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Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has been claiming that BJP will win all five seats of first phase polling, to resign if Gaurav Gogoi wins from Jorhat constituency. Addressing a press conference here, Borah also criticised Sarma over his dance moves in campaign meetings and said he should join films if he wants to entertain people. In almost all his campaign meetings, Sarma ends his speeches by dancing to BJP's theme song, being used since the last Parliamentary election — 'Akou ebar Modi sarkar' (Modi's government, once more). «The CM is saying that BJP will win all the five seats of Upper Assam. I am directly challenging him: will he resign if Gaurav Gogoi wins from Jorhat?» asked the Congress leader.

Central Election Committee of the Congress party has selected candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar and Punjab. The meeting, chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Salman Khurshid, and Ambika Soni, finalized the candidates for several key constituencies. Bihar Candidates

Modi over his «redistribution of wealth» remark, Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday said he cannot recall that any other PM had made such «outrageous statements» with each sentence outdoing the previous one in its «absolute falsehood and brazen mendacity». Chidambaram's attack came a day after Prime Minister Modi said that if the Congress came to power, it would redistribute the wealth of people to «infiltrators» and «those who have more children», and cited former PM Manmohan Singh's remark that the minority community had the first claim on the country's resources. In a post on X, Chidambaram said, «I cannot recall that any other prime minister had made such outrageous statements like PM Modi did at Jalore & Banswara in Rajasthan yesterday. Each sentence outdid the previous sentence in its absolute falsehood and brazen mendacity.» «Will the BJP tell the world: when and where did the Congress say that we will distribute people's land, gold and other valuables among Muslims? When and where did the Congress say that a survey will be conducted to value the property of individuals, gold held by women and silver owned by tribal families?» the former Union minister said.

Amit Shah said on Sunday Gorkhas in Darjeeling will get their rightful justice and recognition of 11 tribes, which is a long-time demand of Gorkhas is under consideration. Welfare of Gorkhas is of prime importance to Bharatiya Janata Party, Shah said to people assembled in Darjeeling's Lebong at a public rally, through BJP Darjeeling candidate's mobile phone after his chopper could not land in Darjeeling's Lebong due to heavy cloud. «We stand with you in your fight for justice. The recognition of 11 tribes' which is a demand of Gorkhas is under consideration. The sacrifice of Gorkhas for this country is immense and we are aware of it,» Shah said. He also apologized to people for failing to reach Darjeeling. «My helicopter could not land in Darjeeling due to bad weather and heavy clouds. I apologize for that. But rumours are being spread about it. Please vote for Raju Bista who is the son of the soil,» Shah urged people assembled there.

TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said he cannot describe what YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has done to Andhra Pradesh and alleged that the latter was 'staging dramas'. The opposition leader made the remarks while distributing B-forms to TDP candidates at his Andhra Pradesh residence in Undavalli. The B-form is a nomination document signed by the authorised person of a political party, indicating the name of the candidate fielded by the outfit. It is proof that a particular candidate has been put up by a political party, and it ensures that the candidate is allotted the reserved symbol of that party. «Unable to describe what he (Jagan) has done for the state, Jagan Mohan Reddy has raised (the) curtains to stage dramas and the people are simply detesting it,» said Naidu. The TDP supremo termed the stone pelting attack on Reddy as a 'drama', which miserably failed. «We are fighting devils and demons and you all should move ahead with a determination,» said Naidu, addressing the TDP candidates.

Himachal Pradesh BJP Sunday filed a complaint against the Congress and the Hamirpur Youth Congress Club for allegedly portraying actor and BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, in a negative light by using pictures from her films. The BJP urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to initiate appropriate legal action against them for using objectionable, scandalous and offensive language on social media. In its complaint to the ECI, with copy to the Himachal chief electoral officer, the BJP alleged that the Congress has directed its various wings to assassinate the character of Kangana on social media. The Hamirpur Youth Congress Club has used a picture of Kangana from her «artistic pursuits» to portray her as a negative character and posted «derogatory double meaning remarks». The complaint filed by BJP state media in-charge Karan Nanda cited the repeated instances of alleged «serious violations» of the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860; Representation of People Act (RPA), 1951; and the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the Congress leaders.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is running a «school of corruption» in the country where he himself is teaching under the subject 'Entire Corruption Science". In a post on X, Rahul said that the BJP has made this course mandatory for its leaders. «Narendra Modi is running a 'school of corruption' in the country! Where under the subject 'Entire Corruption Science', he himself is teaching each chapter including 'donation business' in detail,» he said.

Harak Singh Rawat's daughter-in-law and model Anukriti Gusain joined the BJP on Sunday. Gusain (30) had contested the 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly elections on a Congress ticket. The BJP's Uttarakhand unit chief Mahendra Bhatt handed over the party's primary membership to Gusain at the its headquarters. Gusain left the Congress before the Lok Sabha elections and released a video message appealing to the public to vote for the BJP and make Narendra Modi the prime minister once again.

INDIA bloc has done well in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls held across the country on April 19, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh claimed on Sunday. Singh has been fielded by the Congress from his home turf Rajgarh in Madhya Pradesh. «Good news is coming for INDIA bloc from several places in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls. BJP is not getting the success they expected in their strongholds. They are nervous,» Singh told reporters in Ajgari village, which is part of Chachoda assembly segment under Rajgarh LS seat. He claimed Union Minister and BJP heavyweight Nitin Gadkari «is in trouble» in Nagpur, though he did not elaborate. Two-time MP Gadkari is pitted against the Congress' Vikas Thakre in Nagpur Lok Sabha seat. The BJP used to speak about «Congress-mukt Bharat» but the ruling party itself has become «Congress-yukt» as half of its candidates in the general elections are defectors from the grand old party, the former MP chief minister claimed.

Farooq Abdullah said on Sunday that Lord Ram belongs to everyone, not only Hindus. Abdullah was addressing the opposition INDIA bloc's 'Ulgulan Naya Maharally' in Ranchi. Without naming any party, he said, «They are selling Lord Ram, claiming that they brought him. They do not know Lord Ram. He does not belong to Hindus alone but to the world. Ram is for everyone. But they have made Ram their own, claiming He is only theirs.» Attacking the saffron party, Abdullah said that it got scared of the popularity of former chief minister Hemant Soren and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

regional bias and favouritism in jobs while corruption was rampant in all spheres when the party was in power in the state. At a poll rally in Bahadurgarh under the Rohtak parliamentary constituency, he claimed the Narendra Modi government initiated many schemes in the last 10 years for the benefit of the poor and farmers, bringing smiles to their faces. On the other hand, the Congress in the six decades it was in power did nothing for poverty alleviation in the country other than raising the «garibi hathao» slogan, he alleged. In a veiled jibe at Rahul Gandhi, the senior BJP leader said, «Now, the Congress' 'yuvraj' says he will eradicate poverty in one stroke. Which 'Aladdin Ka Chirag' (magic lamp) has he got now?»

BJP leader during a poll debate organised by a national news channel in Madhya Pradesh's Tikamgarh, police said on Sunday. The police have arrested one person in connection with the incident that occurred at a ground in Nazarbag where a news channel organised a debate on Saturday night, an official said. Representatives from the BJP and Congress, among others, participated in the debate, he said. The accused, Himanshu Tiwari and Babar, allegedly raised slogans against the BJP and made objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kotwali police station in-charge Anand Raj said.

Modi wave" will help him score a «landslide» victory in the Chandigarh Lok Sabha election, feels BJP candidate Sanjay Tandon. Tandon took a dig at Congress candidate Manish Tewari, who fought the 2009 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Ludhiana and Anandpur Sahib in Punjab, saying, «Chandigarh needs a person who is one of them and who has been with them through thick and thin.» The BJP has been calling Tewari an «outsider» in Chandigarh while the Congress leader has hit back, saying he has local roots. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Chandigarh will be held in a single phase on June 1. The votes will be counted on June 4.

Germany organised "Chai Pe Charcha with Modi ka Parivaar" to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Abki Baar 400 Paar' target as he seeks a third consecutive term. Indian Diaspora in Munich, who joined chai pe charcha, discussed ways to contribute to the Lok Sabha election from Germany. The BJP supporters gathered at the meeting also discussed plans to visit India and to campaign for PM Modi to achieve 'Abki Baar 400 Paar.'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed on Saturday that the BJP would not win more than 150 seats. «These BJP people have kept saying that they will secure this many or that many seats, let me make it clear, they (BJP) won't get more than 150 seats. Not even a single seat more than 150,» he said while addressing a public rally in Bhagalpur. Rahul Gandhi promised to end the Agniveer scheme, stating that India does not need two types of martyrs.

Bengaluru, After she was shifted to Bangalore North segment for the coming Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje is determined to prove a point or two and wants to ensure that BJP continues its winning streak here. Bangalore North has remained a BJP stronghold since 2004 and the 57-year-old is banking on the "Modi factor". She is facing Congress candidate and former Rajya Sabha member M V Rajeev Gowda, who is putting up a spirited fight. Both belong to the Vokkaliga community. Karandlaje is a two-time MP from Udupi-Chikmagalur but was moved out after she faced a «Go back Shobha» campaign there from a section of her party. Karandlaje has been telling people how India is on the development path in the past 10 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Lok Sabha polls just five days away in the state, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday intensified his attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accusing them of attempting to cover up the progresses achieved by the state with «lies». Modi and Gandhi have a similar voice while speaking against the southern state, he told a press conference in Kanhangadu here. «A strange phenomenon is happening now in which the Prime Minister and the all India leader of the main opposition party are trying in unison to cover up the state (Kerala) and the progress it achieved with lies,» the Chief Minister alleged. Targeting Modi for his recent remarks against the state government, Vijayan said the Prime Minister had mentioned the other day that corruption thrives in Kerala like in Bihar. Through the statement, the PM is insulting two states at one go, he said.

Narendra Modi on Saturday dubbed the Congress a vine that does not have roots or branches but sucks dry those who lend support to it. Addressing a rally in Parbhani in Maharashtra's Marathwada region, Modi said the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are all about making India a developed and self-reliant country. In just 10 years, India has traversed a long road of development, said the BJP's star campaigner. The Parbhani Lok Sabha constituency will go to polls in the second phase on April 26.

Imphal: After the conclusion of first phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the Manipur Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) announced that re-polling would be conducted at the 11 polling booths of the inner Manipur Lok Sabha seat. Voting will be held again at these stations on April 22, according to Manipur Chief Electoral Officer. This decision was made following a directive from the Election Commission, which declared the initial polls held on April 19 as void.

NDA challenged by a determined INDIA bloc may be the big story of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, but in a Bihar seat, the narrative has come to be centred around an Independent candidate. Situated in the state's northeastern corner, Purnea, named after the eponymous district, has been known to literature aficionados as the land where Phanishwar Nath Renu lived and breathed life into famous characters like Hiraman, played on the big screen by Raj Kapoor in 'Teesri Kasam'. In the battle for 2024, the place is hogging the limelight, primarily because of Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who according to some opinion polls, may turn out to be the dark horse when votes are counted on June 4. This is despite the fact that the NDA candidate is JD(U) MP who is aiming at a hat-trick while the INDIA bloc has thrown its weight behind Bima Bharti, who recently quit Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party and was promptly rewarded by arch-rival Lalu Prasad with the RJD ticket.

BJP's candidate from the Kasaragod Lok Sabha constituency, ML Ashwini, said that support for her party in Kerala is growing due to the developmental initiatives and welfare schemes of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. «Nowadays, the BJP is growing step by step in Kerala because PM Narendra Modi has brought a lot of developments in India, and the people of Kasaragod and Kerala are among the beneficiaries,» Ashwini told ANI. «After PM Modi became the Prime Minister, he brought drastic development in infrastructure. Not only infrastructure development, we have got some schemes also for the poor people,» she said.