Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE updates: No interviews just before polling, EC to politicians 

Election Commission asked leaders of all political parties to not give any media interviews during the “silence period”, or 48 hours before start of polling when campaigning comes to end

Photo Courtesy: PTI
Photo Courtesy: PTI
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NH Web Desk

16 Mar 2019, 8:27 PM

No interviews just before polling, EC to politicians

The Election Commission on Saturday asked leaders of all political parties to not give any media interviews during the "silence period", or 48 hours before start of polling when campaigning comes to end.

"During the silence period, star campaigners and other political leaders should refrain from addressing the media by way of press conferences and giving interviews on election matters," the poll panel said in an advisory.

16 Mar 2019, 8:30 PM

ECI has fixed a timeline for the release of manifesto by political parties

ECI has fixed a timeline for the release of manifesto by political parties. Manifestos for single phase elections and multi-phase elections shall not be released during prohibitory period, as prescribed under Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951

16 Mar 2019, 8:14 PM

Congress's Nana Patole says Gadkari's image won't impact LS prospects

Nana Patole, who is the Congress' candidate from Nagpur Lok Sabha seat currently held by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Saturday said in a democracy, people are powerful and not leaders.

Addressing a press conference here, Patole claimed Gadkari's "larger than life" personality would have no impact on the polls.


16 Mar 2019, 8:09 PM

SAD fields Charanjit Singh Atwal from Jalandhar

16 Mar 2019, 8:01 PM

Tamil Nadu Congress urges Rahul Gandhi to contest LS polls from state

The Tamil Nadu Congress unit Saturday urged its national president Rahul Gandhi to contest from the southern state for the April 18 Lok Sabha elections, saying he was first proposed as the next Prime Minister from here by the DMK.

TNCC president K S Alagiri said besides contesting from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi should also select a seat from Tamil Nadu as he cannot be perceived as belonging to just the northern state, but "is seen as an asset of the people of India".

Referring to DMK president M K Stalin first proposing Gandhi's name as the next prime minister in the event of the opposition winning the Lok Sabha polls, Alagiri said the secular alliance cobbled up by the DMK leader had the full support of the people.


16 Mar 2019, 7:56 PM

Talks with BJP fail, IPFT to go it alone in Tripura

After talks with the alliance partner BJP failed, the ruling Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) on Saturday announced that it would contest both the Lok Sabha seats of the state alone.

IPFT general secretary Mevar Kumar Jamatiya said the party wanted field its candidate from East Tripura seat, reserved for ST contestants, but the BJP did not agree to it.

16 Mar 2019, 7:46 PM

Nitin Bhansali, Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) Spokesperson, quits the party


16 Mar 2019, 7:43 PM

Modi govt has lost credibility, wave unfavourable to BJP: Sharad Pawar

The wave in the country is unfavourable to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lost credibility, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Saturday .

In an interview to PTI, the Maratha strongman cited the BJP's losses in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in the assembly polls held in November-December last year.

16 Mar 2019, 7:37 PM

The Congress Saturday announced that former chief minister K L Chishi would be its candidate for Nagaland's lone Lok Sabha seat


16 Mar 2019, 7:36 PM

Grand alliance in Bihar to announce seat sharing on Monday says Manjhi

Seat sharing among constituents of the opposition "Mahagathbandhan" (grand alliance) in Bihar for Lok Sabha polls will be announced on Monday, Hindustani Awami Morcha (Secular) president Jitan Ram Manjhi said on Saturday.

The announcement will come following another round of talks among the partners on Sunday, the former chief minister said. On Thursday, Bihar Congress Campaign Committee chairman Akhilesh Prasad Singh had said the seat sharing would be declared on Sunday. "We (grand alliance) will announce our seat sharing for Lok Sabha polls in the state on March 18 at any cost," Majhi told reporters here after a meeting of his party's parliamentary board.

16 Mar 2019, 7:29 PM

People murmuring whether airstrike had political purpose: Sharad Pawar

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said there were "murmurs" of doubt among people on whether the post-Pulwama attack airstrike on February 26 on a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Pakistan had a "political purpose".

In an interview, the Maratha strongman said cross-border surgical strikes took place every year, adding that had he been the defence minister now, he would not have milked the issue for political benefits, but would only have worked in the interest of the nation.


16 Mar 2019, 7:13 PM

Shiv Sena to contest Goa LS polls, Mandrem bypoll: Sanjay Raut

The Goa Shiv Sena will field candidates for the state's two Lok Sabha seats as well as for the Mandrem bypoll, party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said Saturday.

The two seats, North Goa and South Goa, are currently held by the ruling BJP.

Elections to the two Lok Sabha seats and three Assembly seats will be held on April 23.

16 Mar 2019, 7:13 PM

Punjab legislator and former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira will contest from Bathinda constituency, which is presently represented by Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.


16 Mar 2019, 7:09 PM

Prakash Ambedkar requested AIMIM to contest opposite Poonam Mahajan

Prakash Ambedkar leader of Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) requested AIMIM that they should contest one seat in Mumbai where Poonam Mahajan (of BJP) is sitting MP. They said we'll consider it. After their decision, we will announce on rest of the 11 seats

16 Mar 2019, 7:05 PM

Danish Ali joined BSP with JD-S assent: CM Kumaraswamy

Karnataka Chief Minister and JD-S leader H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday said party General Secretary Danish Ali joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with the party's consent.

Ali joined the BSP in consent with me and our national President H.D. Deve Gowda in a purely political arrangement between the two parties. It is a thoughtful political decision taken by the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and the BSP to win more seats in the Lok Sabha elections, Kumaraswamy tweeted.


16 Mar 2019, 6:41 PM

Former minister joins YSRC hours after being named TDP candidate

Hours after being named as the party candidate for the Nellore (Rural) Assembly seat, former minister Aadala Prabhakar Reddy shocked the ruling TDP by switching over to the opposition YSR Congress on Saturday.

Reddy joined the YSRC in the presence of party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

"I regret not having joined YSRC all these days. My aim is to make Jagan the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh," Reddy said on the occasion.

16 Mar 2019, 6:20 PM

Congress stakes claim to form government in Goa

On a day when reports suggest that ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's condition has worsened, the Congress in Goa in a letter to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha on Saturday staked claim to form government in the coastal state.

In a letter addressed to Sinha, Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar said that the Parrikar-led coalition government is in a minority and its numbers may "dwindle". He demanded that she dismiss the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led dispensation and invite the Congress -- the single-largest party in the state Assembly -- to form the government.

Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE updates: No interviews just before polling, EC to politicians 

16 Mar 2019, 6:13 PM

Congress tells governor that Parrikar govt lost majority after death of BJP MLA

16 Mar 2019, 6:10 PM

SP fields Shyama Charan Gupta from Banda LS seat


16 Mar 2019, 6:08 PM

Congress stakes claim to form government in Goa

16 Mar 2019, 5:48 PM

Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) JOINS Mahagathbandhan

Santosh Manjhi, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM): We had asked for 5 seats, we've made agreement on 3-4 seats. We're completely ready to make the "mahagathbandhan" win. There are no issues


16 Mar 2019, 5:42 PM

Grand Alliance announcement after Holi: JMM

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Executive President Hemant Soren on Saturday met Congress President Rahul Gandhi in the national capital and said an announcement on a Grand Alliance in the state will be made after Holi.

"Today morning I met Congress President Rahul Gandhi in the presence of Ratanjit Pratap Narain Singh and others. We had a fruitful discussion on the contours related to finalising the Grand Alliance in Jharkhand, including accommodating Left parties in this fight against BJP," the Leader of Opposition in Jharkhand tweeted.

"The Grand Alliance announcement will take place after Holi in the presence of party chief Shibu Soren," the former Chief Minister told reporters in New Delhi.

16 Mar 2019, 4:34 PM

Shah Faesal to launch political party on Sunday

Former IAS officer Shah Faesal will launch his political outfit 'Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement' at a function in Rajbagh area of the city on Sunday.

He said the function will be held at Gindun Ground in Rajbagh.

The 2010 batch UPSC topper resigned from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in January this year to protest unabated killings in Kashmir and maginalisation of Indian Muslims.


16 Mar 2019, 4:23 PM

Communist Party of India (Marxist) releases first list of candidates for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections

16 Mar 2019, 3:43 PM

Sitting BJP MP Ram Prasad Sarmah in Assam quits over 'ill-treatment'

BJP MP from Tezpur constituency in Assam, Ram Prasad Sarmah, on Saturday announced his resignation from the saffron party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls citing "ill-treatment to old guards".

He took to Facebook to express unhappiness over ill-treatment to the old guard in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"I have left the BJP today. But I really feel deep pain in my heart for those old BJP workers who are neglected by the new intruders of the party. I was strongly raising my voice on their (old guard) behalf. But now there will be none to raise voice for them," Sarmah said in his Facebook post.


16 Mar 2019, 4:21 PM

Odisha BJP president's nephew joins Biju Janata Dal

In a major embarrassment for BJP Odisha unit president Basant Panda, his nephew Harischandra Panda Saturday joined the ruling Biju Janata Dal in the presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Harischandra said he joined BJD after being inspired by the developmental works done by BJD government headed by Patnaik.

16 Mar 2019, 3:01 PM

SP fields Shyama Charan Gupta from Banda seat

The Samajwadi Party on Saturday announced the name of it’s one more candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. A party release issued said that Shyama Charan Gupta will be its candidate from Banda Lok Sabha seat.


16 Mar 2019, 2:58 PM

Rahul Gandhi meets the family of Major Chitresh Singh Bisht, who lost his life on 16 Feb while defusing an IED

Congress President Rahul Gandhi meets the family of Major Chitresh Singh Bisht at the latter's residence in Dehradun. Major Chitresh Singh Bisht lost his life on 16 Feb while defusing an IED which was planted by terrorists across the LoC in Rajouri district, J&K.

16 Mar 2019, 2:26 PM

PM Modi wants to run a country only for one person i.e. himself

Modi has a habit of taking credit for India’s development. Was’nt India developed before he arrived? Did’nt people defend the nation, build roads, construct buildings and contribute through farming?

Does this nation belong only to PM? The answer is no India belongs to all of us. All of us have contributed towards India’s development


16 Mar 2019, 2:21 PM

PM Modi runs government benefitting few

Why does Narendra Modi give land of poor farmers and people to industrialists like Adani, Ambani impacting livelihood and the environment of the local people. You run a government by benefiting all not just few rich people

16 Mar 2019, 2:19 PM

Rahul Gandhi promises food processing units to poor farmers

Rahul Gandhi promises food processing units to farmers in their farms itself so that they can earn a living and set up small industries


16 Mar 2019, 2:17 PM

Rahul Gandhi says Modi must be ashamed for promising 3.50 rupees to Poor

PM Modi and BJP leaders must be ashamed for his promising 3.50 rupees to poor per day. They must be ashamed to praise and celebrate such an illogical step

16 Mar 2019, 2:11 PM

FM must be ashamed for helping Vijay Mallaya

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley helped Vijay Mallaya escape. He must be ashamed of himself


16 Mar 2019, 2:09 PM

Modi's GST and Demonetisation benefitted no one

Congress President apologizes to people for PM Modi for his disastrous mistake. GST destroyed small businesses of the informal sector. GST and Demonetisation brought suffering to common people.

16 Mar 2019, 2:06 PM

Congress fulfilled the promise of loan waiver

Congress promised loan waivers to farmers in 10 days in MP, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh. Congress Government’s did in 2 days


16 Mar 2019, 2:04 PM

Rahul Gandhi: when Khanduri ji questioned the government, he was made to resign

PM Modi threw away a patriot Khanduri ji from parliamentary committee who questioned his moves. He forcefully made CBI Chief Alok Verma resign from who wanted to investigate the scam

16 Mar 2019, 2:00 PM

Rahul Gandhi says all dealings of the contract were done with secrecy

Rahul Gandhi: Anil Ambani accompanied PM Modi to France and all contracts were given to Ambani for 1600 crores. Manohar Parrikar said he was unaware of all this. Ambani's company was only 10 days old. Defence Ministry Papers, (negotiating team) PM Modi is doing direct negotiation with French Government and Dassault.


16 Mar 2019, 1:52 PM

Rahul Gandhi: Anil Ambani incapable of making paper planes was given the biggest Contract of making planes snatching rights of HAL which made Mirage which attacked Pakistan. UPA government clearly stated the contract will be given to HAL and each planes price was fixed at 526 crores.

16 Mar 2019, 1:51 PM

Rahul Gandhi: We did not conduct any rallies and public meetings after the Pulwama attacks. But the Prime Minister posed in documentaries for 3.5 hours and then gives lecture on Nationalism and Patriotism


16 Mar 2019, 1:48 PM

Rahul Gandhi: Thank you for contribution in Army, IAF, Navy and the youth of Uttarakhand provides their services with courage. I will meet all the martyrs of Pulwama terror attack

16 Mar 2019, 1:39 PM

Anugrah Narayan Singh President Uttarakhand INC: We have to recognize the violence, the loot,and the corruption in the name nationalism. It is Rahul Gandhi's honesty and his courage that he called PM "Chor" in Lok Sabha on July 20th 2018


16 Mar 2019, 1:32 PM

AICC President of Uttarakhand and Former CM Harish Rawat: You (Rahul Gandhi) are the only leader who understood the pain of unemployed youth, who were tricked by Modi Government, women who have suffered alot under Modi regime and pain of the farmers. You have now become the ray of Hope for these people

16 Mar 2019, 1:27 PM

AICC President of Uttarakhand and Former CM Harish Rawat: Rahul Gandhi first leader to visit Uttarakhand and hear pain and suffering of people after the Kedarnath tragedy.


16 Mar 2019, 1:15 PM

Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi addresses Vishal Parivartan Rally in Dehradun

Congress President Rahul Gandhi addresses a rally in Dehradun in Uttarakhand

16 Mar 2019, 1:07 PM

Manish Khanduri son of BJP's prominent leader BC Khanduri joins Congress

Manish Khanduri , the son of former Uttarakhand CM and BJP leader Maj Gen (Retd) BC Khanduri, joins Congress


16 Mar 2019, 1:02 PM

Congress names eight candidates for Telangana

Congress has announced candidates for eight out of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

The party has fielded state Congress working president and former MLA A Revanth Reddy from Malkajgiri Lok Sabha seat.

Besides A Revanth Reddy, the other candidates in the state list are former MP Ramesh Rathod (Adilabad-ST), A Chandra Sekhar (Peddapalle-SC), Ponnam Prabhakar (Karimnagar), K Madan Mohan Rao (Zahirabad), Gali Anil Kumar (Medak), Konda Vishweshwar Reddy (Chevella) and former MP Porika Balram Naik (Mahabubabad-ST).

16 Mar 2019, 12:40 PM

Assam BJP MP Ram Prasad Sarmah quits party

In a jolt to the BJP in Assam, its sitting MP from Tezpur Ram Prasad Sarmah on Saturday announced that he has quit the saffron fold and alleged neglect of old workers by "new intruders in the party" Sarmah said he was resigning from the primary membership of the BJP after serving the RSS and VHP for 15 years and the BJP for 29 years.

"I have left BJP today. I really feel pained in my heart for those old BJP workers of Assam who are most neglected in the party by the new intruders in the party," he said in a Facebook post.


16 Mar 2019, 12:25 PM

Lucknow: JD(S) General Secretary Danish Ali joins Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)

16 Mar 2019, 12:26 PM

Tamil Nadu: CM Edappadi K Palaniswami meets DMDK Chief Captain Vijayakanth in Chennai.


16 Mar 2019, 12:22 PM

We don't have any capable leader to contest 2019 general elections BJP West Bengal President Dilip Ghosh

A fear stricken BJP surrenders in West Bengal. BJP president of state announces that they don't have any capable to contest in West Bengal.

He lamented that all the competent and hardworking leaders and Party workers were made to contest for Panchayat and Vidhan Sabha elections, leaving no leaders for Lok Sabha elections

16 Mar 2019, 12:05 PM

Discontent brewing in TMC over ticket distribution

There is a growing dissatisfaction among TMC leaders over selection of candidates, discontent seems to be brewing in Mamata Banerjee's party.

BJP's Mukul Roy, once the number two in the Trinamool Congress, has started luring "disgruntled" leaders from his former party, including elected representatives, into the saffron party's fold.


16 Mar 2019, 11:39 AM

MDMK names Ganeshamurthi as candidate for Erode LS seat

DMK's ally MDMK Saturday announced the candidature of former MP A Ganeshamurthi from the Erode constituency for the April 18 Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu.

Ganeshamurthi is a two-time MP, who had represented Palani in the 12th Lok Sabha (1998) and Erode during the 2009-14 period.

16 Mar 2019, 11:18 AM

PM splurges on publicity to hide failures, says Mayawati

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister tweeted: "Modi was busy mostly in laying foundation stones for various projects. He has spent ₹3,044 crore on publicity.

"Instead, this government could have used this money for education and better medical facilities in every village of backward states like Uttar Pradesh. However, for the BJP, there is no greater emphasis that is needed than on itself."

The tweets of the 63-year-old Dalit leader was in Hindi. "BJP and PM are hell bent on deflecting the attention of people from the failures of their government," she added.

The ruling party at the Centre, which is also at the helm in her state has "miserably failed to address serious issues like unemployment and poverty", she said. "They run away from any kind of public debate," she added.


16 Mar 2019, 9:38 AM

Congress President Rahul Gandhi to be in Uttarakhand today

Congress President Rahul Gandhi will be in Uttarakhand on Saturday to address the Vishal Parivartan Rally. He will also visit the families of martyrs in Dehradun

16 Mar 2019, 10:23 AM

BJP veteran Devi Singh Bhati submits resignation

"I've resigned due to anti-party activities of Bikaner MP, Arjun Ram Meghwal. I told about this to all senior party leaders but it seems they have made up their mind to give him the ticket again,” said Devi Singh Bhati.

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