Narendra Modi in Bihar; Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE updates: PM slams Congress manifesto again, says his 'blood boils when army is insulted'

Jharkhand polling station painted to resemble train

A polling station in Ramgarh, under the Hazaribagh Lok Sabha constituency, has been given the look of a rail coache. The Parliamentary constituency will go to polls on 6 May, in the fifth phase of the election.

Narendra Modi in Bihar latest updates

Nitish ji replaced lantern with LED bulb, says PM

Referring to the Lalu Prasad-led Rashtriya Janata Dal by its election symbol of lantern, Narendra Modi said at his Valmiki Nagar rally on Saturday that Nitish Kumar had replaced the _’_lalten’ with an LED bulb.

**"**But people with the mentality to separate the country divided Andhra and Telangana. It has been five years since the separation of both the states. Although Andhra and Telangana speak Telugu they can’t see each other eye to eye," also added, in a snub to those who want to “divide the country.”

Narendra Modi in Bihar latest updates

Modi lists achievements by Nitish govt at Valmiki Nagar

Speaking at his third and final rally at Valmiki Nagar in Bihar, Narendra Modi slammed the grand alliance once again and hit out at the Congress manifesto. He also used the opportunity to celebrate the JD(U)-BJP government of Nitish Kumar. “Do not forget that 10 years ago, the Congress had declared a debt waiver. At that time, farmers’ debt was Rs 6 lakh crores and they excused only Rs 52,000 crores,” the prime minister said.

समाज में भेद पैदा करने के लिए ये बरसों से आरक्षण के नाम पर झूठ फैला रहे हैं।

अटल जी की सरकार ने थारू समाज को उनका हक दिया था और वर्तमान एनडीए सरकार ने गरीब परिवारों को।

हमने सामान्य वर्ग के गरीबों को 10% आरक्षण दिया, वो भी किसी दूसरे का हक छीने बगैर: पीएम #DeshKiPasandModi pic.twitter.com/f3b9hsiO4k

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 4, 2019

Priyanka Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh latest updates

Congress general secretary offers prayers at Amethi dargah

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East) offered prayers at Hazrat Meer Imamuddin Dargah in Amethi on Saturday.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East) offers prayers at Hazrat Meer Imamuddin dargah in Amethi. pic.twitter.com/DsgcKFJF3m

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 4, 2019

BJP election campaign latest updates

How do you like to be judged now, Arun Jaitley asks Rahul Gandhi

“This is a story of a man who aspired to be a defence deal pusher and today aspires to be India’s prime minister. It’s a serious charge and I think it’s my responsibility to reveal this,” said Arun Jaitley, as BJP raised the pitch for the recognition of the allegation that Rahul Gandhi’s former business partner got defence offset contracts during the UPA regime through his firm Backops Limited, UK. 

Jaitley said that Rahul did not have any business raising his finger at the BJP (presumably over the Rafale deal) when he himself have been involved in corruption. “What did you want to be? A defence dealer or a politician?” he said, asking how he would like to be judged now.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress General Secretary for Uttar Pradesh (East) offers prayers at Hazrat Meer Imamuddin dargah in Amethi. pic.twitter.com/DsgcKFJF3m

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 4, 2019

‘Won’t abandon Rahul Gandhi when he needs us most’: Amethi voters admit to lack of development but are ‘bound by emotions’

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is perhaps the only Member of Parliament, who holds the distinction of being thoroughly disliked as the serving representative of the Amethi parliamentary constituency and yet having been re-elected from there three consecutive terms. Since the last 15 years, thousands of people — who even say that he has consistently failed on every count for last three term — would still vote for him because of the emotional connect they have had with the Gandhi-Nehru family.

BJP election campaign latest updates

Arun Jaitley alleges Rahul Gandhi’s former business partner got defence offset contracts during UPA regime

Based on a news report, BJP leader Arun Jaitley raised the pitch for the recognition of the allegation that Rahul Gandhi’s former business partner got defence offset contracts during the UPA regime through his firm Backops Limited, UK.

Amit Shah in Amethi latest updates

Constituency will see development for the first time, says BJP chief

Amit Shah, in a roadshow at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s home turf of Amethi, told ANI that for the first time, Amethi is “feeling that development is possible there.”

“Even after making members of Gandhi family their representative for so many years, there were villages which didn’t have electricity. They received electricity only after Modi ji came. Everyone is hopeful. The massive crowd is an evidence that people of Amethi have faith in Modi ji,” he added.

Ramdev files complaint against Sitaram Yechury over ‘Ramayana, Mahabharata’ comment

Yoga exponent Ramdev, along with a few other godmen, have filed a complaint with the Haridwar SSP against CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury for his statement, “Ramayana and Mahabharata are also filled with instances of violence and battles,”

BJP election campaign latest updates

BJP president Amit Shah and Union minister and the party’s Amethi candidate Smriti Irani are holding a roadshow in Amethi, a seat held for generations by members of the Gandhi family.

LIVE : Shri @AmitShah's roadshow in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. #BJPWinningAmethi #DeshKiPasandModi https://t.co/TxqC0GN0wU

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 4, 2019

BJP’s Bongaon candidate meets with road accident

Shantanu Thakur, the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from Bongaon, met with a road accident near Jagulia. He has been taken to a hospital, reported ANI.

West Bengal: Shantanu Thakur, Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha candidate from Bongaon, met with a road accident today near Jagulia. He has been taken to a hospital. pic.twitter.com/w8DBpl8gga

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2019

Amit Shah in Madhya Pradesh latest updates

BJP chief slams rule of ‘bantadhar’ Digvijaya Singh

After his rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa, BJP chief Amit Shah tweeted photographs of the crowds in attendance. At the public meeting his slammed the rule of Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh, whom he called “sriman bantadhar”. “Fifteen years ago, when sriman bantadhar ruled here, villages were not electrified, nor were there roads. The BJP government of Shivraj ji took power, made roads and did a lot of work to bring about positive changes in the lives of farmers and poor in the state,” Shah said.

रीवा, मध्य प्रदेश में जनसभा को सम्बोधित किया।
15 साल पहले जब यहाँ श्रीमान बंटाधार का शासन था तब न गांवों में बिजली थी और न ही सड़क।शिवराज जी की भाजपा सरकार ने यहां बिजली पहुंचाई, सड़कें बनाई और प्रदेश के किसानों व गरीबों के जीवन में सकारात्मक परिवर्तन लाने के लिए अनेकों काम किये। pic.twitter.com/oxMRXsyNLR

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 4, 2019

Final voter turnout figures of first four phases published

ANI has tweeted the official final voter turnouts in four phases of the 2019 Lok Sabha electio. 

• Phase 1: 69.5%
• Phase 2: 69.44%
• Phase 3: 68.4%
• Phase 4: 65.51%

Kirron Kher apologises over video with children

Kirron Kher the BJP’s Chandigarh candidate apologised after she was sent a show cause notice by the Election Commission after a video she tweeted showed children shouting campaign slogans in it. “Whatever happened, it was wrong that children were used. Somebody sent it to us, my team shared it and later deleted it. Very sorry, it happened, it should not have happened,” she said.

Congress harnesses Star Wars Day in election campaign

On the occasion of 4 May, also known as Star Wars Day among fans of the science fiction movie series, Congress wasted no time in latching on to the popular culture trend on Twitter.

As a nation under Modi we must always remember, "fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." - Yoda. #StarWarsDay pic.twitter.com/6mJGFJhQHj

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 4, 2019

Surgical strikes have been carried out in the past by Army, reiterates Lt Gen (Retd) Hooda

On the Congress’ claim that as many as six unpublicised surgical strikes were carried out during the UPA’s tenure, the party’s adviser on matters of national security said, “Call them surgical strikes, call them cross border operations, they have been carried out in the past by the Army. I’m not aware of the exact dates and areas that have been brought out.”

Show cause notice over use of children in Kirron Kher’s campaign video

The Chandigarh Nodal Officer has issued show cause notice to BJP’s Kirron Kher over a video she has shared on Twitter where children are seen shouting “vote for Kirron Kher” and “Abki baar Modi sarkar”. Kher must now reply within 24 hours, reported ANI.

Narendra Modi in Basti latest updates

PM says Pakistan should prepare for Diwali or be compelled to deal with terrorists like Masood Azhar

At his Basti rally, Narendra Modi once again spoke of Diwali as a synonym for warfare on Pakistan. “Every Indian has waited for the day when Pakistan-supported Masood Azhar was designated a global terrorist by the world’s biggest organisation. Our government was so powerful that Pakistan must wait for Diwali now or find itself compelled to deal with Masood Azhar,” Modi said, adding that his own strength had compelled Pakistan to deal with the problem. 

देश और उत्तर प्रदेश की सेवा करने निकले आपके इस सेवक के संस्कार और संकल्प बिल्कुल स्पष्ट है-

जाति-प्रांत और वर्ग भेद को दूर भगाएंगे,

भूख, बेकारी, बीमारी को मिटाएंगे,

एक देश का भाव जगा दें, सबकी भारत माता है,

कर्मपंथ से देश हमारा, आगे बढ़ता जाता है: पीएम मोदी #DeshKiPasandModi pic.twitter.com/qcTwwjPDrU

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 4, 2019

Narendra Modi in Basti latest updates

PM says Pakistan should prepare for Diwali or be compelled to deal with terrorists like Masood Azhar

At his Basti rally, Narendra Modi once again spoke of Diwali as a synonym for warfare on Pakistan. “Every Indian has waited for the day when Pakistan-supported Masood Azhar was designated a global terrorist by the world’s biggest organisation. Our government was so powerful that Pakistan must wait for Diwali now or find itself compelled to deal with Masood Azhar,” Modi said, adding that his own strength had compelled Pakistan to deal with the problem. 

देश और उत्तर प्रदेश की सेवा करने निकले आपके इस सेवक के संस्कार और संकल्प बिल्कुल स्पष्ट है-

जाति-प्रांत और वर्ग भेद को दूर भगाएंगे,

भूख, बेकारी, बीमारी को मिटाएंगे,

एक देश का भाव जगा दें, सबकी भारत माता है,

कर्मपंथ से देश हमारा, आगे बढ़ता जाता है: पीएम मोदी #DeshKiPasandModi pic.twitter.com/qcTwwjPDrU

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 4, 2019

Narendra Modi in Basti latest updates

PM warns Opposition leaders that Delhi is far away

Speaking at Basti in Uttar Pradesh, Narendra Modi led with his charge of a divided Opposition and decried the grand alliance as one where the leaders are perpetually at each others’ throats. “I wish to tell Opposition parties that Delhi is quite far,” he said. 

Modi also spoke of how Opposition parties were not stable, corrupt and would push the country towards casteism. 

हमारी तो कार्य संस्कृती ही लक्ष्य तय करने और उसे पूरा करने की है।

महामिलावटी गठबंधन और एनडीए की कार्य संस्कृति एक दूसरे से काफी अलग है।

हम सरकार को दिल्ली से बाहर ले जाना चाहते हैं,

वहीं जो महामिलावटी हैं, जो पद के लालच में दिल्ली आने को आतुर हैं: पीएम मोदी #DeshKiPasandModi pic.twitter.com/UW1kLSF8C3

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 4, 2019

News reports point out rift in Election Commission over recent clean chits to Narendra Modi

Successive reports by The Indian Express and NDTV have shed light on the fact that the recent clean chits by the Election Commission to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah over allegations of poll code violations by the opposition were not unanimous.

A high-ranking source in the Election Commission told NDTV that on five occasions, one of the three commissioners dissented with the majority view to let PM Modi and Amit Shah off the hook for their comments.

But the poll panel was unanimous Thursday disposing a third complaint against Modi, finding no violation of the poll code by him in his speech in Barmer in Rajasthan where he had warned Pakistan, saying India’s nuclear arsenal is not meant for Diwali, Express has reported.

Narendra Modi in Pratapgarh latest updates

PM mistakes Pratapgarh as seat as one with ally candidate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign speech, usually extremely planned in progression, witnessed a minor glitch at his Pratapgarh rally on Saturday. Nearing the end of a vitriol-laden attack on the Congress, the SP and the BSP, Modi urged voters in Pratapgarh to vote for the cup-plate symbol. Except the Pratapgarh candidate was the BJP’s very own Sangam Lal Gupta. Modi was hastily corrected, and quickly went back on his words to urge people to vote for the lotus symbol instead.

Narendra Modi in Pratapgarh latest updates

PM mistakes Pratapgarh as seat as one with ally candidate

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign speech, usually extremely planned in progression, witnessed a minor glitch at his Pratapgarh rally on Saturday. Nearing the end of a vitriol-laden attack on the Congress, the SP and the BSP, Modi urged voters in Pratapgarh to vote for the cup-plate symbol. Except the Pratapgarh candidate was the BJP’s very own Sangam Lal Gupta. Modi was hastily corrected, and quickly went back on his words to urge people to vote for the lotus symbol instead.

Narendra Modi in Pratapgarh latest updates

PM delineates “five threats” of grand alliance, accuses Rahul of corruption

Narendra Modi, at his Pratapgarh rally on Saturday, directed a tirade at the alliance, calling it a ‘mahamilavat’. He said the alliance had five evils, including corruption, unstability, communalism, dynasty and misrule. He particularly cited a news report which claimed Rahul Gandhi’s one-time business partner had received offset contracts during the UPA’s rule, just what the Congress has been accusing Modi of orchestrating for Anil Ambani in the Rafale deal. He also alleged that several summons had been sent to Rahul by the government, presumably to deal with his corruption, but said that Rahul was waiting for the time when his government would come in power and these cases could be done away with. It is not known which cases Modi was referring to.

He also accused the Congress of playing fast and loose with Mayawati’s confidence. “Congress leaders are happily sharing stage with Samajwadi Party in rallies,these people have betrayed Behen ji so cunningly that even she is not able to comprehend. A party which was staking a claim to the prime minister’s post before the first round of voting, now admits to being a vote cutter,” he said.

महामिलावट के इस पंजे के 5 भयानक खतरे हैं-

पहला खतरा- भ्रष्टाचार

दूसरा खतरा - अस्थिरता

तीसरा खतरा - जातिवाद

चौथा खतरा - वंशवाद

पांचवा खतरा- कुशासन: पीएम मोदी #DeshKiPasandModi pic.twitter.com/1KmxM5LWvB

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 4, 2019

Narendra Modi in Pratapgarh latest updates

PM directs vitriol towards Rahul, says he wasn’t born with a golden spoon

At his Pratapgarh rally in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, Narendra Modi had a galaxy of BJP leaders in attendance including Maneka Gandhi and Yogi Adiyanath. Modi turned the full force of its thinly veiled rhetoric at Rahul Gandhi, whom he called ’naamdar’ throughout. He hit out at the Congress chief’s earlier press conference and said that appearances on television do not make a leader. Modi even did not spare late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, and said Congress had tried to project a “Mr Clean” image for him and failed. 

He also equated the Opposition alliance with corruption, to loud cheers.

कल तक कांग्रेस के नामदार कहते थे कि वो मोदी के प्रभाव से डरते हैं।

अब वो कहने लगे हैं कि मोदी से तब तक नहीं जीत सकते, जब तक मोदी की मेहनत और मोदी की देशभक्ति पर दाग न लग जाए: पीएम मोदी #DeshKiPasandModi pic.twitter.com/EHgNEL2rcY

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 4, 2019

Priyanka Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh latest updates

Congress general secretary says BJP bribing village _pradhan_s

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. who is touring Uttar Pradesh, said on Saturday that while the Congress has been sending copies of its manifesto to the village pradhans, the BJP has been sending similar envelops with Rs 20,000 in them. “This too is hilarious that they think that the Amethi pradhan will sell himself for Rs 20,000,” she said.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: Yahan galat prachaar ho rahe hain, paise bat rahe hain, pradhano ko main lifafe mein bhej rahi hun ghoshna patra, aur BJP wale patr kya bhej rahe hain,Rs 20,000 us ke andar. Ye bhi hasi ki baat hai vo soch rahe hain Amethi ka pradhan Rs20,000 mein bik jaega pic.twitter.com/6dwqxfIjxZ

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 4, 2019

I will personally take you to psychiatrist: Gambhir retorts to Afridi comments

Not known to pull back punches, Gautam Gambhir hit back at Shahid Afridi, offering to take him to a session with “a psychiatrist” after the former Pakistan captain wrote a few uncharitable things about the Indian opener.

Afridi in his just-released autobiography Game Changer had sarcastically referred to Gambhir as someone who “behaves like a cross between Don Bradman and James Bond,” and has a “lot of attitude and no great records” 

“…you are a hilarious man!!! Anyway, we are still granting visas to Pakistanis for medical tourism. I will personally take you to a psychiatrist,” Gambhir tweeted. He is the BJP candidate for the East Delhi Lok Sabha seat.

PTI

Congress election campaign latest updates

Sam Pitroda says BJP’s citizenship charges against Rahul unfounded

Sam Pitroda, the Indian Overseas Congress chief said on Saturday that the BJP was sure to lose the Lok Sabha election and slammed its charge over citizenship against Rahul Gandhi. “He has been a Member of Parliament for 15 years, you sat with him in the Parliament. You worked with him in Parliament. Why did you wake up today with lies? You think people are stupid? Don’t underestimate the intelligence of Indian people,” Pitroda told ANI.

Uttar Pradesh election latest updates

Mayawati called me gunda, but she is gundi, says BJP candidate

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh the BJP candidate from Kaiserganj said on Saturday that while Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati had allegedly called him a “gunda” or thug at a rally in Gonda, “she is Uttar Pradesh’s gundi.” Singh added that Mayawati had allegedly threatened to throw him into jail after elections.

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh,Kaiserganj BJP candidate: Mayawati ji at a rally in Gonda called me a 'Gunda'. I would like to say that she is UP's 'Gundi' and she threatened to throw me into jail after elections when infact it is she who will go to jail (3.5.19) pic.twitter.com/Hea42CFQgb

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) May 4, 2019

BJP election campaign latest updates

Amit Shah shares business report claiming Rahul’s former business partner received offset contracts

While Rahul Gandhi was holding a press conference at the Congress headquarters, BJP president Amit Shah tweeted a poem with a news report that alleged that Rahul’s former business partner got defence offset contracts during the UPA regime. The charge is similar in spirit to one brought against the BJP government of Narendra Modi’s by the Congress in the Rafale deal. Congress has alleged that the Modi government intervened in the deal so that Anil Ambani could be made offset partner.

“When he has a say, his business partners make hay. Doesn’t matter if India suffers on the way!” Shah wrote.

With Rahul Gandhi’s Midas Touch, no deal is too much!

When he has a say, his business partners make hay. Doesn’t matter if India suffers on the way!#StealLikeRagahttps://t.co/rb9H6QOVwx

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 4, 2019

Congress election campaign latest updates

Won’t apologise to Modi or BJP, ‘chowkidar chor hain’ is our slogan: Rahul

In the centre of a contempt charge in the Supreme Court against misattributing the “chowkidar chow hai” jibe which he uses against Modi to the Supreme Court, Rahul said that while he has apologised to the apex court, he will not apologise to the BJP or to Modi. “Chowkidar chor hain will remain our slogan,” Rahul said.

Congress election campaign latest updates

Won’t apologise to Modi or BJP, ‘chowkidar chor hain’ is our slogan: Rahul

In the centre of a contempt charge in the Supreme Court against misattributing the “chowkidar chow hai” jibe which he uses against Modi to the Supreme Court, Rahul said that while he has apologised to the apex court, he will not apologise to the BJP or to Modi. “Chowkidar chor hain will remain our slogan,” Rahul said.

Congress election campaign latest updates

Rahul says Army isn’t Modi’s ‘personal property’

He also said the Indian Army was not Narendra Modi’s personal property. The Army, Air Force or Navy are not personal properties of Narendra Modi ji like he thinks they are. When he says that surgical strikes during UPA were done in video games then he is not insulting the Congress but the Army,” he said.

On Friday, in a rally in Rajasthan’s Sikar, Modi mocked Congress’s claim that its government had also conducted surgical strikes across the Line of Control and accused the party of telling lies.

Addressing a rally in Sikar, he suggested that Congress leaders were confusing video games with such strikes. He said the party first ignored the strikes carried out under his government and then opposed them. “Now it’s me too, me too,” he said using the English term.

Army is not a personal property of Mr. Modi. Surgical Strikes are done by the Armed Forces. When Mr. Modi says Surgical strikes during Congress govt were "video games", he doesn't insult Congress, he insults the army: Congress President @RahulGandhi#ArmySeMaafiMaangoModi pic.twitter.com/2kUqkBWYkE

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 4, 2019

Congress election campaign latest updates

Rahul hold presser, charges EC for bias towards Modi on several counts

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi held a press conference on Saturday in which he predicted a loss for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections and aired a host of charges particularly against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rahul also charged the Election Commission with having a separate set of rules for the Congress and the BJP.

The Election Commission concluded on Friday that Modi did not violate the model code or its advisory on armed forces in his speech in Varanasi. It also found nothing wrong in his comments made in Nanded, Maharashtra where he reportedly dubbed the Congress as a ‘sinking Titanic’. With this, the EC has decided on five complaints against Modi and gave him a clean chit in all matters.

चुनाव आधे से ज्यादा खत्म हो चुका है। स्पष्ट है कि मोदी जी चुनाव हार रहे हैं। किसान, भ्रष्टाचार, रोजगार, संस्थाओं पर अतिक्रमण मुख्य मुद्दे हैं। इसलिए भाजपा चुनाव हार रही है : कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष @RahulGandhi#ArmySeMaafiMaangoModi

— Congress (@INCIndia) May 4, 2019