Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE:Congress President Rahul Gandhi addresses public meeting in Maharashtra

Congress President Rahul Gandhi addresses public meeting in Nanded, Maharashtra

The Delhi Police has lodged 131 FIRs for defacement of public property even as over three lakh hoardings, banners and posters of political parties have been removed from various parts of the national capital, officials said Monday.

An FIR and two non-cognisable reports were lodged after the flying squads of Chief Electoral Office, Delhi found posters of political parties being carried in cars without due permission, they said.

Till date, 3,05,546 hoardings/banners/posters have been removed from all over Delhi. Out of which, 30,533 were removed from New Delhi Municipal Council, 43,075 from East Delhi Municipal Corporation, 2,411 from Delhi Cantonment Board, 1,26,566 from South Delhi Municipal Corporation and 1,02,961 from North Delhi Municipal Corporation, respectively, Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said.

Under the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 131 FIRs were registered, including 26 against political parties.

Over 480 flying squads and 232 static surveillance teams have been formed to monitor the enforcement of the model code of conduct in view of the April 18 Lok Sabha polls in the state, officials said on Monday.

Director General of Police (Elections), Tamil Nadu, Ashutosh Shukla conducted a review meeting here to review the election preparedness.

The meeting reviewed, among other things, poll process, law and order maintenance during the pre-poll and post-poll periods in the districts of West Zone of Salem, Coimbatore and Tirupur City, Salem and Coimbatore Ranges.

Congress candidate Rigzin Spalbar on Monday filed the first nomination for the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 polls in Jammu and Kashmir, poll officials said.

"The last date for filing of nomination papers for the constituency is April 18," a poll official said in winter capital Jammu on Monday. Ladakh goes to the polls on May 6.

As many as 81 candidates contesting for the second phase of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha are crorepatis, with Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik topping the list, said a report on Monday.

According to the Odisha Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report, out of the 35 Lok Sabha candidates, 11 have assets worth over Rs 1 crore.

In a major setback to the ruling AIADMK, the Election Commission of India (EC) on Monday banned its advertisement running in television and social media on grounds that it violated its model code of conduct (MCC).

In a letter issued to all the media (TV channels and Print), the poll body said the AIADMK's advertisement "Oru Kudumba Aatchi" (rule of one family) is telecast in electronic and social media based on unverified allegations or distortions

The Commission said the telecast of the video should be stopped forthwith. Further telecast of the advertisement will attract severe punishment and penal provisions of the Cable TV Act and other laws in force

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said the Election Commission has to clear people's doubts over the functioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and take all steps to bring transparency in the system.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief wondered what objection the poll body has over the demand of the opposition parties for ensuring transparency in the conduct of the polls by matching 50 per cent of VVPAT slips with the votes recorded in the EVMs.

A day after the opposition parties led by Naidu decided to file a review petition in the Supreme Court for counting of 50 per cent VVPAT slips, Naidu addressed a news conference here to target the Election Commission (EC) again for its stubbornness over use EVMs without taking adequate measures to prevent their manipulation.

A few youngsters Monday hurled stones on PDP president Mehbooba Mufti's carcade while she was electioneering in South Kashmir's Khiram area, leaving her security guard injured, officials said here.

Mufti was returning after offering prayers at the Khiram Dargah, which is revered by the local Muslim population.

A Special Services Guard (SSG), a force carved out of Jammu and Kashmir police to protect the serving and former chief ministers, was injured, the officials said.

A spare vehicle in her motorcade was also damaged, they said.

Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi on Monday filed his nomination paper from the Koderma Lok sabha seat.

The grand alliance's important leaders were present when he filed his papers. They included JMM President Hemant Soren, Congress state President Ajay Kumar and Congress Ranchi Lok Sabha candidate and former union Minister Subodhkant Sahay.

The people of Hinjili and Bijepur assembly segments in Odisha have a common complaint against BJD candidate and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik that they have seen him in television and posters numerous times, they want to have a face-to-face interaction with him.

Though people of both the assembly segments are happy that the chief minister is contesting from their areas, they rue that they hardly find Patnaik canvassing for votes like nominees of rivals-- BJP and Congress.

Criticising the sitting Dakshina Kannada (DK) MP Nalin Kumar Kateel for his irresponsible attitude towards the Lok Sabha constituency, Congress leader and state Irrigation Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday asked the people to vote for development and harmony in the district.

Addressing a press meet, Shivakumar, who is here to campaign for party candidate Mithun Rai, slammed the BJP for doing hardly anything for the constituency which had been represented by their MPs in the last 28 years.

The minister hoped that the educated and intelligent people of DK will give Mithun Rai a chance to fulfil their dreams of development. "The present MP is not aware of the problems faced by the people in the coastal district.

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the CPI(M) on Monday asked the people from Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha constituencies to vote for National Conference candidates to defend the identity and special status of the state guaranteed under Articles 370 and 35A.

CPI(M) state secretary Ghulam Nabi Malik, in a statement, asked the voters to contribute in the process of "evicting disastrous, authoritarian and communal government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi".

"It is the foremost duty of all citizens of Jammu and Kashmir to vote to defeat the mischief monger BJP on the floor of the Parliament. For that people should come out and vote in favour of those who are trusted and capable of defending the interests of Jammu and Kashmir," Malik said.

He said in today's circumstances, the CPI(M) believes that National Conference candidates from Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha constituencies deserve to be supported.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “An alliance between the Congress & AAP in Delhi would mean the rout of the BJP. The Congress is willing to give up 4 Delhi seats to the AAP to ensure this. But, Mr Kejriwal has done yet another U turn! Our doors are still open, but the clock is running out.”

Three young Gujarat leaders who earned their stripes in the Assembly polls held late 2017 are now facing a vastly-changed scenario as the Congress and the BJP take on each other for the state's 26 Lok Sabha seats.

Patidar quota spearhead Hardik Patel, young OBC MLA Alpesh Thakor and Dalit legislator Jignesh Mewani are not contesting the general elections and their respective roles in the campaign has also changed.

They had managed to sway the masses with their anti-establishment and caste-based narrative in the Gujarat Assembly polls, helping the Congress rise from 54 to 77 seats, and pulling down the ruling BJP to a precarious majority of 99 seats in the 182-member House.

Patel led a widely-patronised quota stir with his Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) while Thakor, as a reaction to the former's stir, emerged as an Other Backward Classes leader.

The Delhi CEO has written to the Election Commission drawing its attention to a web series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which went online earlier this month and is being aired without permission from the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC), officials said.

The move comes days after the EC banned the screening of a biopic on the prime minister during the current poll period, saying any such film that subserves purpose of any political entity or individual should not be displayed in the electronic media.

Meanwhile, district election officer (East) K Mahesh also wrote to the Delhi CEO asking whether the web series has been approved by the MCMC, a senior official said.

The Election Commission on Monday directed "stopping" the telecast of a campaign video of the ruling AIADMK for allegedly levelling "unverified allegations", apparently about the DMK.

A communication from the office of Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo said it has been brought to the EC's notice that political parties were telecasting their publicity material in electronic and social media without prior approval of the State level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC).

The communication was sent to "all media, channels/Print media."

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Abdullah’s and Mufti’s of trying to break the country, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Monday retorted back, saying if his family wanted to break India, "there would have been no India".

Addressing a poll rally in Kathua district on Sunday, the prime minister had slammed the Abdullah’s and Mufti’s, saying the two families "ruined" three generations of Jammu and Kashmir and he will not allow them to "divide" India.

The NC leader said it was Modi who was trying to break the country, but he will not succeed.

The opposition Congress in Himachal Pradesh on Monday announced to hold statewide protests on Tuesday over an "obscene slur" made by the BJP state chief against its President Rahul Gandhi during at an election rally.

The Congress has sought an apology from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s state unit President Satpal Singh Satti for using unparliamentary language against Gandhi and his family.

"The BJP is stooping low and using derogatory remarks against its political rivals," Congress spokesperson Naresh Chauhan told IANS, adding the Congress may lodge a complaint with the EC against Satti.

Satti targeted Gandhi and his family at a public meeting in Baddi in Solan on April 13.

The Delhi High Court on Monday said a plea alleging that the Andhra Pradesh government has attempted to influence voters by launching schemes, including giving monetary benefits, ahead of polls, has become infructuous.

Justice Yogesh Khanna declined the plea of Jana Chaitanya Vedika in which it had sought direction to the state government to keep the transfer of funds, as part of the schemes, in abeyance till the elections are over.

The plea has become infructuous as the entire money has already been disbursed, the court noted. A similar petition, which was filed in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, has also been dismissed.

Former Goa CM Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar writes to NCP's Sharad Pawar over his remark on Manohar Parrikar, states, “This is yet another unfortunate attempt to invoke my father's name to push blatant falsehoods for political gains. Urge you to desist from such conduct.”

Congress President Rahul Gandhi and party general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi and Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a road show in Agra.

Addressing the gathering in Jarar Mandi in Bah tehsil, around 70 km from Agra city, Priyanka Gandhi said: "The public resources are being spent on massive publicity campaigns. From food packets to radio and TV, there was publicity for the BJP everywhere."

"No one seemed concerned about unemployed youth or the plight of the poor farmers," she said.

Veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi has sought an inquiry by the Election Commission into a fake letter being circulated in his name on social media and critical of the party's leadership and Lok Sabha poll prospects.

The fake letter, addressed to another party veteran L K Advani, has been in circulation for last few days.

Demanding an investigation by the poll panel, Joshi has written to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora that he has not written any such letter.

"My friends in media called me up and told me that since yesterday a letter addressed by me to L K Advani Ji has been circulated on social media. I have read the contents of it and I am attaching them with this letter. I have not sent any such letter to Advani Ji. Kindly, immediately look into the matter and find the source of the letter, through which it came to social media," Joshi said.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Monday said the UPA would give complete farm loan waiver and conduct a detailed probe into the Rafale fighter jet deal if it forms the next government after the April-May Lok Sabha polls.

Pawar was speaking at the poll campaign of Rajendra Shingne, the NCP Lok Sabha candidate from Buldhana.

The Congress has been alleging graft in the Rafale deal while the Centre has maintained that it was carried out following laid down norms.

"We will carry out a detailed probe into the Rafale deal and will not keep quiet until the truth is brought out.

We will also solve the problems of farmers once the Congress and NCP's UPA comes to power," he said at a rally.

Arvind Dharmapuri, BJP candidate from Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency has filed a petition before Election Commission to permit him to put his lock also on the strong rooms where EVMs and VVPATs used in the elections are kept.

Bharatiya Janata Party announces list of seven candidates for Uttar Pradesh; Ravi Kishan (in file pic) to contest from Gorakhpur and Praveen Nishad to contest from Sant Kabir Nagar (Sharad Tripathi is the sitting MP from Sant Kabir Nagar)

The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), an ally of the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh, on Monday said it will go alone in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls in the state.

"The SBSP will contest the Lok Sabha election on its own. It will field candidates from 25 seats (in Uttar Pradesh) and their names will be announced soon," party chief and state minister Om Prakash Rajbhar told reporters at his residence.

The SBSP had won four seats in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the party will approach the Election Commission on Monday over alleged "large scale manipulation" during the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, especially in West Bengal and Tripura.

"Large scale manipulation of polls in the first phase of voting, especially in West Bengal and Tripura has raised huge question marks. We are going to meet the Election Commission today in this regard," he tweeted.

While Bengal will go to polls in seven phases, one of which has been completed on April 11. In Tripura while one phase has been completed on April 11, it will again go to polls on April 18 in the second phase.

Farooq Abdullah, National Conference (NC) in Srinagar: Mai Modi ko challenge karta hoon is jalse mein, ki tum toot jayoge magar Hindustan tutega nahi. Tum yeh kehto ho ki Abdullah Hindustan ko todna chahte hain, arrey hum Hindustan ko todna chahte to Hindustan hota hi nahi.

The Election Commission on Monday "strongly condemned" Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BSP supremo Mayawati for their communal remarks and barred them from campaigning for different periods.

While Adityanath was barred for 72 hours, Mayawati has been barred for 48 hours, separate EC orders said. The two have also been "censured".

Mayawati was issued the notice for her speech in Deoband appealing to Muslims to not vote for a particular party. The BSP chief had prima facie violated the model code of conduct, the poll panel found.

Adityanath was served the notice for his "Ali" and "Bajrang Bali" remarks while addressing a rally in Meerut.

He compared the Lok Sabha elections to a contest between 'Ali', a revered figure in Islam, and Bajrang Bali, the Hindu god Hanuman.

SH Meena, SP Rampur on SP leader Azam Khan's remark: An FIR has been registered against him. Police is taking further action.

Mehbooba Mufti, PDP says, “BJP can see their defeat in the first phase of elections. They are trying to create a sense of insecurity among people, making it look like they are planning another Balakot like attack on Pakistan, so that they will get votes in the other phases of elections.”

Kunwarji Bavaliya who was sworn in as Water Supply minister in BJP govt, said "you gave me 55% votes" to women protesting in Kanesara village of Rajkot district against water crisis in the area.

Women say, "We aren't getting water, that government has to give us." Gujarat Minister Kunwarji Bavaliya says, "Despite my request in last election, you gave me 55% votes." Former BJP MLA Bharat Boghara adds, "so you are getting water upto that mark"

BR Tiwari, Addl. Chief Election Officer on Azam Khan's remark says, “Taking cognizance of the matter, concerned Dist Magistrate has been asked to file a report. We'll receive the report soon. As per information received by the DM, probably an FIR has also been registered against him.”

Urmila Matondkar,Congress candidate from Mumbai (N) on scuffle between Congress workers and BJP supporters during her campaign says, “It's being done to create fear. It's just beginning, it'll take violent turn. Have asked for police protection; there's a threat to my life; I've filed a complaint.”

Repolling is likely in two booths of Outer Manipur constituency, where unidentified miscreants allegedly destroyed EVMs and VVPATs, an official said.

The miscreants had entered the polling stations posing as voters, he said.

"Around 1.30 pm on April 11, unidentified men ransacked two booths at Poi and Chingkhai villages, along the India-Myanmar border, breaking some of the machines. They fled the scene even before the security guards could react," Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) PK Singh said.

An FIR has been registered in connection with the incidents and police are looking into it, the CEO said.

"The Election Commission is likely to announce a date for re-polling after it receives necessary reports on the two incidents, he said. Polling for the Inner Manipur constituency is slated to be held on April 18.

An FIR was registered Monday against senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan for his "underwear" jibe against BJP leader and film actor Jaya Prada who is fighting the Lok Sabha polls from Rampur against him.

District magistrate of Rampur Aajaneya Kumar Singh Monday said, "An FIR has been registered against Azam Khan under section 509 of the IPC (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and under sections of the Representation of People's Act." On Sunday, without naming the actor, Khan told the gathering in an election rally in Rampur "... you got represented (by her) for 10 years.

"People of Rampur, people of Uttar Pradesh and people of India, it took you 17 years to understand her reality. But, I could recognize it in 17 days that she wears a khaki underwear. (Rampur waalo, Uttar Pradesh waalo, Hindustan waalo, usski asliyat samajhne mein aapko 17 baras lag gaye. Main 17 dinon mein pehchaan gaya ki inke neeche kaa jo underwear hai, woh khaki rang kaa hai),” said Khan.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Fatehpur Sikri says, “We have started working for farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. I have a dream that these works begin one day in Uttar Pradesh too. We have told the 3 CMs that in all the districts of their states, food processing unit should be set up.”

“Wherever potato is grown, a chips factory there. Wherever tomato is grown, a tomato ketchup factory there. We are creating a network of food processing industries in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Farmers will sell their produce directly in factories.”

Senior Congress leader Sheila Dikshit on Azam Khan says, “This is highly condemnable, he owes an apology to women immediately. Its unacceptable, action should be taken against him.”

Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Fatehpur Sikri says, “PM Modi lied to youths about providing 2 crore jobs. He also lied to the people of India about depositing ₹15 lakhs in everyone’s bank account. PM Modi has destroyed the farmers of this country. PM made false promises and came to power. I will not say that we will deposit ₹15 lakh in every bank account. I will give you a practical number. We will deposit ₹72,000 to the accounts of the poor.”

Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Fatehpur Sikri says, “Priyanka ji said in the beginning that wherever you see, you'll find publicity of Narendra Modi being done. Switch on TV-Narendra Modi, switch on a radio-Narendra Modi, walk on the roads-Narendra Modi. Where does all this money for publicity come from?”

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi at Rahul Gandhi's address in Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh says, “You are aware of the falsehood being presented during the (BJP) campaigning. BJP leaders say they are nationalist. If you claim to be nationalist, then please respect those who have given the color to the Constitution. If you are a nationalist, then stop speaking about Pak in your campaigns.”

She also said, “If you are a nationalist, then stop felicitating those who have defamed women.”

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi at Rahul Gandhi's address in Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh says,”While businessmen are paid, why leave poor behind.”

She also said that the people should not misuse the Army.

Scuffle broke out between Congress workers and BJP supporters during Congress candidate from Mumbai North, Urmila Matondkar's election campaign at Borivali.

Telangana's lone BJP MLA Raja Singh landed himself in embarrassment after the Pakistan Army accused him of copying their song but he stood defiant saying he did not have to copy anything from a "terrorist state".

"Good to see even #Pakistan media is covering my song #HindustanZindabad. I'm more surprised that even a terrorist nation produces singers. #Pakistani singer's may have copied my song, we don't have to copy anything from a terrorist state like Pakistan," Singh said in a tweet.

Spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces, Major General Asif Ghafoor, who in his tweet on Sunday had accused the BJP legislator of copying the song, responded to Singh on Monday, saying: "Pakistani media isn't covering the 'so called' song. In rest of the world, this is called something else..."

"Glad that you copied. But copy to speak the truth as well. #PakistanZindabad," Asif Ghafoor had earlier tweeted from his personal handle, ridiculing the MLA for replacing 'Pakistan Zindabad' in the song with 'Hindustan Zindabad'.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been injured while offering prayers at a temple in Thiruvananthapuram and has been shifted to General Hospital there. He has suffered injuries on his head and has received 6 stitches. Doctors says he is out of danger.

A case was registered against BJP MLA Manda Mhatre for allegedly violating the model code of conduct in force since March 10 for the April-May Lok Sabha polls, a Thane polling official said on Monday.

Mhatre, while speaking at a rally in Shetkari Samaj Hall in Koparkhairane in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, asked people to vote two times.

She asked the gathering, several of whom hailed from Satara but worked here, to go to their hometown and cast their votes for the BJP-Shiv Sena Satara Lok Sabha candidate Narendra Patil and then return here to vote on April 29 for Thane Shiv Sena candidate and sitting MP Rajan Vichare.

Mhatre is the BJP MLA from Belapur seat in Navi Mumbai.

Supreme Court issues notice to Union of India, and Election Commission of India on a plea seeking direction to bring all National and State recognized Political Parties under the ambit of RTI (Right to Information).

Supreme Court issues notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi in connection with a contempt petition filed against him. Supreme Court has sought an explanation from him.

The petitioner, BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi, has claimed in her petition 'the words used and attributed by him to SC in the Rafale case has been made to appear something else. He is replacing his personal statement as Supreme Court's order and trying to create prejudice'.

Rahul Gandhi has to file a reply in Supreme Court before Monday. The Court fixed the matter for further hearing on Monday, April 22.

Supreme Court asks Election Commission to watch Vivek Oberoi starrer 'PM Narendra Modi' and take a call on whether it should be banned. SC asked EC to give its view to the court by April 22 in a sealed cover. Makers of the movie had moved SC against stay on its release by EC.

SC expresses displeasure with EC 'having limited power to act against leaders like Mayawati and Yogi Adityanath making statement along religious lines and violating model code of conduct during elections'. A Bench headed by CJI asks representative of EC to appear before it tomorrow.

Unidentified miscreants have gunned down a local BJP leader in Odisha’s Khurda town, triggering protest from the saffron party.

The deceased has been identified as Manguli Jena, BJP's mandal president of Khurda zone-9, the police said on Monday.

The incident took place on Sunday midnight when Jena was standing near the house of BJPs candidate for Khurda assembly seat, Kalu Charan Khandayat and holding discussion with workers of the saffron party.

Police said bike-borne miscreants fired four rounds, two of which hit Jena. He was rushed to Khurda district headquarters hospital where the doctors declared him "brought dead".

Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut speaks on Model Code of Conduct during Elections, says, "...Hum aise log hain, bhaad mein gaya kanoon, achar sanhita bhi hum dekh lenge. Jo baat hamare mann mein hai wo agar hum mann se bahar nahi nikalein to ghutan si hoti hai."

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik said, “I strongly condemn the heinous murder that has taken place in Khordha, requested Election Commissioner to direct the Police to take trick action against those involved.”

National Commission for Women (NCW) sends a notice to SP leader Azam Khan over his remark 'main 17 din mein pehchan gaya ki inke niche ka underwear khaki rang ka hai', he made in Rampur (UP) yesterday.

Jaya Prada on Azam Khan's remark said, “It isn't new for me,you might remember that I was a candidate from his party in '09 when no one supported me after he made comments against me. I'm a woman and I can't even repeat what he said. I don't know what I did to him that he is saying such things.”

“He shouldn't be allowed to contest elections. Because if this man wins, what will happen to democracy? There'll be no place for women in society. Where will we go? Should I die, then you'll be satisfied? You think that I'll get scared and leave Rampur? But I won't leave.”

NCW Chairperson, Rekha Sharma on Azam Khan's remark 'main 17 din mein pehchan gaya inke niche ka underwear khaki rang ka hai' says, “He's always talking dirty about women and in this election it's the 2nd remark he gave against woman politician. NCW has taken suo-motu cognizance and we're sending him notice.”

“We are also writing to EC to take strict action against him because he has to learn this lesson now. It's high time, he has to stop this. Women are not sex objects. I think, women voters should vote against such kind of people who are treating women in such way.”

FIR has been registered against Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan for his comment 'main 17 din mein pehchan gaya ki inke niche ka underwear khaki rang ka hai'.