Elections 2019: Bar PM Modi From Campaigning, Says Congress
Catch the latest news updates of Lok Sabha elections 2019 here.
Five phases have been completed in the ongoing seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. All 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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51 Seats Across 7 Seats to Go to Polls Today
Voting for the fifth of seven phases of the Lok Sabha Elections will be held on Monday, 6 May, with polling being held in 51 constituencies across seven states.
The states where voters will be casting their ballots on Monday are: Bihar (5 parliamentary constituencies), Jammu and Kashmir (2), Jharkhand (4), Madhya Pradesh (7), Rajasthan (12), Uttar Pradesh (14) and West Bengal (7).
People of Sabar Tribe in West Bengal Call for Boycott of Lok Sabha Polls
People of the Sabar tribe in Bandwan area of West Bengal’s Purulia have called for a boycott of Lok Sabha elections due to unavailability of electricity in their houses. A villager questioned, "The electricity department said we would get free electricity but later asked for Rs 4,000. How would we pay that amount?” reported ANI.
Residents of Madhya Pradesh's Garauli Village Call for Boycott of LS Polls
Residents of Garauli village in Madhya Pradesh’s Chhattarpur held protests on Sunday saying they would boycott the Lok Sabha elections due to inaction on issue of water scarcity in the area. Locals said, “We walk three to four km daily to collect water. We protested last year as well but nobody pays heed,” reported ANI.
Polling Begins on All 51 Seats Across 7 States
Polling begins on Monday, 6 May, on all 51 seats across Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand and Rajasthan.
Union Minister Rajnath Singh Casts Vote
Home Minister Rajnath Singh casts his vote in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in the fifth phase of polling, reports ANI.
Choose a Leader Who Sends Your Kids to Oxford Not Ayodhya: Jignesh Mevani
Gujarat lawmaker Jignesh Mevani on Sunday campaigned for AAP's East Delhi candidate Atishi and urged people to choose a leader who will send their children to Oxford or Cambridge university, and not Ayodhya or Kumbh.
(Source: PTI)
KCR to Meet Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Today
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekar Rao will meet his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. The TRS chief has been proposing a non-BJP, non-Congress federal front at the Centre.
(Source: PTI)
EVM Glitches Reported in MP
Polling was underway on Monday in seven Lok Sabha seats of Madhya Pradesh with minor EVM glitches being reported at some booths, an official said, reports PTI.
Grenade Attack on Polling Station in Pulwama
Militants Monday lobbed a grenade towards a polling station in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir where polling is underway for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, police said.
(Source: PTI)
Petition Against Modi, Shah: Matter Adjourned to 8 May
CJI's courtroom heard Sushmita Dev's petition against the Election Commission re delay in addressing complaints against PM Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi points out that there is no deadline or timeframe set out in the Model Code of Conduct to deal with complaints. Says that complaints against Modi-Shah took 35-40 days to be dealt with, by which time 400 seats have had polling, so pointless.
Singhvi argued that the Election Commission decided not to take action against Modi and Shah for language that they have punished others for. Says will place EC orders giving Modi and Shah clean chits (passed over the weekend) on record.
EC Rejects Plea Seeking to Prepone Poll Time
Election Commission on 6 May rejected a plea seeking to prepone the poll timing to 5 am instead of 7 am in view of Ramzan, reports IANS.
Voting Underway in Seven States, Grenade Attack in Kashmir
A grenade attack on a polling booth in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, violence in West Bengal and snags in EVMs were reported as voters queued up outside booths in the initial hours of polling on Monday for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections in 51 constituencies spread across seven states.
(Source: PTI)
Ex-BSF Jawan Tej Bahadur Moves SC Over Rejection of Nomination
Tej Bahadur Yadav moves Supreme Court against rejection of his nomination paper from Varanasi. Advocate Prashant Bhushan to appear for the sacked BSF jawan. Matter to be mentioned before the SC registrar on Monday for urgent listing.
(Source: ANI)
'Modi Spreading Tax Terrorism': Arvind Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said, “On one hand, the Modi government has been harassing its political opponents, just as the tax is being spread by notice thousands of thousand people in the name of taxes."
“Tax-terrorism is being spread across the country,” said Kejriwal.
“Modi Ji's nationalism is a betrayal, this myth has to be broken by all of us,” he added.
(Source: Twitter/AAP)
Smriti Accuses Rahul of 'Booth Capturing' in Amethi
Polling for the keenly watched contest in Amethi, long considered a Gandhi family turf, began on a contentious note on Monday with BJP candidate Smriti Irani alleging that Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was "ensuring booth capturing".
(Source: PTI)
Political Earthquake Will Hit on 23 May, Says Tejashwi Yadav
Bihar opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav predicted a political earthquake when the results of the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections 2019 are declared on 23 May.
(Source: IANS)
Stalin to Pump Up Efforts for Non-Cong, Non-BJP Front
Stepping up efforts to forge a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front of regional parties, Telangana Rashtra Samiti supremo and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has lined up meetings with his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan and DMK president M K Stalin.
(Source: PTI)
BJP Demands Repoll in Bengal's Barrackpore Constituency
Accusing the ruling TMC in West Bengal of unleashing "violence" on its voters, the BJP Monday demanded a repoll in Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency.
(Source: PTI)
Modi Turned & Punched His Coach Advani: Rahul Gandhi
“Narendra Modi, the boxer was supposed to fight unemployment, farmer problems, corruption etc but he instead turned around & punched his coach Advani ji, his team Gadkari ji Jaitley ji, then went into crowd and punched small traders and farmers,” said Rahul Gandhi in Bhiwani, Haryana.
(Source: ANI)
AAP MLA Devinder Sehrawat Joins BJP
Rebel AAP legislator Devinder Sehrawat joins BJP, second MLA from party to join saffron fold in less than a week.
SC Asks Cong MP to Bring on Record EC Orders Giving Clean Chit to Modi, Amit Shah
The Supreme Court Monday asked Congress MP Sushmita Dev to bring on record the Election Commission's orders giving clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah on complaints of Model Code violations.
(Source: PTI)
I'd Rather Die Than Politicise Army, Says Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi, in an election rally, said that he would rather die than politicise Indian Army.
“I’d rather die than politicse Army,” said Rahul. "The Army is not a personal property of Modiji. He thinks the Air Force, Navy and the Army are his personal properties," he attacked Modi.
Shah Urges People to Vote for Modi to Secure Country from Cross-Border Terrorism
The country has moved from times when Pakistan-backed terrorists used to walk inside our territory,killing our soldiers and mutilating their bodies evoking lucklustre response from the government,BJP president Amit Shah said Monday and urged people to vote back Narendra Modi to secure the country from cross-border terrorism.
(Source: PTI)
EC Allows Poll Code Relaxation for Maharashtra Drought Relief Works
The Election Commission has permitted relaxation in the model code of conduct, in force since March 10 for the Lok Sabha polls, in Maharashtra to allow the state government to undertake drought relief measures, PTI reported.
The relaxation was made after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis wrote to the EC on April 30 on the issue.
Dare You to Arrest Me for Chanting 'Jai Shri Ram': PM Modi to Mamata
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday dared West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to arrest him for chanting 'Jai Shri Ram', a day after three people were taken into police custody in Ghatal Lok Sabha seat for allegedly mouthing the slogan as her convoy passed by.
"Didi has thrown people in jail for chanting 'Jai Shri Ram'. I thought of saying Jai Shri Ram here today so that she can throw me inside jail too. That way, the people of Bengal might be protected from the wrath of TMC regime," Modi said, as per PTI.
'If All Goes Well': Mayawati Hints At PM Ambitions
BSP supremo Mayawati betrayed her prime ministerial ambitions, saying she "may have to" contest the Lok Sabha election from Uttar Pradesh's Ambedkar Nagar "if all goes well".
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader, while addressing a rally in Ambedkar Nagar, said, as per IANS: "If all goes well, I may have to seek election form here because the road to national politics passes through Ambedkar Nagar.”
This is the first time in these elections that Mayawati has given clear indications about her aspirations for the Prime Minister's post though her ally, Akhilesh Yadav of Samajwadi Party, has repeatedly said that he would back Mayawati as Prime Minister.
Court Reserves for 13 May Order on Atishi's Complaint Against Gautam Gambhir
Delhi's Tis Hazari Court on Monday, 6 May, reserved the order in AAP's East Delhi Candidate Atishi's complaint against BJP candidate Gautam Gambhir for allegedly having two voter ID cards.
The court deferred the order to 13 May, one day after Delhi goes to polling. It will summon records and documents from the state election commission in the next hearing, PTI reported.
'I Have Quit UP Government': SBSP Chief OP Rajbhar
Known for blowing hot and cold against ally BJP, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar claimed on Monday, 6 May, that he has resigned from the Yogi Adityanath government and it was up to the saffron party to decide on it.
"I tendered resignation as minister on 13 April. It is up to the BJP to decide whether to accept or reject it," Rajbhar, a cabinet minister in the UP government, told reporters here.
"I have nothing to do with the government now," he said, as per PTI. Rajbhar also said that he has filed a complaint with EC against the BJP for not accepting his resignation.
Presiding Officer Removed After Smriti Irani's Complaint
The presiding officer of booth no 316 in Gauriganj in Amethi has been replaced after a video of a woman complaining that she was forced to vote for the Congress by the official went viral.
Union Minister Smriti Irani, the BJP candidate, had complained about booth capturing by the Congress and demanded action. She had blamed Rahul Gandhi, the Congress candidate, as per IANS.
SP to Support BSP, AAP Candidates in Delhi
The Samajwadi Party on Monday, 6 May, announced its support for five BSP and two AAP candidates in Delhi.
The party itself is not contesting Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, which has seven seats.
SP general secretary RS Yadav said that the central leadership has decided that the party will extend support to BSP candidates contesting on East, North East, West, South and Chandni Chowk seats, as per PTI.
Scuffle At Polling Booth Between TMC's Howrah MP, Security Forces
A scuffle broke out between TMC's MP from Howrah, Prasun Banerjee, and security forces at polling booth number 49 and 50 in Howrah on Monday, 6 May, ANI reported.
EC Postpones Patkura Assembly Poll in Odisha by 60 Days Post Cyclone Fani
The Election Commission on Monday, 6 May, decided to postpones the Patkura Assembly Election in Odisha by 60 days in view of the serious devastation caused by Cyclone Fani.
The new dates will be announced after assessing the local situation. Earlier, BJD President Naveen Patnaik had sought postponement of the polls in Patkura.
The Patkura Assembly segment falls in the Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency, where Jay Panda is contesting on a BJP ticket.
Earlier, EC had appointed 19 May as the date of poll for Patkura after the demise of BJD candidate Bed Prakash Agarwalla.
Modi Utters Untruths to Sharpen Communal Polarisation: Yechury
Hitting back, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Monday, 6 May, that Prime Minister Narendra Modi "uttered untruths" to sharpen communal polarisation.
Modi at an election rally in West Bengal's Jhargram had slammed Yechury for his "derogatory" remarks against Ramayana and Mahabharata, PTI reported.
PM Modi Doubles Down on Rajiv Gandhi Attack
Refusing to bow down from his onslaught against former PM Rajiv Gandhi, PM Narendra Modi on Monday challenged the Congress party to fight the elections in the name of the “Bofors-accused former PM”, NDTV reported.
Kejriwal Campaigns for Raghav Chadha in South Delhi
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal campaigned for party's candidate from South Delhi, Raghav Chadha, in Delhi's Tehkhand Village area.
Stunned by Tej Bahadur's Statements on PM Modi: GVL Narasimha Rao
BJP’s GVL Narasimha Rao on Monday, 6 May, said that he was stunned by the statements of SP candidate Tej Bahadur Yadav.
“He was drafted by SP from Varanasi... his candidature has been nullified for various reasons. We can see on TV how he's telling a group that he's willing to hatch a plot to assassinate PM Modi for Rs 50 Cr,” he said, as per ANI.
The fact that parties like Congress rallied behind such anti-social forces rather than the government is a matter of concern, he added.
Modi Trying to Take Personal Credit for Balakot Strike: CM Amarinder
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday, 6 May, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to take personal credit for the action of the armed forces and said "surgical strike" was just a new jargon for cross-border raids.
"Modi is trying to take personal credit for the Balakot air strike... The prime minister had not done anything,” said Singh, as per PTI.
“Was he (Modi) there in 1965, 1975 or Kargil," asked the CM.
Sacked BSF Jawan Moves SC Against EC Decision to Cancel His Candidature
Sacked BSF head constable Tej Bahadur Yadav moved the Supreme Court on Monday, 6 May, challenging the decision of Returning Officer (RO) to reject his nomination papers from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, saying it was intended to "give walkover" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The RO on 1 May had rejected the nomination papers of Yadav, a Samajwadi Party candidate, who was dismissed from BSF in 2017 after he posted a video online complaining about the food served to the troops.
The poll panel official held that Yadav failed to furnish a certificate as mandated under the Representation of Peoples (RP) Act to the effect that he has not been "dismissed for corruption or disloyalty to the state".
Don't Need Centre's Help With Cyclone Damage Ahead of Polls: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, 6 May, said that she does not consider Narendra Modi as the country’s prime minister.
“I don't consider him (Modi) the country's PM, hence I didn't sit for the meeting. I don't want to be seen with him on the same platform. I'll speak to the next PM,” she said, as per ANI.
We can take care of Cyclone Fani damage by ourselves, she added, “we don't need Centre's help ahead of polls”.
Screening of Short Film Featuring Pragya Stopped by EC in MP
The screening of a short film featuring Bhopal BJP Lok Sabha candidate and Malegoan blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur among others was on Monday, 6 May, stopped midway in Bhopal by a team of the Election Commission and local police.
The film, titled 'Bhagwa Aatankwad Bhramjaal' is centred around the Samjhauta Express, Malegaon, Ajmer Dargah and Mecca Masjid blasts and was being shown to journalists by an organisation called Bharat Vichar Manch (BVM), PTI reported.
Elections 2019: Bar PM Modi From Campaigning, Says Congress
The Congress on Monday, 6 may, approached the Election Commission seeking action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including a ban on his campaigning, for his remarks against former PM Rajiv Gandhi.
A team of Congress leaders, comprising Abhishek Singhvi, Rajiv Shukla and Salman Khurshid, met the Election Commissioners and demanded that the EC take immediate action against Modi for his remarks, which they termed "uncultured, illegal and against Indian traditions", PTI reported.
EC Clean Chit to PM Modi in Two More Cases: Sources
The Election Commission has given clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in two more cases, sources aware of the development said on Monday.
The Congress had alleged that he held a "roadshow" in Ahmedabad on 23 April and the sources said the commission has concluded that Modi did not violate the model code and the election law, PTI reported.
ECI Directs Transfer of IPS Officer Rajesh Duggal
Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed to transfer, Rajesh Duggal, IPS Commandant 3rd Battalion Haryana Armed Police, Hisar from the district of his present posting and be posted outside Hisar and Sirsa Parliament Constituency immediately, ANI reported.
UPA Will Form Govt, Rahul Will Become PM: Bhupesh Baghel
On being asked about the next prime minister of the country, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel, said “UPA will form the government and Rahul Gandhi ji will become the Prime Minister,” ANI reported.
'Have You Built Even One Ram Temple?': Mamata Banerjee Asks 'BJP Babu'
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in reference to Prime Minister Modi’s comment on ‘Jai Shri Ram’ said “You BJP babu, you say 'Jai Sri Ram' but have you built even one Ram temple? At the time of elections Ram Chandra becomes your party agent, you say 'Ram Chandra is my election agent'. You say 'Jai Sri Ram' & force others to say it.”
Karkare Never Used "Hindu Terror" Phrase, Says Fadnavis
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said his state's former ATS chief Hemant Karkare had never used the term "Hindu terror" and disapproved of the offensive remark made by the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur against the martyred police officer.
"Karkare had never ever used the ‘Hindu terror’ word.
This word had been used by three persons Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, the then Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and NCP chief Sharad Pawar," he told reporters here while replying to a query, PTI reported.