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INDIA bloc. «I was attending the election campaign of Khajuraho Lok Sabha constituency. I feel the BJP will win the Khajuraho seat with a huge margin because there is no one else there. There is no Congress candidate. As per their deal, the seat was given to Samajwadi Party but their cycle got punctured after their candidate's nomination was rejected,» Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai told reporters. Earlier this week, the INDIA bloc extended its support to All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) candidate RB Prajapati contesting against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate VD Sharma in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Khajuraho parliamentary seat after the Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Meera Yadav's nomination was cancelled.

Narendra Modi's speeches suggest he is «BJP's PM» and not India, claimed NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday. PM Modi should tell the people what he and his party will do for the country instead of attacking the opposition, said the 83-year-old NCP founder at a campaign rally in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Pawar was here to canvass for opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) candidates Chandrakant Khaire, who is contesting from the Aurangabad Lok Sabha constituency on a Sena (UBT) ticket, and Congress' Kalyan Kale from Jalna. The central Maharashtra constituencies, located in the state's Marathwada region, will go to polls in the fourth phase on May 13.

Bernstein Societe General Group's latest India Strategy report provides insights into the country's political and economic scenarios. While the first phase of polling has been completed, the report indicates a prevailing optimism regarding the incumbent government's performance. However, it also highlights the challenges that lie ahead in achieving these expectations. Pre-election Euphoria and Market Trends The report notes that India experienced record-high valuations, particularly in the small and mid-cap sectors, at the beginning of the year. Despite some stabilization during the months of January, February, and March, there has been a recent resurgence, with small caps rising by 4% and mid-caps by 2% this month.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for not fighting Lok Sabha polls from the Amethi constituency, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra questioned the intentions of Wayanad MP, saying that he could have opted for any other seat rather than contesting from a minority-dominated constituency. «What made Rahul Gandhi contest from Wayanad? Why did he escape from Amethi? I do agree that he has lost the confidence of the people of Amethi. But he is contesting from Wayanad where more than 70 per cent of people are from the minority community. Did he not get any other safe seat other than from a minority-dominated Wayanad? What message is he trying to give the country?» Vijayendra told ANI. On Rahul Gandhi's claim that BJP would not win more than 150 seats, Vijayendra said, «Instead of focusing on how many seats BJP is going to win, he should focus on his party.»

BJP in Delhi will hold a mega influencers' meet next week for increasing voter outreach through social media ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, party leaders said on Saturday. Social media is a very potent tool to send across any message and there are a large number of users on platforms such as X, Facebook and WhatsApp, among others, that need to be reached, the BJP's Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva said. «The influencers' meet will help us bring those supporting us together for coordinated, organised publicity and campaigning on different social media platforms,» he said. The meeting is expected to be attended by 1,000 influencers, he said.

Congress party, Tajinder Singh Bittu joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party headquarters in Delhi on Saturday in the presence of Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and party general secretary Vinod Tawde. Tajinder Singh Bittu resigned from his post as AICC Secretary-in-Charge of Himachal Pradesh and primary membership Congress party earlier today. This comes at a crucial time, in the backdrop of Lok Sabha elections being held across the nation. Bittu's exit marks another setback for the Congress party, which has witnessed an exodus of big leaders in the last few weeks.

BJP in Assam is banking on beneficiaries to win maximum number of Lok Sabha seats. Beneficiary model is hugely debated this election in Assam. BJP is campaigning that its schemes does not discriminate against any community and encompasses all. The party in election rallies have promised to further expand the beneficiaries. BJP in 2019 has wrested nine out of 14 Lok Sabha seats. However, there is realignment of constituencies and areas in Assam after the last year's delimitation exercise of constituencies. BJP and its allies are targeting to win over 12 seats in Assam.

Polling personnel in six eastern districts of Nagaland waited for nine hours in booths, but not one of the four lakh voters of the region turned up following a shutdown call given by an organisation to press for its demand for 'Frontier Nagaland Territory' (FNT). Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday affirmed that the state government does not have any problem with the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation's (ENPO) demand for FNT as it has already recommended autonomous powers for the region.

DK Shivakumar for allegedly threatening voters to vote for Congress in exchange for Cauvery water supply. An FIR has been lodged against Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar for violating the MCC while addressing apartment owners in RR Nagara, according to ANI. The action comes after the BJP filed a complaint with the EC, alleging that Shivakumar violated the moral code of conduct.

Odia film actor Varsha Priyadarshini, for the upcoming Odisha assembly elections. While announcing the sixth list of candidates for the assembly elections, the ruling party in the state denied nomination to seven sitting MLAs. Priyadarshini, who joined the BJD on Thursday, got a ticket for the Barchana assembly segment, while Congress turncoat Ganeswar Behera, will contest from Kendrapara as a nominee of the ruling party. The Odia film star replaced sitting MLA Amarprasad Satpathy.

Amit Shah said on Thursday that on one side there is Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi who take vacation abroad every three months and on the other side, is Narendra Modi who does not take leave even on Diwali. Addressing a public meeting here today, Amit Shah exuded confidence in winning all the 25 seats in Rajasthan. «Rajasthan is going to give all 25 seats to Modi ji for the third time by doing a hat-trick. This election is clearly divided into two camps. On one side there is Congress which committed Rs 12 lakh crore scam and on the other side there is Narendra Modi, on whom nobody can put allegations of even 25 paisa. On one side there is Rahul baba and his sister who take vacation abroad every three months and on the other side there is Narendra Modi who does not take leave even on Diwali,» he said.

Narendra Modi on Saturday said big and powerful people in India and abroad have joined hands to remove him from power. Addressing a mega public meeting here, he said, «Mothers and sisters have come in a large number here. Your struggle and the challenges you face to nurture your family, Modi has seen this in his house. These days big and powerful people in the country and abroad have united to remove Modi.» «But, because of Nari Shakti and Maatru Shakti's blessings and Suraksha kavach (safety armour), Modi is able to move on fighting challenges.» «Serving mothers, sisters and daughters and protecting them is Modi's priority,» he said, listing out measures taken by his government for women's welfare in ten years, like supporting their self help groups and creating 'Lakhpati Didis'.

Congress on Saturday took a swipe at the Narendra Modi government over the postponement of Elon Musk's India visit, saying it was odd the Tesla CEO was coming to meet an outgoing prime minister and that he too has now read the «writing on the wall». Musk on Saturday said his proposed visit to India has been postponed due to «very heavy Tesla obligations». Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X, «It was odd that @elonmusk was coming all the way to India to meet an outgoing prime minister. He too has now read the writing on the wall and decided to put off his visit.» Ramesh said an INDIA bloc prime minister will welcome Musk soon.

INDIA bloc's government comes to power, senior party leader Amit Mitra said on Saturday. Released recently, the TMC's manifesto has a major focus on welfare schemes. It also talks about economy and employment, with promises for sectors such as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) and gig economy as well as the unorganised sector. Noting that several key announcements in the manifesto are «nationally focused», Mitra said schemes that have been successful in West Bengal will be taken to the national level. «It is a nationally-focused manifesto. The schemes which have already been delivered in West Bengal will be taken to the national level,» the former finance minister of the state said.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday questioned how Prime Minister Narendra Modi can claim that the grand old party and the INDIA bloc led by it have been rejected by voters in the first phase of polling in the Lok Sabha elections. The first phase elections covering 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories were held on Friday. «How does he know? The results are not out yet,» the Congress leader said at the sidelines of a poll rally in this district. She also questioned how the PM and BJP can claim that they will get over 400 seats this time.

Arvind Kejriwal is being pushed towards a «slow death» inside Tihar jail by denying him insulin and consultations with his doctor. Kejriwal, who has Type-2 diabetes, has been asking for insulin and a video conferencing with his family doctor but his requests are being denied by the jail administration, party spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a press conference. «I want to say with full responsibility that a conspiracy is underway for the slow death of Kejriwal,» Bharadwaj claimed citing blood sugar readings of the Chief Minister in jail. He also slammed the Tihar administration, BJP, Centre and Delhi LG for allegedly denying insulin to Kejriwal and said the Delhi Chief Minister had been suffering from diabetes for the last 20-22 years.

Saharanpur district has become an internet sensation. Isha Arora, the polling agent in question, garnered widespread attention across social media platforms due to her exemplary dedication and punctuality while overseeing the voting process in the Gangoh assembly constituency. As soon as the picture and video of Saharanpur's polling officer Isha leaving with the polling party for the booth with EVMs were uploaded on social media, it started going viral. People became curious to know about Isha Arora. When she reached to collect the polling material, other polling officers were also seen taking photos with her. Isha Arora, who serves as an employee at the State Bank of India, was placed for electoral duty in the Mahangi village of the Gangoh assembly constituency in Saharanpur.

Amit Shah on Saturday claimed that Congress-SP combine was wiped out in the first phase of polling held on eight seats of Uttar Pradesh. Polling in Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina (reserved), Moradabad, Rampur and Pilibhit seats was held on Friday. Addressing an election rally in support of BJP candidate Hema Malini here in Vrindavan, Shah said, «Let me tell you the result of the first phase, don't tell it to anyone, I will tell you — Congress, SP have been wiped out in the first phase.» Earlier in the day in an election meeting in Meerut, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav claimed that the atmosphere had changed in the state and that people had rejected the BJP after the first day of polling.

Raj Bhavan in Kolkata moved the Election Commission of India, urging it to identify and take strong action against officials in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of West Bengal who may have «leaked names of gangsters and goons» to political parties, sources said on Saturday. In the wake of the ongoing general elections, the office of Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose had, using its own mechanism, compiled a list of suspected criminals across the state who could be used by political parties to intimidate voters on or before poll dates besides creating other law and order situations. In the second week of March, the Raj Bhavan had shared a list of such goons and anti-social elements with top officials of the CEO's office, West Bengal, through the state Director General of Police for appropriate pre-emptive action, an official said. «A few senior officials of the CEO office, West Bengal may have leaked the list of the suspected criminals, provided by the Raj Bhavan, to top political leaders of the state,» the source told PTI and suggested that, in doing so, may have thwarted the governor's attempts to reign in criminal activities during the polls.

violence marred voting in Cooch Behar in West Bengal, with violent incidents being reported from Sitai, Dinhata, Bhetaguri and other parts of the constituency. Despite ECI keeping a close watch, BJP and Trinamool workers clashed with each other and «bombs were recovered from BJP block president's house».

Sharad Pawar said nobody was discussing the issue of Ram temple in Ayodhya any more, suggesting that the ruling BJP may not get any political benefit from it in the current Lok Sabha elections.