India Politics Highlights | BJP 'openly' violating poll code but EC not acting: Atishi

RJD list of 22 candidates in Bihar includes Lalu Prasad's two daughters

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Tuesday formally announced its candidates for all but one of the 23 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar where the party is contesting as a constituent of the opposition Mahagathbandhan.

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'Elect Sharad Pawar's daughter-in-law': Ajit Pawar tells Baramati voters

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday sought support for his wife in the Lok Sabha polls and sent out a message to Baramati voters, telling them they have elected his uncle Sharad Pawar's daughter three times, but now they should elect his daughter-in-law.

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PM Modi will address the public meeting in Nagpur’s Ramtek later today, preparations under way

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal moves Supreme Court against Delhi High Court order rejecting his plea challenging his arrest in Delhi's excise policy irregularities case

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

NCP(SP) led by Sharad Pawar fields Shashikant Shinde form Satara

BJP-JDS leaders seek the blessings of Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji at Sri Adichunchanagiri Mutt in Vijayanagara.

Shashi Tharoor joins people offering Namaz in Thiruvananthapuram constituency on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

...People trust BJP, PM Narendra Modi. We will win all 29 Lok Sabha seats (of Madhya Pradesh) with a huge majority and 'Abki baar 400 paar: Madhya Pradesh CM Dr Mohan Yadav

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav during a rally ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, in Balaghat.

Centre provides 'Y+' category CRPF security cover to former diplomat and BJP leader Taranjit Singh Sandhu

Former diplomat and BJP candidate Taranjit Singh Sandhu

We will accept the decision of the Supreme Court but after yesterday's decision I don't think any shame has been left in AAP: State BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva

"...It's their (AAP) right, but after yesterday's judgement they don't have the moral right to face the people of Delhi. You can create an environment by spending crores on advocates but can't change the truth, the truth is Arvind Kejriwal has done corruption. We will accept the decision of the Supreme Court but after yesterday's decision I don't think any shame has been left in AAP, they have zero moral value..."

PM Modi felicitated in Vellore ahead of his rally

PM Modi addresses rally in Vellore

You must remember how people would view India before 2014. Only news of scams would circulate: PM Modi in Vellore

Before 2014, people would think that India's economy was flunking: PM Modi in Vellore

BJP and NDA getting great support in Tamil Nadu, says PM Modi in Vellore

Tamil Nadu has a great role to play in the development of India, be it taking it forward in the space or manufacturing: Modi in Vellore

With scams peaking, our economy was weak before 2014

In the last 10 years, NDA has prepared the foundation for developed Bharat, says PM Modi in Vellore rally

"...Those who are sitting in Delhi may not know that the land of Vellore, the land of Tamil Nadu is going to make a new history... BJP and NDA are getting immense public support in Tamil Nadu. The whole of Tamil Nadu is saying 'Ek baar phir Modi sarkar...," says PM Modi in TN

DMK denied opportunity to youth, says PM Modi in Vellore

DMK forced anti-Tamil culture, says PM Modi in Vellore

DMK has copyright on corruption, full family is looting Tamil Nadu, says PM Modi

All the drug lords that NCB arrested are connected to which family? People should know that: PM Modi in Vellore

The political agenda of DMK is "divide, divide and divide", says PM Modi in Tamil Nadu

Due to DMK's family politics, the youth of Tamil Nadu are not getting a chance to move ahead: Modi in Vellore

"...DMK wants to keep Tamil Nadu trapped in old thinking, old politics, the whole DMK has become a company of a family. Due to DMK's family politics, the youth of Tamil Nadu are not getting a chance to move ahead. There are three main criteria to contest elections from DMK and move ahead in DMK. Three main criteria are-family politics, corruption and anti-Tamil culture."

PM Modi blames DMK for rising drug cases in schools of Tamil Nadu, says the party has not even spared children

Meanwhile, as PM Modi is firing shots at DMK in Tamil Nadu, the BJP is protesting in Delhi demanding Arvind Kejriwal's arrest

PM Modi brings up the Katchatheevu issue in Vellore, accuses Congress and DMK of exhibiting fake sympathy towards fishermen. Says NDA govt has been helping fishermen out

D K Shivakumar meets Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence, in Bengaluru.

I can't speak Tamil but I want to live in your hearts always. Urges people to follow 'NaMo in Tamil' on social media: Modi

PM Modi thanks the audience for showing up in such huge numbers in Vellore

Congress MP & party's candidate from Virudhunagar constituency, Manickam Tagore holds election campaign, in Madurai.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal should resign from the position of CM, a government cannot be run from jail as the protocols of jail do not allow that. If Arvind Kejriwal does not accord his resignation letter, then the law will take its own course: LoP Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri

Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora takes oath as a member of Rajya Sabha

Shiv Sena leader Milind Deora took oath as a Rajya Sabha MP on Wednesday. The Vice President of India and Rajya Sabha Speaker, Jagdeep Dhankhar, administered the oath of office to him. Milind Deora took the oath in Marathi. Previously, he served as a two-time Member of Parliament from South Mumbai and held the position of Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology in the Union Government in 2011.

BJP national president JP Nadda arrives at Itanagar airport, Arunachal Pradesh

AAP high-level meeting to discuss Lok Sabha campaign strategy at Kejriwal's official residence today. Bhagwant Mann, Sanjay Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Saurabh Bhardwaj, Gopal Rai and Jasmine Shah to attend. Sunita Kejriwal will also be present at the meeting

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launches party manifesto for Lok Sabha polls

Samajwadi Party will end 'Agnipath' scheme, introduce regular recruitment in armed forces: Akhilesh Yadav while unveiling party manifesto

Police use water cannon to disperse BJP protesters demanding Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s resignation.

In other news, the SC posted the hearing of Patanjali misleading advertisements Case for April 16

Follow our blog to read what went on the apex court

Amit Shah addresses rally in West Bengal's Dakshin Dinajpur

"April 17 is Ram Navami, Ram Lalla's birthday. Modi ji resolved the matter of Ram temple within five years, performed bhoomi pujan and a grand Ram temple was built. After 500 years, Ram Lalla will celebrate his birthday and Ram Navami inside his grand house..."

BJP national president J P Nadda releases party's manifesto for Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Election 2024

Mamata Didi misleading people: Amit Shah on CAA

"I have come to appeal to the people of Bengal with folded hands. We have passed a law, Mamata Didi is misleading the people of Bengal by saying that if you apply, your citizenship will be lost. I have come today to tell you that all the refugees who have come should apply without any fear, no case will be filed against anyone. This is the law of Modi government, no one can make any changes in it...She welcomes Rohingyas by spreading red carpet and is misleading the refugees, all the refugees of Bengal should apply without fear...''

BJP leader Shazia Ilmi on water cannons used on BJP protestors in Delhi

“I really think it was a bit excessive, the way water cannons were used on protesters. Here we have a Chief Minister in Delhi who has been told by the High Court that his judicial custody is indeed legal. So, all that the BJP protesters were doing was talking about that.”

Does anybody live on that island, asks Digvijaya Singh after Modi slammed Congress over the issue earlier in the day in Tamil Nadu's Vellore

PM Modi addresses rally in Tamil Nadu, second time in a day

"Mettupalayam has both, the energy of Coimbatore and beauty of Nilgiri Hills. The tea of Nilgiri is famous across the country, and it is not possible for a chaiwala to not have affection for such a beautiful place of tea gardens," says Modi in Tamil Nadu

DMK worried about family, not Tamil Nadu: PM Modi

"Family parties like DMK and Congress have only one agenda, remain in the government by lying. Congress gave the slogan of eradicating poverty for so many decades, but poverty was not eradicated. This is the NDA government, which has brought twenty-five crore people out of poverty."

During Cong rule at Centre, states discriminated based on party ruling them, we believe in inclusive development: Modi in TN rally

"These family parties think that apart from their sons and daughters, no poor or tribal can hold a high position. But BJP made a tribal woman the President of India for the first time and even at that time the I.N.D.I. alliance people strongly opposed this," says PM Modi in Tamil Nadu

The second name of corruption and scam is DMK: PM Modi in Tamil Nadu

Arvind Kejriwal's two messages for AAP, all the way from jail

Delhi minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai said, "Today, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, MP Sanjay Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Saurabh Bharadwaj and I came here to meet Sunita Kejriwal. Arvind Kejriwal has sent two messages for us from jail: firstly, he has said that the party and (state) government have to continue their services to ensure that the people of Delhi do not face any problems. Secondly, he said that he is ready to bear all the hurdles and atrocities of this dictator government, but the most important thing today is to save the Constitution. He has said that on April 14, the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, the entire party observes it as 'Samvidhan Bachao Tanashahi Hatao' Day."

DMK is standing with those who want to end investment in the country. These people are causing maximum harm to Tamil Nadu with their politics. The BJP government is building a 'Defence Corridors' in this region of Tamil Nadu. Would a 'Defence Corridors' ever be built with the mentality of the INDI alliance?...: Modi

Party will decide about Sunita Kejriwal as star campaigner.

AAP leader Sandeep Pathak after meeting Arvind Kejriwal with other AAP leaders

Former Delhi Deputy CM and AAP leader Manish Sisodia leaves from Rouse Avenue Court after hearing in the excise policy case.

Amit Shah to hold poll campaigns in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra on Thursday.

D K Shivakumar takes potshots at H D Kumaraswamy, saying he is 'daydreaming when he says they're winning,' before saying, 'YS Sharmila is our leader'. DKS will be travelling to Telangana and Andhra and will be there for 2 days.

Amit Shah says Mamata Banerjee is 'misleading' the people of Bengal about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)

“We have passed the CAA law. Mamata didi is misleading the people of Bengal. She is saying that if you apply for CAA, you will lose your citizenship. I request refugees to apply for citizenship under CAA, I assure there won't be any problem,” Shah said at a rally in West Bengal's Balurghat. He added, "We stopped infiltration in Assam. I have come to tell you Modi's guarantee that make us cross 30 seats, and form a BJP government in Bengal, we will stop infiltration (here too),” the minister said, adding that the current 'infiltrators' coming into Bengal across the border form Mamata Banerjee's 'actual vote-bank'. "Do you think that Mamata Banerjee will ever work to stop this infiltration? No!" he claimed.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah lodges police complaint over fake news report

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said he has lodged a police complaint over a fake news story and accused "the miscreants supported by the unholy alliance of BJP and JD(S) of fabricating a piece of disinformation mimicking a report from the Kannada newspaper."

The chief minister shared the purported ‘news report’ in Kannada, whose headline read, "We don’t need Hindus. Muslim votes are enough: Siddaramaiah," on the micro-blogging site ‘X’.

They (Congress leaders) always think that the country's territory is the private property of one family. Therefore, with this mindset, even Nehru ji had said in the 1960s that Kachchatheevu island is an inconsequential piece of land and should be given away...With this mindset, PoK was handed over, Aksai Chin was handed over...we even lost Assam thanks to Nehru ji and this mindset

BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla responds to Digvijaya Singh's remarks about Kachchatheevu island

'I feel AAP will open its account in Assam': AAP leader Atishi while campaigning in the northeastern state

AAP leader and Delhi Minister Atishi said, "Given the positivity that exists for AAP, given the kind of love & support that AAP has always gotten from the people of Assam...One would never have expected that AAP would win municipal seats in Tinsukia...People across the state of Assam know about AAP, know about Arvind Kejriwal and know about the work we have done. The two seats that we are contesting are Dibrugarh & Sonitpur. We are strongly in the fight and I feel AAP will open its account in Assam..."

“People of Assam are looking for a change. For many years, they have seen Congress and BJP in power. They want to give an opportunity to Aam Aadmi Party,” she added.

Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita is the best person to keep the party together in the prevailing circumstances: AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj

BJP replaces Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher, fields Sanjay Tandon

Mamata Banerjee receives twin blows as Calcutta High Court comes down hard

The Calcutta HC has ordered a CBI probe into the alleged crimes against women in Sandeshkhali. Directing the federal probe agency to file a report on the illegal conversion of agricultural land for pisciculture, the high court said the probe would be monitored by the court.

In addition, the Calcutta High Court also pulled up Bengal cops for filing an FIR against the NIA officers on the team that went to Bhupatinagar in Bengal's Purba Medinipur district on Saturday for a raid in connection with a 2022 blast. The high court observed that NIA officials went to conduct a raid strictly in terms of the law, adding that the law does not require the NIA to take permission from state police. Noting that the matter needs to be heard at length, the court asked state police to submit the case diary and listed the case for April 29.

The court said the state police cannot arrest the accused till the next hearing and shall not file any final report in the meantime.

'Why has the NIA woken up two years after this particular incident? Why did the NIA go to that village without informing the local police?': TMC MP Sagarika Ghose

"The fact is that this is a case from 2022. Two years later, when the Model Code of Conduct is in place, the NIA barges into a village at 3 am in the morning, opens doors to homes, harasses women in order to intimidate them and takes away TMC booth-level workers who are living there. Why has the NIA woken up two years after this particular incident? Why did the NIA go to that village without informing the local police?" said TMC MP Sagarika Ghose.

'From the Jantar Mantar, Arvind Kejriwal had said that the country will change once the politics changes. The politics hasn't changed but the politician has changed,' says AAP leader Raaj Kumar Anand after resigning as Delhi Minister.

'What happened in Mumbai - 26/11 - will never happen under PM Modi': External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Rajasthan's Bikaner

Congress never thought about conferring Bharat Ratna to ex-Bihar CM Karpoori Thakur; PM Modi did it: Amit Shah at Gaya rally

We have already said Kejriwal's arrest is aimed at finishing AAP. Anand was earlier called corrupt by BJP but now he will join the same party ... The sole reason behind the investigations and raids by ED is to destroy the AAP. BJP is a criminal party which has been doing this type of hooliganism

AAP's Sanjay Singh on resignation by Delhi minister Raaj Kumar Anand

AAP minister Saurabh Bharadwaj alleges intimidation through 'threats of ED and Tihar Jail' behind Raaj Kumar Anand's resignation as Delhi minister. 'Not everyone is Sanjay Singh,' he added.

Tejashwi Yadav's X post on eating fish while out campaigning slammed by BJP for disrespecting the holy Hindu festival of Navaratri. Tejashwi reposts the original tweet, stating he had fish on April 8, before Navaratri began on April 9

'I have no objection to food habits, but what you want to show by posting a video of eating fish in Navratri, is the politics of appeasement': Bihar deputy CM Vijay Sinha on Tejashwi Yadav eating fish on campaign trail

Biju Janata Dal forms a 38-member manifesto committee for 2024 elections. Berhampur MP and BJD Vice-president Chandrashekhar Sahu appointed as the chairman of the committee.

On Katchatheevu island controversy, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, '...We want to make the public understand what DMK is doing in Tamil Nadu...We are exposing the fact that the DMK was involved in it from the start'

On Kachchatheevu island, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says, 'That is not a topic for Tamil Nadu elections. Our PM & External Affairs minister are trying to make it a topic...Everything they are saying is baseless...Unemployment, inflation & the attack on our constitution are real issues & they do not talk about it. They know that they will be getting zero seats in Tamil Nadu...'

People chant 'Modi-Modi' as Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his speech during a public event in Ramtek.

Congress leader Mohammed Feroz Khan voices his opposition to AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi but says, 'if the high command tells me to support Asaduddin Owaisi, then I will do it till May 13'

Delhi court dismisses Kejriwal's plea for more time with lawyers, says rules apply equally to all

Yesterday, Delhi HC has said that Arvind Kejriwal's arrest is legal. Today, Raaj Kumar Anand, who has been with Kejriwal ji since 2010, has tried to leave those who are corrupt. When will Arvind Kejriwal's conscience awaken? Today AAP has become a 'kickback to self' party.

BJP leader and New Delhi Lok Sabha candidate Bansuri Swaraj

'When Modi starts getting abused you should understand 'Phir ek baar Modi Sarkar'. When they start abusing my mother or my later father understand that 'Phir ek baar Modi Sarkar' and when questions are raised on the EVM, you should understand 'Phir ek baar Modi Sarkar'...': PM Modi at Maharashtra's Ramtek rally

'...INDI alliance and their people are spreading lies that if Modi comes to power the third time, then democracy and constitution will be in danger. Since I have come into politics, not one election has gone, when they did not say the same thing': PM Modi

'They want to finish Hindu Dharma's 'Shakti'. Will you let this INDI alliance win even one seat in Maharastra?...BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP have come to you, every single vote of yours is not just to make them win but also to punish them (opposition)...': PM Modi

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee says EC has 'forbidden' the state govt from building homes to replace houses destroyed in storm while the MCC is in effect.

'We are only permitted to release Rs 5,000 for minimal damage and Rs 20,000 for major damage,' said the TMC leader after meeting West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose in Kolkata

Maharashtra Congress writes to the State Chief Electoral Officer for an investigation into an accident involving its leader Nana Patole in Bhandara on 9th April

PM Modi's roadshow in Agra postponed

BJP 'openly' violating poll code but EC not acting: Atishi

"Yesterday AAP had a rally in Tinsukia. We applied for permission before the BJP. But as Amit Shah was coming for a roadshow, AAP's permission was denied. We were made to change our routes and our timing. Our party workers and volunteers were not allowed to reach the location," claimed the AAP leader.

TMC National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee takes pot shots at BJP 'washing away sins' of those who join them

"If there is someone who is embroiled in corruption it is the BJP...Rs 55 crore from the alleged liquor scam has gone to the BJP. ED says the scam is worth Rs 100 crores...The first who should be arrested is the BJP president... You are accusing Ajit Pawar of Rs 70,000 crore irrigation scam. Now he has become clean all of a sudden and washed away all his sins because he has decided to be a part of NDA government..Himanta Biswa Sarma & Hemant Soren- one did not bow down and is in jail while the other held BJP's flag, he is now clean..."

The Central Election Committee has announced Dr Kalyan Kale as the candidate from Jalna and Dr Shobha Dinesh Bachhav from Dhule: AICC

BRS chief KCR announced Nivedita as the party's candidate for the Cantonment Assembly constituency by-election

"...One of the ugliest political parties in our country is DMK. DMK party is founded on the language of filth...The kind of abuse they have brought into the political vocabulary nobody in our state has done over the last 70 years. DMK stands for abuse at its worst...If you remove Maran from Dayanidhi's name he will not get a job as anybody at any place. He is totally useless without his family's surname..."

Tamil Nadu State BJP President K Annamalai

BJP national president JP Nadda arrives in Gangtok, Sikkim to hit campaign trail

'Again we have been called, but I have requested that I want to be in my constituency tomorrow because of Eid and Sarhul, which is a Jharkhandi festival. I have also requested them (ED) to call me after Ram Navami': Jharkhand Congress MLA Amba Prasad on ED summons in alleged money laundering case.

The PM once infamously compared Kerala with Somalia. Now the BJP is calling Kongu Nadu ‘Congo!’

Jairam Ramesh on PM Modi's speech during Tamil Nadu rally