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Prime Minister Narendra Modi's letter to Phase 3 candidates, Congress president Kharge launched a scathing attack on the PM by claiming that the lies in the speeches are not having the effect intended. «From the tone and content of the letter it seems that there is a lot of desperation and worry in you which is leading you to use language that does not suit the office of the Prime Minister. The letter makes it look like the lies in your speeches are not having the effect you intended and now you want your candidates to amplify your lies. Repeating a lie a thousand times will not make it the truth,» said Kharge in the letter shared on social media X.

SIT) formed for probing the sex scandal involving Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna has issued a look-out notice against him on Thursday, Times Now reported. The grandson of former PM Devegowda had sought 7-day time to appear for probe, which was denied. Revanna, accused of sexually abusing several women, had given his first response on the matter on Wednesday and said that the truth will prevail.

Congress' candidates for the Amethi and Raebareli constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, once considered a stronghold of the Nehru-Gandhi family. According to sources, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is already on the Congress ticket from Wayanad in Kerala, which polled in the second phase on April 26, is likely to put himself in the fray from Amethi as well. Rahul's candidature from the seat he lost to Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irin 2019 will be formally announced on Thursday, and he will file his nomination from the constituency on Friday, sources said.

Congress on Wednesday took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing the ruling party of harping on '400 paar' in the Lok Sabha polls so that they could change the Constitution and end reservations and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether he will support an amendment to the Constitution for the purpose. Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here today, party general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said that the party had some questions for Prime Minister Narendra Modi — specifically, his views on removing the 50 per cent cap on SC, ST and OBC quota. He alleged that the BJP is «talking about '400 paar'» to change the Constitution as the «BJP and the RSS are against secularism and social justice.»

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Wednesday officially declared AnjSoren, sister of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, as its candidate from the Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha seat in Odisha. She is the daughter of JMM founder Shibu Soren. Anjani is all set to take on BJP's Naba Charan Majhi and BJD's Sudam Marndi, who was once spearheading the JMM in Odisha.

Muslim Reservation' debate, the Telugu Desham Party (TDP) has lent its support to the cause, advocating for reservation for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh. Speaking at a Praja Galam meeting in Guntur, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu emphasised that the TDP has actively fought for Muslim reservations in the state, asserting that it is the party's obligation to fulfil its promises. «We will preserve the 4 percent reservations for Muslims and will provide Rs 5,000 in financial assistance every month for mosque maintenance in the state,» he said.

Hubballi (Karnataka): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday met Congress Councillor Niranjan Hiremath and assured justice for his daughter Neha who was stabbed to death inside her college campus last month. The 23-year-old Neha, daughter of the Congress Councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, was stabbed to death by her former classmate Fayaz Khodunaik on the campus of her college in Dharwad on April 18. The incident sparked widespread condemnation and protests. After meeting Shah, Hiremath said that the union home minister assured them that justice would be done, and said that if needed, the case can be handed over to the CBI for further investigation. Speaking to PTI Videos, Hiremath said, «Today union home minister came here and we met him. I have given a memorandum to him stating about my daughter's murder which happened on April 18. Though he is aware about the incident, I still gave him a copy of the complaint and FIR. I also gave him a request letter seeking changes in the IPC section for such incidents».

Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the BJP cannot remain with those who commit atrocities against women, referring to the sexual abuse allegations against JDS Lok Sabha poll candidate Prajwal Revanna. He also blamed the Congress government in Karnataka for not acting against the Hassan MP till the Lok Sabha polls in the Vokkaliga belt were over. Prajwal is the grandson of former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda and son of former minister H D Revanna. He is seeking a re-election from Hassan on the JD(S) ticket. Just before the elections, a huge cache of explicit videos and photographs, allegedly involving him have gone viral in the social media, following which the Karnataka government constituted the SIT on the request of Karnataka State Commission for Women chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary.

Narendra Modi on Wednesday challenged the Congress to give a guarantee in writing that it will never give quota based on religion and asserted that as long as he is alive he will not allow anyone to «play the game of reservation». As the quota row escalated with five more phases left in the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress on its part asked Modi to clear his stance on whether he will remove the 50 per cent cap on reservation for Scheduled Castes(SC), Scheduled Tribes(ST) and Other Backward Class(OBC). The seven-phase elections concludes on June one. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also said the BJP will never do away with reservations for SC/ST/OBC categories nor will it allow the Congress to do so. In his first public address in Gujarat as part of the third phase of Lok Sabha elections in his home state, Prime Minister Modi said that as long as the BJP and he remain, the reservation granted to SC/ST/OBC and economically weaker sections will be safeguarded and not harmed.

Prajwal Revanna's sex videos: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to get Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna's (JDS) diplomatic passport cancelled and his swift return to India to face the police investigation into the charges of sexual exploitation of women. Within hours, Revanna Jr posted a message on social media saying he has sought time to appear before the SIT, CID as he is not in Bengaluru. Truth will come out soon, he said. His advocate has requested the SIT to give the MP seven days of time to appear before it. He is the grandson of former PM HD Deve Gowda and fought the April 26 Lok Sabha polls as NDA candidate from Hassan.

YSRCP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday claimed that TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu is wishing for harm to befall him, but asserted that the people will save him. The chief minister made the allegation at Bobbili in Vizianagaram district during a public meeting as part of the last day of his four-day whirlwind election campaign tour across the state. «I will not forget Chandrababu's remarks in the assembly that my father (Y S Rajasekhar Reddy) would vanish in thin air. Unable to face me, he (Naidu) is making these kind of untoward statements. Back then against my father and now against me,» said Reddy, addressing a public meeting. The YSRCP chief claimed that the alleged statements by Naidu are a demonstration of his «criminal nature». «Chandrababu is saying 'what is wrong if Jagan is killed'. Jagan will not die by Chandrababu's wishes, people will protect Jagan,» he asserted.

Karnataka government is under scrutiny for its delayed response to the sex video case involving JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, sparking a contentious debate between the Congress and BJP, with questions arising about political motivations. Congress's decision to postpone action until after the initial phase of voting in the state on April 26 is seen as a strategic move. Sources suggest the party aimed to avoid alienating Vokkaliga voters, predominant in phase 1, due to tensions with the Kurubas, represented by CM Siddaramaiah. The Gowda family, including Prajwal, holds significant influence among the Vokkaliga community, a TOI report stated. Following elections in southern Karnataka, where three members of the Gowda family contested, Siddaramaiah's government established a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Prajwal, the grandson of former PM HD Deve Gowda, is seeking re-election from Hassan as an NDA candidate, while his father, HD Revanna, serves as a JD(S) MLA for Holenarsipur. Both were named in an FIR filed recently, alleging sexual harassment by a former domestic help and her daughter.

Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray led outfit will battle it out in three seats. While two seats will witness fights between the traditional rivals — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, in one seat the Shiv Sena (UBT) and BJP will fight it out. The six constituencies in Mumbai are Mumbai South, Mumbai South-Central, Mumbai North, Mumbai North-Central, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai North-West. These are among the 13 seats in Maharashtra that will go to polls in the fifth and final phase on May 20. Mumbai South, Mumbai South-Central and Mumbai North-West will see a fight between the two Senas, while Mumbai North-East will be a BJP versus Shiv Sena (UBT) face-off. In Mumbai South, sitting MP Arvind Sawant of the Uddhav Thackeray will take on Yamini Jadhav of the Shinde-led Sena. Jadhav represents the Byculla assembly constituency in Mumbai. Sena (UBT) leader Anil Desai is pitted against Rahul Shewale of the Shinde-led Sena in Mumbai South-Central.

Naveen Patnaik has declared assets valued at Rs 71.07 crore, up by over Rs 7 crore in the last five years, as mentioned in an affidavit filed by him in the Election Commission. The BJD chief had shown assets of Rs 63.87 crore in 2019. Patnaik on Tuesday filed his nomination papers for the Hinjili assembly segment to seek election for the sixth time along with the 64-page affidavit in which he mentioned movable assets of over Rs 14.05 crore and immovable properties worth Rs 57.02 crore. His movable assets include term deposits in various banks and post offices, while Rs 13.66-crore Naveen Niwas in Bhubaneswar and a Rs 43.35-crore house at APJ Abdul Kalam Road, New Delhi are among his immovable assets.

Revanna, accused of sexually abusing several women, has given his first response on the matter on Wednesday and has said that the truth will prevail. «As I am not in Bangalore to attend the enquiry, I have communicated to C.I.D Bangalore through my Advocate. Truth will prevail soon,» he said in a post on X.

Congress MLA Dalvir Singh Goldy, who had quit the party over denial of ticket from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, on Wednesday joined the AAP. While welcoming Goldy into the party fold, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann referred to him as his «younger brother» and a «hardworking youth». «We welcome him along with his supporters,» he said. Goldy worked a lot and became an MLA but he was ignored by the Congress, Mann, who was flanked by AAP candidate from Sangrur seat Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, said.

Congress today released a video featuring Rahul Gandhi discussing chess, captioned «Just like in chess, Rahul Gandhi stays ahead of the game, always thinking several moves ahead!». In the video, Rahul Gandhi shares insights about his relationship with the game, mentioning that he began playing at the age of seven. When asked about what he enjoys about chess, Rahul highlights one of its intriguing aspects: as players improve, opponent pieces can start to operate almost like their own. Thus, players must consider not only their own pieces but also those of their opponent, recognizing that sometimes the opponent's pieces can serve their strategy. He also reveals Gary Kasparov as his favorite chess player due to his non-linear thinking.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised BJP, stating that it became the world's richest party in just 10 years, while Congress didn't earn so much in 70 years. Between FY 2021-22 and 2022-23, the income of the BJP increased by 23.15 per cent or Rs 443.724 crore from Rs 1917.12 crore during FY 2021-22 to Rs 2360.844 crore during FY 2022-23, according to the ADR report.

Congress on Wednesday reiterated its 'Shramik Nyay' guarantees on International Labour Day, and said its promise of Rs 400 per day national minimum wage is the real '400 paar'. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh listed the party's guarantees for labourers and alleged that the past 10 years have been of 'anyay kaal' for them. On the occasion of International Labour Day it is most appropriate to recall the 'Shramik Nyay' guarantees in the Congress Nyay Patra for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he said. Elaborating on the guarantees, Ramesh said the Congress has promised 'Shram ka Samman' (Dignity for Labour)' with Rs 400 per day national minimum wage, including for MGNREGA.

mafia raj" was going on in Assam, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday claimed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma was involved in multiple scams. Addressing an election rally in Dhubri, she claimed Sarma has a «secret understanding» with Badruddin Ajmal of the AIUDF just like BJP has with Assaduddin Owaisi in Telangana, both of which were aimed at defeating the Congress. She also hit out at the BJP on the sexual abuse allegations against Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna and said that PM Narendra Modi sought votes for him and then did not stop him from leaving the country. The Congress leader also attacked the BJP on the electoral bonds issue.

Delhi High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Wednesday which sought direction to the Election Commission of India to develop a mechanism promptly to ensure that political leaders and candidates would be allowed to campaign virtually with reasonable restrictions. The bench, led by the Acting Chief Justice, mentioned that if such a thing were to happen, individuals like Dawood Ibrahim and other notorious criminals might establish a political party, participate in elections, and conduct campaigns via video conferencing. The bench also stated that even individuals convicted of heinous crimes such as rape and murder could potentially create a political party for their objectives. The bench, including Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, stated that they are aware of the propaganda behind such petitions and are well informed about it. They have handled numerous petitions recently and have also imposed costs on the petitioners for submitting frivolous pleas.