Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE: Congress party releases list of 1 candidate in Jharkhand

Congress party releases list of 1 candidate in Jharkhand for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 and 4 candidates for elections to the state legislative assembly of Odisha

With an aim to ensure a violence-free Lok Sabha elections, the Tripura Police would publicly display the names and antecedents of criminals against whom arrest warrants were pending, the state police chief said here on Friday.

"To hold a free, fair and violence-free Lok Sabha elections, the police would publicly display the names and antecedents of criminals against whom arrest warrants were pending," Director General of Police (Tripura) Akhil Kumar Shukla told the media.

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy says I am pleading with you don't believe PM's colorful words. Why should we have enmity with neighbouring countries? Two years ago a military officer told me PM will build a story before election to get votes. They don't ask for votes on development work.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who has filed his nomination from the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, will have to fight it out against -- apart from the main rivals -- two namesakes and another with Gandhi surname.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations in Kerala is Monday and the polling takes place on April 23 to elect 20 Lok Sabha members.

The namesakes are: Independent candidate, 33 year old K.E. Rahul Gandhi, who hails from Kottayam district; 30-year-old K. Raghul Gandhi from Coimbatore and is a member of the Agila India Makkal Kazhagam party; and the third person, also an Independent candidate, is 40-year-old K.M. Shivprasad Gandhi from Thrissur.

In a total electorate of 6.97 crore, the names of 11,68,704 new voters have been included in West Bengal's electoral rolls so far, an official said on Friday.

There are 3,57,83,463 male and 3,39,75,979 female electors in the rolls. "The figure is updated till the last day of nominations," said Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu.

Basu said that 34,54,274 people were eligible to vote in the first phase of elections in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar constituencies.

The Election Commission (ECI) Friday appointed an additional police observer for the two Lok Sabha constituencies of West Bengal, where polling will be held in the first phase on April 11, a senior official said.

The two Lok Sabha seats are Coochbehar (SC) and Alipurduar in north Bengal.

Now Alok Kumar Roy has been appointed as additional police observer for Coochbehar (SC) constituency," Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sanjay Basu told reporters.

The Delhi High Court on Friday declined the plea of an organisation alleging that the Andhra Pradesh government has attempted to influence voters by launching schemes, including giving monetary benefits, ahead of polls.

Justice Yogesh Khanna said there was no need to interfere in the issue.

The court was informed that in pursuance to its earlier directions, the Election Commission has taken a decision on the representations of Jana Chaitanya Vedika, which had alleged that disbursal of money under these schemes after the Lok Sabha election has been notified amounted to violation of the model code of conduct.

Out of 18 candidates across parties contesting from the two north Bengal seats - Alipurduar and Coochbehar - in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Trinamool Congress' Paresh Chandra Adhikary is the only crorepati (millionaire), while six have declared criminal cases against themselves, said a study released here on Friday.

Trinamool Congress candidate for Coochbehar, Paresh Chandra Adhikary, who had changed over from All India Forward Bloc, has declared assets worth more than Rs 4 crore, while average assets per candidate contesting in the two north Bengal constituencies in the first phase is Rs 55.63 lakh based on their self-sworn affidavits, according to an analysis done by the West Bengal Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms .

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleged Friday Prime Minister Narendra Modi has an "I know everything" problem because of which he does not appreciate questions directed at him and avoids public functions where he would have to answer "uncomfortable" questions.

Interacting with students here, Rahul Gandhi said he is not afraid of questions.

"I have come here, there are 7,000 students here and you are asking me whatever questions you have and there will be some questions which will make me uncomfortable, but I will still deal with them," he said.

Why Modi does not attend such open events where anybody can ask him direct questions, the opposition party president asked the students.

Four people travelling in a car were detained with Rs 12 lakh cash in the early hours of Friday in Mumbai's Sewri area, the Election Commission informed.

The EC statement said Sewri police intercepted a tourist vehicle at around 2:30 am and found Rs 12 lakh cash in a bag in it, following which the four occupants were taken to the police station

The election authorities in Goa have seized liquor, drugs, cash and other items, collectively worth Rs 3.84 crore, since the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections came into force on March 10.

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) gave the information on Friday.

Polling in the two parliamentary constituencies in the state- North Goa and South Goa- and by-elections to three Assembly constituencies- Mandrem, Shiroda and Mapusa- will be held on April 23.

As per the figures provided by the CEO, the authorities have seized different items worth Rs 3,84,20,898 from across the state so far. This includes liquor worth Rs 2.86 crore. Cash worth Rs 75.18 lakh and narcotic drugs worth Rs 22.17 lakh were also seized.

In Maharashtra's Wardha, Rahul Gandhi said, "IAF carried air strikes in Pakistan, showed courage, but the prime minister said he conducted them. You did it? Try holding a rifle like our CRPF personnel for five minutes, if not that, then just try travelling alone in a bus in Jammu and Kashmir. You did it? By sitting in Racecourse Road?"

Congress General Secretary for UP East, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, speaks on PM Modi, says "...dunia bhar ghoom aaye hain. Japan gaye wahan gale lage, Pakistan gaye wahan Biryani khaayi, China gaye wahan gale lage. Lekin Varanasi ke ek gareeb parivaar se gale lagte dekha hai? (PM Modi has travelled the world. He went to Japan and hugged their PM, he went to Pakistan and ate Biryani, he went to China and hugged their leaders. But you have never seen him hugging a poor family in Varanasi)"

Drawing on a medical analogy, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa in its Lok Sabha election manifesto said the coastal state's 'ECG' -- an acronym for Environment, Culture and Governance -- is sputtering and promised a revival of the three sectors.

AAP Convenor and South Goa Lok Sabha constituency candidate Elvis Gomes also promised on Friday formalin-free fish, which is an emotive issue considering that fish is a staple diet in the coastal state.

A Congress delegation comprising Ahmed Patel, Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh reaches Election Commission of India.

The Akali Dal on Friday fielded former Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Dhindsa from Sangrur for the Lok Sabha elections to take on Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Punjab chief and sitting MP Bhagwant Mann.

The announcement was made by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The Akali Dal has so far cleared the names of six of the 10 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls to be held on May 19.

The father of a Dalit youth killed in police firing at Thangadh in Gujarat in 2012, has filed his nomination from the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, where BJP chief Amit Shah is in the fray.

Velji Rathod, father of Mehul Rathod, one of the three youths killed in police firing in Thangadh village in Surendranagar district, Friday said by contesting the election against Shah, he wants to send out a message that the BJP-led government has delayed justice to the victims' families. Rathod filed his nomination as an independent candidate on Thursday.

Three Dalit youths - Pankaj Sumra, Prakash Parmar and Mehul Rathod - were killed on the intervening night of September 22 and 23, 2012, when police opened fire to control the clashing members of Dalit and OBC Bharwad communities.

The Samajwadi Party released its vision document on Friday, promising constitution of the Ahir (Yadav) regiment and calling for "mahaparivartan" (grand change).

Releasing the 16-page document, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said the future of the country should be better for all sections, including farmers and Muslims. "It is our vision document for party leaders and workers, and will be utilised for answering the BJP," he said at the party headquarters.

The vision document, carrying the photographs of Akhilesh Yadav, his father and SP patron, Mulayam Singh Yadav, read: 'Samajik nyay se mahaparivartan: Ek nayi disha, ek nayi ummeed' (grand change through social justice: One new direction, one new hope).

BJP releases list of star campaigners in Gujarat for Lok Sabha elections and by-election in the state. Actor Vivek Oberoi is also included in the list. The 26 Parliamentary constituencies of the state will undergo polling in the third phase of elections on 23rd April.

The Congress has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that the BJP candidate for West Tripura constituency, Pratima Bhowmik has violated the model code of conduct by making statements about the Indian Army and Balakot airstrike.

Bhowmik is also the general secretary of the Tripura unit of BJP.

Vice-President of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee, Tapas Dey in a letter to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sriram Taranikanti on Wednesday wrote that Bhowmik said Indian Armys "brave steps" and Balakot airstrike in her speech at Kalinagar village of West Tripura district on March 31 last.

Dey alleged that Bhowmik said the credit for the Balakot airstrike should go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi which is violation of model code of conduct.

TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday latched onto veteran BJP leader L K Advani's blog to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it was "self first and country last" for him.

"Advani's remarks in the blog reflected his anguish. For him, country came first, party second and self last. It's reverse in the case of Modi. For Modi and (Amit) Shah, it is self first and country last. The ideals of Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee no longer have value in the BJP," Naidu, an erstwhile ally of the BJP, said.

In his blog, Advani has said his party has never regarded those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-nationals" or "enemies".

Advani's comments assume significance as top BJP leaders, including Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, have been attacking opposition parties with anti-national barbs in the aftermath of the Balakot air strikes.

Congress General Secretary for UP East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party's candidate from the Parliamentary constituency Dolly Sharma hold a road show.

A total of 573 candidates have filed their nomination papers for the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, where elections will be held in a single phase on April 23.

The state will see a direct contest between the BJP, which swept all 26 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, and the Congress, which has not entered into an alliance with any party.

The last date of withdrawal of nomination forms is April 8.

"A total of 573 candidates have filed their nomination forms for 26 Lok Sabha seats of the state. On the last day of filing nominations, which was Thursday, 313 candidates submitted their forms," Additional Chief Electoral Officer Ashok Manek said.

The Shiv Sena, which had earlier announced that it would contest both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa, has now decided to drop the North Goa constituency from its list and focus only on the South Goa seat.

The two Lok Sabha seats in Goa are currently represented by the BJP.

Sena's state unit vice president Rakhi Prabhudesai Naik has filed her nomination from South Goa seat, where she is pitted against BJP's Narendra Sawaikar, Congress' Francisco Sardinha and AAP candidate Elvis Gomes.

Sena's state unit president Jitesh Kamat had earlier announced that he would contest from North Goa. However, he has now decided not to be in the fray.

The Congress on Friday said that veteran BJP leader LK Advanis remarks that the party never regarded political foes as "anti-nationals" was a "stinging indictment of demeaning politics" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah.

"BJP patriarch and Modiji's political guru Advani in a stinging indictment to demeaning politics of Modi-Shah, founded on hurling abuses on political opponents, has exposed their duplicity and hypocrisy," Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala told the media.

He said Advani had stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party's conception of Indian nationalism never regarded those who disagree with it politically as "anti-national".

Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Friday met party veteran L K Advani at his residence, a day after Advani said his party has never regarded those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-nationals" or "enemies".

Advani's comments assume significance as top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, have been attacking opposition parties with anti-national barbs in the aftermath of the Balakot air strikes.

Sources said Joshi drove down to Advani's residence and held deliberations with him.

A case was filed on Friday at a court in Bihar's Begusarai against Union Minister Giriraj Singh for making a casteist remark against a Congress MLA.

Besides Singh, the case filed by Rashtriya Lok Samta Party leader Rajiv Kumar, also named Mahant Shankar Das of the Suja Thakurbari as an accused for the remark against Begusarai Congress MLA Amita Bhushan.

According to the petitioner, the remark was initially made by Shankar which was later supported by Singh during campaigning.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Naxalbari, West Bengal: We don't want 'Dilli ka laddoo'. We want a leader who is connected to the ground, one who stands with the people in their bad and good times.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Hatred is cowardice. I don’t care if the entire world is full of hatred. I am not a coward. I will not hide behind hate and anger. I love all living beings, including those temporarily blinded by hatred.”

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday decided to field former finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa from Sangrur for the Lok Sabha elections.

An announcement in this regard was made by SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal in a party release.

Dhindsa is son of former union minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa who had resigned as SAD's secretary general and from its core committee, citing health reasons last year.

As many as 150 candidates have filed their nominations for the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Chhattisgarh that will vote in the third phase on April 23.

Elections to the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held in three phases - on April 11, April 18 and April 23.

A total of 150 candidates, including those from main rivals Congress and the BJP, have filed their nominations for the third phase, Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo said in a statement on Friday.

Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress on Karnataka CM complains of harassment by Income Tax officials says, “Been going on for a while, Modi ji is using ED, I-T and CBI. He is doing everything he can do to demoralise opposition and to win elections, because he has lost hope of winning.”

More than 600 theatre artistes from across the country have urged the electorate to vote for "equality and social justice, and to defeat the forces of darkness and barbarism".

A joint statement issued by them urged the voters to "help safeguard the Constitution and our syncretic, secular ethos".

The signatories include Amol Palekar, Arundhati Nag, Astad Deboo, Arshia Sattar, Danish Husain, Girish Karnad, Naseeruddin Shah, M.K. Raina, Kavitha Lankesh, Konkona Sen Sharma, Lillette Dubey, Mallika Taneja and Navtej Johar.

The appeal said: "Theatre makers in India have a long and proud tradition of standing against forces of religious sectarianism, chauvinism, narrowness and irrationality... We have imagined a secular, democratic, inclusive and just India.

Polling teams for conducting elections in four remote polling stations of Arunachal Pradesh have been airlifted from Miao to Vijoynagar, election office sources said on Friday.

The Indian Air Force MI-17 helicopter transported the team members in two sorties on Thursday for conducting elections at Ramnagar, Gandhigram, Vijoynagar and Two-Hut polling stations.

Arunachal Pradesh will vote for Lok Sabha and Assembly polls simultaneously on April 11.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MP Renu Kushwaha on Friday quit the party after she was denied ticket to contest from the Khagaria Lok Sabha seat in Bihar.

A former Minister, Kushwaha said she felt insulted and humiliated in the BJP.

"There is chaos in the BJP and I was not comfortable. When I was not given ticket to contest the election, why should I remain in the party?" she asked while speaking to the media.

The Election Commission has disqualified 493 losing candidates in 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls from contesting elections for the next three years for failing to submit their poll-related expenditure accounts.

The list includes six candidates from Muzaffarnagar district of the state.

Chief Electoral Officer Ramesh Chand Rai said the disqualification comes after the failure of these candidates to submit their final returns on election expenditure in the previous Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

The candidates have been disqualified under the Representation of the People Act, he said.

West Bengal CM M Banerjee in Dhubri, Assam says, “In Citizenship Amendment Bill, you will be a foreigner for 6 yrs, then you will be given citizenship, why? What will you do in the 6 yrs? What about your job, school and every essential thing. This is nothing but a conspiracy.”

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan's through a letter announces that she doesn't want to contest the 2019 elections. She also asks why a candidate has not been declared yet from Indore, appeals to BJP to name a candidate

“Government today has given up its responsibility for healthcare and education. We will put in more money into these sectors and build high quality institutions at district and block levels,” says Congress President Rahul Gandhi.

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu said, “Raids being conducted on TDP leaders on instructions of PM. Once elections are announced everything has to be conducted under ECI guidance. All parties should have equal opportunity, even one party they can't suppress, another party they can't support.”

“I'm warning PM, if you do like this, you will have to pay heavy price. We are fighting to save democracy and India. Who are you? You are outgoing PM. Even the officers I am requesting, don't listen to him, if you listen, you will also face serious consequences.”

Four-time Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah is the front-runner in the prestigious Srinagar Lok Sabha seat although he is locked in a triangular contest as he seeks re-election from Srinagar.

In his over 40-year-long political career, Abdullah, now 82, has lost only one election. That was in 2014 when Tariq Hameed Karra of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated him in Srinagar.

The National People's Party (NPP), which is contesting elections in Arunachal Pradesh for the first time, has decided to back the BJP in one of two parliamentary constituencies in the state and the assembly seats that come under it.

Arunachal will hold simultaneous polling to the Lok Sabha and the Assembly on April 11.

The NPP has fielded 30 nominees for the state polls and one candidate from the Arunachal West parliamentary seat.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi begins his interaction with the students from a local college in Pune.

Supreme Court declines urgent hearing of an appeal filed against the Bombay High Court order which had refused to interfere with the release of the Vivek Oberoi-starrer 'PM Narendra Modi.'

Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be in Maharashtra on Friday for a students interaction in Pune, and two public meetings in Chandrapur and Wardha.

Kerala's United Democratic Front Convenor and Congress' Lok Sabha candidate from Chalakkudy, Benny Behanan, suffered a heart attack on Friday and is admitted to a hospital near here, party leaders said.

The 66-year-old underwent an emergency angioplasty and his condition is now stable, a party leader said.

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu to sit on protest in Vijayawada over reported IT raids on TDP candidates and supporters

As many as 317 candidates have filed nominations in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in coastal and northern Karnataka for the second phase of polling on April 23, said an official on Thursday.

"With the last day of nominations for the second phase ending on Thursday, 317 candidates have filed 457 nominations as some of them have submitted more than one set of papers to the Returning Officer," Election Commission official Surya Sen said