remaining four, he will feel impelled to roam on all streets”, said the RJD supremo.

- PTI

tressing that the main concern of the Congress during Lok Sabha polls in 2024 is inflation and unemployment, former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot alleged that the BJP is trying to divert the minds of the people of the country. 

Ashok Gehlot said, “The day PM Modi said this, Rahul Gandhi took the names of Ambani-Adani in his rallies. Rahul Gandhi’s theme of elections is that 22 industrialists including Ambani-Adani have 70 per cent of the nation’s wealth. Our issue for elections is inflation and unemployment but the BJP is trying to divert the minds of the people of the country.” 

He further asked that if the loans of industrialists can be waived, then why the loans of farmers cannot be waived. 

“If Rahul Gandhi had not been taking the names of Ambani-Adani, then what PM Modi said made sense, but Rahul Gandhi is continuously taking their names so PM Modi’s statement is beyond understanding. Secondly, I want to say that CBI and ED should register a case against him and take a statement from PM Modi as he made such a big allegation that black money is sent through tempos,” he further said.

- ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed Trinamool Congress and asserted that TMC is raising the slogan of ‘Break in India’ to counter Centre’s ‘Make in India’ initiative adding that “Modi advocates for ‘ Har Ghar Jal’, while TMC advocates for ‘ Har Ghar Bomb’ scheme.” 

Addressing a public meeting in Hooghly, PM Modi said that TMC is destroying the society, law and order, and unity in India. 

“Amid BJP’s efforts of development, TMC is busy in its ‘own work’. What is the work of TMC and its leaders? ‘ Yaha mafia raj chal rha hai. Modi kahta hai har ghar jal, TMC kahti hai, har ghar bomb’. Just a few days ago, a bomb exploded, snatching away children’s lives. Life has become difficult for mothers, sisters, and daughters here. Today BJP is emphasizing ‘Make in India’, but TMC is raising the slogan of ‘Break in India’. TMC is dividing the society, TMC is breaking the law, TMC is breaking the unity,” PM Modi said.

- ANI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced 10 guarantees for the country on May 12 that include 24x7 electricity, better schools, better health infrastructure, MSP for farmers, putting and end to the Agniveer scheme, dismantling the BJP’s “washing machine” to end corruption and providing 2 crore jobs. 

It also includes the promise of full statehood for Delhi. 

“I don’t want to be Prime Minister but it is my guarantee that when the India Alliance forms the government I will ensure that these promises are fulfilled,” said Mr. Kejriwal. 

On being asked if he had discussed these guarantees with the India bloc partners, he said that he has not had the time but was confident that they would not object. 

“Kejriwal’s guarantee is a brand as we have delivered in Delhi and Punjab unlike Modi’s guarantee,” he said.

Bringing up the 75 years retirement age rule in the BJP and questioning why Mr. Modi is silent on it but other members from his party are giving statements, he asked: “Does the rule which he made in 2014 to retire L.K. Advani apply to him or not?”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed the Trinamool Congress and accused the state government of turning Hindus into “second-class citizens” in the state during the TMC regime. 

Addressing a rally in Barrackpur, PM Modi said that the people’s enthusiastic faces tell him that the BJP is going to receive an even higher mandate than it did in 2019. Bengal is saying, “Phir Ek Baar, Modi Sarkar!” 

“TMC has made bomb making a cottage industry in Bengal. Today, it has become difficult for a common man to follow his faith in Bengal. TMC threatens people when they chant the name of Shri Ram. Jai Shri Ram! TMC does not allow people to celebrate Ram Navami. Congress, too, stands against the Ram Mandir. Should we leave the country in the hands of TMC, Congress, and Leftists? INDI Alliance has completely surrendered to their appeasement policy. They are willing to engage in ‘Vote Jihad’ against BJP. A TMC leader says that they will throw Hindus into the Bhagirathi River... Where do they get the audacity to say and do all of this? Who is supporting them? TMC regime doesn’t allow people to take Lord Ram’s name, and celebrate Ram Navami. Hindus have become second-class citizens in Bengal under the TMC rule.” PM Modi said.

- ANI

Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party president Virendra Sachdeva held a door-to-door campaign in support of party candidate Harsh Malhotra from the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat on Sunday.

The BJP leader campaigned in the East Delhi area for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections in the national capital.

Speaking about Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during the campaign, Virendra Sachdeva said, “He is out on bail with very few days left. He knows he will be back in jail on June 2. His disappointment is evident. Unfortunately, Delhi has got a CM who cannot sign any papers and who cannot visit the Secretariat.”

-ANI

Rajahmundry braces for a three-way contest between Congress’ Gidugu Rudra Raju, BJP’s Daggubati Purandeswari and YSRCP’s Guduri Srinivas during the 4th phase of the 2024 general elections i.e. May 13. The date of vote counting is June 4.

Earlier in January, Rudraraju Gidugu stepped down from the post of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) Chief. In the 1999, 2004 and 2009 elections, Rudraraju played a significant part on behalf of the party.

When YSR was the CM, he served as the Chairman of AP Medical Infrastructure Corporation. He also got elected to the Legislative Council of United AP. Within the party, he held the post of AICC Secretary and also discharged duties as incharge of Odisha.

BJP candidate Purandeswari was made Andhra Pradesh unit president in the first week of July last year in place of Somu Veerraju who held that post since 2020. She joined the BJP in 2014 after resigning from the Congress.

BJP candidate Purandeswari was made Andhra Pradesh unit president in the first week of July last year in place of Somu Veerraju who held that post since 2020. She joined the BJP in 2014 after resigning from the Congress.

-ANI

The Left-Congress alliance in Bengal would work much better this time compared to similar efforts made during the 2021 state elections and the 2019 parliamentary polls since the electoral pact was “scientifically forged” from the bottom-up rather than top-down, claimed CPI(M) politburo member and the party’s state secretary Md Salim.

Salim himself is leading the charge of the Left-Congress combine against the BJP and the TMC alike as a candidate from the Murshidabad Lok Sabha seat, the elections to which were held on May 8 during the third phase of polls.

And if murmurs from the ground, about how the grouping may have fared in the 10 already-polled north Bengal seats, are to be believed, Salim may have a point.

-PTI

A significant surge in people heading back to their hometowns to cast their votes on May 13 is being witnessed at bus terminals, train stations, and toll booths on Sunday.

Hyderabad is home to a large chunk of people from Andhra Pradesh and rural areas of Telangana.

From May 8 to 12, in addition to the regular services, 1,683 additional and 1,048 special services have been deployed totaling 2,731 from various places in Andhra pradesh, the State-owned Road transport Corporation said in a press release.

All the scheduled bus services from Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai were full with pre-reservation, it said.

-PTI

Opposition leaders are being targeted by poll officials, the Congress alleged on Sunday, claiming that while its chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s helicopter was checked in Bihar’s Samastipur, leaders of the BJP-led NDA were being allowed to move “freely”.

Kharge on Saturday addressed back-to-back Lok Sabha election rallies in Samastipur and Muzaffarpur in the state.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s helicopter was checked in Kerala and, now, party president Kharge’s has been checked in Bihar’s Samastipur, Congress leader Rajesh Rathorre claimed in a video message on X.

Rathorre, who is the chief spokesperson of the Congress’ Bihar unit, also shared a video to claim that the chief electoral officer of Bihar is herself monitoring the checking of Kharge’s helicopter in Samastipur.

-PTI

After an intense campaign marked by fervent speeches from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, and several other prominent leaders across political parties, the stage is set for polling on Monday to elect the 175- member AP assembly and also 25 Lok Sabha seats from the state.

YSRCP president Jagan (Pulivendula), TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu (Kuppam) and Janasena chief and actor Pawan Kalyan (Pithapuram), among others, are in the Assembly poll race.

AP Congress president and Jagan’s sister YS Sharmila (Kadapa) and BJP state chief Purandeswari (Rajamahendravaram), among others, are in Lok Sabha poll fray.

A high-stakes electoral showdown is in the offing at Purulia Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal with lack of industrialisation and corruption allegations dominating the poll narrative in the backdrop of the omnipresent local Kurmi struggle for Scheduled Tribe status.

The stage in this Kurmi-majority seat looks all set for a fierce three-cornered battle between incumbent BJP MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato, TMC’s former state minister Shantiram Mahato and Congress’s old war horse Nepal Mahato, all of who are represent the Kurmi scheduled caste community.

While the BJP perceptively earned the Kurmi confidence to dislodge the TMC from the seat in 2019, the latter, in its bid to regain the community’s support in the region, has announced in its poll manifesto that it will stand by its demand for ST status and pursue the Centre for its approval.

Even smaller parties like SUCI (Communist) have fielded candidates from the same community in the form of young student leader Sushmita Mahato.

-PTI

Voting for the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh covering 13 parliamentary constituencies will take place on Monday, with all eyes on the prestigious Kannauj seat from where SP president Akhilesh Yadav is seeking a re-election.

Another prominent candidate in the fray in this round is Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni, who is contesting from Kheri.

Voting will take place in Shahjahanpur (SC), Kheri, Dhaurahra, Sitapur, Hardoi (SC), Misrikh (SC), Unnao, Farrukhabad, Etawah (SC), Kannauj, Kanpur, Akbarpur and Bahraich (SC).

-PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will hold a meeting with the Aam Aadmi Party MLAs in the national capital on Sunday. This will be his first meeting with legislatures after he walked out of Tihar Jail post the Supreme Court decision of granting him interim bail till June 1.

In a post on X, CM Arvind Kejriwal wrote, “11 am - MLA meeting 1 pm - press conference at party office, 4 pm - Road Show - New Delhi Lok Sabha - Moti Nagar 6 pm - Road Show - West Delhi Lok Sabha - Uttam Nagar. All of you have to come.”

On the preparations for the 4th phase of the Lok Sabha elections in the state, Andhra Pradesh Chief Election Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Meena said that total recoveries worth Rs 269 crore have been made.

“295 companies of central forces are coming...State Armed Forces are also being deployed...till now we have recovered Rs 70 crore in cash and liquor worth Rs 40 crore, and we have recovered gold and silver as well, we have made recoveries worth Rs 269 crore,” said Chief Election Commissioner Meena.

Adding further he stated that we have 46,000 polling stations and among them, 12,000 are critical polling stations.

“We are making arrangements for central forces, webcasting and micro observers who will directly report to the Election Commission, “ said Mukesh Kumar Meena.

-ANI

Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in the country, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma hailed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and lashed out at the Congress party saying that they have cheated the public.

“We will reach our target. ‘4 June, 400 par’... The environment is in our favour,” said CM Sharma.Lauding the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, “The people have trust in PM Modi. He has worked to boost development and border security and enhanced India’s global image.”

The Chief Minister further launched a scathing attack against the Congress and said, “The Congress had cheated the public... ‘Congress ke dimag ka diwaliapan ho gaya hai.’ They don’t know what they are saying... They can make agreements with anyone, they are only worried about one family, they are not concerned about the country.”

-ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead a roadshow in Patna on Sunday evening, followed by three election rallies elsewhere in Bihar, a day later.

This is the first political visit to the state capital by the prime minister since the March 2009 rally at the historic Gandhi Maidan. He was on an official visit here a couple of years ago for a function held by the Bihar Assembly.

“Foolproof security arrangements are in place across the city. There will be a complete ban on flying drones in any locality and plying of vehicles will remain suspended on the roadshow route,” Senior Superintendent of Police Rajeev Mishra told PTI.

The roadshow will commence at the Income Tax office roundabout, situated a few hundred metres from the state BJP headquarters, and conclude at Udyog Bhavan in the vicinity of Gandhi Maidan, passing through crowded localities like Fraser Road, Exhibition Road, Kadam Kuan and Sahitya Sammelan.

-PTI

Taking a dig at the Congress over its Indore Lok Sabha seat candidate withdrawing from the fray at the last moment, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said it was not his party’s fault if the “bridegroom fled before the wedding”.

“The Congress claimed that the BJP did something wrong in Indore. What was our fault? It is like inviting the entire village to the wedding feast and the groom running away before the marriage ceremony,” Yadav said at the BJP’s campaign rally at Betma near here on Saturday.

The opposition party, which has no candidate left in the fray for the May 13 election in Indore, is insulting democracy by appealing to local voters to press the NOTA (None Of The Above) button, the chief minister said.

“If someone’s child runs away from home, whose fault is it? They are your children, you should take care of them,” he said.

-PTI

Actors from the ‘Mega’ star family hogged the limelight on the last day of the election campaign here on Saturday.

Actor Allu Arjun’s visit to his friend and YSRCP MLA S. Ravichandra Kishore Reddy’s residence at Nandayala to wish him success in the elections at a very crucial time has created a flutter. #AlluArjunatNandyala started to trend on social media, where thousands of tweets, posts and memes were shared.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a dig at the Opposition on Saturday claiming that post election results, the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance plans to merge all small political parties to attain the status of opposition.

He also claimed that after three phases of elections, the Congress and its allies have accepted their defeat in the polls.

Without naming anyone, Mr. Modi said a big leader of the INDIA bloc has stated that after the elections, all the small political parties should merge with the Congress.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday started his day with prayers at a Hanuman temple in the Capital’s Connaught Place, followed by an election blitzkrieg, in which he addressed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers and held two back-to-back roadshows.

This was the same temple where his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, had paid obeisance after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21.

Mr. Kejriwal, accompanied by his wife and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, had invited party supporters to the temple to seek blessings of the deity, prompting the police to step up security in the area in anticipation of a large footfall.

Journalist bodies have written to the Chief Election Commissioner demanding that press conference be held after voting in each phase and that the entire poll data, including “absolute number” of votes polled in each phase and percentage of voting be released by next day.

In the joint letter, the Press Club of India, Indian Women Press Corp, Press Association, Foreign Correspondent Club and the Delhi Union of Journalists have expressed dismay at the Election Commission (EC) not holding a single press conference even after the completion of voting in three phases across the country.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi participated at a corner meeting in Kamareddy on Saturday.

The Congress mobilised a good number of people for the roadshow, as part of the election campaign for Zaheerabad Lok Sabha constituency.

Addressing people, Mr. Reddy said that this election is an electoral battle between two families. “While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s family includes ED, I-T, Delhi police, Adani and Ambani, Rahul Gandhi’s family consists of great leaders like Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, who sacrificed their lives for the people of India,” he said.

Back on the campaign trail after being released from Tihar Jail on interim bail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said that voting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha election would amount to voting for Amit Shah as Prime Minister as Mr. Modi would be set to retire from politics as he turns 75 on September 17, 2025.

However, responding to his comments, Union Home Minister Shah said that Mr. Modi would continue as PM for the full term, and the BJP’s constitution did not mention any retirement age.

Mr. Kejriwal cited a norm Mr. Modi has enforced in the BJP that leaders should retire at 75. Suggesting a power struggle within the BJP, Mr. Kejriwal said, “If their [BJP] government is formed, they will first dispose of [Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister] Yogi Adityanath and then make Amit Shah the Prime Minister of the country. PM Modi is asking for votes for Amit Shah. Will Amit Shah fulfil Modi’s guarantee?”