Lok Sabha election updates | As it happened on April 14

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a massive road show in this coastal city of Karnataka, waving at an enthusiastic large crowd along the route.

Standing on a specially designed vehicle, Mr. Modi greeted the people gathered on the sides of the roads and on nearby buildings, many of whom were seen chanting ‘Modi, Modi’, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogans, amid loud cheers and sounds of drum beat, in what appeared to be a festive atmosphere in several places.

People showered flower petals as his cavalcade passed through the stretch from Narayana Guru circle to Nava Bharat circle in the city in Dakshina Kannada district, which is a BJP stronghold.

The Prime Minister, who was wearing a saffron cap and holding a lotus symbol, was accompanied by Dakshina Kannada BJP Lok Sabha candidate Captain Brijesh Chowta and party nominee for neighbouring Udupi-Chikmagalur seat Kota Srinivas Poojary. - PTI

Actor-politician and the BJP’s Mandi Lok Sabha seat candidate Kangana Ranaut accused the Congress of insulting women and claimed that no leader of her party ever indulged in such an act.

She also claimed the Congress did not give due respect to the architect of the Indian constitution B.R. Ambedkar and patriots such as Subhash Chandra Bose, V.D. Savarkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. - PTI

The fight for Baramati Lok Sabha seat is not about relationships but about ideologies, Nationalist Congress Party candidate and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar said.

She is pitted against three time sitting MP Supriya Sule, who is NCP founder Sharad Pawar’s daughter and Ajit Pawar’s cousin.

“This election is not about relationships but about ideologies,” she told reporters after paying tribute to Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 133rd birth anniversary.

She said she was getting good response from the people of Baramati, a bastion of the Pawars that has been represented several times as MP by Sharad Pawar and as MLA by Ajit Pawar. - PTI

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati said her party will take concrete steps to make western Uttar Pradesh a separate state if voted to power at the Centre.

Addressing a rally in Muzaffarnagar in support of the BSP’s candidate from the Muzaffarnagar Lok Sabha seat Dara Singh Prajapati, Ms. Mayawati also said the BJP has a very slim chance of coming to power again.

“You want western Uttar Pradesh to become a separate state. For this, concrete steps will be taken if our government comes to power at the Centre,” Ms. Mayawati told the gathering.

The BSP chief said if free and fair elections are held and voting machines are not tampered with, the BJP will not return to power this time. - PTI

Accusing Odisha BJP leaders of exerting pressure on ASHA, anganwadi, and Mission Shakti women workers to vote for the party in the upcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections, the BJD requested the Election Commission to provide protection to them.

In a memorandum to the state’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), a BJD delegation, including Rajya Sabha members Sasmit Patra and Sulata Deo, alleged that Odisha BJP leaders and candidates are engaging in defamation, intimidation, harassment, and character assassination of the grassroots workers.

They claimed that false accusations are being made against the workers to illegally influence their support in the elections and create a climate of fear.

“The workers are being threatened with job loss and other consequences by the BJP if they do not comply with their demands. This is a blatant violation of their rights and an attempt to manipulate the electoral process through fear and intimidation,” the party stated in its petition to the EC. - PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah took potshots at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for vowing to remove poverty, saying former prime minister Indira Gandhi had made the same promise but nothing changed on the ground. 

Addressing a poll rally at Sakoli town in Bhandara district of Maharashtra, Mr. Shah said as long as the BJP is in politics, it would neither remove the reservation in employment and education nor let anyone do so. 

Mr. Shah also accused Rahul of spreading rumours about a potential threat to the Constitution if BJP wins a massive mandate. - PTI

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has ruled out contesting the Assembly elections till Jammu and Kashmir remains a Union Territory.

“I don’t fancy my chances for anything. I don’t aspire to the office of the Chief Minister. And I most certainly do not aspire to lead a Union Territory.

“I have made it abundantly clear that in the current situation that J-K finds itself in, I am not contesting assembly elections. I have said this all the way back from 2020 onwards and my position has not changed,” Mr. Abdullah said.

“Why should I shy away from a fight? Yes, the political wisdom would suggest that I fight from Srinagar because God forbid a setback for me would be a setback for the entire party. But this is not the first time that someone from the family has fought from a seat other than Srinagar,” he said.

“I still remember as a child campaigning with my grandmother from Anantnag in 1984 after the murder of democracy when MLAs were bought, defections were engineered and my father’s government was brought down. My grandmother fought and won from Anantnag,” he added. — PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the BJP will never allow reservations to end and nor will it let the Congress do so.

Speaking at a rally in Khairagarh in Chhattisgarh, Mr. Shah also asked people to give Narendra Modi a third term as Prime Minister so that the menace of Naxalism can be eliminated in the State in the next three years.

PM Modi had finished Maoist violence in his 10-year rule but the tail continues in Chhattisgarh, Mr. Shah said in Khairagarh, which is part of Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat, where the BJP’s Santosh Pandey is up against former Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

“Today is the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar. The entire nation is remembering him for his work towards upliftment of Dalits, Adivasis, backwards and the poor. On this day, people work to the take the spirit of the Constitution drafted by him to the grassroots but even on such a day the Congress is busy spreading lies,” Mr. Shah said.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge is claiming the Constitution will be changed if PM Modi becomes Prime Minister again and the party’s functionaries allege BJP will end reservations after coming to power, Mr. Shah said. — PTI

Mysore is cultural capital of Karnataka and Dasara is world renowned, the PM said. “BJP’s manifesto is Modi’s guarantee,” PM Modi says. “Kannada will get new identity. Mysore, Hampi and Badami heritage sites will be included in world tourism map. NDA is inevitable for the country.”

Mr. Modi remembers Suttur Mutt, Kuvempu, Mysore Kings and Field Marshal Cariappa in his speech and says that they are our inspiration.

‘Congress has a dangerous agenda’

Mr. Modi says Congress is a tukde tukde gang and believes in dividing the country. “Do we need permission to chant Bharat Matha Ki Jai,” he asks while attacking Congress for its agenda. He flays the party for supporting people who speak against the country. “Congress disrespected country’s culture by boycotting Ram Mandir inauguration,” he adds.

Mr. Modi asks the people, “Will you forgive Congress for being anti-Hindu? India has achieved new heights and respected by the world. But the Congress leader (Rahul Gandhi) speaks bad about India during his foreign tours.” - reports Shankar Bennur

“BJP’s sankalpa patra reflects new India. Poor will get free ration for five years and all 70-plus citizens to get free healthcare. India is on the moon and the country is manufacturing affordable medicines and automobiles. India will be a research hub,” PM Narendra Modi says, as he addresses an election rally in Mysuru. 

Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda also present at the stage at the Maharaja’s College Grounds, Mysuru. Mr. Modi said, “BJP has the guidance of tall leaders like H.D. Deve Gowda. Yeddyurappa and Kumaraswamy’s experience will help the NDA.” - reports Shankar Bennur

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been receiving invitations for functions scheduled abroad next year, which shows that the “entire world believes his return to power is inevitable”.

Addressing an election rally in Bihar’s Jamui district, the former BJP president said, “Election season is known to be volatile everywhere. People view these times with a degree of consternation, but not so in the case of India. The entire world believes PM Modi will be back for a third consecutive term in office.” He is already being invited abroad for functions that are to be held next year, Mr. Singh claimed.

The Defence Minister asserted that under PM Modi, India has transformed into a power “capable of repulsing cross-border terrorism as was seen during the surgical strikes”.

“Another example of India’s rise in global stature was the release of retired navy officials, who were awarded death sentence by a court in Qatar, following a telephone call from Modi to the head of the West Asian state,” said Mr. Singh.

Speaking hours after the release of BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ in Delhi in the presence of the PM, Mr. Singh, who headed the manifesto committee, said, “Unlike other parties, we fulfil the promises we make, be it Ram temple at Ayodhya or abrogation of Article 370.” — PTI

A bureaucrat who resigned from service and joined the Congress ahead of the 2023 Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh has quit the Opposition party alleging betrayal.

Nisha Bangre is a former sub divisional magistrate of Betul district and had resigned to join the Congress in order to fight from Amla assembly seat in the 2023 polls.

However, she was not given a ticket at the time but was promised she would be fielded in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ms. Bangre claimed. In her resignation letter to MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari, Ms. Bangre, who is a Dalit, said the party had even denied legendary social reformer Babasaheb Ambedkar a ticket.

Talking to PTI in Chhindwara, Ms. Bangre accused the then State Congress chief Kamal Nath of betrayal and alleged he had insulted Dalit women by not giving them tickets. Mr. Nath didn’t field any women from any Assembly seat in his bastion Chhindwara, Ms. Bangre claimed, adding that people will ensure the Congress’ sitting MP Nakul Nath is defeated in the upcoming polls.

“I will campaign against Nath for the next four days. I joined the Congress in Chhindwara and have come here to resign. I will continue to disseminate the ideology of Dr. Ambedkar,” she said. — PTI

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh questioned the Prime Minister about his party’s track record in “providing justice” to tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh.

“Today’s questions for PM Modi as he heads to MP: Why has the Mahakal Lok corruption probe disappeared? MP has the highest crime rate against Dalits. Why is it increasing? Why is the MP State Government so firm on denying Adivasi communities justice,” Mr. Ramesh asked in a post on X.

The Congress leader said Mr. Modi inaugurated the ₹850-crore Mahakal Lok Corridor on October 11, 2022. Despite the hefty price tag, all it took was one storm in May 2023 to destroy six of the seven “mega statues” of the saptarishis within minutes, he alleged.

“The Lokayukta (anti-corruption ombudsman) of the MP government had taken suo moto cognisance of the matter and ordered an inquiry. Almost 10 months have now passed since the mishap. Whatever happened to the Lokayukta probe? Why has nobody been held responsible? Is PM Modi once again suppressing allegations of corruption against the BJP,” he asked. — PTI

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar said there was no difference between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin while accusing the former of slowly destroying democracy in the country.

“Modi doesn’t wish for anyone from the Opposition to get elected. Such a stance by the prime minister shows that there is no difference between him and Russia’s Vladimir Putin,” he said. - PTI

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that he is completely cut off from people and their issues.

“Your biggest problem is inflation. I believe that Modiji is not able to understand that. When there is too much power, people do not tell the truth. Officers and colleagues are scared of telling him about the reality and then the individual gets cut off from people,” Ms. Gandhi told a public meeting in Rajasthan’s Jalore.

“I really feel that Modi is now completely cut off from the people of the country,” Ms. Gandhi said. “We also feel proud when events like the G20 Summit are held in India. But another reality is that poor people are suffering from the rising inflation and youngsters due to unemployment,” the Congress general secretary said.

She claimed that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not fighting against corruption. “Its claims are hollow. It only wants to gag the opposition,” Ms. Gandhi said. — PTI

In a setback to the Shiromani Akali Dal, former party MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu joined the AAP in Chandigarh.

Mr. Tinu is likely to be the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, said party sources. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann welcomed Mr. Tinu into the party fold.

Mr. Tinu, a Dalit leader, was elected MLA from the Adampur assembly constituency in Jalandhar district in 2012 and 2017. He lost the 2022 Assembly polls to Congress nominee Sukhwinder Kotli. He had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. — PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah listed the BJP’s unfulfilled promises of two crore jobs a year and doubling farmers’ income, among others, and mocked the saffron party over its manifesto, saying its government has never fulfilled a promise, nor will it in the future.

Mr. Siddaramaiah said there has to be a review of what the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government has done in the past 10 years.

“Have they [BJP] fulfilled what they had promised earlier? It has to be discussed. Did they give ₹15 lakh [to every bank account holder]? Did they generate 2 crore jobs (per year)? Did they double farmers’ income? Did they do Make in India? Did ‘achhe din’ [good days] come? Did prices of all food products and essential commodities come down?” Mr. Siddaramaiah asked in response to a question about the BJP manifesto, while speaking to reporters in Madikeri. — PTI

AAP leader Sanjay Singh met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in New Delhi and urged him to come up with a common minimum programme for the INDIA bloc in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Rajya Sabha MP of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said as the leader of Opposition in the Upper House of Parliament, Mr. Kharge “has been supportive of us and so I wanted to meet him after getting released from jail”.

“During the meeting, several issues were discussed. We discussed the issue of the [BJP-led] government misusing Central agencies and the manner in which Opposition leaders are being targeted.

“I also informed him about how Kejriwal is being treated in jail and how his rights are being taken away. I put a proposal before him that the INDIA bloc should have a common minimum programme to be taken to the public for the upcoming polls,” Mr. Singh told reporters after the meeting. — PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14 said the Congressalways insulted Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, but his government has honoured him.

Addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Hoshangabad, PM Modi also said the Congress never recognised the contribution of adivasis (tribals), but the BJP Government has honoured them. — PTI

Congress always insulted Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, we have honoured him: PM Modi

PM Modi in Hoshangabad rally praises Ambedkar, criticizes Congress, and promises to honor tribals and protect India.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will campaign in ethnic strife-torn Manipur on April 15, besides visiting Tripura and Rajasthan to garner support for BJP candidates in the Lok Sabha polls, sources said.

Mr. Shah will address a rally in Imphal seeking votes for Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh, the Education Minister of the northeastern State who is also the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate from the Inner Manipur constituency in the upcoming election.

The seat is currently held by BJP leader and Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh.

The Inner Manipur Lok Sabha segment has 32 Assembly constituencies across the conflict-scarred Imphal valley. — PTI

On the 134th anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the BJP released its manifesto ‘Sankalp Patra’ and Party’s national general secretary Tarun Chugh hailed it as complete that keeps in mind all the sections of Indian society.

“The Sankalp Patra put forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is complete, keeping in mind all four directions of India and sections of society, especially poor, youth, women,” Mr. Chugh said. 

“The elderly people of the country have been taken care of, all of them have been brought under medical cover...The fight against poverty will continue even in the time to come...

“Our past promises have been committed in this Sankalp Patra. In the past 10 years, PM Modi alleviated 25 crore Indians from poverty and therefore, our fight against poverty will continue. The government under the leadership of PM Modi will work continuously to develop the infrastructure of the country,” he noted. — ANI

He was just 19 when Naxalites killed his father, a former Salwa Judum leader. Defying the odds, he studied MBBS in Kyrgyzstan. Now, this man from a sleepy village in Chhattisgarh’s insurgency-hit Bijapur district has entered the fray for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Meet Prakash Kumar Gota, an independent candidate from Scheduled-Tribe reserved Bastar Lok Sabha seat.

Though the polls in Bastar are primarily a contest between the BJP and Congress, Mr. Gota claims he holds sway over tribal youths in the region.

Mr. Gota said tribals constitute 32% of the State’s population, yet somehow, they have not been able to reap the benefits of development works and schemes.

“The two leading parties have always disappointed the people of Bastar, which is why I decided to enter the poll battle to bring real change in the region,” he said. — PTI

The Congress trashed the BJP Lok Sabha poll manifesto as a “jumla patra’ full of rhetoric, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge saying that PM Modi’s guarantee is a “warranty of jumlas” as he has failed to fulfil the promises made in the past.

The Congress also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not fulfilling promises made on the issue of jobs, doubling of farmers’ incomes and tackling price rise and inflation, and alleged that he was now shifting the goalposts by talking about 2047 instead.

No accountability for old guarantees, just empty jugglery of words: Congress on BJP manifesto

Congress on BJP manifesto: Congress criticises BJP's Lok Sabha poll manifesto as full of empty promises, accusing PM Modi of unfulfilled guarantees.

Noting that the Opposition in India has lost much of its power due to disunity, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen said the Congress has many organisational problems that need remedying.

In an interview with PTI, Mr. Sen said that a caste census might be an exercise to consider, but India needs greater empowerment for the underprivileged through better education, healthcare, and gender equity.

The noted economist said he is “enormously proud” to be a citizen of a democratic country like India, but there is a need to “work harder to enhance the nation’s democratic nature”.

Mr. Sen said the opposition bloc INDIA failed to gain much traction, with its important allies such as JD(U) and RLD walking out. — PTI

Activist Manoj Jarange said that while he has decided to stay away from the Lok Sabha poll fray, the Maratha community members might contest the Maharashtra Assembly elections if they are not provided reservation till June 6.

The Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra will be held in five phases from April 19 to May 20 and State Assembly polls are due later this year. Vote counting for the Lok Sabha polls will be held on June 4.

PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the BJP’s Lok Sabha poll manifesto in New Delhi on April 14 in the presence of party president J.P. Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders.

BJP’s Lok Sabha poll manifesto highlights: UCC implementation, maintaining peace in Northeast

PM Modi unveils BJP manifesto for 2024 polls, focusing on healthcare, agriculture, women empowerment, and economic growth.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its election manifesto, alleging the ruling party of doing nothing huge in years of its governance, which may benefit the youths and farmers of the country. 

Speaking to the reporters, Mr. Kharge said that the manifesto of the BJP cannot be ‘trusted’. 

“He (PM Narendra Modi) had said that he will double farmers’ income. He had said that he would increase MSP and give a legal guarantee - this is the guarantee. He didn’t do any such big work in his tenure that would benefit all the people of the country. The youth is looking for jobs. Inflation is rising. He is not worried about inflation, unemployment,” Mr. Kharge said.

ANI

Widely blamed for cutting into JD(U)‘s votes during the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan said both his and Nitish Kumar’s parties have the maturity to realise not to let the Opposition capitalise on any infighting in the NDA to ensure a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

At present, all NDA partners in Bihar are united and their only mission is to ensure all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the State for the alliance, he asserted.

The son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, who seeks to claim his father’s legacy, however, made it clear that bridges have been burnt with uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, whom he accused of betrayal for “personal ambitions”, and cousin Prince Raj, whose “impertinent behaviour” has left him shocked.

PTI

Development economist Jean Dreze said the Indian democracy is currently navigating a crisis that is not only limited to the “recent wave of authoritarianism” but also suppression of opposition voices by the ruling BJP.

He said the upcoming Lok Sabha elections under the present circumstances are as good as rigged. In an exclusive interview with PTI, Mr. Dreze said five years ago, Arundhati Roy had described the 2019 elections as a race between a Ferrari and a few bicycles.

Saket Misra, the BJP’s Lok Sabha poll candidate from Shravasti in Uttar Pradesh, says his goal is to ensure industrial development in the region.

In an interview with PTI, the former police officer and banker said he is in touch with private as well as public sector companies for setting up new industries in the area.

“Industrial development is essential to provide employment opportunities to youngsters in this Buddhist pilgrimage centre. I am in touch with private as well as public sector companies for investments and setting up new industries. I am hopeful that my two decades of relationships in the finance and banking sector will be fully utilised to achieve this promise,” Mr. Misra said.

Senior AAP leader Atishi addressing a press conference said the BJP’s Sankalp Patra is full of empty promises. 

“After 10 years in power the BJP is making empty promises but has stayed silent on whether it has delivered on promises made in 2014. A government that has been in power for 10 years needs to ask for votes based on what it has achieved not continue to make false promises.” 

The BJP has stayed silent on issues like jobs for youth, rising inflation, MSP for farmers and has in fact shut down government schools across the country instead of opening more, Ms. Atishi said.

Morning walkers in Odisha’s silk city were surprised to see the leaders of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) exchanging sweet words when they met during a campaign at the MKCG Medical College Ground.

The leaders of different political parties have now adopted a strategy to start election campaigning early in the morning from parks and playgrounds where people gather for their morning walks and daily exercise.

The people in the medical college ground were amused to see BJD’s Berhampur Assembly constituency candidate and party’s Ganjam district president Ramesh Chandra Chyaupatnaik and BJP’s Berhampur Lok Sabha seat candidate Pradeep Panigrahy campaigning at the medical college ground.

PTI

Bestowed with lush tea gardens, rich natural resources like oil, gas and coal and a diverse electorate, the Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency in Assam will witness a close contest between three candidates – Sarbananda Sonowal, Lurinjyoti Gogoi and Manoj Dhanowar.

The BJP may claim its candidate, Mr. Sonowal, will win by a huge margin but the Opposition-supported Lurinjyoti Gogoi is putting up a tough fight and the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Manoj Dhanowar is also not lagging behind.

Dibrugarh is considered one of the most economically important constituency in the State with the highest number of tea gardens, oil and gas public sector undertakings, fertilizers, petrochemicals, gas cracker plant and coal fields.

PTI

“Tamil language is our pride, BJP will make every effort to enhance its global reputation. BJP believes in mantra of development and legacy as well. We will build Thiruvalluvar cultural centres all over the world,” PM Modi said.

With politicians and political party representatives crisscrossing the country for the Lok Sabha polls, the demand for chartered planes and helicopters has jumped up to 40%, and the operators are expected to net 15-20% more earnings, according to industry experts.

The hourly rates for chartered services have also spiked. The charge is about ₹4.5 -5.25 lakh for an aircraft and around ₹1.5- 1.7 lakh for a twin engine helicopter, they said.

“BJP will also expand Vande Bharat trains to every corner of the country. Three models of Vande Bharat will run in the country - Sleeper, Chair Car and Vande Bharat Metro. Similarly, in the direction of modern and developed India, today the work of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train is progressing rapidly and is almost nearing completion,” PM Modi said.

“Now BJP has resolved that in the coming times, we will speed up the journey towards modernity by starting one bullet train project each in North India, South India and East India. The survey work for this will also begin soon,” he said.

We are constructing the first Bullet Train corridor in the country. Using the experience gained so far, we will initiate feasibility studies for Bullet Train Corridors in North, South and East India, the manifesto states.

We have set up a High Powered Committee to examine the issues of conducting simultaneous elections and will work towards the implementation of the recommendations of the Committee, the BJP manifesto states.

Read the pros and cons of simultaneous elections here

“The Bharatiya Janata Party will continue to strengthen the social, physical and digital Infrastructure in the country. In Bharat, the unprecedented speed and scale of our work will increase the scope for development like never before,” PM Modi said.

“For social infrastructure, we are opening new educational institutes, building universities and opening medical colleges. For physical infrastructure, we are modernising highways, railways, airways and waterways across the country. For digital infrastructure, we are expanding 5G and working on 6G,” he added.

“Today, India is showing direction to the world in women-led development. The last ten years have been dedicated to women’s dignity and new opportunities for women. The next five years will be of new participation of Nari Shakti,” PM Modi said.

In this Sankalp Patra, a lot of emphasis has been laid on both quantity of opportunities and quality of opportunities. On one hand, we have talked about creating a large number of jobs through building infrastructure. On the other hand, we are focusing on high value services by promoting startups and global centres, the Prime Minister said.

“Now BJP has resolved that every elderly person above the age of 70 years will be brought under the ambit of Ayushman Yojana. Every senior citizen above the age of 70 years, whether poor, middle class or upper middle class, will get free treatment up to ₹5 lakh,” PM Modi said.

The BJP has been working tirelessly to ensure social development and social inclusion in a true sense. We have decided to bring senior citizens and the transgender community under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat Yojana, he said.

“The BJP government has built 4 crore houses for the poor. Now, taking into consideration the additional information that we are getting from the state governments, we will move ahead with the resolve to build 3 crore more houses, taking care of those families as well. So far we have delivered cheap cylinders to every home, now we will work faster to deliver cheap cooking gas through pipes to every home,” PM Modi said.

“BJP has again established the purity of the manifesto. This resolution letter empowers the four strong pillars of developed India – youth power, women power, poor and farmers. Our focus is on dignity of life, quality of lives and jobs through investment,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after the unveiling of the manifesto.

Though the CPI(M) has been out of power in Tripura for six years, the Left party is still a major political force in the State and cannot be ignored by the ruling BJP, Chief Minister Manik Saha said.

The CPI(M) has supporters and well-wishers since it ruled the State first for a decade from 1978 to 1988, and then for 25 years – between 1993 and 2018, he told PTI in an interview.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Mysuru and Mangaluru for the Lok Sabha poll campaign on April 14.

He is expected to address a mega rally in Mysuru, where he will share the dais with JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda, and later hold a roadshow in the coastal city of Mangaluru.

Last month, Mr. Modi had held mega rallies in Kalaburagi and Shivamogga.

PTI

BJP president J.P. Nadda said the government’s achievements over the last 10 years, such as the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the women’s reservation law, were made possible due to the clear mandate given to the party by people.

“The achievements of the last 10 years are a result of a clear mandate,” Nadda said at a function to release the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will campaign for party candidates and address rallies of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala in the weeks to come.

Mr. Gandhi, who is seeking his electoral luck for the second consecutive term from Wayanad constituency, will arrive in the southern State on April 15.

PTI

Union Minister Rajnath Singh said that the BJP has earned credibility among people by fulfilling its commitments, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guarantees are seen as pure as 24 carat gold.

Speaking at the release of the party’s ‘Sankalp Patra’, Mr. Singh said the BJP’s manifesto is seen as gold standard in the world politics.

He cited a host of development measures taken by the central government besides the enactment of women’s reservation law, repeal of Article 370 and the construction of Ram temple to assert that the ruling party has fulfilled its promises.

PTI

Today, as we launch the Sankalp Patra, we must remember that BJP is an ideology-based party and it’s our responsibility to take that ideology forward in every election, BJP president J.P. Nadda said.

​

The Congress has fielded former Opposition leader Paresh Dhanani, a Patidar, against Union Minister Parshottam Rupala, who is facing the ire of Kshatriya community, from Rajkot Lok Sabha seat as the party has released names of its four remaining candidates in Gujarat.

The candidates comprise a former president of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), a senior spokesperson and two former legislators, including Dhanani.

PTI

The Lok Sabha constituency of Aurangabad, which has undergone a name change, will see a repeat of the fight witnessed in 2019 when the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) caused a big upset in Maharashtra by dislodging the undivided Shiv Sena from its citadel.

Aurangabad had been won by the undivided Shiv Sena six times since 1989, but five years ago the Bal Thackeray-founded party suffered a setback when its veteran leader Chandrakant Khaire faced an unexpected defeat at the hands of AIMIM candidate Imtiaz Jaleel by a narrow margin of less than 4,500 votes.

The central Maharashtra constituency, which goes to polls in the fourth phase on May 13, will see Khaire, now the candidate of the Shiv Sena (UBT) post-split in the party, and Jaleel, re-nominated by the AIMIM, locking horns again for electoral supremacy.

PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to address public rallies in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka today to drum up support for BJP in ensuing Lok Sabha polls.

PM Modi will address a rally at Pipariya town in Madhya Pradesh’s Narmadapuram district as well as Karnataka’s Mysuru today. Narmadapuram, formerly known as Hoshangabad, is part of the Hoshangabad Lok Sabha constituency.

PTI

Union Minister and BJP candidate in Dibrugarh, Sarbananda Sonowal, is confident about the BJP and its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) bagging most of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the Northeast to achieve the 400+ target. He also said Muslims have seen through the accusation of polarisation to join others to give a third consecutive term to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He faces the Assam Jatiya Parishad’s Lurinjyoti Gogoi, the only non-Congress candidate of the Opposition alliance in the State.

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in the public meeting organised at Ramlila Maidan, Garud (Bageshwar). 

Chief Minister Dhami said that BJP’s Almora candidate Ajay Tamta has continuously served the area, and has taken forward the work of the area. He said that Ajay Tamta has always advocated for the region in the Government of India.

He said that every vote the public will give to Ajay Tamta will contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi becoming the PM for the third time.

ANI

BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from the Mandi constituency, Kangana Ranaut, alleged that the Congress misused the Central funds allocated to the State during the flash floods last year.

“Home Minister Amit Shah allocated ₹1,800 crore during the flash floods. Where is the money? The Congress leaders looted the money. During the floods, BJP President J.P. Nadda and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari visited the State although the BJP is not in power in the State. The money from the Central schemes is not reaching the people of Himachal Pradesh,” Ms. Kangana said.

She further claimed that the pace at which the rest of India is progressing, Himachal Pradesh is not moving forward at the same pace.

ANI

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of playing with the democratic values and the Constitution of India, adding that the 2024 Lok Sabha election is being held under “special circumstances” to save the values of the Indian republic.

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Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi returning to office for a third term after the Lok Sabha elections, adding that the BJP will post handsome wins in all 10 constituencies in Haryana.

Speaking to ANI on, CM Saini said, “In 2014, the BJP won 282 seats across the country and upped its tally in the Lok Sabha to 303 in the 2019 general elections. This time, the BJP will go comfortably over 370 seats, while the NDA will cross 400 seats. PM Modi will return to office for a third term on the back of a resounding mandate. In Haryana, too, we will win all 10 Lok Sabha seats.”

The JMM-led ruling coalition in Jharkhand will win all the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the State, Chief Minister Champai Soren claimed.

Speaking to reporters, he claimed the BJP will not be able to win a single seat in the State. “JMM and our partners are prepared for the polls,” he said.

Mr. Soren was visiting his constituency of Seraikela. During the visit, he addressed booth-level JMM workers of Gamariah and Adityapur.

PTI

Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy sustained a minor injury above his left eyebrow when a miscreant pelted a stone at him during his Memantha Siddham bus yatraat Singh Nagar here on Saturday evening.

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Noting that unemployment and rising prices were the real issues in the Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that the polls were also for saving the constitution and democracy in the country “which were under continuous attack from the BJP and the RSS”.

He said if INDIA alliance government comes to power, they will remove poverty from India with a single stroke by providing ₹1 lakh every year to every poor family across the country.

Addressing a rally in Bastar, Rahul Gandhi said “ berozgari, menghai aur bhagidaari” were the main issues facing the country, which were not being highlighted in the media.

ANI

Former Union Minister Srikant Kumar Jena who had recently returned to Congress will contest from Balasore in Odisha.

Former Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani has been fielded from Gujarat’s Rajkot against Union Minister Purshottam Rupala.

After 22 years, Mr. Rupala and Mr. Dhanani are fighting against each other. In 2002, Mr. Dhanani had defeated Mr. Rupala from Amreli in the Assembly polls.

The Congress on April 13 announced a list of 16 more candidates for the Lok Sabha polls and fielded former Union Minister Manish Tewari from the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency.

The party also pitted Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh against BJP candidate and Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut in the State’s Mandi Lok Sabha seat. Vikramaditya Singh is the son of the Congress’ Himachal Pradesh unit chief Pratibha Singh.

Lok Sabha election | Congress clears candidates for 16 seats in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Odisha

Congress clears Lok Sabha candidates for Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh; in-fighting in Himachal Pradesh addressed with Vikramaditya Singh's candidature.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally at Pipariya town in Madhya Pradesh’s Narmadapuram district on April 14, the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar.

PM Modi will address a gathering at around 11.45 a.m. in Pipariya town, the State BJP said.