Tag: Lok Sabha Elections 2024

  • Live Updates: PM Narendra Modi To Make Important Announcement Shortly

    The announcement will come days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections announcement by the Election Commission of India.

  • Yusuf Pathan Joins Mamata Banerjee`s TMC; To Contest Lok Sabha Polls From Berhampore

    Yusuf Pathan will also contest the upcoming Lok Sabah polls from the Berhampore (Bahrampur) Lok Sabha seats, announced West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

  • Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP, Pawan Kalyan’s JSP Joins NDA For Lok Sabha Elections |

    New Delhi: The Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party (JSP) have decided to join hands with the BJP within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The parties will soon decide on the seat-sharing formula for parliamentary constituencies in Andhra Pradesh.

    In response to the TDP and JSP’s decision to ally with the BJP under the NDA, JP Nadda extended a warm welcome, expressing readiness to embrace the parties into the NDA bloc.

    “I wholeheartedly welcome the decision of Shri N Chandrababu Naidu and Shri Pawan kalyan to join the NDA family. Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Hon. PM Shri Narendra Modi  ji, BJP,  TDP, and JSP are committed to the progress of the country and the upliftment of the state and people of Andhra Pradesh,” Wrote Nadda.

    I wholeheartedly welcome the decision of Shri @ncbn and Shri @PawanKalyan to join the NDA family. Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Hon. PM Shri @narendramodi ji, BJP, TDP, and JSP are committed to the progress of the country and the upliftment of the state and…
    — Jagat Prakash Nadda (Modi Ka Parivar) (@JPNadda) March 9, 2024

    Releasing a joint statement, the TDP BJP and the Jana Sena said, “Under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Jana Sena Party (JSP) , the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Jana Sena Party (JSP) as being committed for the progress of country and the upliftment of state and people of Andhra Pradesh, have decided to contest the ensuing Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections together in Andhra Pradesh.”


    “Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has been working tirelessly for the development and progress of the nation for the last 10 years and coming together with TDP and JSP will help in reaching the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh,” it added.

    The statement further said that the TDP and the BJP have a very old relationship. “The BJP and TDP have a very old relationship together. TDP joined the NDA in 1996 and has worked together successfully in Atal Ji’s and Narendra Modi Ji’ governments. In 2014, the TDP and the BJP fought the Lok Sabha election and assembly election together. The JSP had supported the 2014 general and assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh,” it said. 

    The joint statement was rfeleased after the meeting of TDP Chief Naidu with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP Chief JP Nadda in Delhi today. Actor Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party, which has been a member of the NDA, has already joined hands with the NDA.
     

  • Lok Sabha Polls: In Bihar, BJP Nears Seat Sharing Deal With Chirag Paswan, JDU

    Last night, Chirag Paswan held a meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda but a formal decision of seat-sharing is yet to be announced. 

  • Priyanka Gandhi Likely To Make Lok Sabha Poll Debut From Raebareli; Rahul To Contest From Amethi And Wayanad |

    NEW DELHI: After much anticipation, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to make her electoral debut from Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, a constituency held by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for three terms, sources said on Wednesday. This move comes as Priyanka’s mother, former party chief Sonia Gandhi, announced her decision not to seek re-election from Raebareli, a seat she had secured five times in the past, including in 2019 when she emerged as the sole Congress victor in UP.

    Rahul Gandhi To Contest From Amethi And Wayanad

    Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is poised to reclaim the Congress stronghold of Amethi, which he lost to BJP’s Smriti Irani in a surprising defeat in 2019. Importantly, Rahul will also contest from Wayanad in Kerala, a seat he won in the previous general election, ensuring his Lok Sabha status.

    A formal announcement in this regard could be made after the Congress CEC meeting scheduled to be held tomorrow evening. The crucial CEC meeting has been called to finalise the Congress candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Sources said that an announcement regarding Priyanka and Rahul’s candidature can be made after the two-day meeting of the CEC that is likely to conclude on March 9.

    Priyanka Gandhi’s foray into electoral politics has been long-awaited, with speculations rife after Sonia Gandhi’s withdrawal from Raebareli. The striking resemblance between Priyanka and her grandmother, Indira Gandhi, has not escaped the notice of constituents. Posters urging Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest from Raebareli have surfaced in the constituency, reflecting the anticipation among locals for her candidacy.

    Congress Awaiting BJP’s Move

    The BJP is yet to announce its candidate for Raebareli, following its defeat by a significant margin in 2019. However, it has been confirmed that Smriti Irani will defend her seat in Amethi, setting the stage for a high-stakes electoral battle in Uttar Pradesh.

    As Priyanka Gandhi prepares to step into the electoral arena from Raebareli, and Rahul Gandhi gears up to reclaim Amethi, the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh braces for intense competition ahead of the upcoming elections.

  • Big Setback For Congress As Gujarat MLA Arjun Modhwadia, Ambarish Der Resign Ahead Of Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra, Lok Sabha Polls |

    Three days ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’s Gujarat leg, a big setback came for Congress as two key party leaders resigned from the grand old party. Congress MLA and former president of the party’s Gujarat unit Arjun Modhwadia resigned from the assembly and the party while the party’s working president of the Gujarat unit Ambarish Der also resigned leaving the party in troubled waters ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

    Two Big Leaders Quit Congress

    Modhwadia submitted his resignation to the state Assembly Speaker. He was among the Congress CM contenders during the 2017 polls. Addressing the media, Modhwadia said, “When a party loses its connection with the people, it cannot survive for long. The people of the country wanted the Ram Temple to be constructed. The Congress had also decided that after a constitutional verdict from the Supreme Court, we would support it. Even then the invitation to the Pran Pratishtha was declined. I raised my voice then too, that this would hurt the public sentiment and we should not make such political decisions and that decision showed a lack of connection with the people. I tried to convey my message in several other matters, but I was not successful. Finally, I decided to resign today.”

    The party’s Gujarat unit working president Ambarish Der also resigned from the party and said he will join the ruling BJP on Tuesday. His resignation came after the party suspended Der from all posts and as a primary member of the Congress for a period of six years for his ‘anti-party activities’.

    Earlier in the day, Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president CR Paatil visited Der’s residence in Ahmedabad. Der also said that he was upset with the party’s stand on Ram temple in Ayodhya. The 46-year-old former MLA claimed it will be his “home-coming” as he was with the BJP in the past and worked extensively for it when he was young.

    Der had represented the Rajula seat in the Amreli district from 2017 to 2022 as the Congress MLA. He had defeated BJP’s heavyweight Hira Solanki, the younger brother of state minister Parshottam Solanki. Ahead of the 2022 Gujarat assembly polls, Der was made the Congress working president and remained on the post despite suffering defeat at the hands of his arch rival Hira Solanki.

    Assembly, Lok Sabha Polls Speculation

    While there is speculation that Hira Solanki might be asked to resign as the Rajula MLA and fielded from the Bhavnagar Lok Sabha seat, and Der might be the BJP candidate for the Rajula seat bypoll. The BJP might field one of the two leaders in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

    Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra

    Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra will enter Gujarat on March 7 and will cover 400 kilometres across seven districts over four days. During this, Rahul Gandhi will offer prayers at temples and visit the historic Swaraj Ashram at Bardoli to pay tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. “There will be 27 corner meetings and six public gatherings as part of the yatra’s Gujarat leg. Some of the distance will be covered using cars and buses, while foot marches will be held in urban areas,” said the Congress. 

    The yatra, which began in the strife-torn Manipur, will culminate in Mumbai on March 20-21 after covering 6,713 kilometres across 110 districts over a period of 67 days, as per party leaders.

  • ‘Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala’: Tejashwi Yadav Takes Dig At Nitish Kumar In Jan Vishwas Rally |

    Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and described his recent ally shift phenomenon with the Hrithik Roshan starred song, ‘idhar chala main udhar chala, jane khan mai kidhar chala.’ Addressing the crowd in Jan Vishwas Rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Tejashwi said that the Bihar government should get its insurance done as it runs the risk of JDU supremo taking repeated U-turns. 

    Yadav exclaimed that the BJP says ‘Modi ki Guarantee’, but who will take the guarantee of Nitish Kumar? Reacting to the accusations of PM Modi over familial politics in RJD, former deputy CM of Bihar said, “They call us out on nepotism, but they have Samrat Choudhary, brother of Ram Vilas Paswan, Manjhi ji’s son has been made minister, it doesn’t look like any nepotism to them.” 


    He further expressed gratitude to the Congress for their support in challenging times, Yadav highlighted Nitish Kumar’s initial skepticism about job promises during their tenure. “When we pledged jobs, he questioned their source. Under our administration, we conducted a caste census, raised the reservation limit to 75%, and increased reservation for extremely backward people by 24%. We achieved what the country hadn’t since independence,” Tejashwi Yadav remarked. 

    He hailed RJD’s ethos, stating, “In RJD, ‘R’ signifies rise, ‘J’ stands for job, and ‘D’ represents development.” Tejashwi critiqued the BJP for destabilising elected state governments, asserting that the public will respond. Tejashwi pledged to continue the fight, framing it as an ideological battle. “Even if summonses are sent to Rahul Gandhi or the CBI targets Akhilesh Bhai in the Uttar Pradesh alliance, we will persist. BJP has become a dustbin where every party’s waste is accumulating,” he stated in Patna. 

    Taking a swipe at PM Modi, Tejashwi criticized his recent visit to Bihar, accusing him of repeating falsehoods. “Modi ji is a factory of lies. In the last election, BJP won 39 out of 40 seats. Ask their MPs about the work done in their districts,” he concluded. 

    PM Modi visited Bihar on Saturday where is was present in a public meeting in Aurangabad alongwith Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. PM also unveiled development projects valued at over Rs 21,400 crore in the state.

  • BJP Lok Sabha Candidates List: 57 OBCs, 28 Women, 27 SCs, 18 STs; Fom First List, BJP Moves To Balance Caste Equations |

    BJP First Candidate List For 2024 Polls: The BJP has released its first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 having 195 names including that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The BJP’s candidate list comprises 57 OBCs, 28 women, 27 from Scheduled Castes, and 18 from Scheduled Tribes. With this, the BJP has indicated that it will not only go hard against low performers but will also keep its focus on balancing caste equations. The party has fielded candidates keeping in mind the opposition alliance and their candidates, especially in Uttar Pradesh.

    BJP’s Move To Capture SC Votes

    Among the Scheduled Caste candidates, names like Kripa Nath Mallah, Kamalesh Jangde, Vinodbhai Lakhmashi Chavda, Dineshbhai Kodarbhai Makwana, Ajay Tamta, Bhola Singh, Om Kumar, Satyapal Singh Baghel, Soumitra, and Priya Saha are included, representing various sections of the marginalized society. This comes at a time when the opposition parties especially Congress are trying to make caste census a poll issue to counter BJP’s Hindutva politics.

    29 फरवरी, 2024 को प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi की गरिमामयी उपस्थिति और श्री @JPNadda की अध्यक्षता में आयोजित केंद्रीय चुनाव समिति की बैठक में आगामी लोकसभा चुनाव हेतु 195 लोकसभा सीटों के लिए बीजेपी उम्मीदवार के नामों पर मंजूरी दी गई। (1/4) pic.twitter.com/Wv8yVYnegK
    — BJP (@BJP4India) March 2, 2024

    Focus on Tribal Votes

    In addition, the BJP has given tickets to candidates from Scheduled Tribes to secure their votes. Mahesh Kashyap, Amar Singh Tisso, Radheshyam Rathia, Chintamani Maharaj, Bholaraaj Naag, Jaswant Singh Bhambhor, Prabhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava, Manoj Tigga, Tala Marandi, Sunil Soren, Geeta Koda, Samir Uranv, Himadri Singh, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Anita Nagar Singh Chauhan, Mahendra Malviya, and Mannalal Rawat are among those who have received tickets. 

    OBCs In Spotlight

    Since Rahul Gandhi keeps raising the OBC issues every now and then, the BJP’s list also has the highest representation from the community. It also aligns with the saffron party’s considerable OBC voter base. Notably, Prime Minister Modi himself belongs to the OBC category. The BJP has given tickets to OBC candidates like Rajesh Varma, Ghanshyam Lodhi, Parmeshwar Lal Saini, Rajveer Singh, Rekha Varma, Sakshi Maharaj, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, and Rahul Lodhi. In this way, the BJP has made a concerted effort to address the interests of OBCs by allocating 57 tickets to them.

    Women Candidates Get Greater Representation

    In the BJP’s first list of candidates, there are 28 women candidates. The party has given tickets to Bansuri Swaraj, Shobha Surendran, Sandhya Ray, Lata Wankhede, Jyoti Mirdha, Kamaljeet Sahrawat, Annapurna Devi, Hema Malini, Rekha Varma, and Priya Saha, among others. 

    Opposition Slams BJP

    Reacting to the BJP’s first list, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the BJP has accepted defeat in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP’s first list has 51 candidates from Uttar Pradesh. Taking to X, Yadav said, “The first list of BJP’s Lok Sabha candidates shows that ‘prima facie’ this list has come only on those 195 seats where there is even a slight possibility of BJP winning. Its meaning is clear but BJP is wiped out on the rest. In the first list itself, BJP has accepted its defeat because due to fear of rebellion, it is re-nominating those people who are not getting any work done in their respective parliamentary constituencies or because of their involvement in corruption. There were no expectations for tickets. Those who wanted to pack their bags and leave are being asked to fight again under pressure. What opposition will these inflexible people face?”

    Yadav further claimed that there is deep disappointment among BJP workers due to the list because they are aware of the wind blowing against most of their MPs among the public. Congress leader Pawan Khera said that the current BJP MPs were useless and thus the party was forced to remove them.

  • ‘1st Step Will Be Caste Census…’: Priyanka, Rahul Gandhi Sound Poll Buggle In Uttar Pradesh |

    Congress Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday joined the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra led by party MP Rahul Gandhi in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. While addressing the crowd the brother-sister duo slammed the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) over various issues, some of the top ones were the caste census and paper leaks in UP Police Constable Examinations.  

    Taking a dig at the Modi government, Rahul Gandhi said that if the majority wants to have the caste census, then the first step after the election will be the caste census. “In this country there are 50% backwards, 15% minorities, 15% Dalit, and 8% Adivasi… How many of these are in media, none… You’ll see them in the list of MGNREGA but not in the big companies,” Gandhi said, adding that 90% of people don’t get any participation. 

    Slamming PM Modi for his political tactics, Rahul said that the Modi government is distracting Indians by launching gimmicks like Bollywood and surgical strikes and ignoring crucial issues like unemployment, paper leaks, and the true well-being of the citizens. He said, “This is what the BJP system is.” He further added that patriots unite the country and do not work to disintegrate it (Deshbhakt mohabbat ki dukaan kholte hain, nafrat ke bazaar nahi chalaate).  

    Meanwhile, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a shot at the rising unemployment rates under the BJP’s rule. “As the BJP’s government is formed in the centre and state, unemployment rates have increased,” she asserted. She linked unemployment to a lack of facilities and persistent paper leaks, making it clear that development hinges on gainful employment. She said that the brass industry is stagnant, there is no development after the BJP’s rule.  

    As the UP Police Constable examinations are scheduled for a re-examination, Priyanka Vadra said that “the 28 lakh students wrote the exam but the paper was leaked.” She said that until the paper leaks are stopped, there will be no development. She urged the voters to cast their votes based on their experiences.

  • Lok Sabha Election 2024: Modi Led BJP To Finalise UP Roadmap In Delhi Today; Adityanath, Amit Shah, JP Nadda To Attend |

    NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to finalize its comprehensive strategy for Uttar Pradesh today. The decision comes at a crucial time as the party gears up for the electoral battle in one of India’s most politically significant states. Uttar Pradesh has a total of 80 Lok Sabha seats and is considered key to power in Delhi. The state has played a key role in keeping Narendra Modi at the helm in Delhi.

    Electoral Strategy and Rally Plans

    As the electoral code of conduct is about to be enforced, the BJP’s plan will outline the number of rallies to be held across Uttar Pradesh. The strategy aims to cover every Lok Sabha constituency in the state, ensuring a widespread campaign led by the party’s top leadership.

    Key Leaders to Convene

    The meeting, expected to be the largest before the announcement of candidates, will feature prominent figures such as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President JP Nadda. Their discussions will focus on organizing rallies that encompass every constituency, setting the stage for a comprehensive electoral campaign.

    Pre-Parliamentary Board Meeting

    Ahead of the upcoming Parliamentary Board meeting, today’s gathering in Delhi marks a pivotal moment for the UP BJP unit. The session aims to align state-level strategies with the central leadership’s directives, ensuring a unified approach to the elections. Attendees include Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Baijayant Panda, Dharmapal Singh, Bhupender Chaudhary, both Deputy Chief Ministers, and various regional and state officials.

    Responsibilities and Agenda

    The Delhi meeting’s outcomes will guide the BJP’s efforts in Uttar Pradesh, with officials tasked with implementing the agreed-upon agenda. This strategic planning session is essential for the BJP as it seeks to consolidate its presence and campaign effectively in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

    2019 And 2014 Poll Results

    In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won 71 seats riding on the Modi wave while in the 2019 elections, the party managed to won 62 seats, nine down from the 2014. Thus, the BJP is planning to win all the 80 seats this time to keep its mission 400 on. The BJP is aiming to win 370 seats itself and at least 30 seats for its allies thus hoping to achieve its objective of ‘Abki Bar 400 Par’.