India Politics highlights: Manmohan Singh was silent on terror attacks; Modi conducted surgical strikes, says Shah

This election season misses several key players of 2019 Lok Sabha polls

From the ‘ultimate backroom boy’ Ahmed Patel to ‘spin master’ Arun Jaitley, a clutch of leaders who steered the election discourse and strategy in the past few decades, including in 2019, are being missed in this poll season.

Some like BSP supremo Mayawati are conspicuous by their absence while leaders like Patel, Jaitley, ‘weathervane’ Ramvilas Paswan, ‘socialist patriarch’ Mulayam Singh Yadav and ‘purse keeper’ Motilal Vohra have died.

Read the full report by DH's Shemin Joy here

UP's Kairana connect to Karnataka politics: SP’s Iqra Hasan weaves poll campaign around Anantkumar Hegde's ‘will change Constitution' remark

The link between Karnataka and Kairana, a non-descript borough in western Uttar Pradesh goes back a century and more.

The doyen of Kairana Gharana in Hindustani classical music, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, born in Kairana, inspired legends of Khayal singing in the Hubli-Dharwad belt, including Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

Hegde’s statement, amplified by the Iqra is the talk of the town. At a public interaction last month, the SP candidate was heard raising apprehensions about the BJP’s intent to achieve a two-thirds majority.

Read more here

Whenever we talk about issues of people, PM tries to divert through polarisation: K C Venugopal

The Congress general secretary was defending the party manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections saying 'There is no sufficient grounds to criticise our guarantees'.

On BJP's claim of crossing 400 seats in the country, K C Venugopal says 'That is underestimating people's verdict'

Watch: Congress leaders KC Venugopal & Ramesh Chennithala hold election campaign, in Alappuzha

Rahul Gandhi to hold two public meetings in Rajasthan today

The Congress leader will first address the people at Anupgarh (PC - Bikaner) at 1:45 PM, and then hold another address at Phalodi (PC - Jodhpur) at 4:10 PM.

When small traders are supported then only big trade will pick up and PM Modi is focusing on them: Tamilisai Soundararajan

The former Telangana Governor also said "...They are talking from the bottom of their heart, I have always moved with traders very closely....All these traders are emotionally attached to the people; they are people-friendly traders. I am very happy that they have extended their support to me."

Enough is enough...you have to come to the mainstream, and the mainstream is BJP: J P Nadda

"I want to request everyone, enough is enough, you have to come to the mainstream and the mainstream is BJP and the leadership of PM Modi. You all have to look at the mainstream party...We will provide you clean, people-oriented, full of progress, peace, infrastructure, development and mainstreaming of Sikkim and that is what I promise today. Bid a goodbye to corruption and let lotus blossom...", the party national president said.

BJP is treating the Ajit Pawar group as if they are nobody: Clyde Crasto on Praful Patel's claim against Sharad Pawar

Former BSP leader Malook Nagar joins Rashtriya Lok Dal in the presence of party chief Jayant Chaudhary, in Delhi

Two Biju Janata Dal MLAs, Arabinda Dhali and Premananda Nayak, disqualified under anti-defection law by Odisha Assembly Speaker Pramila Mallik for switching sides to BJP recently, ahead of the elections.

With Eid being celebrated today, several political leaders also took part in the festivities and events

"My country is a country where people of every religion...Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi and others live together and celebrate each others' festivals", BJP's Naqvi said. (PTI)

Nitish Kumar during Eid-ul-Fitr festival in Patna

Watch: MP Malook Nagar's speech after joining RLD

We are talking about the implementation of MSP and he (PM Modi) sees appeasement in that: RJD's Misa Bharti

"...We are talking about the implementation of MSP and he (PM Modi) sees appeasement in that...He always accuses our family of corruption whenever he arrives here (Bihar)...If the people of this country give the I.N.D.I.A. Alliance a chance (to form the government), then from PM Modi to BJP leaders, they will be behind bars...," says RJD's Misa Bharti.

Under 'mazboot Modi sarkar, atankwaadiyon ko ghar mein ghus ke mara jata hai': PM at Rishikesh

Modi's comments come amid a report in The Guardian that India carried out 'targeted killings' in Pakistan. To this, Rajnath Singh had said that India would take out terrorists by entering other countries too.

Modi says remove the corrupt, opposition says save the corrupt: PM in Rishikesh

The PM made big claims that India deserves to be free of corruption, seeking the blessings of the people to fight the 'big' fight against this insidious evil in Indian society.

For me, you are my family: Modi tells public in Uttarakhand

'Phir ek baar Modi sarkar' echoing everywhere: PM

Continuously increasing rail, road and air connectivity in Uttarakhand: PM Modi in Rishikesh

Modi came to Rishikesh, told 'Ram Ram' to elders: PM asks crowd to spread this message

Congress raised questions on Lord Ram's existence, announced they'll destroy 'Shakti' in Hindu religion: Modi launches attack at Rishikesh gathering

CBI takes custody of BRS MLA K Kavitha in excise policy case

Kavitha was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam on March 15.

Read more

The Gandhis, trailing Modi, battle for political survival

Virtually all opinion polls suggest Modi's BJP will return to power for a rare third term.

Read more

Rahul Gandhi begins addressing gathering in Bikaner

Won't see Dalits, adivasis, minorities, in upper positions in Indian media, claims Rahul Gandhi in Bikaner

He claimed that the mediapeople only sing praises of Modi and do not highlight the discontent in the country, referring to the coverage of farmers' protest.

Poverty, rising expenses plaguing nation but all eyes on Ambani, Modi's antics, claims Rahul

However, if you look at Indian media, it will seem as if the biggest concern is Ambani's wedding.

The Congress leader was referring to Anant Ambani's wedding.

He also took digs at media coverage of Modi's many travels, referring to Dwarka, and even bringing up the fact that the PM sometimes asks people to shine a light from their phones at his rally.

Modi never forgives farmers' debts, but forgives Ambani, Adani's

Rahul pitches for caste census as Congress's first task, yet again, while addressing Bikaner gathering

The Congress leader said, it would be the party's mission to figure out who holds the wealth in India, and how much wealth they have. Along with that, the party would see if the marginalised find representation in Indian media and businesses, Rahul said.

One woman in every poor family will get one lakh rupees in a year from Congress. The money will be deposited in your bank account, Rahul said.

In India the poor can't do an apprenticeship, only the rich get such chances in private, public sectors: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress leader guaranteed apprenticeship for all youth of India.

They will get one year apprenticeship and one lakh rupees, Rahul Gandhi promised. He added that if apprentices worked well, they'd get the money, and would land the job as well.

Congress will bring lawful MSP for farmers, Rahul promises

What Modi gave to 20-25 people in India, we will give to crores of citizens, Rahul states

The Congress leader also brought up the situation of armed forces, saying that benefits that went to martyrs' families were overturned with Modi's Agniveer scheme.

Modi govt hoodwinked farmers with false promises: Congress

The BJP-led Union government deceived farmers with false promises such as doubling their income, Congress leader Shailesh Agrawal claimed here on Thursday. "It forced farmers to agitate for Minimum Support Price," Agrawal said. (PTI)

Karauli saying '4 June, 400 paar': Modi in Rajasthan

"This is a land of 'Bhakti' and 'Shakti'... Your blessings and the huge number of youth and women present here are a huge message for the country. The results of June 4 are clearly visible in Karuli today. Karauli is saying '4 June, 400 paar'..." said Modi.

Modi attacks Congress

Congress kept raising slogan of 'Gareebi Hatao' for decades, but Modi helped 25 crore people come out of poverty: PM Modi in Rajasthan's Karauli.

Steeped in nepotism and corruption, Congress seeks profit in compulsions of people, says PM Modi.

Modi slams Congress over 'paper leak' row.

Congress found opportunities to loot in jobs for youths. A paper leak industry flourished under protection of its govt in Rajasthan, PM Modi said.

The corrupt will have to go to jail, this is Modi's guarantee, said PM at rally in Rajasthan's Karauli. This statement came amid AAP chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal being in jail over excise policy case.

"I was not born to rest, nor was I born to have fun. I work hard because I have big goals connected to country's people," Modi said.

Rishikesh: BJP supporters during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public meeting, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, in Rishikesh, Thursday, April 11, 2024.

'The Kerala story' based on true narrative, says Meenakshi Lekhi

BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi on Thursday claimed that the controversial movie 'The Kerala story' was based on a true narrative and she expected neither the LDF nor the UDF to accept it as they were "willingly or unwillingly supporting the Hamas appeasement rally" in Kozhikode. (PTI)

It was due to BJP that Aurangabad was renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Osmanabad as Dharashiv, says Amit Shah at Nanded rally in Maharashtra.

Manmohan Singh as PM was silent on terror attacks by those from Pakistan; Modi as PM conducted surgical strikes: Amit Shah

Shah says NDA going to cross 400 seats in Lok Sabha polls.

Make Modi PM again, Shah tells Maharashtra

"Make Modi PM again, his guarantee is to make India third largest economy in his third term," says the Home Minister.

Shah attacks Congress over Ram temple

Congress expelled from party those who wanted to attend 'pran pratishtha' ceremony at Ayodhya: Amit Shah.

Annamalai dubs DMK 'evil force'

It is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantee to save the people of Tamil Nadu from the "evil force" that is the ruling DMK, state BJP president K Annamalai said on Thursday.

That's all for today from the world of Indian politics.