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Prashant Kishor is sticking to his poll forecast with about 24 hours left for the exit polls. The weeks long voting process for the Lok Sabha elections gets over tomorrow. The final phase of the seven phase Lok Sabha election will be finished tomorrow with polling in 57 parliamentary seats across seven states and the Union territory of Chandigarh. After the final phase of voting ends all eyes will be on exit polls. The news channels are allowed to air exit polls from 6:30 pm tomorrow. Speaking with Vir Sanghvi at The Print, Prashant Kishor said that he expects Modi-led BJP to get same number of seats it bagged in 2019 elections or may perform even better. «To my mind, BJP is going to come back with similar or slightly better majority. In my assessment, in west and northern India, I don't see BJP taking a material hit in terms of seat,» he said. BJP had bagged 303 seats in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, with bulk of seats from northern and western India. Prashant Kishor said the he does not foresee BJP losing that many seats from north and west India and the BJP has got «adequate cover from east and southern India.'

election campaign of the Lok Sabha polls ended on Thursday, Congress' star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi's marathon election campaign in this poll season clocked 108 public meetings and roadshows, more than 100 media bytes, one television interview, and five print interviews spread over the last 55 days, the party said. Priyanka Gandhi, who campaigned in 16 states and one union territory, hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's attack on the Congress party and his allegations in a measured manner. Her speeches garnered adequate attention in this election as she shattered the Prime Minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party's efforts to misdirect the narrative, the Congress said. Gandhi's dialogue, conversation style, gentleness, simplicity, and humility received much praise from the public.

BJP of making efforts to mislead the people on religious and divisive issues in the Lok Sabha election campaign, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speeches over the past 15 days «did not speak a word» on unemployment and price rise even as he mentioned «Modi» 758 times, Congress 232 times and referred to INDIA alliance 573 times. Addressing a press conference here, Kharge expressed confidence of the INDIA bloc forming the government after the Lok Sabha polls and said they will take everyone along. He accused the Election Commission of not acting on «divisive» speeches by PM Modi

Basirhat (WB): BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday urged women in troubled Sandeshkhali region, as well as other areas of Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency, to blow conch shells as a signal if they see any suspicious activities before the June 1 election. Speaking at a campaign rally in support of BJP candidate Rekha Patra, Adhikari voiced concerns about potential visits by «TMC-controlled state police» and others to intimidate residents into voting for the ruling party. He advised residents to blow conch shells if they observe unfamiliar people entering their neighborhoods late at night and cautioned against accepting money from organisations linked to the TMC. «If you (residents) see any suspicious movement at night, if you notice police personnel accompanied by strangers but not central force personnel entering your locality, blow conch shells if the situation warrants,» he said.

Kolkata: No joy for residents of the City of Joy who seem to have been thrust into a whirlwind of anxiety and are bracing for a possible disruption in their daily lives starting this Friday. The source of their dread is the looming Lok Sabha polls on June 1 when the city and its suburbs vote and its aftermath till the results are announced on June 4. This critical period promises chaos, as a substantial portion of the workforce engaged in myriad professions across the metropolis prepares to abandon the city and return to their villages to exercise voting rights. Polling will take place in various constituencies in Kolkata and its adjacent districts of North, and South 24 Parganas in the final leg of the general elections.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said renowned figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Albert Einstein drew inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi. He made these remarks during a political gathering in Odisha's Balasore district. Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that the world only learned of Mahatma Gandhi through the film 'Gandhi,' Rahul Gandhi criticised those affiliated with the RSS, suggesting their lack of understanding regarding Gandhi's legacy. «Whose training is done in 'sakha' of RSS, they are followers of Godse, they do not know anything about Gandhiji. They do not know about the history of Hindustan, truth and violence. This is expected that the PM will tell that the world does not know anything about Gandhiji,» he said.

INDIA bloc will get a "decisive mandate" in the Lok Sabha polls and may take even less than 48 hours to decide on its prime ministerial pick, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Thursday, asserting that it stands to reason that the party which gets the maximum seats in the alliance will be a «natural claimant» for its leadership. In an interview with PTI on the last day of campaigning for the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls, the Congress general secretary exuded confidence that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will get seats «well above» the 272-mark needed for a majority in the Lower House. Ramesh also said that when the INDIA 'janbandhan' parties will get the people's mandate, then some NDA parties may join the coalition and the Congress high command will have to decide whether to include them in the alliance or not. Asked whether post-polls doors will remain open for NDA allies such as JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, the Congress leader said, «Nitish Kumar is the master of 'palti (volte-face)'.

Platform for promise Congress' promise of directly crediting ₹8,500 into the accounts of women heads of families belonging to the BPL category under its Mahalakshmi scheme has received mixed response in UP. Those doubting it have just one statement to offer: «it will just be like BJP's promise of transferring ₹15 lakh to the accounts of Indian citizens every year.» But goaded by their wives, some are ready to support the party. «Like we hoped for ₹15 lakh, let us, for a change, hope for this too,» said a voter. ‘Khatakhat’, ‘Fatafat’ Congress leader Rahul Gandhi using the word “khatakhat, khatakhat” to denote how people will receive money in their accounts after INDIA bloc comes to power has caught on among other Congress leaders and Opposition leaders like Tejaswi Yadav who have made it a part of their campaign speeches now. Congress’ Varanasi candidate Ajay Rai recently asked people to vote “khatakhat, khatakhat” for him on June 1 and added if done, he would get their work accomplished “fatafat, fatafat, fatafat”.

telecast Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meditation in Kanniyakumari, during the last phase of polling, it would amount to violation of the model code of conduct, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has said. «Around 48 hours before the last phase of election, he goes to some place, sits and meditates. Does anyone meditate in front of cameras? He can meditate, but televisions cannot show it. It violates MCC during the silence period, ahead of the election on June 1,» Banerjee contended. Is he going there to inhale fresh air," she asked, adding that she had planned a trip to Kanniyakumari after polls but dropped it after hearing about Modi's plan. «During elections, such campaigns cannot be done… When someone does puja, is it done before the camera? His time will expire on June 4. He knows that he will be defeated. He has lost in Bihar and other states,» she claimed.

Congress on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was trying to «circumvent» the silence period restrictions with his 48-hour meditation trip from May 30 in violation of the model code of conduct and urged the Election Commission to ensure that it is not aired by the media. A delegation of Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Singhvi and Syed Naseer Hussain met the Election Commission and handed over a memorandum with complaints of alleged model code violations by the BJP. The Congress claimed that the meditation programme by the prime minister in Kanyakumari's 'Dhyan Mandapam" was a clear violation of the silence period ahead of the June 1 voting in Modi's Varanasi constituency and other seats. It was also in breach of the Model Code of Conduct and provisions under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the opposition party contended.

BJP leader Sanjay Tandon who is making his Lok Sabha election debut from the Chandigarh parliamentary seat said his opponent and senior Congress leader Manish Tewari is a "political tourist" and will look for a new constituency in 2029 to fight polls from. Tandon, who has been the Chandigarh BJP President for 10 years, exuded confidence that the party will secure a hat-trick of wins from the constituency which will go to polls in the seventh phase on June 1. «Manish Tewari is a political tourist… In 1991, he went to Kanpur to contest election… even before he reached the constituency people objected and he was sent back to Delhi from the airport itself,» Tandon told PTI in an interview. «Since then he has been behaving like this only. He goes to a constituency, tries to play with the system there. He has been elected twice from two different constituencies. The question that comes to the mind of people in Chandigarh is why did he leave Ludhiana?» he asked.

increase of 43 per cent over the last five years in the assets of 324 MPs who have entered the poll fray again in this Lok Sabha elections, according to an analysis by a poll rights body. The average assets of these MPs in 2019 was around Rs 21.55 crore while in the current electoral cycle, the average asset value has increased «significantly» to Rs 30.88 crore, marking an increase of Rs 9.33 crore over the past five years, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said in a report. It analysed the financial growth among Members of Parliament (MPs) recontesting in the 2024 general elections. The counting of votes for the seven-phase polls will be taken up on June 4. The percentage growth in assets for these 324 MPs between the 2019 and 2024 polls averages at 43 per cent, the ADR said.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, will be arrested as soon as he arrives at the airport. The statement comes two days after Prajwal released a video statement promising that he would appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the cases against him, on May 31. According to official sources, the Hassan MP has booked a return flight ticket to Bengaluru from Munich on May 30, and is expected to land in the city in the small hours of May 31. Addressing reporters, Parameshwara said, «All necessary measures have to be taken, as a warrant has been issued against him (Prajwal). He has to be arrested. SIT is waiting, they will arrest him and will take his statement, and their (SIT) process will start.»

Supreme Court's Registry refused to accept the request for an urgent hearing of Arvind Kejriwal's plea for an extension of his interim bail, BJP candidate and Union Minister Anurag Thakur said the Delhi Chief Minister can undertake a roadshow in the national capital's sweltering 47-degree temperature but is seeking bail on the pretext of ill health. «He is exposed once again. It is visible to everyone that he can do a roadshow in 47-degree temperatures but asks for bail on the pretext of ill health,» Thakur said. The Supreme Court's Registry on Wednesday said that the apex court's previous order gave Kejriwal the liberty to move the trial court for regular bail.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday here said the INDIA bloc, if it comes to power, will repeal the amendments made to the anti-terror law UAPA and references to religion in the law meant to grant citizenship to the refugees. There is no need for such a law which does not give a person even a chance to prove his innocence, he said, referring to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Many people have been in jail for a long time because of the laws that have been «weaponised,» he said. Tharoor said that the Congress seems way ahead of the BJP in the elections and that it is gaining seats where it got fewer ones in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi declared that the BJP's reign will end on June 4, ushering in a return to prosperity for the nation. Addressing a rally, Rahul emphasized that only seven days remain for the 'fake fakir' who deceives the public. «After June 4, it's Goodbye BJP, Goodbye Narendra Modi. Only 7 days left for the fake fakir who deceives the public. INDIA is garnering votes — Khata Khat Khata Khat! The country will break free from the BJP; better days are on the horizon — Fata Fat, Fata Fat,» Rahul asserted. Rahul also criticized Modi for his 'sent by God' remark. Responding to Modi's recent assertion of feeling «sent by God,» Rahul Gandhi taunted the PM, suggesting, «God sent Modi to aid Adani, not the impoverished.» He further asserted that the INDIA bloc will reinvigorate the economy upon assuming power.

Delhi court on Tuesday refused to summon Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a criminal complaint filed by a BJP leader who accused him of defamation for claiming that AAP leaders were approached to join the saffron party in return for cash. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tanya Bamniyal, however, summoned AAP leader Atishi, saying «prima facie» there was sufficient evidence against her in the matter. The judge directed Atishi, a minister in the Kejriwal cabinet, to appear before the court on June 29. BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor had filed a case against Kejriwal and Atishi over poaching allegations made by the two.

Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday said the various welfare schemes and policies in the country are «not pivoted to the poor». Chidambaram said an egalitarian society can be created only if the schemes and policies are oriented towards the poor. The former union minister was speaking on the topic 'Inclusive Growth: Myth and Reality' at the M P Veerendra Kumar Commemorative event organised by the RJD here. He said, «Unless we understand the economic and social hierarchies that mirror each other, and reorient our policies towards the bottom, especially the SCs, STs and other depressed sections, it will not be possible to call us an egalitarian society». He pointed out that the present society is not equal or reasonably equal, fair or just. «Not that it can never be. You can build an egalitarian society. Purely capitalist and rich countries have built egalitarian societies,» he said.

Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday summoned Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi Marlena in a defamation suit filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor. The court has asked the Delhi Minister to appear before it on June 29 in a suit which alleged that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi have accused the saffron party of attempting to lure AAP MLAS and bribe them to switch parties are unfounded and defamatory. The court has, however, refused to summon Arvind Kejriwal.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and State Congress chief D K Shivakumar should consult senior party leaders like him regarding selection of candidates for the MLC polls. The statement comes against the backdrop of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar's trip to New Delhi today to discuss with the party high command candidates for biennial election to 11 seats of Karnataka Legislative Council on June 13. «The Chief Minister and KPCC President are in responsible positions. It is appropriate if they consult seniors like us. Without consulting if they both decide on their own, it is not right according to me. Those with seniority and experience, both in the party and the government and having contacts, should be consulted. They have to discuss with us,» Parameshwara said.

Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said that the party leadership is in a «difficult position» as there are more than 300 ticket aspirants for the upcoming legislative council elections in the state. Shivakumar, who is also the state's deputy chief minister, said the party high command will decide on the tickets. Biennial elections to 11 seats of the Karnataka Legislative Council to be elected by Members of the Legislative Assembly will be held on June 13. As per the existing strength of parties in the assembly, the Congress can win 7 seats, the BJP three and JD(S) one seat. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar today left for New Delhi to discuss candidates with the Congress high command. The schedule for filing nominations for the MLC election has already begun, and it will go on till June 3.