Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE: SC for more VVPAT matching in polls

SC favoured increasing random physical verification of VVPAT slips in Lok Sabha and assembly polls and told EC that “no institution should insulate itself from improvement, including the judiciary”.

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NH Web Desk

25 Mar 2019, 5:48 PM

Senior UP BJP leader expelled for dubbing BJP’s top leadership ‘Gujarati thugs’

The BJP on Monday expelled one of its senior Lucknow-based leaders after he dubbed the party's top leadership as "Gujarati thugs" and asked if the BJP has chosen a 'pradhan mantri' (prime minister) or a prachar mantri (advertisement minister).

While attacking the BJP's top leadership in a series of tweets, the party's former spokesperson IP Singh also hailed Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's candidature from Azamgarh and offered him his residence for use as his poll campaign office.

"I P Singh has been expelled from the party for six years on directions of the BJP state president," said a party release.

The expulsion followed after Singh attacked the BJP leadership in a series of tweets from his official Twitter account having a prefix "usuldaar" (principled) to his name.

25 Mar 2019, 7:27 PM

Milind Deora appointed new Mumbai Regional Congress Committee chief

Former Union minister Milind Deora has been appointed new Mumbai Regional Congress Committee chief, replacing Sanjay Nirupam.

25 Mar 2019, 7:21 PM

Jammu smallholders harvest crop prematurely for Modi's rally

Farmers in a nondescript hamlet on the outskirts of Jammu harvested their crop prematurely to pave the way for the venue of a mega rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in their village on March 28.

A number of smallholders jointly harvested their wheat crop spread across several hectares of land in Malpur hamlet of Jammu district over the last two days.


25 Mar 2019, 6:48 PM

RJD's Jharkhand chief joins BJP, may get LS ticket

The Rashtriya Janata Dal's Jharkhand unit President Annapurna Devi on Monday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and is likely to be fielded in the Lok Sabha polls in the state.

Annapurna Devi, a four-time legislator, joined the BJP in New Delhi in presence of its national General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav and Chief Minister Raghubar Das. Former RJD legislator Janardan Paswan also joined the party.

Ahead of her joining the BJP, the RJD had removed her from her post and appointed Gautam Sagar Rana as its state chief.

25 Mar 2019, 6:41 PM

Can't allot 'pressure cooker' symbol to TTV Dhinakaran led unregistered party, EC tells SC

The Election Commission told the Supreme Court on Monday that it can allot a common symbol of "pressure cooker" to an individual but not to an unregistered group led by former AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and V K Sasikala in Tamil Nadu.

Dhinakaran told the apex court that the EC stand would force the candidates of AMMK party led by him to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on different symbols.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta asked senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Dhinakaran, as to when is the last date of filing nominations for Lok Sabha polls.


25 Mar 2019, 6:41 PM

Kuppalji Devadoss, independent candidate files nomination for Chennai South parliamentary constituency; pays security deposit in coins

Kuppalji Devadoss an independent candidate filed his nomination for Chennai South parliamentary constituency by paying his election security deposit in coins.

25 Mar 2019, 6:17 PM

Kapil Sibal: PM Modi's biopic violative of all norms

Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, “We represented to the EC that there is a film being made on Narendra Modi, to be launched just a few days before election, it's purpose is political. 3 producers and actor belong to BJP, director is involved in Vibrant Gujarat. This is violative of all norms.”


25 Mar 2019, 6:14 PM

NCP releases manifesto; assures complete loan waiver to small, middle income farmers

The Nationalist Congress Party on Monday released its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, promising complete loan waiver for small and middle income farmers and resumption of talks with Pakistan.

Releasing the manifesto at the party office here, NCP general secretary and chief spokesperson D P Tripathi said the party's endeavour will be to bring radicalised youth of Kashmir Valley into the mainstream and take stern action against those involved in 'brainwashing' them.

25 Mar 2019, 6:12 PM

Two candidates file papers for lone LS seat in Nagaland

Two candidates filed their papers for the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland on Monday, the last date for filing of nomination, officials said.

The election to the lone Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland and the byelection to the Aonglenden Assembly constituency will be held on April 11.

Two candidates - Hayithung Tungoe of National People's Party (NPP) and Dr M M Thromwa Konyak of Indian Christian Secular Party (ICSP) submitted their documents on the last day of filing nominations for the Lok Sabha seat in Nagaland, the officials said.


25 Mar 2019, 6:10 PM

Manmohan Singh, Azharuddin among 40 star campaigners of Congress in Odisha

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, and cricketer- turned-politicians Navjot Singh Sidhu and Mohammad Azharuddin are among the 40 star campaigners who will be canvassing for the grand old party in Odisha.

Elections to 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 Assembly constituencies will be held concurrently in the state in four phases - on April 11, 18, 23 and 29.

Among others who have found a mention in the list of star campaigners, released by the grand old party on Monday, are senior leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia and Sachin Pilot, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, his Chhattisgarh counterpart Bhupesh Baghel, ministers TS Singh Deo, Susmita Dev and Jitendra Singh.

25 Mar 2019, 6:09 PM

Sikkim CM Chamling files nomination from two seats

India's longest serving Chief Minister Pawan Chamling filed his nomination from Namchi Singithang and Poklok Kamrang assembly constituencies on Monday for the Sikkim assembly elections.

The 68-year-old Chamling, who has been helming Sikkim since December 12, 1994, filed his papers in Namchi, the headquarters of South Sikkim district.


25 Mar 2019, 6:09 PM

Kamal Haasan to campaign for Trinamool in Andamans

Popular actor and Tamil Nadu-based Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan, who met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, will campaign for her Trinamool Congress in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

The Trinamool has fielded eight-time Congress MP Manoranjan Bhakta's grandson Ayan Mondal as its candidate in the Andaman and Nicobar constituency.

25 Mar 2019, 5:51 PM

BJP replaces 4 sitting MPs with fresh faces in Assam

The BJP has dropped four sitting MPs of Assam and replaced them with fresh faces, including two ministers, to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Sitting MPs Bijoya Chakravarty, Ramen Deka and Kamakhya Prasad Tasa were not named in the party's first list of candidates, while Ram Prasad Sarmah's name did not figure in the second list.

The party selected former city mayor Queen Ojha for Guwahati seat in place of former union minister and three-time MP Bijoya Chakravarty, while BJP state general secretary Dilip Saikia was nominated in place of two-time MP and the party's former state president Ramen Deka for Mangaldai constituency.


25 Mar 2019, 5:50 PM

Policeman-turned-BSP leader shot dead in Ghaziabad

A Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader was shot dead in Loni town of of Ghaziabad district on Monday in a suspected fallout of a property dispute, police said.

Shabbir Hussain Zaidi, who took voluntary retirement from the UP Police where he was a sub-inspector to join the party, was on a morning walk in Uttaranchal residential colony when waiting assailants opened fire at him.

He was rushed to the GTB hospital in Delhi where doctors declared him dead.

25 Mar 2019, 5:37 PM

Chandraprakash Choudhary to be Ajsu candidate for Giridih seat

The Ajsu party on Monday announced that Jharkhand Water Resources Minister and senior party leader Chandraprakash Choudhary would be its candidate for the Giridih Lok Sabha seat.

Jharkhand has 14 Lok Sabha seats. The BJP has left Giridih seat to its NDA partner Ajsu party, which was earlier known as All Jharkhand Students Union.

"Ajsu party leader Chandraprakash Choudhary will be the NDAs candidate from Giridih Lok Sabha seat," Ajsu party president and former deputy chief minister Sudesh Mahto said.


25 Mar 2019, 4:57 PM

Over 200 farmers file nominations in Nizamabad LS seat

Over 200 farmers have filed nominations in Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency in Telangana to protest the failure of the state and Central governments to ensure better remunerative process for their produce.

Chief Minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K. Chandrashekhar Rao's daughter K. Kavitha is seeking re-election from the seat.

On the last day of filing of nominations on Monday, dozens of turmeric and red sorghum farmers were seen standing in the queue outside the office of Returning Officer to submit their nomination papers as Independent candidates.

25 Mar 2019, 4:48 PM

Congress open to support from all anti-Citizenship Bill groups: Gogoi

Senior Congress leader Tarun Gogoi Monday said the party will seek support from all organisations and social groups who are opposed to the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

The former Assam chief minister said Meghalaya-based National People's Party was contesting most of the seats in Assam and North East and alleged that it is aimed at helping the BJP.


25 Mar 2019, 4:41 PM

It will be a fight between people of the country and PM Modi, says Tejashwi Yadav

25 Mar 2019, 4:34 PM

Odisha Chief Minister and BJD Chief Naveen Patnaik files nomination for the Bijepur assembly constituency


25 Mar 2019, 4:16 PM

Paralympics Games winner Deepa Malik, who hails from Haryana, joins BJP.

25 Mar 2019, 4:11 PM

Congress delegation to meet ECI over release of PM Modi’s biopic

A Congress delegation comprising Randeep Singh Surjewala, Kapil Sibal, and Abhishek Manu Singhvi to meet Election Commission of India over the biopic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi later today.


25 Mar 2019, 4:03 PM

Karti Chidambaram files nomination for the Sivaganga parliamentary constituency in Tamil Nadu as the Congress candidate.

25 Mar 2019, 4:02 PM

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) releases their election manifesto for the Lok Sabha Elections 2019


25 Mar 2019, 3:50 PM

Former Telecom minister Sukh Ram, his grandson Aashray Sharma join Congress: AICC in-charge for Himachal Congress Rajni Patil.

25 Mar 2019, 3:39 PM

NCP releases list of star campaigners for Lok Sabha Elections from Maharashtra

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) releases list of star campaigners for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 for Maharashtra. Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel and Supriya Sule feature on the list.


25 Mar 2019, 3:32 PM

Om Prakash Rajbhar has raised fresh demands of five seats in Uttar Pradesh; gives BJP ultimatum

Disgruntled ally of the BJP and chief of Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, Om Prakash Rajbhar has raised fresh demands of five seats in Uttar Pradesh, giving an ultimatum of 24 hours to the BJP.

"I have given 24 hours to the BJP to take a decision on our seats else we will go our way,” Om Prakash Rajbhar said according to CNN News18.

25 Mar 2019, 3:29 PM

Paralympian Deepa Malik(in file pic) and INLD MLA Kehar Singh Rawat to join BJP


25 Mar 2019, 3:28 PM

RLD chief files nomination from Muzaffarnagar

RLD chief Choudhary Ajit Singh on Monday filed his nomination as the SP-BSP-RLD alliance candidate from Muzaffarnagar for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

While former Union minister and sitting MP Sanjeev Balyan is the BJP contender, the Congress has not fielded any candidate from the seat.

Meanwhile, Shivpal Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party-Lohia (PSP-L) has fielded Ombir Singh from the constituency.

District Magistrate Ajay Shanker Pandey told reporters here security has been tightened in the district and that the model code of conduct is in place.

Muzaffarnagar will go to polls on April 11.

25 Mar 2019, 2:28 PM

Congress president Rahul Gandhi says 20% families belonging to poor section will be given ₹72,000 each annually as minimum income if Congress comes to power


25 Mar 2019, 2:24 PM

We have studied fiscal implications of the scheme. Final assault on poverty has begun: Rahul Gandhi

25 Mar 2019, 2:19 PM

We will wipe out poverty from the country: Rahul Gandhi


25 Mar 2019, 2:19 PM

We have studied fiscal implications of the scheme. Final assault on poverty has begun: Rahul Gandhi

25 Mar 2019, 2:19 PM

This money is perfectly available and this scheme is perfectly doable: Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi says, “The entire calculations have been done, the repercussions have been analyzed. This money is perfectly available and this scheme is perfectly doable.”


25 Mar 2019, 2:13 PM

Ahluwalia dropped, BJP fields Bisht from Darjeeling

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday denied a ticket to Union Minister SS Ahluwalia and has fielded Raju Singh Bisht from Darjeeling parliamentary constituency in West Bengal.

25 Mar 2019, 2:11 PM

Minimum income support will be called ‘nyay’: Rahul Gandhi

“The minimum income support proposal will be called ‘nyay’.The scheme will bring justice to the poor,” said Rahul Gandhi.


25 Mar 2019, 2:11 PM

Congress promises to implement Minimum Income Guarantee scheme if voted to power

25 Mar 2019, 2:09 PM

People have suffered in last five years. We will give justice to them, says Rahul Gandhi


25 Mar 2019, 2:07 PM

5 crore families and 25 crore people will directly benefit because of MIG scheme

5 crore families and 25 crore people will directly benefit from this scheme. All calculations have been done. There is no such scheme anywhere else in the world says Rahul Gandhi.

25 Mar 2019, 2:05 PM

Congress party promises that India's 20%,most poor families will get yearly 72,000 rupees in their bank accounts under minimum basic income guarantee scheme.


25 Mar 2019, 2:05 PM

“Through Minimum Income Guarantee, each person will be given ₹12,000,” says Rahul Gandhi

25 Mar 2019, 2:01 PM

Congress president Rahul Gandhi talks about the Minimum Income Guarantee at press conference


25 Mar 2019, 1:52 PM

Giriraj Singh refuses to contest polls from Begusarai seat reports ABP News

25 Mar 2019, 1:46 PM

Congress Central Election Committee approved candidature of Sachin Choudhary to replace Rashid Alvi in Amroha

The Congress Central Election Committee approved of the candidature of Sachin Choudhary to replace Rashid Alvi as the Congress candidate for the Amroha parliamentary constituency of Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE: SC for more VVPAT matching in polls

25 Mar 2019, 1:46 PM

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to address the media shortly

25 Mar 2019, 1:19 PM

Mayawati attacks BJP govt over farmers' cane dues

BSP supremo Mayawati on Monday hit out at the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over rising cane arrears to farmers, asking why it cannot act tough against the erring sugar mill owners.

"How can the UP sugarcane farmers be happy and prosperous when their arrears amount to Rs. 10 thousand crores ? This is a matter to ponder on. Anti-farmers and pro-capitalist BJP government need not make wrong claims," Mayawati said in a tweet.

"Why is BJP not acting tough against the mill owners like the BSP government and getting all the arrears of the farmers cleared?" she asked.


25 Mar 2019, 1:02 PM

DMK temporarily suspends actor Radha Ravi

The DMK has temporarily suspended veteran actor Radha Ravi from the party for his derogatory remarks against actor Nayanthara.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President MK Stalin on Sunday took to Twitter to upload the suspension notice of the actor.

The DMK said Ravi was acting in a manner that brought disrepute to the party, defying the party discipline and was temporarily suspended from the party.

Stalin said the party upholds the rights of women and Ravi's views about the female movie actors was unacceptable and strongly condemnable.

25 Mar 2019, 12:51 PM

HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi files nomination from Gaya

Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Monday filed his nomination papers from the Gaya parliamentary constituency for the Lok Sabha polls.

Manjhi's party is part of the opposition Grand Alliance of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) and Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP).

Manjhi was accompanied by several leaders of the Grand Alliance, including former minister and RJD legislator Surender Yadav and Congress legislator Avadesh Singh. Party workers and supporters raised loud slogans as he submitted the documents.

Gaya is Manjhi's home district. He belongs to the Musahar community, one of the most backward communities.


25 Mar 2019, 12:47 PM

CWC meets to finalise Congress manifesto

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met on Monday to discuss and give a final shape to the party's manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections that kicks off on April 11.

Party leaders were also expected to discuss whether or not Congress President Rahul Gandhi should contest from a second seat in one of the southern states.

The CWC is the highest decision-making body of the party. It is meeting for the second time in less than two weeks.

25 Mar 2019, 12:44 PM

Gadkari files nomination for the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday filed his nomination for the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat, where polls will be held on April 11.

Gadkari, who had defeated Vilas Muttemwar (Congress) in the 2014 elections by a margin of 2.84 lakh votes, said he will win with a bigger margin this time around.

The BJP veteran was accompanied by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Energy Minister Chandrashekar Bawankule, family members and a large number of party workers, while filing his nomination.


25 Mar 2019, 12:40 PM

SC directs EC to reply by Mar 28 on whether it can increase VVPAT sample survey from one in each assembly segment at present

SC directs EC to reply by Mar 28 on whether it can increase VVPAT sample survey from one in each assembly segment at present

25 Mar 2019, 12:25 PM

National Conference-Congress candidate from Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah files nomination


25 Mar 2019, 12:01 PM

After rly tickets, now boarding pass of Air India have PM pics; airline says looking into it

A boarding pass issued by Air India with pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has come under criticism, days after the PM's photo on railway tickets created a furore.

The airline said the passes featuring the photographs, which were third-party advertisements, would be withdrawn if they are found to be in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Former Punjab DGP Shashi Kant on Monday tweeted a photograph of his boarding pass issued at the New Delhi airport, questioning how pictures of the two leaders could be on it.

25 Mar 2019, 11:23 AM

Congress Working Committee meeting commences in Delhi

Congress President Rahul Gandhi chairs Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting at party headquarters.


25 Mar 2019, 11:43 AM

BJP names candidate for Tura Lok Sabha seat in Meghalaya

The BJP, an ally of the NPP- led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government in Meghalaya, has named party's state unit vice president Rikman G Momin as its candidate for Tura parliamentary constituency.

On Saturday, the party had announced three-time MLA Sanbor Shullai as its nominee from Shillong Lok Sabha seat.

The announcement, however, did not come across as a shocker to its allies in the MDA government as the party's state unit president, Shibun Lyngdoh, had clarified on an earlier occasion that the BJP, being a national party, will go by the decision of the central election committee.

The ruling coalition, barring the BJP, is fielding UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh from the Shillong seat, while NPP's Agatha Sangma is a common candidate from the Tura seat.

25 Mar 2019, 11:42 AM

Former Odisha DGP and DG CRPF Prakash Mishra to contest in Lok Sabha election from Cuttack in Odisha

Former Odisha DGP and DG CRPF Prakash Mishra to contest from parliamentary constituency of Cuttack in Odisha. He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday.


25 Mar 2019, 11:20 AM

SC refuses to entertain plea seeking direction to Election Commission to ban roadshows and bike rallies during polls

25 Mar 2019, 11:01 AM

We will fight as one against those who want to divide India says Congress in a tweet


25 Mar 2019, 11:15 AM

BJP releases list of candidates for Odisha; new joinee Kharbela Swain to contest from Kandhamal

Bharatiya Janata Party releases list of candidates for two parliamentary constituencies and nine assembly constituencies in Odisha. Kharbela Swain who joined BJP today to contest from parliamentary constituency of Kandhamal.

25 Mar 2019, 9:40 AM

Priyanka Gandhi slams Yogi govt over condition of Shiksha Mitras

“The shiksha mitras of Uttar Pradesh are insulted and humiliated every day. Hundreds of the victims have committed suicide. Those who took to streets to protest were lathi charged, the government registered them under NSA. The BJP leaders are busy in the marketing of Tshirts. Had they paid more attention to the victims and their problems, would have been better,”said Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in a tweet.


25 Mar 2019, 10:23 AM

Former BJP MP and founder of political party Utkal Bharat, Kharbela Swain joins BJP

Former BJP MP and founder of political party Utkal Bharat, Kharbela Swain joins BJP in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at state party headquarters in Bhubaneswar.

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