Elections 2019: NPF Withdraws Support from BJP in Manipur
Catch all the updates on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections here.
The 2019 Lok Sabha elections is in the final stages of the seven-phase elections. All the seven phases of voting will end on 19 May, results for which will be declared on 23 May.
Catch all the updates on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections here.
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MNM Asks EC to Cancel Sulur Bypolls Scheduled for 19 May
The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) party on Friday, 17 May sought calling off the Sulur bypoll scheduled on 19 May after authorities denied permission for party chief Kamal Hassan to campaign there.
The party said permission was denied citing law and order issues and that many petitions had been sent, requesting denial of permission for the campaign, MNM General Secretary A Arunachalam said in a petition to the Election Commission of India.
Earlier, the Coimbatore police had denied permission to Haasan following a furore over his 'free India's first extremist was a Hindu' remarks, due to which Haasan could not undertake campaigning on Friday.
Arunachalam said permission had been sought for the campaign today and that MNM had been orally informed it would be granted.
PM Modi Visits Badrinath, Kedarnath
Beginning 18 May, PM Modi embarked on a two-day journey to the Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines in Uttarakhand, ahead of the results on 23 May.
PM Modi will visit Kedarnath on May 18 and offer prayers at Badrinath the following day, Pradesh BJP media incharge Devendra Bhasin said.
The Prime Minister has a deep sense of attachment towards Uttarakhand. The purpose of this visit is purely spiritual, he said.
Naidu Meets Rahul, Discusses 'Anti-BJP Front'
TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and discussed firming up an anti-BJP front to keep the saffron party out of power after poll results are declared, news agency PTI reported.
Before meeting the Congress chief, Naidu, who is spearheading an effort to cobble up an anti-BJP front, met CPI leaders Sudhakar Reddy and D Raja.
He is scheduled to meet NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and LJD leader Sharad Yadav in the national capital later in the day.
Deve Gowda Reiterates Support to Congress
Janata Dal (Secular) chief HD Deve Gowda on Saturday reiterated his support to the Congress party in the ongoing general elections, reported news agency ANI.
"We are with Congress; I do not want to speak anything more. On May 23, results will come, a clear picture will be known to the entire country, and what further development takes place," he said.
Fabricated Stories Being Created Against Modi, Shah: Naqvi
Those not aware of the struggles of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have tried to create "fabricated" stories that the cadre-based party has become an individual-centric organisation, Union minister Muktar Abbas Naqvi told news agency PTI.
Denying claims that a sense of fear prevails in the BJP, he said stories of no other senior leader apart from Modi and Shah are allowed to speak their mind are "fabricated".
Preparation for Polling in Bhatinda Commences
Polling officials were seen distributing EVM’s at an EVM distribution centre in Punjab’s Bhatinda. All 13 parliamentary constituencies to go to polls in the last phase of Lok Sabha Eelctions 2019 on Sunday, 19 May.
Kashmir Issue 'Myth' Created by Congress, NC: Jitendra Singh
The so-called Kashmir issue is a political "myth" created by the Congress, the National Conference and other such political groups which have a vested interest in the region's electoral vote bank, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said Saturday, reportednews agency PTI.
He said Jammu and Kashmir is very much like any other state of the Indian union.
There is no such issue as "Kashmir issue" and the political leaders who try to rake it up have a deep rooted selfish interest in creating an issue out of non-issue, in order to hoodwink the innocent masses of Kashmir, he said.
Complaint Filed Against OP Rajbhar for 'Abusing' BJP Workers
BJP worker Anoop Singh Chandan has registered a complaint with the police against Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party Chief OP Rajbhar for allegedly abusing BJP workers at a public meeting on Friday, in Ghazipur.
EC Orders Repolling in Two Booths in Arunachal Pradesh
Repolling will be held in two booths in Arunachal Pradesh on May 21, following complaints of electoral malpractices, news agency PTI reported quoting officials on Saturday.
The repolling will be held in one booth in Koloriang constituency of Kurung Kumey district and one booth in Tali seat of Kra Daadi district, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Liken Koyu said in a notification.
The decision of repolling was taken following recommendation of a team of the poll panel, who met representatives of different political parties here on May 14.
The polling stations are 28-Nampe in Koloriang constituency and 6-Gimba in Tali constituency.
YSR Congress Demands Additional Forces on Counting Day
YSR Congress has written to the Election Commission of India to deploy additional central forces on 23 May 23 Andhra Pradesh during counting of votes and action against Chittoor district Collector and Rapthadu Returning Officer for allegedly supporting TDP during the poll process, news agency ANI reported.
VHP Files Complaint Against Kamal Haasan
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has filed a complaint with Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Sathyabrata Sahoo for alleged hate speech against Hindus.
“Today we filed a complaint with Tamil Nadu Chief election officer Sathyabrata Sahoo against Kamal Hassan. We condemn his speech and he spoke just to get votes. The state government should take steps,” Tamil Nadu state VHP President A R Ravi, told the media.
TMC's Abhishek Banerjee Sends Defamation Notice to PM Modi
TMC leader and nephew of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee has sent a defamation notice to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for alleged derogatory remarks made against him in a public rally on 15 May, held in Diamond Harbour in West Bengal, news agency ANI reported.
Ensure Peaceful, Impartial Elections: Mamata to EC
In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked him to ensure ‘peaceful and impartial’ elections, reported news agency ANI.
“Ensure that Lok Sabha election in the state is completed peacefully, impartially and without any undue interference of the central govt and without any intervention by the ruling party at the centre," she wrote in the letter.
Naidu Alleges Misuse of Electoral Bonds
TDP President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday attacked the Modi government, alleging that there has been misuse of electoral bonds and new Rs 500 and Rs 2000 notes were introduced after demonetisation to "buy votes".
Naidu, who was speaking at an event on the eve of the last phase of polling, also stressed that counting of votes in 50 per cent of VVPATs can easily be done even though the Supreme Court has dismissed the petition on the same and ordered checking of VVPAT slips with only five with the EVMs.
BJP Writes to EC Alleging MCC Violation by Mayawati
BJP has written to CEO Lucknow against BSP chief Mayawati for allegedly violating Model Code of Conduct, reported news agency ANI. The BJP alleges that Mayawati posted tweets to influence voters after campaigning hours ended for the 7th phase of Lok Sabha Elections.
11 Polling Party Officials Injured in Road Accident in UP Sonbhadra
Eleven members of a polling party were injured when the bus in which they were travelling overturned here Saturday, police said.
The bus carrying around 24 officials, who were on their way to report for duty, lost control and turned turtle near Belgadi village under Jugail Police Station.
(Source: PTI)
FIR Against Cong MP, MLAs for Campaigning After Deadline
An FIR was filed against sitting MP from Ratlam and senior Congress leader Kantilal Bhuria and Madhya Pradesh cabinet minister Surendra Singh Honey Baghel for campaigning on Saturday after the end of the Friday 5pm deadline.
Ratlam is one of the eight Lok Sabha seats in the state which will go to polls on May 19.
(Source: PTI)
NPF Withdraws Support from BJP in Manipur
Talking to ANI, Achumbemo Kikon, Naga People's Front (NPF) Spokesperson has said that they have decided to withdraw support in principle from the BJP led Manipur government.
(Source: ANI)
Shiromani Akali Dal Seeks Additional Central Forces in Ferozepur
Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) on Saturday urged the Election Commission to deploy additional paramilitary forces in Ferozepur and Bathinda constituencies, from where senior party leaders Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat Kaur Badal are contesting the general election, respectively.
(Source: PTI)
Excise Inspector Suspended in Punjab for Poll Code Violation
An excise and taxation inspector, posted at Bathinda in Punjab, has been suspended over the alleged violation of the model code of conduct.
(Source: PTI)
No National Party Can Form the Government Without the Support of Regional Parties: HD Deve Gowda
Dismissing BJP's assertion it will get more than 300 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda Saturday said no national party can form the government without the support of regional parties.
Gowda, a former prime minister, also expressed confidence his son and Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy would complete his five-year term.
(Source: PTI)
CPI(M) Leader Stokes Controversy with Remark on Purdah
CPI-M leader M V Jayarajan kicked up a controversy in Kerala saying 'purdah' clad women should remove their veil in polling booths, drawing sharp reaction from Congress which Saturday termed the demand as unjustified.
(Source: PTI)
Sonia Gandhi Strategizing for Congress, Holds Meeting with Top Party Leaders
The Congress leadership Saturday got its act together with Sonia Gandhi stepping in and formulating the party's strategy for government formation.
Sources said Congress leaders led by Sonia Gandhi, party chief Rahul Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh, held deliberations with Ahmed Patel, A K Antony and others as they geared up for a possible hung Parliament.
(Source: PTI)
BJP Tumkur Dist Youth Wing Prez Expelled for Post Lauding Godse
Karnataka BJP has expelled its Tumkur district youth wing President from the party's primary membership for a post praising Nathuram Godse on the social media.
(Source: PTI)
Key Assembly Bypolls in Karnataka
In key by-elections, two assembly constituencies in Karnataka would go to polls Sunday with the outcome likely to have a bearing on the stability of the JDS-Congress government in the state.
(Source: PTI)
Case Registered Against 8 in MP for MCC Violation
In Madhya Pradesh, a case has been registered against 8 people including State Minister Surendra Singh Baghel and Congress Ratlam MP Kantilal Bhuria in Alirajpur for allegedly violating MCC.
D Solanki, SHO said, "Case registered as they were campaigning even after the official campaigning hours had ended."
(Source: ANI)
EC to Use Two EVMs in Kolkata North Seat for LS Polls
The Election Commission will on Sunday put to use two Electronic Voting Machines in each booth in the Kolkata North constituency, as the candidature of 21 nominees has surpassed the capacity of a single EVM, a senior official said Saturday.
(Source: PTI)