India General Elections updates: Highlights from May 27

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has called for a meeting of the INDIA bloc in the Capital on June 1 to assess their electoral performance and to chalk out their strategy ahead of results on June 4. Trinamool Congress party has already conveyed their inability to attend the meeting citing polling for the last phase.

“It is an informal discussion. During the elections, we haven’t met. We have only been coordinating over the phone. And contrary to everyone’s initial expectations, the INDIA bloc has performed very well across the country. The meeting is to assess our electoral performance and to chart out the way ahead,” a top Congress leader said. There is no conversation yet on formulating a common minimum programme, though the INDIA bloc leaders appear optimistic about the poll outcome. 

-The Hindu Bureau

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the BJP and BSP have joined hands covertly and urged the voters from SC, ST and OBC communities that have been supporting Mayawati’s party to choose the INDIA bloc this time “to save the Constitution”.

Addressing an election rally here, Yadav said only Uttar Pradesh “can save the country” by voting out the BJP.

“This election is about saving our future. At the same time, this election is also about saving the Constitution, which gives us respect, which protects our rights.

“It is being seen that BJP and BSP have joined hands covertly. Hence, we want to appeal to the people of ‘Bahujan Samaj’ that this election is also to save the Constitution of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and they should support the INDIA bloc,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.

- PTI

The Delhi poll body on Monday said it has implemented two-tier security arrangements for the polled EVMs and VVPATs stored in the strong rooms of the seven parliamentary constituencies.

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said it has deployed a two-tier security around the clock at strong rooms with the innermost perimeter guarded by the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPFs) and the outermost perimeter by the state armed police in accordance with the ECI safety protocols.

A 24x7 CCTV camera coverage of the sealed doors of the strong rooms and corridors with continuous monitoring has been made with single entry/exit point to the strong rooms and double lock system, it said in a statement.

- PTI

Union Minister and BJP candidate from Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat Anurag Thakur on Monday took a dig at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over his application for bail extension, saying that courts must act stringently against culprits and even the politically influential people must not be spared.

“The places of corrupt people should be where the law decides. If we want to make the country corruption-free, then the court should take strict action against such people whose jail minister, health minister, education minister, liquor minister, Dy CM and chief minister are in jail due to corruption,” said Thakur in Himachal’s Bilaspur.

Thakur further slammed the Congress saying that they have always questioned the valour of our Army, adding to that he said, “They didn’t stand with our Army but they raised the voice of Pakistan and China.”He added that the Congress made every effort to weaken the Army. They did not provide bulletproof jackets and fighter planes to the soldiers.

- ANI

BJP workers held a protest outside the sub-collector office in Odisha’s Khurda district, demanding unconditional release of the saffron camp’s candidate Prashant Jagdev who was arrested on the charge of vandalising an EVM during the May 25 polling.

They also threatened to stage a blockade on the national highway and call for a bandh in Khurda town if the Chilika MLA is not released.

Jagdev was arrested by the police on Saturday for allegedly vandalising the EVM at the Kaunripatna booth in the Begunia assembly segment where he along with his wife had gone to cast votes on May 25.

Khurda Superintendent of Police Avinash Kumar said the BJP candidate was arrested based on an FIR filed by the presiding officer of the polling booth in Bolagad block’s Kaunripatna where he is a voter.

- PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had a close shave when a portion of the dais set up for one of his election rallies in Bihar caved in.

Mr. Gandhi was at Paliganj, on the outskirts of the state capital, to canvass for RJD president Lalu Prasad’s daughter Misa Bharti, who is contesting Patliputra Lok Sabha seat.

Ms. Bharti was leading Mr. Gandhi towards his seat when he was seen struggling for balance as a portion of the make-shift stage sagged.

- PTI

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, cautioned people against the manifesto of the INDI alliance, emphasising their alleged intention to “confine daughters and women to their homes”.

He stated, “However, they fail to recognize that this nation operates under the Constitution of Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar. We will not tolerate the revival of the deplorable practice of triple talaq in our country.”

Yogi Adityanath addressed a public meeting organized for the Ghosi Lok Sabha constituency of Mau on Monday, where he urged voters to support Lok Sabha candidate Arvind Rajbhar. Continuing his criticism of the opposition, he remarked, “We must be wary of the INDI alliance, as they proclaim that if they come to power, they will impose inheritance tax. This tax is akin to Aurangzeb’s Jizya tax. Moreover, they declare that if they assume power, they will enforce personal laws, indicating their desire to implement Talibani and Sharia law in the country.”

- ANI

The Election Commission said Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest voter turnout in the Lok Sabha poll in the last 35 years, with the Kashmir Valley witnessing a “massive” 30 points jump in poll participation compared to 2019.

“This active participation is a huge positive for the Assembly elections to be held soon so that the democratic process continues to thrive in the Union Territory,” said Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar while responding to the turnout.

The poll panel also said the combined voter turnout at the polling stations for the entire Union Territory with five Lok Sabha seats was 58.46%. 

The three seats in the Valley - Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag-Rajouri - recorded turnout of 38.49%, 59.1% and 54.84% respectively, which has been the highest in last three decades. “The other two seats in the UT - Udhampur and Jammu - recorded 68.27% and 72.22% voter turnout respectively,” it said. - PTI

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of threatening to topple the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab after the Lok Sabha polls to claim that the country is under dictatorship.

Union Minister Shah at a poll rally in Ludhiana asked people to ensure victory of the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidates in Punjab and said that “the Bhagwant Mann government will not last long after the BJP’s victory”.

On May 27, Mr. Kejriwal, while addressing a gathering of traders in Amritsar, said, “Have you heard Amit Shah’s statement? He gave a threat. Initially, he abused Punjabis a lot. He issued a threat that after June 4, the Punjab government will be toppled. Bhagwant Mann will no longer remain the Chief Minister after June 4.” “We have 92 seats (MLAs). How can you topple (government)? There is a dictatorship (in the country),” Mr. Kejriwal said and alleged that the BJP leaders were openly saying that they would threaten the legislators with the CBI and the ED and then “buy” them.

“I want to tell him (Mr. Shah)... do threaten the people of Punjab. Otherwise, they will make it difficult for you to enter Punjab,” the Delhi Chief Minister added.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann slammed Mr. Shah over his remarks and said, “Do you have the courage to topple the government? We have 92 seats. They are threatening us. Are you coming (here) to seek votes or threaten to topple the government?” In Amritsar, Mr. Kejriwal lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of keeping mum on the issues of unemployment and inflation. - PTI

Home Minister Amit Shah believes that the influence of black money will increase during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections following the Supreme Court’s decision to scrap the electoral bond scheme and said it is for Parliament to decide on an alternative. “If the impact of black money rises, then an alternative should be found,” he said.

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Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath slammed the parties of the INDIA Alliance over giving reservations based on religion and said that the competition among the Opposition parties to give reservations to Muslims is dangerous.

Describing Congress’s history as tainted in this matter and calling the Samajwadi Party a party that has crossed the limits of appeasement, CM Yogi said, “Reservation based on religion is against the basic spirit of the Indian Constitution and is completely unconstitutional. This should not be accepted at all.”

The Chief Minister said that if an attempt is made to impose Muslim reservations based on religion, it will be a challenge to the integrity of the country.

Before leaving for the Ghosi Parliamentary constituency for the Lok Sabha election campaign on Monday, CM Yogi said, “The competition among the Opposition parties to give reservations to Muslims is dangerous.” - PTI

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday, declared that the BJP has been eliminated in Bihar and that the INDIA alliance is securing a significant victory in the elections. He asserted that the INDIA alliance government will be established this time, backed by strong public support. 

“BJP has been wiped out in Bihar and we are winning the elections in Bihar with a good margin. This time the INDIA alliance government is going to be formed. We have full public support”. 

Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi along with RJD Leader Tejashwi Yadav participated in a public rally in Bihar’s Bakhtiyarpur on Monday. 

Speaking at the rally Tejashwi Yadav alleged that investigative agencies like the CBI and the ED were toys in the hands of the PM.

ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made all-out efforts to topple Himachal Pradesh’s democratically-elected Congress government by using money power, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra alleged on Monday.

The Congres general secretary, who was campaigning in Chamba for the party’s Kangra Lok Sabha seat candidate Anand Sharma, also said the Congress was in power for 55 years but could not become the richest party.

The BJP, on the other hand, has become the richest party in the world in just 10 years, she claimed.

PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday claimed that the INDIA bloc, if voted to power, would scrap the Agnipath scheme of recruitment in defence services and deposit ₹8,500 to every woman’s account in each month.

Addressing an election rally at Bakhtiyarpur in Bihar, he asserted that Narendra Modi will not be able to become the prime minister again, since there is a clear wave in favour of the INDIA bloc across the country.

“When the INDIA bloc will form the government, the Agnipath scheme will be withdrawn,” Mr. Gandhi said.

PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will lose his job after the Lok Sabha poll results are announced on June 4 but Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi will not be blamed for the defeat, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday.

Mr. Shah said Rahul Gandhi’s people will also do a press conference post polls, saying they lost due to EVMs.

“I have the details of the first five phases. In five phases of the Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi has crossed 310 seats. Rahul will not cross 40 and Akhilesh Yadav will not get even 4 seats on June 4,” he said at an election rally.

PTI

“Reservation based on religion will not be allowed to be implemented till Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP are in power,” party president J. P. Nadda said on May 27.

Accusing the Opposition of planning to give reservation based on religion, he said, “It is clearly written in the Constitution that there will be no religion-based reservation. As long as PM Modi and the BJP are in power, there will be no such reservation,” the BJP president said.

“We will not allow anyone to encroach on the reservation of our Dalit, tribal, backward and extremely backward classes. You will see what will happen to the Opposition on June 4 (the counting day),” Mr. Nadda said. - PTI

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi made all-out efforts to topple Himachal’s Congress government by using money power,” Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba. 

She said, “All BJP leaders starting from PM Modi have just one purpose - to grab power at any cost.” The Congress leader said that Modi government’s policies aimed at millionaires. “PM can waive their loans but has no money for old pension scheme,” she said.

Ms. Gandhi said the BJP-led Centre discriminated against Himachal during monsoon disaster as people voted for Congress in State. “Congress was in power for 55 years but could not become richest party, the BJP became richest in world in 10 years,” Ms. Gandhi said. - PTI

Top leaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc are likely to meet on June 1 to assess their performance in the Lok Sabha elections and chalk out their strategy ahead of the results.

Sources said the proposed meeting will be convened in Delhi on the afternoon of June 1 when the last phase of polling will be under way. “The Opposition leaders will discuss their strategy ahead of the June 4 results and assess their performance in the seven-phase elections,” the sources said. “Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has convened the meeting,” the sources said.

Twenty-eight Opposition parties came together to form the INDIA bloc. However, some parties such as Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal later switched over to the NDA. - PTI

Addressing the Nyay Sankalp Sabha in Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi said, “all BJP leaders starting from PM Modi have just one purpose - to grab power at any cost.”

The BJP government has failed to address unemployment and inflation in the country, said Congress leader Priyanka Gandhhi while addressing a poll rally in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba on May 27.

“PM Modi made all-out efforts to topple Himachal’s Congress govt. by using money power,” said Ms. Gandhi.

Sending a tough message, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that no family member of any terrorist nor close relatives of stone pelters will get government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr. Shah also said that the Narendra Modi government has not only targeted terrorists but also eliminated the terror ecosystem, resulting in a drastic fall in terror incidents in the country.

Similarly, Mr. Shah said, if someone indulges in stone pelting, his family members will also not get a government job. - PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said a Uniform Civil Code for the entire country will be implemented within the next five years after extensive consultations with all stakeholders if the BJP returns to power.

In a wide-ranging interview with PTI, Mr. Shah said the Modi government in its next term will also implement ‘One Nation, One Election’ as the time has come for the elections to be held simultaneously in the country.

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The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea filed by the BJP challenging a Calcutta High Court order that had refused to interfere with a single-judge verdict restraining the party from issuing advertisements that are allegedly violative of the model code during the Lok Sabha polls.

A vacation Bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and K.V. Viswanathan refused to interfere with the high court order.

“Prima facie, the advertisement is disparaging,” the Bench said.

PTI

Facing a barrage of criticism, dubbed “bike hue (sold out) mafia” by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the six disqualified Congress MLAs contesting the Assembly bypolls on a BJP ticket have resolved to fight fire with fire.

Not apologetic and in a mood to retaliate, they say it is the public who voted for them that comes first and not the party they belong to.

- PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered “special congratulations” to voters of the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday for a record turnout, saying it is a “vibrant testament to their democratic spirit”.

The constituency, which went to the polls on May 25 in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, has recorded a turnout of 54.84%.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on May 26 launched a scathing attack on the BJP, asserting that its aspiration to overthrow the democratically elected TMC government after the Lok Sabha polls will remain unfulfilled.

Addressing an election rally in Sonarpur in Jadavpur constituency, Ms. Banerjee said that the BJP’s speculation that the days of the TMC government were numbered after the Lok Sabha polls was akin to issuing a veiled threat but such ambitions will not materialise.