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Odisha. With no alliance between the state's incumbent Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yet, both parties are confident of a favouring outcome from their respective election campaigns. Click here to participate in our Lok Sabha Elections Survey to gauge the mood of the nation. BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said with great credence that a big transformation in the electoral landscape of Odisha is underway and people are showing faith in the BJP.

Maneka Gandhi, BJP candidate and sitting MP from Sultanpur, emphasized her primary concern for her son Varun Gandhi’s happiness amidst ongoing political speculations. Varun Gandhi, who has been seen as distancing himself from the BJP since 2019, was notably absent from the BJP ticket list for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. I just want to see him (Varun Gandhi) happy: Maneka Gandhi Addressing the media, Maneka Gandhi said, «I just want to see him (Varun Gandhi) happy, and what more can one ask from life.» She clarified Varun's absence from the Pilibhit constituency race, a seat he has held three times, stating his commitment to supporting her campaign in Sultanpur.

Opposition parties have been critical, of course, about the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the recent electoral discourse, which they say is 'communal and polarising'. Yet, India’s top leader remains unfettered. The BJP stalwart believes he is merely showing the INDIA bloc a mirror. In an interview with The Economic Times, PM Modi spurned the allegations of the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign turning communal, polarising. «Perhaps, you find it polarising because you have not examined the crux of the matter. What is truly communal and polarising is the Congress party’s manifesto, their issues and their intent. It is my duty to expose them. Just because I am exposing them, you think it is polarising,» Modi said.

Uttarakhand BJP has lodged a police complaint against the Aam Aadmi Party, accusing it of tarnishing the image of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the party by posting an edited video of him on social media. On the complaint of Pradesh BJP IT cell co-convenor Praveen Lekhwar, an FIR was filed at the Dalanwala Police Station in Dehradun in the matter on Wednesday, state BJP media in-charge Manveer Chauhan said. Click here to participate in our Lok Sabha Elections Survey to gauge the mood of the nation A video of Dhami was tampered with and circulated on Instagram by AAP's social media cell as part of a conspiracy to tarnish the image of Dhami and the BJP, Lekhwar alleged in his complaint.

general elections enter their penultimate phase, the spotlight turns to Delhi's seven Lok Sabha seats. The BJP aims for another clean sweep, while Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress, allies in the INDIA bloc, seek to make significant inroads. AAP and Congress Form Alliance in Delhi AAP and Congress are contesting the elections as partners in the INDIA bloc, with AAP vying for four seats and Congress for three. The alliance also extends to one seat in Haryana and two in Gujarat, while opting for a friendly fight in Punjab.

Delhi riots. He vividly remembers how his shop in the main market was burnt and his family of 10 lived in a camp for over four months before they could gather the courage to return. «The shop took longer to rebuild but the business has not been the same,» he says. North East Delhi constituency, which has the maximum concentration of Muslim voters in Delhi at 20.7%, is divided along communal lines. The epicentre of the Delhi riots of 2020 which claimed 53 lives and left 583 injured, North East Delhi is witnessing a tight contest between two-term BJP MP Manoj Tiwari and Congress' Kanhaiya Kumar, a former CPI leader involved in students politics. Tiwari is the only BJP MP who has not been dropped by the party in Delhi. But anti-incumbency is visible on the ground.

Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Puri after offering prayers at the Lord Jagannath temple. Later in the day, BJP candidate Sambit Patra in a media interview said Lord Jagannath is a devotee of PM Modi. This was enough for Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal to pick it up and make it a poll issue. Patra later apologised for his «slip of tongue» and announced to hold a fast for three days as atonement for the sin he committed. On Wednesday, the party published a full-page ad in all leading newspapers of Bhubaneshwar and Puri with a written apology letter by Patra. Lord Jagannath is revered across the state and if it becomes an issue, then Patra will face the heat in Puri. However, an opponent like Arup Patnaik of the BJD is providing comfort to the BJP there. A former Mumbai police commissioner, Patnaik lost in 2019 from the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency and this time shifted to Puri.

Karnal | Panipat: A former CM and the currentCM are in the fray in Karnal — one contesting for the Lok Sabha elections and the other for the state assembly bypoll. Manohar Lal Khattar, who was replaced as Haryana CM, is contesting the Lok Sabha election after resigning from Karnal assembly seat. His successor Nayab Saini is contesting the by-poll from the same assembly seat. But more than the CM and the former CM, it is the two other candidates — Congress' Divyanshu Budhiraja and NCP-INLD joint candidate Virender Maratha — who have created a lot of buzz in this constituency, where the BJP registered the second highest margin in the previous Lok Sabha polls. Karnal is seen as one of the better seats for the BJP which its precursor, Jan Sangh, had won for the first time in 1962. While Karnal is hub for rice millers, dairy players and the footwear industry, Panipat in a handloom industry centre.

Prime minister, the 2014 Lok Sabha campaign was strongly anchored in the fight against corruption. In 2019, it was the 'labharthi' model reaching every segment of society, besides the national security imperative that took centre stage. The 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign was expected to be pitched on 'vikas' and 'Viksit Bharat'. But it seems to have turned communal and polarising, your thoughts? Perhaps, you find it polarising because you have not examined the crux of the matter. What is truly communal and polarising is Congress party's manifesto, their issues and their intent. It is my duty to expose them. Just because I am exposing them, you think it is polarising. You noted it correctly that in 2014, corruption was the main issue. In 2019, it was labarthis. In 2024, the main issue is Viksit Bharat. People across the country know that this is an important election which will ensure that we reach Viksit Bharat at the speed of the country's aspirations.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that the system is heavily aligned against the lower castes and that he knows the system from inside as his grandmother and father were prime minister and later he used to visit the PM's house when Manmohan Singh lived there. He asserted that the country's 90 per cent population including the Dalits, OBCs, tribal communities and the minorities does not have representation in the country's narrative and power structure. Gandhi said his party aims to ensure the participation of the country's 90 per cent population in the country's progress. Addressing an event in Panchkula this evening, Gandhi took a swipe at the BJP, saying the saffron party's «end» is coming.

Jaunpur: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday alleged that when the Congress was in power at the Centre, India's borders were insecure and the entire country was in disarray due to scams. He exuded confidence that the BJP would win the Lok Sabha polls with a huge majority and form government for the third time in a row. Addresding a poll rally here, the BJP leader said, «India's borders were insecure during the Congress rule and the entire country was in disarray due to scams.» «Today, the country has become strong under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When Pakistan made a mistake, it was attacked in its own home,» he said and reminded the gathering that it was the BJP government that abrogated Article 370.

Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi asked the BJP on Wednesday what they have done in the last 10 years to get back PoK? Owaisi also mentioned that he also wants that PoJK should be included in India but this issue only comes forward during the elections. «Now they (BJP) are not saying '400 paar'. The real issue is that the prices of petrol have crossed Rs 100 and the incidents of paper leaks are taking place in Varanasi, from where PM Modi is a candidate. They talk about Pok, but what have they done in the last 10 years to get it? We are also saying that PoK is a part of India and we should get it back but the issue of PoK only comes forward during elections,» he said.

Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against BJP's Puri Parliamentary Constituency candidate Sambit Patra for using a photo of Sri Jagannath temple in an advertisement issued by him in the local media. In a petition to the chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar, the BJD highlighted that the full-page advertisement featuring Patra's picture with Sri Jagannath Temple in the background also had the BJP's «lotus» symbol. The BJD also noted that on Monday, Patra made an «offensive» comment stating that «Lord Jagannath is the devotee of Modi,» which severely affected the sentiments of millions of Odias worldwide. Although Patra later clarified that his remark was inadvertently made and expressed regret, the BJD argued that the advertisement violated the Model Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates.

Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday tore into the INDIA bloc accusing it of being extremely "communal, casteist and nepotistic" as he alleged that all parties which are the Congress are to be blamed for the anti-Sikh riots. Addressing a rally in Dwarka, he said the BJP's development model is committed to 'nation first' but for the Congress and the INDIA grouping, the only agenda is 'family first'. «The country also understands that if by mistake any vote is cast in favour of INDI alliance, that vote is not going to be of any use to the country. Every vote given to BJP will strengthen the resolve of 'Viksit Bharat'. That is why this huge sea of people is also saying in one voice 'Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar',» he said. Attacking the Congress and the INDIA bloc, he said in Delhi, Sikhs were burnt alive.

corruption has taken place as the offender's mind uses new technology to commit offences without leaving behind any trace, the Delhi High Court has held while denying bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in the excise policy scam cases. The high court said it cannot accept the argument put forth by Sisodia about non-recovery of cash from him in view of the statements of some hawala dealers and other witnesses recorded during the investigation. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed the bail pleas filed by the former Delhi deputy chief minister in the corruption and money laundering cases lodged by the CBI and ED, respectively, in connection with the alleged liquor scam. While the two petitions were dismissed on Tuesday, the detailed order was uploaded on the high court's website on Wednesday.

Lok Sabha polls, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh has said that «the candidate of the biggest party will be the PM» as happened in 2004 and the name would be announced soon after the results. In an interview with ANI, Jairam Ramesh also talked of the party's demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the "Modscam", saying that a INDIA bloc government will form the committee within a month. He said INDIA Alliance will get «a clear and decisive» mandate in the Lok Sabha polls.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal breaking silence on Swati Maliwal assault case on Wednesday said that the incident has two versions he expects a fair investigation into the matter. In an interview to PTI, Kejriwal said the matter is currently «sub-judice» and his comment might affect the proceedings. «But I expect there will be a fair investigation. Justice should be served. There are two versions of the event. Police should investigate both versions fairly and justice should be done,» the Delhi CM said.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Agniveer scheme will be scrapped and thrown into dustbin if the INDIA bloc comes to power as he slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for «turning Hindustan ke jawan into labourers». In his first election meeting in Haryana for the Lok Sabha polls, the former Congress president also attacked Modi over the issue of farmers. Slamming the BJP government over the Agniveer scheme, he said, «This is Modi's scheme and not Army's scheme, Army does not want it». «When the INDIA bloc forms government, we will throw Agniveer scheme into dustbin,» he said at the rally held under the Mahendragarh-Bhiwani Lok Sabha seat.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took a dig at the Congress and Samajwadi parties, saying they «create chaos and stampede-like situations every day and threaten to bring back inheritance tax if voted to power after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a public meeting in Jaunpur, CM Yogi said, »...SP is in a very bad situation. It is a regional party. They are contesting elections for 60-62 seats. When they (the Samajwadi Party and Congress) are miles away from power, their party workers aren't respecting them; they create chaos, ruckus and stampede-like situations every day." «It's not a hidden fact that they would have exploited people in UP when they were in power...,» he said, targeting the two INDIA bloc alliance allies.

State Government has written to the ministry of external affairs (MEA) seeking cancellation of the diplomatic passport issued to Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna for dodging summons from the special investigation team (SIT) probing complaints of sexual abuse of women, against him. The letter follows a special court issuing an arrest warrant against him, Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Tuesday. The first-time MP is seeking reelection from Hassan as an NDA candidate, and fled the country a day after the April 26 polls.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is creating two Indias, where even justice is dependent on wealth. «If bus, truck drivers, Uber, auto drivers accidentally kill someone, they are punished with 10 years of imprisonment. But if a 16-17 year old son of a rich family drives a Porsche and kills two people, he is asked to write an essay. Why don't you ask truck or a bus driver to write essay?» said Rahul Gandhi in a video on social media platform X.