Elections 2019: EC Prepares for Bigger VVPAT Count on 23 May
Catch all the updates on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections here.
advertisement
Five phases have been completed in the ongoing seven-phase Lok Sabha elections. All seven phases of voting will end on 19 May, results for which will be declared on 23 May.
Catch all the updates on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections here.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)
FIR Against BJP MP Shankar Lalwani for Alleged MCC Violation
An FIR has been registered against BJP MP candidate from Indore, Shankar Lalwani for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), news agency ANI reported.
Chandrababu Naidu to Continue Campaigning for TMC
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will continue campaigning for TMC in Kashipur, West Bengal on Thursday, 9 May.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Hold 5 Rallies Today
PM Modi will be holding three rallies in Uttar Pradesh — Azamgarh, Jaunpur and Prayagraj and two in Bankura and Purulia in West Bengal.
Official, 4 Cops Suspended for Negligence in EVM Handling
Patrolling magistrate Awadesh Kumar and four policemen have been suspended for their negligence in handling EVMs during the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections in Muzaffarpur in Bihar on 6 May, reported Hindustan Times.
Woman Detained For Alleged Attempted Assault at Sidhu
A woman was detained in Rohtak on Wednesday for allegedly attempting to throw slipper at Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu during a public meeting, reported news agency ANI.
Power-Hungry Mamata Destroying Bengal: PM Modi
Speaking at an election rally at Bankura in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the chief minister Mamata Banerjee has destroyed the state in her hunger for power, reported news agency ANI.
Abusing Martyred PM Sign of Cowardice: Ahmed Patel
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly targeting Rajiv Gandhi in his campaign speeches, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Thursday said abusing a martyred Prime Minister is the sign of "ultimate cowardice", reported news agency PTI.
Modi Seeking Votes in Name of Fake Nationalism: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of seeking votes in name of "fake nationalism" and said he has done nothing in the last five years except “jumlebaazi”, foreign tours and lectures, reported news agency PTI.
Bhopal District Collector Orders Inquiry in Computer Baba Event Involving Digvijaya Singh
District Collector of Bhopal has ordered an inquiry to investigate if permission was given for three-day camp being held by Computer Baba along with other saints to undertake Hat Yog in Bhopal, over cost of the event and the role of Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, reported news agency ANI.
EC Orders Repolling in 13 TN Booths
The Election Commission has ordered re-polling at 13 booths in five parliamentary constituencies of Tamil Nadu, news agency ANI reported on Thursday.
“Re-poll to be held in 13 polling stations in state, where Lok Sabha elections were held on April 18. Re-poll will be conducted on May 19 in 8 polling stations in Dharmapuri, 2 in Theni and 1 each in Cuddalore, Tiruvallur and Erode,” Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo told ANI.
SC Rejects Plea on Rahul’s Alleged Dual Citizenship
The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition in against Rahul Gandhi alleging he holds citizenship of two countries, reported Bar and Bench.
SC Quashes Tej Bahadur’s Plea Against Nomination Rejection
SC rejects plea of sacked BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav challenging rejection of his nomination from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat, reported news agency PTI
Chandrababu Naidu to Meet Mamata on 23 May
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is expected to meet his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee following the election results on 23 May, reported news agency IANS.
'Never Said Will Slap PM,' Clarifies Mamata
Clarifying on her controversial statement about PM Modi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said: “I have never said I will slap the PM. I had said slap of democracy, try to understand the language”.
Ex-President Zail Singh's Son-In-Law Joins BJP
Sarvant Singh Channy, the son-in-law of former president Giani Zail Singh, joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday in the presence of senior leaders of the saffron party, including Union minister Nitin Gadkari, reported news agency PTI.
Haven't Seen a Weaker, More Coward PM: Priyanka Gandhi
Speaking at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh, Congress' General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said she has not seen a weaker, more coward prime minister than Narendra Modi, reported news agency ANI.
"Political might is not earned by holding huge rallies but by paying heed to people's problems, solving them. It is earned by accepting criticism and hearing out the Opposition. This PM does not even responds to your issues".
Poll Body Sends Notice to BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri For 'Abusing' Kejriwal
The Delhi poll body has issued a notice to BJP's South Delhi candidate Ramesh Bidhuri for allegedly using a Hindi slur for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a public meeting, PTI reported.
The public meeting was held on 7 May in Mehrauli. Bidhuri was joined by Union Minister Giriraj Singh at the event.
'Mahagathbandhan' Can Only Lead to Anarchy, Instability: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at a public rally in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, 9 May, said that the “’Mahagathbandhan' can lead only to anarchy and instability.”
He also said that Azamgarh had become synonymous with terrorism before 2014. “It is not so any longer,” he added.
“How were bomb blasts brought under control in all cities after 2014? How have terror activities been restricted only to J&K now? It is because our government prioritised national interest. We entered Pakistan and attacked terrorists,” the prime minister said, as per ANI.
Cong Has Lost Credibility to Address Poverty: Gadkari
Congress has lost all political credibility when it comes to addressing the issue of poverty, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday, 9 May, taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi's proposed "Nyay" scheme by invoking Congress prime ministers, who, he claimed, had vowed to eradicate poverty and failed.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP office here, Gadkari also alleged that the Congress had deliberately created "fear" in the minds of the minorities to divert attention from performance, work and development, which should have been the issues in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, as per PTI.
Will Withdraw All TMC Candidates if You Prove 'Coal Mafia' Allegations: Mamata to PM
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hit back at PM Modi, while speaking at a public rally in Bankura on Thursday, 9 May.
She ‘challenged’ PM Modi to prove the allegations of the TMC leaders’ links to the coal mafia.
“I challenge you to prove the allegations... I will withdraw all my 42 candidates. If you are lying, you have to hold your ears and do a hundred sit ups before public,” Mamata said, as per ANI.
Won't Let Modi, BJP Destroy India's Unity: Punjab CM
Calling for a vote against the Akalis who he said resorted to sacrilege to polarise communities, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday, 9 May, made an emotional appeal to not let Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP destroy the country's biggest strength - its unity.
Addressing an election rally in Punjab’s Sunam in support of Congress candidate from Sangrur, Kewal Singh Dhillon, he said this land of martyrs was an inspiration for those who had sacrificed themselves for an India that belongs to all religions and communities.
(Source: IANS)
Cong Seeks Judicial Probe into Kerala Bogus Voting
With a preliminary probe revealing bogus voting in the postal ballots of police officials in Kerala, the Congress party on Thursday, 9 May, demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter while the state police chief ordered a full fledged investigation by the Crime Branch.
Kerala's Chief Electoral Officer, Teeka Ram Meena, after going through the preliminary report filed by intelligence chief TK Vinodkumar, asked Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra to give directions for a detailed probe, as per IANS.
DCW Takes Cognisance of Reports of Pamphlet Against Atishi
Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has taken suo-motu cognizance and written to East Delhi DCP over reports of a pamphlet being circulated against AAP candidate from East Delhi, Atishi.
DCW has asked the DCP if a FIR has been registered, the accused identified and the current status of the probe. The DCP will have to file a reply by 11 May.
Priyanka Gandhi Holds Roadshow in UP's Sultanpur
Congress General Secretary for UP East, Priyanka Vadra Gandhi, held a roadshow in Sultanpur along with party candidate Sanjay Singh.
Union Minister Maneka Gandhi is contesting from the constituency as the BJP candidate.
SP Alleges BJP-EC Foul Play, Calls Off Akhilesh Yadav's Rallies on Friday
The Samajwadi Party on Thursday, 9 May, alleged that the Election Commission, under pressure from the ruling BJP government, was looking for technical reasons to cancel the Lok Sabha election in Azamgarh.
In a statement, the party alleged that the BJP was aware that the Mahagathbandhan would easily win the Azamgarh seat and was conspiring to derail the victory.
Rahul Gandhi to Reply to EC Notice by Friday Evening
Congress president Rahul Gandhi has been given time till Friday evening by the Election Commission (EC) to respond to a show-cause notice issued to him over his remark that the Narendra Modi government had enacted a new law that allowed tribals to be shot at, as per PTI.
On Tuesday, Gandhi had sought time till the weekend to respond to the notice.
Opposition Wants SC to Order Re-poll in Entire Tripura West
The Opposition CPI (M) and Congress are seeking directions from the Supreme Court against the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to hold re-polling on May 12 in only 168 polling stations under the Tripura West Lok Sabha seat, instead of in the entire constituency, leaders of these parties said on Thursday, 9 May, as per IANS.
EC Issues Notice to Computer Baba For 'Fanning Communal Sentiments'
The Election Commission on Thursday, 9 May, issued a notice to Computer Baba after a complaint by BJP alleging that he was campaigning for Congress Bhopal candidate Digvijaya Singh in Madhya Pradesh and fanning communal sentiments.
He has to reply within 24 hours, ANI reported.
EC Prepares for Bigger VVPAT Count on 23 May
As it prepares for the mammoth exercise of counting of votes for Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission on Thursday, 9 may, stated that in case of a mismatch between EVM and VVPAT machine counts, the latter will be held valid.
(Source: PTI)
Never Saw a More Coward, Weak PM Than Modi: Priyanka
Stepping up her attack on Narendra Modi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday, 9 May, said she had never seen "a more coward and weak" prime minister than him, PTI reported.
"I have not seen a more coward and weak prime minister than him (Modi) in my life," she told an election meeting in Jaunpur, a day after Modi fired yet another salvo targeting her father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, accusing him of using warship INS Viraat as a "personal taxi" for a family holiday.
'Vote Cast for NCP Went to BJP': Sharad Pawar Raises Concern Over EVM Again
NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday, 9 May, raised concerns over the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in polls, claiming he himself had once seen during a presentation that a vote cast for his party went in the BJP’s favour.
Pawar, however, said he did not claim that all EVMs function in such a way.
“I am also concerned about the machine. In Hyderabad and Gujarat, some people kept an EVM before me and asked me to press a button. I pressed the button against ‘watch’ (the NCP’s symbol) and the vote got cast in favour of ‘lotus’ (the BJP’s symbol). I saw it happening myself,” Pawar told reporters, as per PTI.
Heavy Security Deployment in West Bengal Ahead of Sixth Phase of LS Polls
Taking into consideration the past poll violence seen in the eight constituencies going to polls in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, the administration has decided to deploy heavy security.
“Given the fact that the eight constituencies going to vote are in Left wing extremist areas, around 602 Central Armed Police Forces are being deployed. In addition, 112 state armed police personnel from different states are also being deployed,” IG CRPF (West Bengal) S Ravindran said, as per ANI.
Balakot Biggest Anti-Terror Operation in India's History: Rajnath
The Balakot air strikes on the Jaish-e-Muhammed terror training camp in Pakistan was the "biggest" anti-terrorist operation in the history of India, Union Home minister Rajnath Singh said in an election rally in south Delhi on Thursday.
"They (opposition parties) say the air force should have counted the bodies. Being the home minister and having solid intelligence input, I can say with full conviction that the Balakot air strikes was the biggest anti-terrorist operation in the history of India," Singh claimed.
BJP as Corrupt as Congress: Mayawati
Alleging that the BJP is "as corrupt as the Congress", BSP supremo Mayawati Thursday sought people's support for her party and its allies in the Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a joint rally of the BSP and its ally the Loktantra Suraksha Party floated by rebel BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini, she claimed that both the Congress and the BJP had come to power with the support of Dalits "but did nothing for them".
"The Dalits and backward communities have always been used as vote bank by the Congress and the BJP, but they failed to improve their condition," Mayawati claimed.
"We must not allow them to come to power again," she told the rally.
- Access to all paywalled content on site
- Ad-free experience across The Quint
- Early previews of our Special Projects
Published: 09 May 2019,06:42 AM IST