Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE: Election Commission issues notice to BJP leader Babul Supriyo for campaign song
The Election Commission on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to Union minister Babul Supriyo for putting out a campaign song, composed and sung by him, without prior permission, officials said
Central para military forces (CPMF) have arrived in Tripura Lok Sabha Polls
The CPMF personnel would be deployed in Tripura for the first phase of elections scheduled to be held here on April 11, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Arindam Nath said.
Around 100 companies of CPMF would arrive in the state for the Lok Sabha elections and preventive arrests would be stepped up to ensure law and order situation before, during and after the polls, he said.
"We have stepped up preventive arrests and execution of non-bailable warrants. Nearly 200 persons have been arrested till now. The highest number of preventive arrests were made in West Tripura district," he informed.
Election Commission issues notice to BJP leader Babul Supriyo for campaign song
The Election Commission on Tuesday issued a show-cause notice to Union minister Babul Supriyo for putting out a campaign song, composed and sung by him, without prior permission, officials said.
The music-video was posted in social media and some local TV news channels aired it without certification from the Election Commission, Additional Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal Sanjay Basu said.
The singer-turned-politician, who is an MP from Asansol, has been asked to reply within 48 hours of receiving the notice, Basu said.
Former CBI top official to contest Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha seat
Former CBI Joint Director V.V. Lakshminarayana will contest the elections from the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha constituency on a Jana Sena ticket, the party announced on Tuesday.
Along with Lakshminarayana, the party announced candidates for eight more seats in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections.
With this, actor Pawan Kalyan's party has announced candidates for 10 Lok Sabha and 87 Assembly seats.
RLD chief Ajit Singh to contest from Muzaffarnagar
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) President Chaudhary Ajit Singh will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. His son and party Vice-President Jayant Chaudhary will be in the fray from the Baghpat seat.
According to a party statement here on Tuesday, Kunwar Narendra Singh will be party's candidate for the Mathura constituency.
Congress candidates list has 27 new faces in Odisha
The opposition Congress, which was routed in Odisha in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and put up a poor performance in the simultaneous assembly elections, has fielded 27 new faces so far.
The first list of 42 candidates for Odisha was released by the AICC on Monday night - 36 for the Assembly and six for Lok Sabha seats.
As per the list there are new candidates for four Lok Sabha and 23 Assembly seats in the state.
The four new candidates for the parliamentary seats are Pradeep Kumar Devta (Bargarh), George Tirkey (Sundergarh), Manoj Kumar Acharya (Kandhamal) and V Chandrasekhar Naidu (Berhampur).
The two others are Bhakta Charan Das (Kalahandi) AND Pradip Majhi (Nabarangpur).
CPI announces list of 7 candidates for Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, Assam and West Bengal
Communist Party of India (CPI) announces list of 7 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, Assam and West Bengal.
EC issues poll notification for second phase polling in Odisha
The Election Commission on Tuesday issued notification for 35 assembly and five Odisha Lok Sabha seats which will go to the polls in the second phase on April 18.
With this the process of nominations too began and will continue till March 26.
The nomination papers will be scrutinised on March 27, while candidates can withdraw their nominations on March 29, state chief electoral officer S Kumar said.
The candidates have been asked to file their nominations between 11am and 3pm, as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI), he said.
BSP announces candidates for 6 Chhattisgarh Lok Sabha seats
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Tuesday announced candidates for six out of 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh.
The announcement was made by the Mayawati-led party's state unit chief Hemant Poyam.
Senior party leader and former MLA Dauram Ratnakar has been fielded from Janjgir-Champa (Scheduled Caste) Lok Sabha constituency while Aaytu Ram Mandavi will contest from Bastar Scheduled Tribe) seat, he said.
The other four are Sube Singh Dhurve (Kanker- ST), Maya Bhagat (Surguja- ST), Innocent Kujur (Raigarh-ST) and Geetanjali Singh (Durg), Poyam said.
Will wait till Wednesday evening for Cong response, then announce candidates in remaining 4 seats that it won in 2014: Left Front chairman
HC stays order holding EVMs as information under RTI
The Delhi High Court has stayed a Central Information Commission (CIC) order which held that electronic voting machines (EVMs) come within the definition of 'information' under the provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The court was hearing a plea on Monday filed by the Election Commission challenging a CIC order dated February 12 which held that EVMs are within the definition of "information" under Section 2 (f) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act of 2005.
Justice V Kameswar Rao has sought a response from the CIC and RTI applicant Razaak K Haidar, who had sought access to information related to EVMs maintained by the poll panel.
Haidar's application was rejected by the Central Public Information Officer after which Haider filed an appeal with the CIC.
Shivpal's party ties up with Peace Party, Apna Dal faction
Shivpal Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) on Tuesday announced its alliance with Peace Party and a faction of Apna Dal for the Lok Sabha polls.
"We have entered into an alliance with Peace Party. We were ready for an alliance with secular parties to defeat the BJP but some parties gave priority to their personal interests," Shivpal told reporters a press conference here.
"The BJP government in the state is the worst ever which cheated farmers, youths, minorities and backwards," he added.
He later announced that Apna Dal-- led by Krishna Patel-- will be supporting his party in the Lok Sabha polls.
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Ashok Lavasa meet representatives from various social media platforms
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora along with Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Ashok Lavasa meet representatives from various social media platforms to discuss issues related to social media content, post implementation of Model Code of Conduct.
SP-BSP announce alliance for 48 Maharashtra Lok Sabha seats
The Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party on Tuesday announced they would contest all 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in alliance.
Announcing the alliance, SP MLA Abu Asim Azmi said the two parties together represent about "85-90%" of the society and provided a third front for people let down by the BJP and Congress.
"Secularism is about to end in the country. Those who call themselves chowkidars can go to any length, and peddle lies, to cling on to power," he alleged.
He claimed only the SP-BSP alliance was strong enough to stop the BJP from winning over 5-7 seats in Maharashtra.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra performs 'aarti' at Vindhyavasini Devi temple in Mirzapur
Congress General Secretary for UP East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra performs 'aarti' at Vindhyavasini Devi temple in Mirzapur.
Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court stays Katol assembly bypoll
Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court stays Katol assembly bypoll scheduled to be held next month.
Social media could play decisive role in LS polls: IT expert
Technology would occupy centre-stage for the first time in India's general elections, says an IT expert, who believes social media could well play a decisive role in sealing electoral outcomes in many constituencies in the coming Lok Sabha polls.
In earlier elections, technology was incidental and used by some people with other traditional means but that's no longer the case now, says former Telecom Secretary and former President of NASSCOM, R Chandrasekhar.
"But in this (coming Lok Sabha) election, technology would be central in the process -- whether it's social media, analytics, strategy, in all of these areas, technology has now come to occupy centre stage," he said.
EC gives nod to Rahul Gandhi's rally in Bengal
The West Bengal Congress on Tuesday got a nod from the Election Commission (EC) to organise a public rally by the party's all-India President Rahul Gandhi on March 23 in Malda district of the state, a Congress leader said.
Gandhi is set to address a public rally in Malda's Chanchal as part of the party's Lok Sabha election campaign in the state.
"The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) West Bengal has granted permission for the rally of Rahul Gandhi at Kolom Bagan ground in Malda's Chanchal on March 23," state Congress leader Amitava Chakraborty said.
Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan to contest from Gajuwaka & Bhimavaram
Jumping into the electoral battle for the first time, Telugu film star and Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan will contest the April 11 Assembly election in Andhra Pradesh from Gajuwaka and Bhimavaram constituencies.
After an intensive survey in various constituencies, the party general body chose these seats for Kalyan and he has agreed to contest from there,a Jana Sena release said on Tuesday.
Gajuwaka is in Visakhapatnam district and Bhimavaram in West Godavari.
JDS Chief HD Deve Gowda: Modi mocks the idea of mahagatbandhan but they themselves are running coalition govts in many states
JDS Chief HD Deve Gowda in Bengaluru said, “Modi mocks the idea of mahagatbandhan but they themselves are running coalition governments in many states. We will answer BJP by winning this election.”
Cong fields state unit chief to boost prospects in LS polls
Seeking to put up a keen fight in the Lok Sabha polls in Telangana after a disastrous show in the assembly elections in December last year, Congress has fielded its state unit chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy to boost the morale of its cadres and prospects.
Reddy, sitting MLA from Huzurnagar, would be the party candidate from Nalgonda, according to the second list of candidates announced by Congress late on Monday night.
Though he was initially said to be reluctant to contest, his candidature is, however, expected to boost the morale of partymen.
The list also includes former MP Madhu Yashki Goud, who will take on TRS president Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter and sitting MP Kavitha in Nizamabad.
Three Tripura BJP leaders join Congress
Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Tripura BJP leader Subal Bhowmik along with two other senior party leaders on Tuesday joined the Congress.
The other two are former Minister Prakash Das and firebrand leader Debashish Sen.
Tripura Congress President Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarman and AICC Secretary Bhupen Bora welcomed the three leaders at a media conference.
Bhowmik was holding the Vice President's post in BJP. He joined the saffron party in 2015 while Das and Sen came to the party in 2017 from the Congress and the Communist Party of India-Marxist respectively.
Arunachal Pradesh has a special place in the heart of the Congress party: Rahul Gandhi at Itanagar rally.
Rahul Gandhi: We introduced land Acquisition Bill to protect land of tribals; BJP finished it
Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, “We introduced land Acquisition Bill to protect land of tribals. BJP finished it. They want to give the land to their industrialist friends. We gave you infrastructure, we never took from you, we gave you. What has Modi govt given you?”
Rahul Gandhi: PM Modi opened doors for theft; he wanted contract for his friend
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said, “PM Modi opened the doors for theft. He wanted the contract for his friend. Instead of ₹526 crore, he made the deal for ₹1600 crore. Parrikar said he wasn’t aware of the contract. CBI director says he wanted an inquiry. PM removes the director.”
Rahul Gandhi: Why is Modi making everyone chowkidar? In 2014, he said he is chowkidar, now he says everyone is chowkidar
Rahul Gandhi said, “Why is Modi making everyone chowkidar? In 2014, he said he is chowkidar, now he says everyone is chowkidar. Manmohan Singh wanted Rafale at the lowest price. He wanted HAL to take up the project. Youths would get employment.”
Rahul Gandhi: For Modi, development means abolish ₹500 and ₹1000 notes
Rahul Gandhi said, “For Modi, development means abolish ₹500 and ₹1000 notes. Ask any eight-year-old and he will say demonetisation is a foolish step. He made you all stand in a line. He says it is against black money, but did you see any black money holder in queue.”
RLD releases list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) releases list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Chaudhary Ajit Singh to contest from Muzaffarnagar, Jayant Chaudhary from Baghpat and Narendra Singh from Mathura. RLD is in alliance with BSP and SP in Uttar Pradesh.
Notification issued for phase 2 of Lok Sabha polls
The Election Commission on Tuesday issued a notification kick starting the poll process in 97 constituencies spread across 13 states where phase two of the Lok Sabha elections will be held on April 18.
The process of nomination began with the issuance of this notification and will continue till March 26.
Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be held on March 27 and the last day of withdrawing nomination is March 29.
By the evening of March 29, a clear picture on the number of candidates in each of the 97 constituencies will emerge.
Rahul Gandhi: They (BJP-RSS) try to oppress people who disagree with them
Rahul Gandhi said, “I met with youth who got shot at. So many people killed. What was it for? Why was it necessary for them to shoot? They try to oppress people who disagree with them.”
Rahul Gandhi: RSS, BJP and Nagpur want to impose one culture across the nation; education is being attacked all over India
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said, “RSS, BJP and Nagpur want to impose one culture across the nation. Education is being attacked all over India. Vice-chancellors are not selected on merit. RSS and BJP putting their people as V-Cs. People who wear shorts and hold lathis are being selected as V-Cs”
We will bring the real GST says Rahul Gandhi
We gave special status to all northeastern states: Rahul Gandhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said, “We gave special status to all northeastern states. This is because northeast faces different problems from rest of India. We don’t want attack on your culture. Arunachal should get more infrastructure.”
“We will not let Citizenship bill pass” says Rahul Gandhi
Our fight is against ideologies and not against any parties says Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, “NRC a ploy to destroy Arunachal, your culture. We will not let this happen. Modi said he wants ‘Congress-mukt Bharat’. He has hate in his heart. We do not want to finish off somebody. BJP cannot impose its thinking, its ideology in northeast. Our fight is against certain ideologies and not against any party.”
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi interacted with the delegation of weavers in UP’s Bhadohi.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi interacted with the delegation of weavers in UP’s Bhadohi.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi addresses public meeting in Itanagar, Arunachal
FIR against Union min Jayant Sinha for violation of model code of conduct
An FIR was registered against Union minister Jayant Sinha for allegedly violating the model code of conduct while addressing students at the convocation ceremony of a management institute here, police said on Tuesday.
Sinha is the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation and a BJP MP from Hazaribagh constituency in Jharkhand.
Addressing the students at IIM-Ranchi on Saturday, Sinha had allegedly sought their "blessings" for another five years, the officer said.
All police stations have been asked to monitor violations pertaining to the model code of conduct, he said.
The polling will be held for 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand in four phases from April 29.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrives in Arunachal Pradesh
Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrives in Arunachal Pradesh to a warm welcome from the state delegation. He shares a moment of silence for the victims of the Arunachal Pradesh protests ahead of his public rally.
Poll panel meets representatives of Internet firms
The Election Commission on Tuesday met representatives of Internet companies, including Facebook and Twitter, to discuss issues related to the use of social media for campaigning in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls while the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force.
The meeting comes after the Centre for Accountability and Systemic Change (CASC) sent a notice to the poll panel, urging it to take action against the misuse of social media to influence voters.
The agenda of the meeting was to find ways to avoid misuse of social media during elections and create a mechanism for the poll panel to flag violations.
Congress General Secretary UP-East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Bhadohi
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: Report card, promotions, all of it sounds good but there's nothing on ground
Congress General Secretary UP-East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Bhadohi, on completion of 2 years of Yogi govt, says, 'Report card, promotions, all of it sounds good but there's nothing on ground, I'm meeting people everyday, all the people are in distress.
AIADMK manifesto promises ₹1,500 per month to "needy families" under Amma National Poverty Eradication Initiative.
DMK assures scrapping of NEET, quota in private sector
The DMK on Tuesday promised to do away with the National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions and ushering in quota in the private sector in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha election.
"The NEET for medical admissions will be scrapped," DMK chief M K Stalin said while unveiling the salient features of his party's manifesto.
Opposition to NEET in Tamil Nadu from major political parties and students had taken emotive overtones in the past.
Stalin said steps would be taken for implementing reservation in the private sector.
Congress General Secretary UP-East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra offers prayers at Sita Samahit Sthal in Bhadohi
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: Now they (BJP) should tell what they have done in their five years when they are in power
Congress General Secretary UP-East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Bhadohi said, “What did they do in 70 years?' argument also has an expiry date. Now they (BJP) should tell what they have done in their five years when they are in power.”
Mayawati: PM Modi changed from 'Chaiwala' to 'Chowkidar'; What a change India is witnessing under BJP rule
BSP chief Mayawati tweeted, “After BJP launch 'Mai Bhi Chowkidar' campaign, PM Modi and others added the prefix 'Chowkidar' to their Twitter handles. So now Narendra Modi is Chowkidar and no more a 'Chaiwala' which he was at the time of last LS election. What a change India is witnessing under BJP rule. Bravo!”
Congress President Rahul Gandhi to attend three events in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday
Congress President Rahul Gandhi to attend three events in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday
Jana Sena announces 3rd candidates' list for Andhra Pradesh
Telugu actor Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena party on Tuesday announced candidates for one more Lok Sabha seat and 13 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh.
Bellamkonda Saibaba will contest from the Ongole parliamentary constituency. With this the party has announced a total of nine Lok Sabha seats.
The party also announced 13 candidates for the Assembly elections, taking the total number of for the Assembly polls to 77.
EC to meet social media rep on Tuesday to discuss content after Model Code of Conduct enforced
Election Commission to meet social media representatives on Tuesday to discuss various social media content, especially after Model Code of Conduct came into force ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2019.
TDP announces candidates for 25 LS seats in Andhra Pradesh
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Tuesday announced its candidates for all the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh for the coming general elections.
Three former Union Ministers who had resigned from the Congress to join the TDP figured in the list announced by party president and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu shortly after Monday midnight.
Cong releases 5th list of candidates
The Congress has released its fifth list of 56 candidates for the Lok Sabha election, including 22 from Andhra Pradesh and 11 from West Bengal.
The list, released late on Monday night, also included eight candidates from Telangana, six from Odisha, five from Assam and three from Uttar Pradesh.
On Saturday, the Congress had called off alliance talks with the Left parties in West Bengal.
The Congress has fielded former president Pranab Mukherjee's son, Abhijit Mukherjee, from Jangipur Lok Sabha seat, former PCC chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury from Behrampur and former minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi's wife Deepa Dasmunshi from Raiganj.
Delhi businessman is BSP candidate from Agra
While the BJP and the Congress are still finalising names, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has sprung a surprise by naming a Delhi businessman, Kunwar Rajvir Singh, as the 'gathbandhan' candidate, for the Fatehpur Sikri constituency.
Singh was named after Seema Upadhyaya declined to try her luck again from the seat.
BSP workers at the meeting held late on Monday at the party's Kalindi Vihar office, were shocked and confused when Singh's name was announced.
A few tried to raise slogans in protest but were shown the door.
Owaisi has assets worth ₹13 crore
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, who has filed his nomination for Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency, has declared assets worth more than ₹13 crore.
His immovable assets are worth over ₹12 crore and movable assets are over ₹1.67 crore, according to the affidavit submitted by him while filing the nomination on Monday.
He owns no motor vehicle, but has one NP bore .22 pistol worth ₹1 lakh and one NP bore 30-60 rifle worth ₹1 lakh.
The grand total of his liabilities is ₹9.30 crore.
He has Rs 2 lakh cash in hand. His income during 2017-18 was ₹10,01,080. It was ₹13,33,250 during 2016-17.
There are five criminal cases pending against him. He was not convicted for any criminal offence.
Owaisi is seeking a fourth straight term in the lower house of Parliament, from Hyderabad constituency.
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