Lok Sabha election 2024 updates | As it happened on April 22

The Haryana unit of the Congress on Monday said a fake list of party candidates for nine Lok Sabha seats from the state was circulating on social media and termed it as a mischievous attempt to tarnish the party’s image.

Haryana Congress president Udai Bhan Bhan said that the start of the nomination process is still a week away and the names of candidates will be announced before that.

“A list is being circulated over social media. It is a fake list,” he said.

The Congress will seek information and get it probed who wants to tarnish the image of the party, he said.

A Veerashaiva-Lingayat seer who had decided to take on BJP candidate and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi from Dharwad in the coming Lok Sabha polls as an independent, on Monday withdrew his nomination, citing orders of his “guru”.

Fakira Dingaleshwar Swami of Shirahatti Fakkireshwar Math, who had launched a tirade against Joshi accusing him of “suppressing” Veerashaiva-Lingayat and other communities, and also misusing and causing disrepute to the Lingayat Maths to stay in power, however, said he will continue his ‘Dharma Yuddha’.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah earlier in the day had requested the seer to withdraw his nomination and support the Congress, which he claimed stands for secular principles and its candidate, stating that the Swamiji and his math were known for their secular credentials.

Monday was the last day to withdraw candidature for the second phase of Lok Sabha polls to be held in Karnataka on May 7.

-PTI

Taking exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments that if the Congress comes to power, it would redistribute the wealth of the people to Muslims, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday said that Modi is speaking out of fear of defeat.

Addressing an election rally in Nizamabad, Reddy said that whenever the Congress has been in power, it gave what is due to Dalits, Adivasis and OBCs, and not by taking away the property of someone else.

“If the Prime Minister, who took oath on the Constitution, is speaking in a manner of triggering animosities between two religions, (it means) defeat is haunting Narendra Modi. Out of fear (of defeat), Narendra Modi wants to create trouble between religions,” he said.

-PTI

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday alleged the Samajwadi Party, BSP and Congress neglected the development of Aligarh and manipulated faith, and asked people to put ‘Aligarh lock’ on their fate in the Lok Sabha polls.

Adityanath was addressing an election rally here in favour of Aligarh MP and BJP candidate Satish Gautam and party’s nominee from Hathras Anup Valmiki ‘Pradhan’. The rally was also addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“SP, BSP and Congress always neglected Aligarh, ‘astha ke khilwad kiya’ (manipulated faith) and tried to breach the security. You should put Aligarh lock on their fate in the elections,” the chief minister said.

“By doing so, the country will emerge as a major global power. The entire nation’s voice is uniting with the prime minister’s vision for a self-reliant and developed India. From all corners, the chant ‘Phir ek bar Modi Sarkar, Abki bar 400 paar’ is echoing everywhere,” he said.

-PTi

Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remark on the redistribution of wealth to minorities shows that he has realised he is losing the Lok Sabha elections immediately after the first phase of the polls.

Speaking to reporters at Nagpur airport, Singh accused the BJP of “murdering” democracy and claimed that the party plans to change the Constitution if voted to power.

During an election rally in Rajasthan on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi suggested that if the Congress came to power, it would redistribute the wealth of people to Muslims and cited former PM Manmohan Singh’s remark that the minority community had the first claim on the country’s resources.

“They (BJP) have looted all of the country’s resources and given it to one of his (Modi’s) friends. How can you (PM) say this? Hence, I feel that immediately after the first phase, Prime Minister Modi has realised that he is losing very badly this time,” Singh said.

-PTI

Alleging the Congress and AIMIM have a tacit understanding, BJP’s candidate for Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat K Madhavi Latha on Monday said she will approach the Election Commission over the FIR against her by the city police.

An FIR was registered against Madhavi Latha following a complaint that she hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community by gesturing to shoot an arrow towards a place of worship, police said on Sunday.

A purported video of the incident was widely circulated on social media last week.

She also said police should have verified the truth before booking an FIR against her.

-PTI

Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “400 paar” during the election campaign is aimed at getting NDA two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha that is required to change the Constitution.

Kharge also said that he was ready for an open debate to discuss Congress’ manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, as he hit out at Modi for his statement that it completely bears the imprint of the Muslim League.

“This election is important for saving democracy and the Constitution. If you vote on these issues, the vote will go to Congress. If you don’t vote for Congress there will be no Constitution or democracy in the country,” Kharge said.

-PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public meeting in the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency of Rajasthan on Tuesday.

Shravan Singh Bagdi, the BJP’s state general secretary, said the prime minister will address a huge public meeting in the Uniara area of Tonk district, according to the proposed schedule.

The BJP has fielded Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria from the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur constituency.

-PTI

A Congress delegation comprising Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Gurdeep Sappal and Supriya Shrinate met with the Election Commission of India at 4 p.m. on April 22 and put forward 16 complaints against the BJP and other actors for violations of The Representation of the People Act, 1951, various judgments of the Supreme Court, and the ECI’s Model Code of Conduct.

“We hope that immediate action will be taken on these very legitimate complaints,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X. One of the 16 complaints is against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly using religion to ask voters to refrain from voting for the INC while also making false, defamatory statements against the INC and its leaders.

Madhya Pradesh minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Monday took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who skipped a rally in Satna a day earlier for health reasons.

The health of the Congress leader was bound to deteriorate looking at the lack of interest among the people for his party, Vijayvargiya said sarcastically.

“It all depends on the attitude of the people. If the public does not show any inclination, obviously health worsens. In such a situation, it is very natural for him to fall sick. If there is interest in the public for a leader, then he reaches them even if he suffering from fever,” Vijayvargiya told reporters.

-PTI

A few Delhi Congress workers on Monday staged a protest here against the party selecting BJP turncoat Udit Raj as the Lok Sabha candidate for North West Delhi.

The protesters gathered outside the party office at the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg and raised slogans against the “outsiders” fielded by the Congress in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Raj won the North West Delhi seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls as a BJP candidate. He joined the Congress after the saffron party denied him a ticket from the constituency in the 2019 elections.

Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, who along with party candidates Kanahiya Kumar, J P Agarwal and Raj held a press conference inside the party office, said that everyone is allowed to raise their voice in the grand old party.

-PTI

The CPI(M)-led LDF made a mistake by fielding a candidate against Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, according to actor Prakash Raj, who is known for his pro-Left political stand on various socio-political issues.

Praising Tharoor as “the best-spoken Malayali and a statesman” to whom even international politicians would listen, Prakash Raj here on Monday said that the Left should not have fallen into “the trap” of the BJP, which wanted the two secular fronts to fight between each other so that they could split the votes and gain benefits.

The actor said what Tharoor has worked for over the past 15 years cannot be overlooked, and requested the voters of Thiruvananthapuram “not to let him down”.

-PTI

Boxer-cum-politician Vijender Singh has said he has no qualms about admitting that he has paid an emotional price for the decision to make a political switch from the Congress to the BJP, but insisted that he had his reasons to do so.

“I have just changed the platform, I haven’t changed myself. I am the same guy,” he said.

“Of course, there has been an emotional toll,” Singh told PTI in an interview at his residence.

As he opened up about his shocking political switch from to the BJP, he conceded that the move has cost him a few close friendships. But he hopes to regain them by staying true to his “core character”.

-PTI

The Janata Dal (Secular) on April 22 urged the Election Commission to restrain the Congress from disseminating and distributing guarantee cards and alleged that they were aimed at promoting electoral bribery and inducing of voters in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

In a letter to the poll body, JD(S) State President and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy noted that the Congress has published and released a manifesto for Lok Sabha elections under the heading — Nyay Patra which focuses on five Nyay — justice with 25 guarantees covering youth, women, farmers, workers and social justice.

The letter also alleged that six of those 25 guarantees have direct impact and consequences on the minds of voters and these amount to “corrupt electoral malpractice” and “inducement of voters.”

The Congress on Monday claimed the BJP was frightened by the anger of MSME owners and the business community and attempted “match-fixing” even in the Surat Lok Sabha seat which the ruling party has been winning since 1984.

“’Aap chronology samajhiye’ (Understand the chronology): Surat District Election Officer rejects the Congress’ candidate for Surat Lok Sabha Nilesh Kumbhani’s nomination for ‘discrepancies in the verification of signatures of three proposers’. On similar grounds, officials reject the nomination of Suresh Padsala, the INC’s substitute candidate from Surat. The Congress is left without a candidate,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on ‘X’.

He claimed that the “distress” of micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) owners and the business community in PM Narendra Modi’s “Anyay Kaal” and their anger have “spooked the BJP so badly that they are attempting to ‘match-fix’ Surat Lok Sabha, which they have won consistently since the 1984 Lok Sabha elections!”

-PTi

Congress party candidate for the Warangal Parliamentary constituency Kadiyam Kavya has submitted the first set of nominations on Monday. She handed over the papers to Returning Officer and District Collector Pravinya in the presence of MLAs Naini Rajender Reddy, Gandra Satyanarayana Rao, and K.R. Nagaraju. 

Earlier in the morning, accompanied by her father and Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari, and Congress leaders, she visited the Bhadrakali temple and offered special prayers.

Geeta Kora on Monday filed her nomination papers as the BJP candidate for the Singhbhum (ST) Lok Sabha constituency in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district.

Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi, senior party leaders and hundreds of party workers accompanied Ms. Kora as she submitted her nomination papers before the returning officer.

Exuding confidence about her victory, Ms. Kora told reporters that the enthusiasm of party workers “showed that BJP would achieve 400 seat target.” 

“Lots of work has been done for women by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has a mission for development of women, tribals and others. I will take forward his mission of development in my constituency,” Ms. Kora said.

- PTI

Surat BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal receives his certificate from the District Election Officer (DEO) or Returning Officer Saurabh Pardh. There would now be no voting in Surat parliamentary seat on May 7.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also in a post on X congratulates Surat BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal after all candidates drop out of the race. 

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing it of remaining “silent on the implementation of RSS agenda by the BJP.” 

Speaking at a public meeting held part of Lok Sabha 2024 election campaign at Mattanur in Kannur on April 22, Mr. Vijayan said that while claiming to be a secular party, the Congress failed to oppose the BJP’s actions aligned with the RSS ideology.

The Congress is synonymous with corruption, family rule and appeasement politics, Union Minister Piyush Goyal has alleged. 

Congress had made promises since the era of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to eliminate poverty, but it did not happen, he said while addressing a rally in support of the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Telangana’s Zaheerabad B.B. Patil.

Mr. Goyal highlighted the Modi government’s pro-poor schemes and welfare measures and alleged that the Congress only makes hollow promises. “Modi cares for the poor and the marginalised sections of society. Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother (Indira Gandhi) promised to eliminate poverty. But, they did not work for the poor,” he further claimed.

“Rajiv Gandhi told the country that he sends ₹100 from Delhi and that only ₹15 reaches the poor with 85% being eaten away by middlemen and corruption,” he said, “But, the problem remained unresolved.”

“Congress means corruption, Congress means family rule, Congress means appeasement politics,” he said. Stating that PM Modi has resolved to make the country a developed one, he said the nation would become developed only when it is free of corruption when appeasement politics end and when all get equal justice. The BJP never divides the society but unites, he claimed. - PTI

At the rally, PM Modi reiterated his remarks about the Congress’ promise to address the inequality of wealth and income in its manifesto. “Congress talks of redistributing your property, its eyes are on women’s mangalsutras,” he said. 

Mr. Modi made similar comments at a rally in Rajasthan on April 21. He said that if elected to power at the Centre, Congress would distribute people’s property, land and gold among Muslims. “The Congress has [already] declared that Muslims have the first right to the country’s resources,” Mr. Modi had said.

Opposition leaders have criticised this statement. The Congress accused Mr. Modi of speaking in a “poisonous language” and that he was using several new tactics to divert attention from real issues. Other Opposition parties demanded the EC take appropriate action. - PTI

At Aligarh rally, PM Modi cites enactment of law against ‘triple talaq’, increase in Haj quota during his term.

- PTI

All candidates except BJP’s Mukesh Dalal have withdrawn their nomination from Surat Lok Sabha seat. Now, only one candidate in the fray.

Union minister and MP Smriti Irani alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will come to Amethi after April 26 and divide the people in the name of casteism and visit one temple after the other.

Addressing roadside meetings during her election campaign in Bhetua and Bhadar areas here, Ms. Irani said, “After the voting in Wayanad on April 26, Rahul Gandhi will come here to tell everyone that Amethi is his family and stoke the fire of casteism in the society here.” 

She added, “Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party rejected the invitation for the consecration ceremony of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya but he will be seen roaming around the temples in Amethi. So there is a need to be careful and alert.” 

In a major upset for the Congress in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Mr. Irani wrested Amethi from Rahul Gandhi, who had held the constituency for 15 years.

- PTI

Twelve members of different royal families in Odisha are contesting the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections seeking votes of commoners.

Elections to the 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha and 147 Assembly segments will be held simultaneously in the state from May 13 to June 1.

The ruling Biju Janata Dal had fielded eight members from royal families followed by BJP three and Congress one.

Ten members of the royal families are contesting Odisha Assembly elections while two are in the fray for Lok Sabha polls.

- PTI

Two people, including the Samajwadi Party candidate from Uttar Pradesh’s Aonla seat, have been booked in a fraud and forgery case.

They said the FIR was registered at the Kotwali police station on Sunday following a complaint filed by Abid Ali, the Bahujan Samaj Party candidate from the same Lok Sabha seat.

Satyaveer Singh, a resident of Shahjahanpur who had filed unauthorised nomination from the Aonla seat claiming to be a BSP candidate, and SP nominee Neeraj Maurya have been booked under various sections of fraud and forgery, Police Circle Officer (CO) Pankaj Srivastava said.

- PTI

The ECI has met with stakeholders, including the Met department, to discuss measures to mitigate risk due to the heatwaves during the Lok Sabha polls. Officers of the Indian Meteorological Department, National Disaster Management Authority and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare attended the meeting.

Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General, IMD, said, “IMD is in continuous touch with the Election Commission of India. Along with seasonal forecasts, we are doing monthly, week-wise and everyday forecasts and giving them forecasts about heat waves, and humidity levels. We are providing the ECI, inputs and forecasts about the places where elections are going to be held in different phases.”

Preparedness in the health sector was reviewed in terms of essential medicines, intravenous fluids, ice packs, ORS and drinking water. Voting for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections concluded on April 19. The second phase will be held on April 26 and the remaining phases will be May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1 accordingly. - ANI

The Congress did not attend the consecration ceremony at Ram temple in Ayodhya for its vote bank, said Amit Shah at rally in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker. 

“In the last 10 years, PM Modi has worked towards a big change in the country. He has a track record of 10 years and an agenda for 25 years. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi, your four generations who ruled the country, what they did for the people of Chhattisgarh?,” he added. 

Addressing an election rally in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on April 22 said, “PM Modi ended terrorism from the country and Naxals are on the verge of being finished. For five years former CM Bhupesh Baghel was in government during this Mahadev App case. For five years no action was taken against Naxals.”

A voter turnout of 37.54% was recorded till 11 a.m. in repolling at 11 polling stations in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency, officials said on Monday.

The decision about fresh polling was taken following a directive from the Election Commission, which declared voting held at these stations on April 19 as null and void.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Keshav Prasad Maurya attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav for the “crutches of legacy” that sustain their political careers. 

“Leaders who seek power on the crutches of legacy cannot compete with the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is hundred percent guaranteed,” he said, adding that BJP would “cross 400 seats” in the Lok Sabha elections.

BJP Tamil Nadu unit chief K. Annamalai accused the Congress government of poor economic management. “Congress has become desperate because Karnataka is like an ATM for them. Even during the Assembly elections, we warned how Congress would use the State like an ATM. We are seeing it now; they are bleeding the State dry. A State that was a revenue surplus before Bommaiji left office has become a revenue deficit now.” 

He made these remarks while holding a roadshow supporting Tejasvi Surya, the party’s candidate from Bengaluru South seat. Urging people to vote for Mr. Surya, Mr. Annamalai said that the Modi government implemented good schemes for Bengaluru in the last decade and Mr. Surya has worked extensively for the constituency.

He was confident the BJP-led NDA alliance will win all 28 seats in Karnataka. - ANI

Election Commission of India has ordered re-polling in eight polling stations in Arunachal Pradesh where EVM damage and violence were reported during polling to simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls on April 19, an official said.

The Commission in an order on Sunday declared the polling in the eight polling stations as void and ordered fresh polling on April 24 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Liken Koyu said in a communique.

The polling stations where repoll would be held include, Sario in Bameng Assembly constituency in East Kameng district, Longte Loth under Nyapin Assembly seat in Kurung Kumey, Dingser, Bogiya Siyum, Jimbari and Lengi polling booths under Nacho constituency in Upper Subansiri district. - PTI

An amicus curiae report in the Supreme Court said candidates with criminal cases won more seats in the 17th Lok Sabha than those who led lawful lives. 

The report, which has come even as polling in the General Elections for the 18th Lok Sabha has moved to the second phase, highlighted the dire need for the electorate to know who they are voting to power.

“Voters are entitled to know about the criminal antecedents of the law makers which would include the progress of the trial and the reasons for delay,” Supreme Court’s amicus curiae senior advocate Vijay Hansaria said in his report. 

The Congress on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of speaking in a “poisonous language” and said that he has several new tactics for diverting attention from real issues but the end of “business of lies” is near.

Sharing the Congress’ latest advertisement that focuses on rising prices and unemployment on Monday, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said, “Unemployment and inflation are at their peak in the country and Narendra Modi says ‘everything is fine’.” “He (Modi) has several new techniques to ‘divert from the issues’, But the end of the business of lies is near,” Mr. Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X.

Speaking on the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot says, “The trend after the first phase of elections is in favour of Congress. BJP are worried now and have started to visit the State. They will now stop talking about “Ab ki baar 400 paar”. We are campaigning equally on all 25 seats.”

“It is beyond my understanding what the PM is saying (on Congress manifesto). The people of the country can’t understand why is the PM connecting the manifesto with the Muslim League. The PM doesn’t belong to any party, caste or section, so he should maintain the stature of his post,” he further added.

The Chhota Udepur Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat will see a repeat of clash between Rathwa tribal community candidates, even as two prominent community leaders have shifted from the Congress to the ruling BJP.

While the Congress claimed its prospects remain unaffected in this seat reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates, the BJP is confident of a win again as it banks on the development and welfare schemes launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

This time, former MLA Sukhram Rathwa is the Congress candidate from Chhota Udepur Lok Sabha seat, where he is pitted against BJP’s Jasu Rathwa, a former sarpanch.

- PTI

Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai and BJP MP Tejasvi Surya held a roadshow in Bengaluru on April 22.

“Congress has become desperate because for Congress, Karnataka is like an ATM. Even during the Assembly elections we had warned, how Congress would use Karnataka as their ATM. They are bleeding the State dry, a State which was in revenue surplus before former CM Bommai left office, has become a revenue deficit now. People are clear and the same mistake will not be made again...All 28 seats BJP-NDA alliance will sweep in Karnataka,” said Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai.

Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of Northeast Region G. Kishan Reddy faces twin challenges this Lok Sabha election. While on one hand he has to retain his own constituency of Secunderabad, on the other hand he has to marshal his cadre to exceed the party’s 2019 record by winning more than four Lok Sabha constituencies.

In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, he talks about the party’s prospects with just a few weeks to go for the elections.

Section 123(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RP Act) provides that appeals by a candidate, or any other person with the consent of a candidate, to vote or refrain from voting on the ground of his religion, race, caste, community or language is a corrupt electoral practice. Section 123(3A) denounces any attempt by a candidate to promote feelings of enmity or hatred among citizens on these grounds during elections. The RP Act further provides that anyone found guilty of corrupt electoral practice can be debarred from contesting elections for a maximum period of up to six years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally in Aligarh of Uttar Pradesh on April 22, a day after his comments at an election rally in Rajasthan sparked a row.

Earlier on Sunday, while addressing a poll rally in Banswara, PM Modi had said that the Congress, if voted to power, could distribute the nation’s wealth among “infiltrators” and “those who have more children”.

An amicus curiae report in the Supreme Court said candidates with criminal cases won more seats in the 17th Lok Sabha than those who led lawful lives.

“Voters are entitled to know about the criminal antecedents of the law makers which would include the progress of the trial and the reasons for delay,” Supreme Court’s amicus curiae senior advocate Vijay Hansaria said in his report.

The amicus curiae, assisted by advocate Sneha Kalita, referred to a report published by Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 Phase I and Phase II. His report said that out of 2,810 candidates (Phase I - 1,618 candidates and Phase II - 1192) 501 (18%) candidates had criminal cases against them, out of which 327 (12%) were serious criminal cases (punishable with imprisonment of five years and more).

Repolling is underway at 11 polling stations in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency amid tight security, officials said on April 22.

“Voters have been queueing up since early morning to exercise their franchise at all the 11 polling stations, which was affected by riot-like situation on Friday. No disturbance or violence has been reported so far on Monday,” an election official said.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has hit out at the BJP and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi insulted Telangana in the past with comments on the State’s formation in Parliament.

PM Modi had commented that the then Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government closed the doors of Parliament when the bill for Telangana’s formation was passed and that “mother (Andhra Pradesh)“ was “killed” to give birth to the “child (Telangana)“, Revanth Reddy claimed.

- PTI

Central Kerala is witnessing some exciting political contests as electioneering has entered the final phase in the State.

Stakes are high for political parties as well as candidates in the fray in the seven Lok Sabha constituencies falling under the central Kerala region. Issues ranging from alleged instances of ‘love jihad’ and the screening of controversial movie, The Kerala Story, on Doordarshan and later for catechism students by the Idukki diocese of the Syro-Malabar Church to human-wildlife conflicts and anti-incumbency factor have dominated the electioneering scene in the run-up to the polls.

The Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency houses both the IT corridor and some of the areas densely populated with urban poor and crumbling civic infrastructure. However, the ongoing Lok Sabha polls seem to be dominated by the “Modi factor” and the “Congress’ guarantees”. 

Incumbent MP from the BJP P.C. Mohan, who faces stiff anti-incumbency and accusation that he has been “inaccessible”, is hoping the “Modi factor” and “Hindutva” will see him through again. Mr. Mohan has served as MP for three consecutive terms. Mr. Mohan, who has never lost the seat since it was carved out in 2008, is campaigning on the development plank, claiming credit for the party for the Namma Metro and the suburban rail among others.

The results of Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund and Kanker, the three Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh where voting will be held in the second phase of the general election on April 26, will perhaps reflect the mood of the farmers in the predominantly rural State.

While the Mahasamund region is home to big and small farmers, Rajnandgaon too has a huge agro-belt. The Kanker seat, which encompasses the Kanker and Balod districts, has a substantial number of farmers in Balod and parts of Kanker. Paddy is the main crop in the Mahanadi basin while Balod and Rajnandgaon are also sugarcane belts.

Such a scenario will test both the Bharatiya Janata Party, which assumed power in the State a few months ago, as well as the Congress.

Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council Ambadas Danve has dismissed reports claiming that Milind Narvekar, a close associate of Uddhav Thackeray, would switch over to the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Some media reports claimed Mr. Shinde has offered Mr. Narvekar the candidature for Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency, where the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has nominated sitting MP Arvind Sawant. 

“This is completely fake news. I spoke to Milind Narvekar regarding Uddhavji’s tour of Vidarbha and Marathwada and he is there with Uddhavji throughout,” Mr. Danve, who belongs to the Sena (UBT), said on Sunday. - PTI

The campaigning for the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh is heating up with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah scheduled to address rallies over the next three days.

Mr. Shah will address a public meeting in Kanker Lok Sabha constituency in the Bastar region on April 22, said BJP state media co-incharge Anurag Agrawal.

PM Modi will address campaign rallies on April 23 and 24 in Sarguja, Mahasamund, and Janjgir-Champa Lok Sabha constituencies, he added.

- PTI

The Central Election Committee of the Congress released a list of candidates for nine Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh on April 21. 

The candidates in the fray are Pedada Parameswararao (Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency), Bobbili Srinu (Vizianagaram), Janga Goutham (Amalapuram), Gollu Krishna (Machilipatnam), Valluru Bhargav (Vijayawada), Eda Sudhakara Reddy (Ongole), Jangiti Lakshmi Narasimha Yadav (Nandyal), Mallikarjun Vajjala (Anantapur) and B. A. Samad Shaheen (Hindupur). 

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday hit out at the BJP and alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi insulted Telangana in the past with comments on the state’s formation in Parliament.

Modi had commented that the then Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government closed the doors of Parliament when the bill for Telangana’s formation was passed and that “mother (Andhra Pradesh)“ was “killed” to give birth to the “child (Telangana)“, Revanth Reddy claimed.

The Congress fulfilled the promise of Telangana’s formation though it was decimated in Andhra Pradesh (post bifurcation), the chief minister said. - PTI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in a post on X, said the Prime Minister had delivered the “hate speech” after realising that the INDIA block had won the first round.

Mr. Kharge alleged that lying for power and making baseless allegations about opponents were the values of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-Bharatiya Janata Party combine that Mr. Modi has imbibed.