Indian Politics Highlights: 'Good network means less expenditure,' says ex-Haryana CM Khattar in sly dig at cash-strapped CongressThe schedule for the Lok Sabha elections and the assembly elections are officially out. The 7-phase Lok Sabha polls kicks off from April 19 with the final results on June 4. Assembly polls in J&K to be held right after LS polls. Rahul Gandhi concludes his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai even as his defamation case has been adjourned till May 2. Several political leaders have reacted to the LS polls schedule. Meanwhile, the issue of electoral bonds has kept the politics on boil. YSRCP has announced its candidates for Lok Sabha polls while Mallikarjun Kharge has added on Congress' guarantee programme in Bengaluru. Thank you for tracking the latest political developments from across India, with DH.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Credit: PTI photo
PM Modi silent on CAA during Kerala visit, reiterates hopes of winning double-digit seats
Even as the Congress and the CPM have made the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) a key issue in the Lok Sabha election campaign in the state to attack the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintained silence on the matter while addressing an election campaign meeting at Pathanamthitta in Kerala on Friday.
Kavitha's arrest before polls may hit party's morale, hasten desertions; BRS calls for protests on March 16
The Enforcement Directorate arrested BRS leader K Kavitha today in Hyderabad in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.
After the BRS's humiliating defeat in the November 30 assembly polls, the party is plagued by the desertion of sitting MPs and some leaders reportedly choosing not to contest in the Lok Sabha polls.
At over Rs 6K crore, BJP biggest electoral bond beneficiary, highest encashment recorded during 2019 Lok Sabha polls
The data made public thus far reveals that, in total, the BJP encashed Rs 6060.5 crore between April 2019 and January 2024, representing the highest amount among all political parties. The Trinamool Congress and the Congress accounted for the second and third highest amounts, with Rs 1609 crore and Rs 1422 crore respectively.
Abhimanyu will be Officer on Special Duty for newly-appointed Haryana CM
Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to conclude today evening in Mumbai
'EC must be unbiased,' says Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Here's what Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi said ahead of the last of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra
Nana Patole says people of Maharashtra have only one aim: to throw BJP out of power
There should be an unbiased investigation into electoral bond by SC, says Jairam Ramesh
Senior Congress leaders including KC Venugopal arrive at the Silver Oak residence of NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai
Congress leaders KC Venugopal, Ramesh Chennithala and Balasaheb Thorat meet NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar
Telangana CM will participate in a Congress public meeting in Vizag today
Whoever steals will be punished, says BJP leader Tarun Chugh on K Kavitha's arrest
Mallikarjun Kharge to soon address press in Bengaluru
BJP is ready, says Deputy CM Chhattisgarh Arun Sao ahead poll dates announcement
Congress leaders end meeting with Sharad Pawar
Here's what Manoj Tiwari had to say on Arvind Kejriwal bail by a Delhi court earlier today
Anil Deshmukh says seat sharing discussion between NCP-SCP and Congress are going on
Amit Shah's job is lying and misleading people of India: Jairam Ramesh keeps up attack on BJP regarding electoral bonds
'Modi ji has weakened all labour laws and also the welfare schemes for workers,' Kharge attacks PM
Even before poll schedule announcement, people have given their decision on NDA crossing 400 seats: PM Modi at Telangana rally
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has announced more guarantees to take the total to 25 guarantees
Former Congress MP from Alwar Karan Singh Yadav and other leaders join BJP in Jaipur
A BJP flag.
Credit: DH File Photo
BRS party cadres stage state-wide protest over the arrest of BRS MLC K Kavitha
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Pratap Singh resigns from the party.
The much awaited election schedule will be out soon
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge announces another 5 guarantees each for 'Shramik Nyay' and 'Hissedari Nyay', ahead of Lok Sabha polls
YSRCP announces candidates for 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh
Congress ruled for seven decades but gave nothing apart from lies and loot, they can never develop Telangana: Modi
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy calls arrest of K Kavitha 'cheap political tactic'
A file photo of Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy
Credit: PTI photo
Doubting Modi's intentions is not right, says ex-Congress leader Acharya Pramod on electoral bonds issue
PM Modi addresses public rally in Kalaburagi, home turf of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge
Karnataka has decided to ensure BJP's record victory in state in Lok Sabha polls: PM Modi at public rally in Kalaburagi
Lok Sabha elections | First phase to be held on 19th April, second phase on 26th April, third phase on 7th May, fourth phase on 13th May, fifth phase on 20th May, sixth phase on 25th May and the seventh phase on 1st June: Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar
"We anticipated that Tamil Nadu will come in the first phase, however, waiting till June 4, is one question that party has to get prepared for...We are well prepared for the elections; DMK will win all 40 seats. We will win the by-elections as well...": DMK Spokesperson TKS Elangovan
"If the elections are held in an unbiased manner, then the BJP will surely lose": Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav
Yadav also added that, "This is going to be an important election, I would like to appeal to the people to vote vigilantly as this election will shape the direction of Uttar Pradesh. This is an election for the employment of the youth, security for the women and the MSP for the farmers. We want that elections should be held fairly."
"Quite naturally, it happened just like last time around. The whole election seems to facilitate campaigns of a particular party, to bring in its narrative": Karnataka Minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge
Assembly polls in J&K to be held as soon as possible after Lok Sabha election: CEC Rajiv Kumar
"The seat-sharing arrangement will be announced soon. It takes a bit of time, Maharashtra is the second biggest state after Uttar Pradesh": Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar about the Mahayuti alliance arrangements in the state.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor: "If BJP comes to power again, they have a vision of one language, one nation, one religion, one leader, one party and one election as well. That is going to be their approach whereas ours is, inclusion of celebrating diversity and pluralism and all the wonderful characteristics we in Kerala have got used to and love so much..."
BJP national president JP Nadda tweets, "I urge the people of the entire nation to come out in record numbers to vote and strengthen the foundation of the world's largest democracy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweets "I have full confidence that we will get full affection and blessings of 140 crore family members and more than 96 crore voters for the third consecutive time."
BSP Telangana president RS Praveen Kumar quits party
“Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Telangana unit had entered into an alliance with Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). We have followed all the guidelines issued by the party. The party’s policy is to not to go with either the NDA or the INDIA alliance. BJP has conspired against us to break the alliance (with the BRS) and lose credibility. So, I resigned because I did not want to put the party in a difficult situation. I am not going to bow down to the pressures of the BJP," he said after quitting.
TMC leader Shatrughan Sinha predicts repeat of 2004 BJP Lok Sabha poll defeat in 2024
"These elections are reminding me of 2004. I was a part of the BJP at that time. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was our PM at that time, and slogans such as 'India Shinning' were raised. However, we all remember what happened in 2004, and how Manmohan Singh became the PM and stayed in power for the next 10 years," says TMC leader Shatrughan Sinha after the 2024 Lok Sabha election schedule is released.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra offer floral tributes, take pledge at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak as Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra concludes in Mumbai.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and party's general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid floral tributes at Chaityabhoomi Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak, in Mumbai. With that Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra comes to an end.
Congress leader Manish Tewari says confidence in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) is at a 'historic low'
The issue is not that EVMs are rigged but the perception that they can be interfered with is the issue. And this perception is today very widespread in the country. Democracy is about trust and confidence. And the confidence in the EVM is at a historic low.”
'We are going to win 25 seats in the state': Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma
"The workers of BJP are absolutely ready for the elections and we have a belief that the dedication of our workers and our development programs will ensure the party's victory in Rajasthan. We are going to win 25 seats in the state..." CM Sharma told reporters.
'This yatra does not end in Mumbai, it ends in Dharavi': Rahul Gandhi
The Congress leader during his ending speech for 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' said, "...In the previous yatra, we opened 'Mohabbat ki dukan nafrat ki baazar main,' people told me that I walked 4000 km but I did not cover many areas- like, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bengal, Assam, Bihar and I should start another yatra. We began our second yatra from Manipur and in Mumbai, it comes to an end. This yatra does not end in Mumbai, it ends in Dharavai...In India, the fight is between skill and 'dalaal' (brokers), which means the skill (Dharavi) and dalaal (Adani), therefore, I added the 'Nyay' word in the yatra..."
'Confident of winning all 40 seats from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in the Lok Sabha elections': DMK leader TKS Elangovan
“We are well prepared to face the elections. We (I.N.D.I.A.) are confident of winning all 40 seats from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in the Lok Sabha elections. The only thing is that we have to wait for about 45 days for the election results,” says DMK leader TKS Elangovan on the 2024 Lok Sabha election schedule.
Hearing of defamation case against Rahul Gandhi in Bhiwandi court adjourned till May 2
Former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar takes sly dig at Congress' Lok Sabha campaign 'network'
"Candidates spend for a particular period only, but for the preparations for the elections, all the campaigns (expenditure) are run by the party. So the better the network of the party, the less our expenditure will be. This may be an issue for those who do not have a good network. BJP has a good opportunity that we will utilize this long time to prepare for the elections...," said Khattar, who is BJP's candidate from the Karnal seat.
Mood of the nation is for building 'Viksit Bharat': PM Narendra Modi at conclave
"In last 10 years, we developed new model of governance; we focused on areas which were low on priority earlier," said the Prime Minister.
Former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa predicts BJP will win '25-26 seats in 28 constituencies' in the state
BS Yediyurappa said: "Lok Sabha election dates have been announced, BJP is expected to win more than 400 seats in the country this time. They will win 25-26 seats in 28 constituencies of Karnataka. Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister of the country for the third time..."
Singer Anuradha Paudwal, who joined BJP earlier today meets party president JP Nadda
'Eagerly waiting for this announcement': JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya on LS poll schedule
“The people of the country as well as the political parties were eagerly waiting for this announcement. We presumed that it would be announced on 11-12 March, but the announcement happened a bit late. But overall, we welcome this announcement,” said JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya.
'I want the people to support me in the work and in the development of Mathura': BJP MP Hema Malini
"Everyone is very excited (for the elections) in Mathura... I want the people to support me in the work and in the development of Mathura... I want to bring the Central Universities here... Good things are going to take place here... PM Modi has said this time '400 paar' and we have to achieve that target...," said the actress-turned-politician.
'...seats will be finalised in 2-3 days' in the state: Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant
Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant said, " We are fully prepared for the election that will be happening in 7 phases. Our alliance Shiva Sena, BJP and NCP are fully prepared...seats will be finalised in 2-3 days..."
'Names of the candidates are expected to be announced by 18-19 (March)': Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel after LS poll schedule released for state
""Last time also elections were held in Chhattisgarh in 3 phases. This time the elections have been delayed. We hope that there should be fair elections. We are fully prepared. Rahul Gandhi And Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is continuously travelling. We are also engaged at our level...The names of the candidates are expected to be announced by 18-19," said Baghel.
Advocate Nizam Pasha, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi's attorney on CAA case in Supreme Court
" We had filed a petition in 2019 when CAA was passed challenging the constitutional validity of it in Articles 21 and 25. At that time the application for interim stay was not argued because the lawyers for the central govt had said that they had no intention of immediately operationalising the act...now after 4 years, govt has notified rules to operationalise the act and therefore we are filing interim application asking for stay of implementation of the act and the rules..."