The filing of nominations for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls ended on March 27. However, in Bihar, the last date for filling nominations is Thursday, due to a festival. A total of 102 Parliamentary constituencies in 21 States and Union Territories (UTs) will go to the polls in the first phase on April 19.
In Delhi, State Minister Atishi said the arrest of CM Arvind Kejriwal would benefit the AAP electorally in the Lok Sabha polls, adding before the arrest of Mr. Kejriwal, the result of Lok Sabha polls was a forgone conclusion as people were of the view that the BJP was going to win. “But after Kejriwal’s arrest, the level of public sympathy has gone up for us. There is just one sentiment that the BJP has gone one step too far. So, I would feel it has benefited us electorally,” she said. She said the Lok Sabha polls have become a ‘People vs BJP’ election.
Also read | Lok Sabha election LIVE updates- March 28
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said she declined to contest the Lok Sabha elections as she did not have the ‘kind of funds’ required to fight the polls.
“After thinking over a week or ten days, I just went back to say... maybe not. I do not have that kind of money to contest. I also have a problem whether it is Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu. It’s also going to be a question of various other winnability criteria that they use...Are you from this community or are you from that religion? Are you from this? I said no, I do not think I am going to able to do it,” she said while speaking at an event. “I am very grateful that they accepted my argument...So I am not contesting,” she added. “My salary, my earnings, my savings are mine, not the Consolidated Fund of India,” she said.
Regional parties Biju Janata Dal and Shiv Sena (UBT) on March 27 released their first lists for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The BJP also released a list of candidates who will contest on the party’s behalf in Andra Pradesh’s Assembly election. It announced that Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini will contest in a Assembly bypoll from Karnal. It also started announcing its star campaigners for various States.
The Election Commission of India issued show-cause notices to BJP leader Dilip Ghosh and Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for their offensive remarks against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kangana Ranaut respectively.
Here’s the full schedule of the electionsIn Maharashtra, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar sprang a surprise and announced a new alliance with Manoj Jarange-Patil, a Maratha quota activist. The VBA also announced a list of eight candidates who will contest in the Lok Sabha electio
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