Lok Sabha Elections 2024 News Updates: Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other INDIA bloc partners will take part in a large rally in Amethi at 1 pm. Rahul and Akhilesh will attend a joint rally in Raebareli later in the day at 3 pm.
Tag: Lok Sabha polls
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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Free electricity to ‘no’ Agniveer scheme: Arvind Kejriwal announces ’10 guarantees’ for LS polls 2024 – The Economic Times Video
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced “Kejriwal ki Guarantee”, listing 10 works that will be done on war footing, including to “free” Indian land from Chinese occupation, if the INDIA bloc forms government at the Centre. The opposition bloc, which has parties such as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, Trinamool Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam among others as its members, was formed to take on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the Lok Sabha polls.
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Lok Sabha Elections: If INDIA bloc comes to power, it will put Babri lock at Ram temple: Amit Shah in UP
LAKHIMPUR: Hitting out at the INDIA opposition bloc, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said if it comes to power after the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, it will put a “Babri” lock at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Addressing a rally in support of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, who is the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Lok Sabha poll candidate from Lakhimpur Kheri, Shah also accused the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of defaming the saffron party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying if he gets 400 seats in the ongoing election, reservation will be done away with.
The senior BJP leader said though it is not going to happen, if the opposition parties come to power, they will put a “Babri naam ka tala (Babri lock)” at the Ram temple.
He said Modi not only won the legal dispute involving the Ram Janmabhoomi, but also performed the “bhoomi puja (groundbreaking ceremony)” of the Ram temple and its “pran pratishtha” (consecration) was held in January. “After the first three phases of the Lok Sabha polls, Modiji has crossed 190 seats…. In the fourth phase, under Modiji’s leadership, we are strongly heading towards 400 seats, while the SP, BSP and Congress have been wiped out,” Shah said. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesLakhimpur Kheri will go to polls in the fourth phase of the election on May 13. The counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.
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Lok Sabha Elections Phase 3: PM Modi casts vote in Gujarat, urges people to vote in record numbers – The Economic Times Video
Prime Minister Narendra Modi casts his vote at Nishan Higher Secondary School in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. After casting his vote, PM Modi said, “Today is the third phase of voting. There is great importance of ‘Daan’ in our country and in the same spirit, the countrymen should vote as much as possible. 4 rounds of voting are still ahead. As a voter in Gujarat, this is the only place where I vote regularly and Amit Bhai is contesting from here as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate…”
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Lok Sabha polls: Showbiz personalities galore in Bengal electoral fray
The not-so-old trend among major political parties in West Bengal to throw their weight behind silver screen personalities continues unabated in the current edition of Lok Sabha polls where stars of yesteryears are contesting the elections shoulder to shoulder with contemporary celluloid icons of the industry. In terms of numbers the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress, like in the past, is way ahead of its completion this time around as well by fielding six of the nine filmstars in the poll fray.
While the opposition BJP has nominated two film personalities, the CPI (M) has settled for one well-known tinsel town figure from the Tollygunge film and TV industry to try and dent the opposition vote bank.
TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee has reposed her faith in Bollywood superstar of the 70s and 80s, Shatrughan Sinha, a repeat candidate from Asansol, and on reigning Tollygunge superstar Dipak Adhikari aka Dev from the Ghatal seat for a third consecutive term in Lok Sabha. She also nominated tried and tested contemporary actors-cum-politicians Saayoni Ghosh and June Maliah from the Jadavpur and Medinipur constituencies respectively. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesSatabdi Roy, another popular star of the 80s, is TMC’s candidate from Birbhum who is eyeing her fourth term in the lower house of the Parliament. Successful Bengali film heroine of the 90s, former Miss Calcutta and immensely popular TV show host, Rachana Banerjee, is the party’s candidate of choice from the Hooghly seat. Banerjee, of course, makes her debut in politics with her role as a prospective parliamentarian. TMC’s inclination for film stars also comes with Mamata Banerjee’s decision to drop from the fray Mimi Chakraborty and Nusrat Jahan, leading ladies of the Bengali film fraternity who won the polls in 2019 from Jadavpur and Basirhat seats respectively. “I am happy to be working under the country’s strongest and most popular political figure Mamata Banerjee and want to continue serving the people of Asansol,” Sinha, fondly called ‘Bihari babu’ by his fans, said.
The veteran actor has already spent over two decades in politics and switched camps from the BJP to the Trinamool following his fallout with the Narendra Modi-led BJP regime.
A distant follower of the TMC with respect to the number of showbiz figures it has managed to field, the BJP’s candidate list includes actor-turned-politician Locket Chatterjee from the Hooghly seat and Tolly star Hiran Chatterjee from Ghatal.
While Hiran, a sitting BJP MLA from Kharagpur, takes on fellow star Dev, debutant Rachana finds herself pitted against Locket, the incumbent MP from Hooghly.
An initially reluctant Dev, who publicly expressed his desire to stay away from electoral politics during the current polls, later relented under the insistence of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and the party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
“My dream is to implement the Ghatal masterplan which will put an end to people’s distress arising out of recurrent floods in the area. I have been trying to implement the project since 2014 and felt I should continue in politics a while longer and finish what I started,” Dev told PTI.
Dev’s rival Hiran had debuted in politics ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls.
“It’s easy to fight injustices on reels, but you have to be part of the system to change it,” said Hiran who is a bitter critic of alleged corruption under the current TMC regime.
Rachana, so far, seems to be enjoying the different kind of limelight she has been put under.
“I don’t believe politics is a pastime for people like us. Village women are mobbing me. They want to touch me. Men are asking me to bless their children during road shows,” said Banerjee, host of the high TRP-grosser ‘Didi Number One’ reality show.
Rachana, though, drew a flak from her rival Locket who is seeking re-election for the third time.
“If she thinks hitting campaign trails coming straight from a studio and waving hands at people will fetch her votes, she is grossly mistaken. Elections are a different ball game,” Chatterjee said.
Another familiar face from the industry, June Maliah, a Trinamool MLA of the Medinipur assembly segment, is locking horns with BJP’s Agnimitra Paul, a known fashion designer and MLA of Asansol South, at the Medinipur Lok Sabha seat.
TMC’s youth wing president and a popular actor in her own right, Saayoni Ghosh, has been pitchforked by the party to lead the party’s challenge in Jadavpur. Ghosh had unsuccessfully contested against Paul in the 2021 assembly elections.
“My experiences over the past three years have been rewarding and helped me mature as a politician. That is allowing me to reach out to my electorate in a better manner this time,” Ghosh said.
CPI(M) nominee Devdut Ghosh, a familiar face in TV soaps, OTT platforms and films, is trying his luck from the Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat after biting the dust in the 2021 state polls from Tollygunj.
“As an actor, I have a certain sensitivity. I cannot remain confined to my profession and fraternity when the state is burning. I need to respond and drive home my message to the people I can connect with,” he said, justifying his foray into electoral politics.
TMC spokesperson Trinankur Bhattacharya said, “Dev, June and Saayoni have already proved their political acumen. While Dev and June have regularly been in touch with the voters of their constituencies, Saayoni gave a good fight to the BJP in 2021. She has emerged as an important leader with street fighter instincts.
SFI state committee member Subhajit Sarkar called TMC’s nomination of candidates like Rachana Banerjee “nothing but a stunt”. “Remember they did not renominate Nusrat Jahan or Mimi Chakraborty. People have seen through their gimmicks,” he said.
BJP’s actor-leader Rudranil Ghosh said he was all in favour of people joining politics from various walks of life. “But we don’t need star personalities with little or no idea of what they are getting into,” he added.
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BJP’s Smriti Irani rides scooter, connects with Amethi locals during the election campaign – The Economic Times Video
Amethi (UP): Union Minister and BJP candidate from Amethi, Smriti Irani participated in the election campaign riding a scooter on April 28. During the occasion, she interacted with the locals in Amethi. The Lok Sabha polls for Amethi are scheduled for May 20 (phase 5).
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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: From Vijay to Suriya to Trisha Krishnan, celebrities cast their votes – The Economic Times Video
Voting for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections has begun in 21 states and UTs. Over 16.63 crore voters, including more than 8 crore men and 8 crore women, will cast their vote across 1.87 lakh polling stations. Here are some visuals of celebrities casting their votes…
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BSP quite confident and competent this time: Akash Anand
BSP National Co-ordinator and party chief Mayawati’s nephew Akash Anand is virtually leading the party campaign in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as she appears to have taken a back seat. Anand spoke with Rakesh Mohan Chaturvedi on a host of issues.Q: BSP had contested the 2019 general elections in alliance with SP and RLD, winning 10 seats. Why fight alone this time?A: If you look at 2014 and 2019 data, we were hovering around 19% percent. On cutting into Opposition votes, we want to make absolutely clear that when we contest alone we maintain our vote-share but in alliance our partner cuts into our vote-share, helping BJP. We are quite confident and competent this time.Does BSP feel that though it is able to transfer its vote to its pre-poll ally, its partners like SP or RLD do not?Historically, it is very clear that BSP is able to divert its votes to its alliance partner, but the same cannot be said for the other side.What about the perception that BSP contesting alone will cut into non-BJP votes and thus help BJP?It is a negative way of putting this that BSP will cut into Opposition votes. Voters are not anybody’s heirloom. We are all political parties and we all deserve to go out and ask for votes and let the voters decide.
Does BSP apprehend that Congress will wean away its votes?
No. I think there is a principle and fundamental challenge with Congress. We don’t align with that- whether it was about giving reservations or representation to our people or paying respects to Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Congress failed miserably on these issues.How do you see INDIA bloc, especially Congress and SP contesting together in UP?I think they are becoming a distraction for the voters. They will eventually end up helping BJP win seats, rather than the Opposition. Voters deserve the right to know exactly where a party stands on issues that matter to them and Congress has not been able to put that across categorically- on free rations, employment, law and order. They are in power in some states and are a part of the system that believes in free giving schemes. They are not discussing the real challenges facing the people.One of the main poll planks of BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the welfare schemes like free foodgrains, affordable housing, Ujjwala and so on. How do you see that?Whenever there is a free scheme- whether free rations or subsidy on LPG cylinders, I think addressing the base price and backend cost is more important than subsidies. BJP is providing free rations to 80 Cr which is going to cost Rs 2 Lakh Crore of taxpayers money. That is the cost borne by the taxpayers, especially the middle class…. Nobody has asked them if this is something that is right… Where the real issue lies is that if this money had been used to convert those 80 crore people into employed people that would have added a minimum of Rs 2 Lakh Crore to the GDP.
Are you suggesting that the free foodgrain scheme should be discontinued?Of course, the government should phase it out. If not immediately, then slowly. Government should focus on creating employment, work on the backend cost, and on reducing prices of gas cylinders. Government should focus on that rather than give subsidies. This will lower the burden on taxpayers and reduce the deficit.
There is a perception that with the growth of BJP since 2014 Mayawati has gone into the background and is not very active in politics. Why?Ma’m has always believed in ground work rather than creating perceptions. She believes in handling the issues upfront. That is what she has done in the past decade. It is a matter of strategy and a very conscious step… On the ground our cadre remains with us and our vote-share has not moved much.
BSP has been on the decline since 2014. It needs the extra votes apart from its 19% core votes.Our core voter is with us. As for the floating voters, yes there has been little bit of weaning away. Now we are trying to recapture the mind-space of new voters, we feel we will get the support back.
BSP has fielded many candidates from the minority community that many see as cutting into the Opposition votes and helping BJP.That may not be the right statement. Just like other parties, we are trying to get votes. It could also be said that they are cutting into our votes. Congress and SP have learnt that if we give space to minorities in Parliament, they will also have to do so.
In 2007, BSP formed a government through social engineering when Brahmins voted for BSP. After the Ram temple issue gained traction, this voter has moved away.I think the voters will realise the core issues. BSP stands for employment, safety and security of all, health and welfare of all, including Brahmins…. The voter is clear that they want a government that can help secure their future, rather than on sentiments.
You think the government should stop subsidies?Certainly, we need to actually grow our economy. Our dependency on China is growing. We should be focusing on production inhouse, instead of being import surplus… Subsidy is a temporary solution; only a band-aid on a deep cut.
There was a charge that during Mayawati’s government, a lot of taxpayers’ money was spent on constructing parks.If Ram temple is justified, our parks are a way of paying homage to our leaders…. We are not opposing Ram temple, Babri mosque, or BJP’s tribute to Atal ji. It is very unfair to oppose BSP when it is paying respects to its leaders.
BJP has assured that if it comes to power for the third time, it will not do away with reservations.One should look at their track record on what they have committed and what they have delivered on the ground. It is very difficult for the common people to take their word on whether they will or will not change a certain section of the Constitution. There were a lot of promises around employment, development, and defending the country’s borders. The government has successfully created a narrative on how well they have done rather than on what has been done on the ground.
In case BJP gets an overwhelming majority, do you apprehend they will do away with reservations?They have been very vocal on the ground (about it). Videos of their leaders saying 400 is only a number, the real issue is to change the Constitution. I think it is there and it is for the people to realize this. Changing the Constitution without an Opposition that is strong enough to question it is very dangerous. We are not against amendments in keeping with the changing times but there should be a healthy debate and a consensus.
BJP has taken on the Opposition on dynasty politics. You are in a prominent position in BSP and you are related to Mayawati.Empires have been built again and again over the ages. Even in BJP, which takes a lot of pride in not being into dynastic politics, apart from Modi ji- I cannot even count Amit Shah as his son is in a powerful position- the second and even the third generation of all their leaders are active in the party. It is alright for them to participate but one’s rise and fall depends on one’s caliber. If you are not capable, people will oust you. It is best for the people to decide.
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‘Aapka Ram Rajya’: AAP Launches Website On Ram Navami To Showcase Party’s Works Ahead Of Polls |
NEW DELHI: In sync with the festive spirit of Ram Navami and amidst the preparations for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday launched the “Aap Ka Ram Rajya” website which aims to spotlight the party’s endeavours inspired by the principles of Ram Rajya, particularly highlighting the developmental works undertaken in Delhi and Punjab. Prominent AAP leaders including Sanjay Singh, Atishi, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Jasmine Shah officially introduced the website to the public in a joint press conference held in the national capital.
जय सियाराम
रामनवमी के शुभ अवसर पर AAP की Loksabha Campaign की Website हुई Launch :https://t.co/NHZlhjOzig
इस Website के ज़रिए आप आम आदमी पार्टी के रामराज्य की परिकल्पना और उसे पूरा करने के लिए किए जा रहे कामों के बारे में जान सकते हैं। #AAPkaRamRajya pic.twitter.com/6oFwZ6lCrl
— Aam Aadmi Party Delhi (@AAPDelhi) April 17, 2024
AAP MP Sanjay Singh emphasized the substantial achievements of the AAP-led governments in Delhi and Punjab, asserting that their exemplary work has garnered recognition from nations across the globe. He underscored Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s pivotal role in realizing the vision of ‘Ram Rajya’ in Delhi and reiterated the party’s commitment to translating this vision into tangible reality.
“On the occasion of Ram Navami, we are launching a website ‘AAP ka Ram Rajya’. Arvind Kejriwal has done amazing work to fulfil the dream of ‘Ram Rajya’ in Delhi and has presented an example to the world,” the AAP leader said.
“In these 10 years, we not only formed the government thrice in Delhi but also formed the government in Punjab with an overwhelming majority. The Kejriwal government in Delhi and the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab have done such work, whose examples are being given by the countries of the world today. Delhi is the only state that has a profitable budget despite doing so much work. We are determined to fulfil our vision of Ram Rajya on the ground,” he said.
Atishi Highlights Struggles And Aspirations
AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi drew parallels between the struggles faced by Lord Ram in establishing Ram Rajya and the challenges encountered by Kejriwal in fulfilling the promises made to the people of Delhi and Punjab. She accentuated Kejriwal’s unwavering dedication over the past nine years, likening it to Lord Ram’s steadfast resolve during his exile.
“Being inspired by Ram Charit Manas, Kejriwal ji has said that he has been working for the last 9 years to fulfil the promises made by him to the people of Delhi and Punjab. Lord Ram had to face a struggle to fulfil Ram Rajya. He went into exile for 14 years but did not break his promise. Kejriwal also had to go through a similar struggle,” she said.
Furthermore, Atishi emphasized the significance of the website launch as a means to showcase the transformative impact of voting wisely. By showcasing the developmental strides made in Delhi and Punjab, the initiative aims to inspire citizens to make informed electoral choices for a better future. “He (Kejriwal) sends a message from jail, asking if the water, electricity, and health arrangements in Delhi are fine or not. Kejriwal considers the two crore people of Delhi as his family. The work we have done in Delhi and Punjab is being shown to the entire country through the website “Aapka Ram Rajya”. We are doing this so that the people of the country can be told how their lives can change if they cast their vote at the right place,” she added.
AAP’s Tryst With ‘Ram Rajya’
This initiative underscores AAP’s longstanding association with the ethos of Ram Rajya. Earlier this year, during the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, AAP Convenor Kejriwal reiterated the party’s commitment to the tenets of Ram Rajya, citing it as a guiding principle for governance.
The resonance of Ram Rajya principles was further evident in the Delhi government’s budget planning for the fiscal year 2024-25. Finance Minister Atishi presented a budget aligned with the vision of “Ram Rajya,” emphasizing its role in realizing the party’s overarching goals.