Indian Political Highlights: Nothing political was discussed, says Himachal Speaker on his meet with CM Sukhu

BJP's poll body meets to finalise first list of Lok Sabha poll candidates

PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president J P Nadda and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were among those who met to deliberate on the lists. CMs of some key states were also present.

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Himanta says Congress bound to become history soon

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Assam CM Himanta said took potshots at the Congress and said the grand old party is 'bound to be history'. "Congress will be segregated into various regional parties. The national status of Congress will diminish after this election because the NDA is heading to a 400-plus victory"

BJP's quest to wrest last citadel of Congress in Uttar Pradesh

"The recent cross-voting and realignment in Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha polls allude towards a determined bid by the BJP to hem in the Gandhi family in Raebareli, the Congress bastion and lone seat won by the party in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Manoj Pandey, the three-time MLA and former Samajwadi Party whip who led the rebellion and voted with six other MLAs to help BJP win an extra seat in the Upper House hails from Unchahar, one of the 5 Assembly segments in Raebareli Lok Sabha constituency.

Considered close to Akhilesh Yadav, Pandey’s volta face has come as a shock to the Opposition camp and disrupts caste and political equations in the seat which Sonia Gandhi would vacate after her nomination to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan.

It is not clear whether someone from the Gandhi family would contest Raebareli, a seat Sonia has won five consecutive times since 2004 but with diminishing margins since the UPA lost power in 2014. But retaining Raebareli would be a matter of prestige for Congress," writes Sumit Pande.

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Sonia Gandhi offers prayers ahead of filing nomination for Raebareli LS seat.

The BJP, which has consistently failed to win the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat, the bastion of Congress veteran Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh, is making all out efforts this time to bag it.

The BJP set the target of inducting 50,000 workers from the rival party ahead of the polls as part of its ambitious plan.

Kamal Nath held the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat as many as nine times and it continues to remain with the family as his son Nakul Nath is currently an MP from there.

Speculation was recently rife that the senior Nath may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with his son. However, the 77-old-leader, who was the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh for 15 months till March 2020, dismissed the buzz.

Chhindwara has always remained the citadel of Congress. From 1952, the party lost this Lok Sabha seat just once in the 1997 by-election. During the 2019 general elections, the BJP bagged 28 out of 29 in MP, but failed to win Chhindwara.

The saffron party said 50 Congress cadres came into its fold on Wednesday in Chhindwara.

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Sitting Chilika MLA, Prashant Jagdev joined BJP on February 29. He was expelled by the BJD a few years ago.

"PM wants to have a 'Viksit Bharat' and the efforts have begun. The priority that he has given to Odisha - he made a woman from our state, the President of India; two others were made Governors. Odisha has received funding of Rs 18 Lakh Crores...Efforts that are being made to make India the number one country in the world, so drawing inspiration from this I joined the BJP...I worked with Naveen Patnaik but now he is not seen, someone else comes in. So, I quit the party...," he said after joinig.

PM Narendra Modi to visit Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar on March 1st, 2nd

He will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth Rs 35,700 crores in Jharkhand and Rs 22,000 crores in West Bengal.

PM Modi will also inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 34,800 crores in Bihar.

Narendra Modi.

ECI issues notice to BJD over the use of party symbol in government advertisements

Odisha BJP MLA Suryabanshi Suraj says, "We had approached the Election Commission over this and the EC took it very seriously. Elections are approaching...the party symbol is being used very tactfully in government schemes...So, we hope that the BJD accepts its mistake and give the clarification sought by the EC, that it withdraws the party symbol used in government schemes...."

Recently, a circular dated January 12, 2024, from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) directed all 26 of its regional offices to solicit tenders for woven laminated bags adorned with a picture of PM Modi for the distribution of foodgrains under PMGKAY.

Clashes broke out between ABVP and Left-backed groups at JNU, Delhi, on Thursday night over selection of election committee members at School of Languages

"Sourya and Priyam injured. The GBM concluded successfully towards JNUSU elections. ABVP has been trying to stall elections for the past few weeks." Student Union Collective Delhi wrote on their platform X.

As a part of 'Chalo Medigadda' program, BRS leaders - including party's working president KT Rama Rao - start from Telangana Bhavan

Led by KT Rama Rao, aound 150 senior BRS leaders are visiting the Medigadda barrage.

Giriraj claims sections on women harassment not registered against Shajahan, accuses Mamata of setting new standards of appeasement

"Mamata Banerjee saved Shahjahan in such a manner that no sections of women harassment have been registered against him. You have set a standard of appeasement. You took a long time to arrest him. For votes and appeasement, you are saving people like Shahjahan and allowing such people to play with the dignity of Hindu women....," he said.

"If Om Prakash Rajbhar is made minister, will the backwards get their rights?" Samajwadi Party leader Fakhrul Hasan Chaand said on reports of expansion of Yogi Adityanath cabinet

He further said that such reports have been making round for quite sometime, and questioned what people actually get out of such expansions.

MVA Lok Sabha seat-sharing deal finalized; announcement soon, Sanjay Raut said in a press briefing

'It's Opposition's disappointment of defeat speaking,' says BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on the opposition’s allegations related to EVM

“On the one hand, the public wants the elections to take place through EVMs, on the other hand, they (the opposition) are attempting to create confusion. It’s just their disappointment of defeat (in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections),” he said.

'The issue of farmers is an important issue. We will talk about that,' says Congress Punjab president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Assembly Budget Session begins

'Can BJP field Sitharaman and Jaishankar from any constituency in Tamil Nadu if they indeed believe their support has grown in the state?' AIADMK leader K P Munusamy says

'If not Modi, who else will do daily passengering of the state (Wet Bengal)...Rohingyas? Sheikh Shahjahan?' asks West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar

"Mamata Banerjee gives wrong facts. If you compare the price of petrol-diesel in West Bengal to the other BJP-ruling states like UP, Gujarat... West Bengal has the highest rate. Even small states like Tripura which are under BJP have said that they'll provide at least one or two gas cylinders to the poor for free. Free gas cylinders were given to the women during COVID-19 under Ujjwala Yojna and more than ten crore women got free gas connection... This is a political program along with that a few things will be inaugurated for West Bengal by the PM. If the PM is doing daily passengering of any state, it's good. Should Rohingyas do this daily passengering or people like Sheikh Shahjahan? It's good that any national leader visits any state this often... The PM in his tenure has given the amount of money to the railway in West Bengal that Mamata Banerjee herself hadn't allowed when she was the Railway Minister. When Mamata Banerjee was part of UPA, how many times did that PM visit West Bengal?... People have a special connection with PM Modi, TMC should appreciate his (PM) efforts," he further said.

BJP stages protest against West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee over Sandeshkhali Incident in Delhi; demand resignation

Opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc creating hurdles in implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission, Awas Yojana: PM Modi in Jharkhand

JMM, Congress consider Adivasis as their vote bank...They will never let talented people of the tribal communities come forward, says PM Modi in Dhanbad

"80 harao, Loktantra bachao: Leaders and workers of all four frontals will visit every village with the slogan; the BJP will be swiped in upcoming elections...," says Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav

'I wanted to join so I did,' says former RJD MLA Bharat Bind on joining NDA

On death of veterinary student in Kerala, BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar says, 'This tragic incident really makes us hang our heads in shame.'

He said, "This happens in a constituency where Rahul Gandhi, the so-called leader of the Congress Party INDI alliance is going around the country saying Bharat Jodo Yatra... Leave children out of your politics..."

'Congress government trying to confuse people,' says BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai on caste survey report

'TMC has left no sector for scandals,' says PM Modi

'CM sits on protest to save those who do scandals,' says PM in Bengal

'TMC considers Modi its enemy because Modi wont allow TMC's scandals,' Modi says in Bengal

'These people who loot will have to return everything. Modi won't spare them. This is my guarantee,' Modi says in Bengal

PM Modi says, 'Central govt has been running scheme to provide water in every household. More than 11 crore water connections have been provided.'

'TMC works at the speed of a tortoise,' PM Modi says

'TMC stops every scheme which helps the poor,' Modi says at Arambagh

'TMC stopped benefits of PM Kisan Nidhi scheme,' PM Modi says

'TMC tries to takeaway all the money provided in the schemes,' PM Modi says in Bengal

'Central government today is focused for the development of youth, farmers, poor and women,' PM Modi says

'When WB gets Viksit, only then India can get Viksit,' PM Modi says

'TMC is proud of its vote bank. This time this will not work,' Modi says

'Entire country upset and angry over what TMC did with our sisters in Sandeshkhali,' Modi says in Arambagh

'TMC government big hurdle in empowerment of poor, farmers, youth and women,' Modi addresses public rally in Bengal's Arambagh

'Is the vote of some people more important than atrocities against women in Sandeshkhali?' Modi says in Arambagh

'They are sitting at Hotel Lalit in Panchkula in Haryana boundary, we will see when they are back to Himachal boundary,' Himachal CM Sukhu says on 6 rebel Congress MLAs

BRS MP BB Patil joins BJP in Delhi today

'I welcome BB Patil and wish him the very best,' says Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar as BB Patil joins BJP

'Under the BJP, more than 25,000 lives have been lost to the scourge of suicide over the past 3 years, with nearly 500 of them being students,' says Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

TN LoP Edappadi Palaniswami writes to Assembly Speaker demanding disqualification of DMK leader K Ponmudi

TN LoP Edappadi Palaniswami.

Ahead of LS polls, EC asks parties, leaders not to make statements without factual basis, mislead voters

"Ahead of General Elections 2024, political parties to maintain decorum in public campaigning else stern action against direct or indirect MCC violations will be taken. The Commission has put additional responsibility on star campaigners and candidates under MCC – regarding MCC violations," the Election Commission of India said.

The EC also said that temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras or other places of worship should not be used for election propaganda or electioneering.

Here’s what Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said on explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru today

The CM said, "CCTV footage from the cafe is being examined. It has come to be known that someone had left a bag at the cafe. The accused in the incident will be punished."

'He (PM Modi) is here to give report card about what he has given in 10 years to develop Bengal," says West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari on PM Modi's rally

'They (BJP) have sold their integrity,' says Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at a public rally

Here’s what Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said on explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru today

Here’s what Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru today

'Any directionless and non-serious effort never succeeds,' says MP minister Prahlad Singh Patel on Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra

'Not going to discuss any political things, not a political meeting,' says Mamata after meeting PM Modi

'I will be in TMC as a soldier,' says TMC leader Kunal Ghosh

'Congress had been losing elections badly since 2014,' says former Congress leader Koustav Bagchi on joining BJP

'PM should speak something new then it will be good to hear,' says Basant Soren, brother of former CM Hemant Soren

'We are sure that we will win all 11 seats (in Chhattisgarh) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,' says BJP leader Arun Sao

'We are going to get majority of seats here in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,' says UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak after attending ‘Vijay Sankalp Yatra’ in Telangana

Nothing political was discussed, says Himachal Speaker on his meet with CM Sukhu

The Speaker said, "They were here for a courtesy call. Nothing specific was discussed...Nothing political was discussed..."