Lok Sabha Election 2019 updates: EC to decide on Modi biopic tomorrow; LK Advani says BJP has adversaries, not enemies

BJP has adversaries, not enemies: LK Advani

LK Advani’s views assume significance at a time when the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah have made the issue of national security a key plank for the general elections and have often accused its political rivals of speaking the language of India’s enemies like Pakistan.

Many BJP leaders have also often used terms like “anti-national” to target Opposition leaders. “The essence of Indian democracy is respect for diversity and freedom of expression. Right from its inception, the BJP has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our ’enemies’, but only as our adversaries,” the 91-year-old leader wrote in a blog ahead of the BJP’s foundation day on 6 April.

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EC to take call on PM Modi biopic tomorrow

The Election Commission said on Thursday that it will take a final call in PM Narendra Modi’s biopic release on Friday. Earlier today, Omung Kumar B has told ANI that the fiml won’t be releasing on 5 April as planned. “We don’t want to tell you the date now. Opposition had come forward, tried things. It’s late but we know what date to release it on,” he said.

Unverified reports have said the film is yet to receive a CBFC certificate.

CPM writes to EC protesting Namo TV launch

CPM politburo member Nilotpal Basu wrote to the Election Commission (EC) on Thursday against the launch of Namo TV, alleging that it was a “brazen violation” of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

Alleging that a series of violations by the ruling BJP “severely constrain” the level-playing field for all the political parties and candidates contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Basu demanded action from the poll body.

“To start with, we are dumbfounded to come across the information that NaMo TV, which advertises for ‘Real time coverage of PM Modi’s exciting election campaign and a lot more fascinating content’, has been on air for over a week now and it does not even have a broadcast license.

PTI

Have nothing to do with Ratal Puri’s business: Kamal Nath on nephew being called for AugustaWestland probe 

Madhya Pradesh chief minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath denied any involvements with the business dealings of his newphoew Ratal Puri, who was called by the  ED to join the AgustaWestland money laundering probe.

“He’s independent, he has nothing to do with politics. I have nothing to do with his business. Whatever there is, it must be investigated but how these issues come up during elections only?” the Congress leader said, accordign to ANI.

MP CM on his nephew Ratul Puri called by ED to join AgustaWestland money laundering probe: He's independent, he has nothing to do with politics & I have nothing to do with his business. Whatever there is, it must be investigated but how these issues come up during elections only? pic.twitter.com/qAMVJ7l0Wh

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019

CPI fields 9 LS poll candidates in UP; CPI(M) to extend support to SP-BSP-RLD alliance

The Communist Party of India has fielded nine candidates for the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh and has plans to nominate candidates in a couple of more seats in the state, a party leader said Thursday.

On the other hand, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has made it clear that it will not field any candidate in Uttar Pradesh, and will instead extend support to the SP-BSP-RLD alliance in the state.

CPI’s Uttar Pradesh unit Secretary Girish said, “At the commencement of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, our leaders approached all the secular parties including the Congress, and the SP-BSP-RLD alliance, since our only target is to defeat the BJP.”

“Since none of the political parties gave us any concrete assurance, we had to field as many as nine candidates in the state. The party will field two to three more candidates,” he said.

Apart from senior CPI leader Atul Kumar Anjan who will fight in Ghosi Lok Sabha seat, the party has fielded candidates in Robertsganj, Khiri, Banda, Bareilly, Ballia, Shahjahanpur, Lalganj and Gorakhpur.

PTI

NYAY won’t adversely impact economy: Rahul Gandhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi clarified on Thursday that the Nyuntam Aay Yojana (NYAY) will not have any ‘adverse’ impact on the Indian economy. He said, ‘Nyay  scheme will be implemented without adversely impacting economy," he said.

Overwhelmed by love and affection of people of Wayanad: Rahul

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday thanked the people of Wayanad for their support after he filed his nomination papers for the Lok Sabha seat in Kerala and said he was overwhelmed by their love and affection.

“I am overwhelmed by the love and affection of the people of Wayanad in Kerala, where I filed my nomination today for the Lok Sabha. Thank you for your support and warm welcome,” he said on Twitter.

“I also want to wish the journalists injured in a mishap during our road show a speedy recovery,” he also said. The journalists, covering Gandhi’s road show after he filed his nomination papers, allegedly fell off an open vehicle after a barricade broke and collapsed, eyewitnesses said. Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra extended a helping hand the injured journalists.

PTI

‘Nation First, Party Next, Self Last,’ says LK Advani days after being dropped from Gandhinagar seat

In a blog post  titled ‘Nation First, Party Next, Self Last’, senior BJP leader LK Advani backed his party on various issues, days after being dropped as the candidate for the Gandhinagar seat. “Right from its inception, the BJP has never regarded those who disagree with us politically as our “enemies”, but only as our adversaries. Similarly, in our conception of Indian nationalism, we have never regarded those who disagree with us politically as “anti-national”. The party has been committed to freedom of choice of every citizen at personal as well as political level,” he said.

Don’t mess with me, says Pawar after Modi’s dig at Wardha, Gondia

In a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday said he does not mess with anyone on his own, but “shows the place” to someone who does so.

Pawar also accused Modi of seeking political mileage out of the valour shown by security forces post the Pulwama terror attack as the recrimination between the two leaders continued in the amidst of Lok Sabha election campaign marked by bitterness and acrimony.

Speaking at a poll rally in Gondia on Wednesday, Modi had alleged Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders “were unable to sleep” as their “sleep was jailed in Delhi’s Tihar”. At another public meeting at Wardha on Monday, the prime minister had attacked Pawar, saying the veteran leader has lost grip over his party and that a “family feud” had struck it.

PTI

PM Narendra Modi director says biopic won’t release on Friday but will be out ‘soon’

ANI quoted director Omung Kumar B as saying, “Suspense! The film isn’t releasing tomorrow, not on 5 April. But it’ll be done soon, you’ll get to know. We don’t want to tell you the date now. Opposition had come forward, tried things. It’s late but we know what date to release it on.” Unverified reports have said the film is yet to receive a CBFC certificate.

Amit Shah cancels Telangana visit due to ’emergency’ meeting

BJP president Amit Shah has cancelled his visit to Telangana, where he was scheduled to address two public rallies Thursday, as he had to attend an “emergency meeting” on the partys manifesto and poll-related issues, a top leader said. Shah was slated to address public meetings in Karimnagar and Warangal.

The Prime Minister, Amit Shah and other leaders held an emergency meeting on Thursday morning and discussed manifesto and other issues, party general secretary P Muralidhar Rao said.

PTI

Sujay Vijay Patil’s wife also files nomination from Ahmednagar

Dhanshri Patil — wife of BJP candidate from Ahmednagar LS Constituency, Sujay Vikhe Patil — has also filed nomination from the constituency. His office called the step a “precautionary measure if any technical objection comes” in her husband’s nomination.

Calcutta HC orders Abhishek Banerjee’s wife to appear before Kolkata customs on 8 April

Calcutta High Court ordered Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s wife to appear before Kolkata customs office on 8 April, ANI reported. It also said customs can’t take any coercive step. She was held at Kolkata airport on 15 March for allegedly carrying gold without declaration and was later let off following police intervention.

Amit Shah attacks Opposition mahagathbandhan in Guntur

Addressing a rally in Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur, BJP chief Amit Shah said, “On the one hand, we have Modi ji and on the other hand we have mahagathbandhan that neither has a policy and nor a political leader to lead them.”

LIVE: Shri @AmitShah addresses public meeting in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. https://t.co/9OBQAQnL6t

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 4, 2019

PM Narendra Modi biopic not to release on 5 April, tweets producer

Producer of Vivek Oberoi-starrer PM Narendra Modi said in a tweet that the biopic will not be releasing on 5 April. However, he did not mention another release date for the film.

SP MP joins BJP; Akhilesh terms it ‘ghaatey ka sauda’

Hours after the Samajwadi Party MP from Gorakhpur Praveen Kumar Nishad joined the BJP on Thursday, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav termed it as a ‘ghaatey ka sauda’ (loss-making deal) for the saffron party and also alleged that money changed hands. “This is BJP’s loss making deal as people had voted for the grand alliance in the previous election and not the parliamentarian,” Akhilesh Yadav said in a tweet.

‘विकास’ पूछ रहा है: गोरखपुर में सांसद जी को मठाधीशी का जो झोला भर प्रसाद मिला है, क्या उसे वो पूरा गटक जाएंगे या किसी से बाँटेंगे भी?

ये भाजपा का घाटे का सौदा है क्योंकि जनता ने सांसद को नहीं, उनके पीछे एकजुट महागठबंधन को जिताया था. चुनाव में इन मौसेराें की नैया डूबना तय है.

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 4, 2019

Rahul knows his defeat from Amethi is confirmed: Adityanath on Wayanad nomination

Addressing a rally in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said, “Congress president Rahul Gandhi has filed nomination from a Lok Sabha constituency of Kerala. You all know, he is an MP from Amethi, he knows defeat is confirmed, that’s why he ran away to Kerala.

“And with whose support they want to win elections in Kerala. Congress is fighting in alliance with (Indian Union) Muslim League in Kerala, the same Muslim League that became the reason of country’s partition.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Bulandshahr: Congress President Rahul Gandhi has filed nomination from a Lok Sabha constituency of Kerala. You all know, he is an MP from Amethi, he knows defeat is confirmed, that's why he ran away to Kerala. pic.twitter.com/8FRmhd80dN

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

Ram Nath Kovind forwards report on Kalyan Singh’s remarks to MHA

According to ANI, President Ram Nath Kovind forwarded the report on Rajasthan governor Kalyan Singh to the home ministry. The Election Commission had written to the president against him for violation of model code of conduct. Singh had said “We’re BJP workers and want BJP to emerge victorious. We want that once again Modi ji should become the prime minister on 23 May.”

Congress, BJP workers clash outside Surat collector office

Congress and BJP workers clashed outside the collector’s office in Surat in Gujarat on Thursday when candidates of both the parties arrived to file their nominations for the Surat Lok Sabha seat, police said.

Some persons from both the sides received minor injuries in the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police Vidhi Chaudhary said, adding that no FIR was

registered yet.

The clash took place soon after BJP candidate Darshana Jardosh and Congress nominee Ashok Adhewada reached outside the collector’s office along with their supporters to file their nomination papers, she said. However, the police managed to disperse the angry workers without using any force and quickly brought the situation under control, she said.

PTI

Watch: Congress workers create ruckus at Patna office over denial of ticket to former MP

Congress workers created ruckus at the party office in Patna over denial of ticket to former party MP Nikhil Kumar from Aurangabad parliamentary constituency. The grand alliance has fielded Upendra Prasad of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) as its candidate from the seat.

#WATCH Congress workers create ruckus at party office in Patna, Bihar over denial of ticket to former party MP Nikhil Kumar from Aurangabad parliamentary constituency. Grand alliance has fielded Upendra Prasad of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) as its candidate from Aurangabad. pic.twitter.com/ITwiVHt0ja

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019

Jaitley targets Congress manifesto in blog post

In a Facebook post, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley claimed that the Congress manifesto is promises changes which will regulate and restrict free journalism.

“The manifesto is liberal towards terrorists, criminals and insurgents. But it demolishes otherwise the current structure of independent media in India,” he wrote. “History has witnessed, both in the case of fake news and paid news, as also resistance to political and governmental pressures, professionally managed large organisation are less vulnerable. They have a muscle to resist. Why does the Congress want to unscramble a scrambled egg? This move will meet the fate of the 1988 Defamation Bill.”

Chidambaram slams Jaitley over ’tukde tukde gang’ remark

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram lashed out at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over his “tukde tukde gang” remark against the party. “There is no tukde tukde gang in the Congress. There is only a flip flop gang in the BJP,” he wrote on Twitter.

Jaitley had said on Tuesday that the Congress manifesto seemed to have been drafted by Rahul Gandhi’s friends in the “tukde-tukde” gang where the manifesto deals with Jammu and Kashmir and the national security.

“Is Jaitley supporting ’enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture’? We say that in these three cases there should be no immunity under AFSPA. What does Jaitley say,” Chidambaram asked.

Is Mr @arunjaitley supporting 'enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture'?

We say that in these three cases there should be no immunity under AFSPA. What does Mr Jaitley say?

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 4, 2019

Smriti Irani continues attack on Rahul over Wayanad candidature

Union minister Smriti Irani, who is seeking a Lok Sabha ticket from Amethi constituency. told CNN-News18, “He (Rahul Gandhi) is a neta who will be available once in five years only to take votes. That is the reality which even Rahul can’t turn away from because people in Amethi are witnesses to that reality.”

Defending Narendra Modi’s decision to contest from two seats in the 2014 election, she said that Rahul was a three-time MP from Amethi as opposed to Modi who was seeking an entry into the Lok Sabha for the first time.

She also claimed, “We have seen those times in India when people used to vote for Sonia’s children; now they want to vote for their children”

#EXCLUSIVE – We have seen those times in India when people used to vote for Sonia’s children; now they want to vote for their children: Union Minister @smritiirani tells @bhupendrachaube. | #ElectionsWithNews18 #BattleOf2019 pic.twitter.com/nHncaLupFe

— News18 (@CNNnews18) April 4, 2019

Congress announces list of candidates to be fielded from Madhya Pradesh

Congress has announced a list of candidates to be fielded by the party from some of the Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha constituencies.

Chief minister Kamal Nath’s son Nakul will contest from Chhindwara, Ajay Singh Rahul will contest from Sidhi and Arun Yadav is set to contest from Khandwa.

‘May God protect you both’: Sudheendra Kulkarni reacts to Priyanka’s tweet

Sudheendra Kulkarni poked fun at Priyanka Gandhi’s tweet for Rahul Gandhi, in which she wrote an impassioned appeal to Wayanad to “Take care of her brother”.

“May God protect you both,” the BJP leader tweeted, seemingly sarcastically. 

Words that will find a place in the records of India's history ...and remembered with admiration by future generations.

That there was a patriotic SISTER who said this about her patriotic BROTHER.@RahulGandhi and @priyankagandhi, May God Protect You Both!

Jai Hind! https://t.co/IfL1n6Kiar

— Sudheendra Kulkarni (@SudheenKulkarni) April 4, 2019

Shah will not be allowed to set foot on Valley, says Mehbooba

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti raised the pitch of her offensive against BJP chief Amit Shah’s call to abrogate Article 370, by saying that if the article is struck down then Shah will not be allowed to set foot on Jammu and Kashmir.

Rahul still an Amul baby, CPM leader VS Achuthanandan slams Congress chief’s decision to run from Wayanad

In a fresh attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his decision to contest the Lok Sabha election from Wayanad, besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, veteran CPM leader and former Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan said his earlier statement calling the Congress president ‘Amul Baby’ was relevant as the Gandhi scion had an attitude of approaching situations without understanding them.

Rahul has been asked by his own party’s _karyakarta_s to leave, alleges Smriti Irani

“Someboy who has been told by his local _karyakarta_s to leave, must be feeling quite unsafe,” Smriti Irani told News18 after her Salon rally in Amethi, when asked about whether Congress chief Rahul Gandhi was considering Wayanad a “safe seat for himself”.

If Article 370 is abolished, then India will be to Kashmir what Israel is to Palestine, says Mehbooba Mufti

Mehbooba Mufti addressed BJP chief Amit Shah on Thursday and said that the second the Article 370 is abolished, the Indian government will become an “occupational force in Jammu and Kashmir”. She also likened the situation to that of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

M Mufti: Amit Shah sahab, Mehbooba Mufti aap se keh rahi hai, jis din aap 370 ko khatam karoge, you will be an occupational force in Jammu & Kashmir, jis tarah Palestine pe Israel ka kabza hai usi tarah Jammu&Kashmir main Hindustan ka kabza hoga, agar aapne 370 ko khatam kiya. pic.twitter.com/wnYIWWYWzk

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019

BJP making inroads in Bengal clear from crowd at Modi’s Kolkata rally; TMC’s minority appeasement policy a factor

The crowd at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Kolkata’s historical Brigade Maidan on Wednesday must have warmed the cockles of the BJP’s heart as its strength matched that of public rallies held by former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu, or even the incumbent, Mamata Banerjee.

This is unprecedented for a state that has for long steered clear of the ideology that forms the core of the saffron front.

What does the crowd at Modi’s Kolkata rally indicate? Did most of the people turn out to “see and hear” the prime minister, or is there an underlying message that analysts will have to take into account when discussing the political atmosphere in West Bengal? Is the BJP really gaining ground in a state where it currently has minuscule influence and faces ideological resistance from the masses?

Akhilesh ridicules BJP, asks if manifesto will come after polls

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday poked fun at the BJP by asking if it will release its manifesto of “achhe din” after the elections.

“Vikas puch raha hai...Pradhanji ka acche din wala ghoshna patra kya chunav baad ayega? Is baar toh BJP wale ek-dusre se bhi nahi keh pa rahe ‘acche din aane wale hain’ toh janata se kya kahenge? (‘Vikas’ is asking if the prime minister’s manifesto of ‘achhe din’ will come after the polls. This time even the BJP supporters are not able to say ‘acche din’ is coming, so how will they say this to people?)” Akhilesh said in a tweet.

‘विकास’ पूछ रहा है: प्रधान जी का ‘अच्छे दिन वाला घोषणा पत्र’ क्या चुनाव के बाद आयेगा? इस बार तो भाजपा वाले एक-दूसरे से भी नहीं कह पा रहे हैं कि ‘अच्छे दिन आने वाले हैं’ तो भला जनता से क्या कहेंगे.

भाजपा की उल्टी गिनती शुरू हो चुकी है...#VikasPoochhRahaHai pic.twitter.com/RccI8oqGZF

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 4, 2019

BJP shares cartoon film on Rahul

BJP, through its official handle on Twitter, shared a cartoon film showing Rahul Gandhi sleeping in a room with a portrait of late prime minister Indira Gandhi hanging in it, and waking up to a series of whistles being blown by “chowkidaars” around him. Ultimately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks up to the house and blows the final whistle, the film shows.

देश के चौकीदारों ने 'कुछ लोगों' की नींद हराम करके रखी है। 😂#PhirEkBaarModiSarkar pic.twitter.com/EEZksgJe0t

— BJP (@BJP4India) April 4, 2019

BJP maintains distance as hardline Hindutva groups plan to mobilise 10 million people for Ram temple in Ayodhya

Millions of Hindus will wake up at the crack of dawn this Saturday, five days before the start of Lok Sabha election, and march to nearby temples to chant a sacred hymn and renew a pledge to build a Ram temple on the ruins of the 16th-Century Babri mosque.

Hardline Hindu groups, allied to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), say that they will mobilise more than 10 million people on 6 April — the start of the Hindu New Year — to shore up support for the contentious plan to build the temple in Ayodhya.

But while the event will keep the focus on a core demand of Hindu nationalists, it will not overtly be part of the BJP’s election campaign, signalling a softer approach by the ruling party, multiple sources familiar with discussions said.

Read the full story here

Rahul Gandhi is a missing MP, says Smriti Irani at Wayanad

In Amethi’s Salon, Smriti Irani is addressing the BJP’s Kisan Sammelan

“For 15 days you (Rahul Gandhi) couldn’t do anything in Amethi and now you’ve gone to Kerala,” she said. She referred to Rahul as the ‘missing MP’ and said the Congress has deliberately denied development to the constituency so that its farmers remain poor and subservient to generations of Congress leaders.

Take care of him Wayanad, tweets Priyanka Gandhi

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has tweeted that her brother, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, is the “most courageous man” she knows. She wrote an impassioned line to Wayanad itself, asking the constituency to “take care of him” because “he will not let them down.”

My brother, my truest friend, and by far the most courageous man I know. Take care of him Wayanad, he wont let you down. pic.twitter.com/80CxHlP24T

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) April 4, 2019

WATCH: Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi’s roadshow through Wayanad

Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Wayanad in Kerala. Afterwards, he led a roadshow through the town.

Thousands of people have gathered around Wayanad, Kerala for Congress President @RahulGandhi's road show after he filed his nomination. #RahulGandhiWayanad #RahulTharangam pic.twitter.com/cri5zAu8Ru

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 4, 2019

Yogi Adityanath questions IUML support at Rahul’s Wayanad rally

Yogi Adityanath has questioned the presence of workers of the Indian Union Muslim League at Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow at Wayanad in Kerala. 

“In Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi had to ask the activists of his special ally, Muslim League in Kerala, to not to come to the rally with the party’s green flag, as UP voters would be outraged,” the Uttar Pradesh chief minister wrote on Twitter, ostensibly making a point that because this was the Muslim League, Rahul’s secular ideologies had been compromised. 

वायनाड में राहुल गांधी जी ने केरल में अपने खास सहयोगी मुस्लिम लीग के कार्यकर्ताओं से मना कर दिया कि अपनी पार्टी का हरा झंडा लेकर रैली में न आयें वरना यूपी का वोटर नाराज होगा।

ये मुस्लिम लीग से समझौता कर चुनाव लड़े तो सेक्युलर ? हम 'सबका साथ सबका विकास' करें तो भी साम्प्रदायिक ?

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) April 4, 2019

कांग्रेस प्रेसिडेंट के खास सलाहकार,
जिनको पाकिस्तान से है ज्यादा प्यार,
अब कह रहे कि मिडिल क्लास तैयार हो जाये ज़्यादा टैक्स देने के लिये,क्योंकि 'नामदारों के कुलदीपक' ने 'गरीबी हटाओ' के पुराने 'खानदानी नारे' को फिर से आप सब को ठगने के लिए नए रूप में परोस जो दिया है
सावधान रहिये

— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) April 4, 2019

Rahul Gandhi says he will ’not say a word against CPM’

Rahul Gandhi significantly said he would not target any of the vitriol against the CPM in Kerala.

“I want to make it clear that I will not say a word against the CPM and I understand that the CPM has to attack the Congress. I will happily absorb the attack but won’t say anything against them,” Rahul said

Wanted to give a message that India is one, says Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad

“I wanted to give a message that India is one. There is an assault and attack taking place on the idea of India by Narendra Modi and the BJP,” Rahul Gandhi said after filing his nomination papers at Wayanad on Thursday.

“South India, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, have been feeling that the way Narendra Modi has been speaking and acting, there is an assault happening on their culture,” he added.

Nishad Party support a big boost for BJP

Nishad Party’s decision to support the BJP in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha elections looks to give the saffron party a major boost in the state. The party, though formed in 2015, is an umbrella organisation for many of the backward and downtrodden classes in the state. 

Praveen Nishad, who joined BJP on Thursday, had won the Gorakhpur seat in the a byelection on a Samajwadi Party ticket in 2018.

Nishad Party’s Gorakhpur MP joins BJP

Nishad Party leader and Gorakhpur MP Praveen Nishad has joined the BJP, a party the NP is set to support in Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha election.

Delhi: Nishad Party leader and Gorakhpur (UP) MP Praveen Nishad joins Bharatiya Janata Party. Nishad Party to support BJP in Uttar Pradesh in upcoming Lok Sabha elections. pic.twitter.com/Aqk5X2ZeAu

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019

Rahul off supporting ‘anti-national’ forces, tweets Smriti

Smriti Irani, who is in Rahul Gandhi’s home constituency of Amethi, tweeted while the Congress chief’s Wayanad roadshow was on, saying, that Rahul is off supporting ‘anti-national forces’.

She also said that Vijay Kishore Tiwari, who was a BSP candidate in the Gauriganj assembly elections in 2017, would be joining the BJP. Smriti had earlier alleged that Rahul has insulted the people of Amethi by also contesting from Wayanad.

एक तरफ़ देश विरोधी ताक़तों का समर्थन राहुल गांधी जी ले रहे हैं , वहीं २०१७ में गौरिगंज विधान सभा चुनाव में बसपा से प्रत्याशी रहे श्री विजय किशोर तिवारी जी राष्ट्र को सशक्त करने की भावना से आज भाजपा परिवार में शामिल हो रहे हैं🙏 pic.twitter.com/DyJolNfLsD

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) April 4, 2019

WATCH: Rahul Gandhi’s open-topped bus heads through Wayanad

Watch Congress leaders make their way through a crowded Wayanad on their roadshow after Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers.

#WATCH Congress President Rahul Gandhi holds a roadshow in Wayanad after filing nomination. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ramesh Chennithala also present. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/lVxKhDxGrZ

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019

Mallikarjun Kharge files nomination in Karnataka

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has filed his nomination from the Gulbarga parliamentary constituency in Karnataka.

https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1113697821096665089

‘Encircled by TMC goons,’ CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty tweets

CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty has tweeted that his party’s leaders, including candidate Dr Fuad Halim, have been surrounded by Trinamool Congress “goons” at Diamond Harbour in Bengal.

We, including dr Fuad Halim, the @cpimspeak candidate, are encircled by @AITCofficial goons at Kaiyum Molla's house at Mollapukur, Diamond harbour, south 24 Parganas, #WB. Candidate's program has it's permission from SUBIDHA. A failed adminstration.

— Dr.Sujan Chakraborty (@Sujan_Speak) April 4, 2019

Former Congress MP AB Rapolu joins BJP

Former Rajya Sabha MP Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu has joined BJP. He made the move in the presence of Union health minister JP Nadda in Delhi. He had resigned from Congress party last month.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu joins Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of Union Minister JP Nadda in Delhi. He had resigned from Congress party last month. pic.twitter.com/fEIeC1ak7l

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019

Arun Jaitley asks why Rahul has never worked for a day in his life

Finance minister Arun Jaitley has written a new blog post on Facebook, this time asking why Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is leading a roadshow through Wayanad after filing his nomination papers from there, has not worked for a day in his life.

“The late Shri Rajiv Gandhi was an Indian Airlines pilot for a brief period and, thereafter, he was in full time politics. On the basis of the available information, neither Smt. Sonia Gandhi nor Rahul Gandhi have ever worked for a living.” Jaitley wrote. 

The post then went on to alleged that Rahul enjoys ‘sweetheart’ deals with what Jaitley calls ‘fly-by-night operators’.

IN PHOTOS: Rahul, Priyanka make their way through Wayanad

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is now holding a roadshow in Wayanad after filing the nomination papers. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ramesh Chennithala are also present on his open topped bus.

Kerala: Congress President Rahul Gandhi holds a roadshow in Wayanad after filing nomination. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ramesh Chennithala also present pic.twitter.com/kAW08X22u0

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019

Amul notes Rahul’s trip to Wayanad with a cartoon

Amul butter has released one of its salient tongue-in-cheek cartoon advertisements, noting Rahul Gandhi’s filing of nomination papers from Wayanad on Thursday.

BJP names HS Patel for Ahmedabad East

Bharatiya Janata Party has named HS Patel as its candidate from the parliamentary constituency of Ahmedabad East in Gujarat.

Rahul files nomination papers, begins roadshow

Rahul Gandhi has finished filing his nomination papers at the Wayanad Collectorate and is now going to be leading a roadshow across the district headquarters town on an open bus, along with sister Priyanka Gandhi and senior Congress leaders.

Rahul reaches Collector’s office, sets about filing papers

Rahul Gandhi has reached the Collectorate in Wayanad and is currently filing the papers. The Congress chief is seated opposite to the returning officer. The process of filing nomination papers is a long one, involving several steps and declarations.

Hundreds turn up for Rahul’s nomination filing

As Rahul Gandhi makes his way to the Wayanad collectorate on an open-topped bus, he is greeted by Congress cadres who have travelled to the location from across the south.

Workers are swarming from neighbouring states to greet Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi in Wayanad. Wayanad is a tri-junction constituency sharing borders with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.#RahulTharangam pic.twitter.com/NvKDWaJJEO

— Syed Maqbool (@maqbool_sm) April 4, 2019

EC takes note of Prakash Ambedkar’s “jail EC officials” remark

The  Election Commission has taken note of Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar’s controversial remarks on “jailing EC officials” for at least two days if he is elected. The poll panel has asked for a report in this regard.

WATCH: Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrive at Wayanad

Congress president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary of Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have arrived at Wayanad from Kozhikode.

#WATCH Congress President Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary UP-East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrive at Wayanad, Kerala. pic.twitter.com/Xqcskiaoaj

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019

Rahul and Priyanka arrive at Wayanad, greeted by UDF and Congress leaders

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have arrived at Wayanad via chopper. The Congress chief was greeted effusively by Congress and UDF leaders. The roadway from the Wayanad school grounds to the Collectorate’s office is reportedly filled with Congress workers.

Supreme Court to hear petition against release of PM Narendra Modi

The Supreme Court, it is being reported, has decided to hear a petition against the release of the Vivek Oberoi-starrer PM Narendra Modi which is slated for release tomorrow, 5 April. 

The Election Commission had, on Wednesday, indicated that it will not stop the film from releasing.

Narendra Modi’s ‘crazy bakwas’ should come to an end, says Sanjay Jha

Congress leader Sanjay Jha called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “terrible disaster,” an “embarrassment” and “a joke” and called for his “crazy bakwas” to come to an end. 

What I find funny is how everyone wants to say it but doesn’t. So here goes; #Modi is a terrible disaster. An embarrassment. A joke. And we are all extraordinary for having suffered his nonsense,lies with such grace for 5 years. But farewell time now. Enough of this crazy bakwas.

— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) April 4, 2019

Congress workers hope for excitement surrounding to Rahul to spiral across south India

Congress workers have gathered in large numbers at Wayanad to welcome Rahul. Amidst concerns over whether Rahul’s move to contest from Wayanad will alienate the CPM from the party, the consensus is largely one of jubilation in Kerala. 

Congress workers have also told News18 correspondents that this enthusiasm is one they wish will spiral across the south. Wayanad is an agrarian constituency and located close to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka too.

Image: News18

Rahul to arrive at Wayanad from Kozhikode on chopper

Rahul Gandhi is set to arrive at Wayanad with sister Priyanka Gandhi, from Kozhikode in about 20 minutes, reported News18. The two leaders are headed there in a chopper.

He is now headed to the Collector’s office to file his nomination papers. The two leaders will embark on a roadshow following the nomination filing.

Rahul hailed as ‘young, educated’ candidate for PM’s post

A poster put up to welcome Rahul Gandhi at Wayanad hails the Congress chief as a “young and educated” candidate for the prime minister’s post.

Poster at Wayanad pic.twitter.com/4IeX8ZLy1s

— Vivek Kulkarni विवेक कुलकर्णी (@Vivekjkulkarni) April 4, 2019

IN PHOTOS: Congress workers ecstatic as hour of Rahul filing nomination draws near

Ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s arrival in Wayanad, Congress workers in the Kerala constituency have been tweeting out photographs of Congress workers showing unprecedented levels of enthusiasm.

Hundreds of people have already gathered outside the Wayanad Collector’s office to welcome the Congress chief.  

Nomination of Congress President @RahulGandhi in Wayanad today

Youth Congress is out in full force with @srinivasiyc, @Ravindradass, @JebiMather &others leading the way

We are carrying out an extensive #NYAY campaign in Wayanad & across Kerala as well. @Allavaru#RG4Federalism pic.twitter.com/W5VXDB9PVl

— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) April 4, 2019

WATCH: Smriti Irani alleges Rahul has fled to Wayanad

Smriti Irani, the BJP’s candidate from Rahul’s home constituency of Amethi, has alleged that Rahul Gandhi has fled from his traditional seat and gone to the Wayanad constituency to save face.

#EXCLUSIVE – As @smritiirani has said 'no work, no vote'. @RahulGandhi has been defeated in Amethi and now he has gone into hiding where no one can see him: Union Minister @girirajsinghbjp tells CNN-News18 | #ElectionsWithNews18 #BattleOf2019 pic.twitter.com/M0LA45llwh

— News18 (@CNNnews18) April 4, 2019

In Assam, Rahul implores people to choose between BJP’s “Rs 15 lakh” promise and Congress’s “Rs 3.6 lakh” claim

Launching a scathing attack at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday asked people to choose between the “lie” of BJP’s promise of Rs 15 lakh in their bank accounts and “truth” of Congress party’s assurance of providing Rs 3.6 lakh to 20 per cent poorest families in five years.

“On the one side, there is Chowkidar’s lie of fifteen lakh rupees in all bank accounts. On the other hand, there is the truth of Congress to put 3.6 lakh rupees in five years in the bank accounts of 20 per cent poorest people of India. We guarantee to pay them this amount,” Rahul said addressing a public rally at Bokakhat in Assam.

“Four years back Narendra Modi came and made different promises in all public meetings. Do you remember he promised 15 lakh rupees? Is there anyone in whose account Chowkidar has put any money?” he asked the crowd.

ANI

Prakash Ambedkar threatens to jail ‘EC officials’ if he comes to power

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar, reported News18, has threatened to jail ‘Election Commission officials’ for a few days if he comes to power.

Jaitley says Rahul made ‘sweetheart deals’ with dishonest people

Finance minister Arun Jaitley attacked Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday for what he called sweetheart deals with fly-by-night operators that included receiving inflated rent payments, saying he must remember to explain his affairs before levelling allegations, reported Times of India .

Reacting to a media report of a farm house owned by Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, which was rented out to what he called tainted businessmen, Jaitley said people in glass houses should not throw stones.

Smriti slams Rahul for ‘insulting’ his people in Amethi just as he is set to file his nomination papers

Smriti Irani, on a two-day visit to Amethi, has taken the opportunity of Rahul Gandhi filing his nomination papers from Wayanad, to hit out at the Congress chief ostensibly insulting his people.

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Congress President Rahul Gandhi: He enjoyed a position of power for 15 years because of the support from Amethi, but now he is going to file nomination from elsewhere.This is an insult of Amethi and people here will not tolerate this. pic.twitter.com/qbadbPCrW1

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2019

Mamata counters Modi’s ‘speedbreaker’ charge with ’expiry babu’ barb

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday went for each other’s jugular in battleground West Bengal, with the prime minister castigating “speed-breaker Didi” for allegedly stalling the state’s development and the TMC chief hitting back with a warning that he will face a “voter strike”.

Modi, who kicked off his Lok Sabha campaign in West Bengal with back-to-back rallies in Siliguri and Kolkata on Wednesday, hit out at Banerjee over a host of issues, including alleged lack of development, perpetuating family rule and for seeking proof of the Indian Air Force’s retributive strike on terror camps in Pakistan to avenge the Pulwama killing of 42 CRPF troopers.

Not one to take things lying down, the West Bengal chief minister mounted a blistering counter-offensive, mocking Modi’s “56-inch chest” and claiming his government did nothing to save the lives of the CRPF jawans despite having “information” about the impending terror attack. “We are nationalists, not fascists,” she asserted.

Smriti Irani hits out at Rahul over ‘giving up on his supporters’

“A person who has been in Amethi for 15 years has decided to give up on his supporters. Come elections, he has chosen to file nominations from another constituency. Congress workers in Amethi know that Rahul does not enjoy popular support,” said Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani. Smriti, the BJP’s candidate for Amethi, is on a two-day visit to the region.

Farmers, Adivasis offer Congress chief chance to show he can fulfil poll promises

In Wayanad, Rahul will be greeted not just by the ecstatic mob of Congressmen alone, but a motley crowd of grim-faced farmers and Adivasis as well. Farmers and Adivasis, the two major segments of Wayanad population, are the most worried groups even though they together form a formidable 40 percent of voter base in the constituency. Farmers are the hapless victims of climate change attaining monstrous forms, blood sucking public and private money lenders, free fall of produces’ price, straying wild beasts and a slew of other problems.

Life of Adivasis has reached a dead end. Alienation from their land, a dearth of safe housing, lack of clean drinking water, insufficient food, lack of proper healthcare, inefficient education system, and the list goes on. Wayanad is the largest tribal settlement in Kerala.

Read the full story here

WATCH: Rahul received by crowds of supporters at Calicut

Congress president Rahul Gandhi was received by a huge crowd of supporters as he arrived at Calicut, late on Wednesday, to file his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections from the Wayanad constituency

Congress President @RahulGandhi is received by a huge crowd of well wishers as he arrives in Calicut to file his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections from the Wayanad constituency. @INCKerala pic.twitter.com/aKcjl9lMOp

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 3, 2019

‘Will throw infiltrators out of country in our second term’, Amit Shah says in Kashmir

Giving credit to the BJP-led NDA government for stopping Rohingya from sneaking into the country, BJP president Amit Shah, speaking in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, said the Modi government would throw all infiltrators out the country before the end of the second term of the Modi government.

Shah made the claim, while dubbing illegal immigrants as “termites” for the country.

He also blamed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress for including Article 370 in the Constitution which provides special status to Jammu and Kashmir and for yielding a major area of the state to Pakistan. 

PTI

BJP president to address rallies across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh

BJP president Amit Shah is scheduled to address public meetings in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He will first speak at Karimnagar (11.45 am) and Warangal (1.30 pm) in Telangana and then address rallies at Narasaraopet (3.30 pm) and Visakhapatnam (6 pm) in Andhra Pradesh.

Schedule of BJP National President Shri @AmitShah's public programs in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Watch LIVE at
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— BJP (@BJP4India) April 4, 2019

Solar scam accused to take on Rahul in Wayanad

Saritha S Nair, the prime accused in multi-crore solar scandal, will be fighting as an Independent candidate against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, in Kerala’s Wayanad constituency, reported News18 . The new entrant has chosen Ernakulam as her second seat.

Nair, who had accused several high profile Congress leaders in the state of sexual harassment and rape, has decided to take on the Gandhi scion to as a mark of her protest “for not responding to her letters that sought action against the party leaders facing charges”.

Smriti Irani to campaign in Rahul’s home constituency

Rahul will file his nomination papers on a day when Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Smriti Irani is scheduled to campaign in Rahul’s home constituency of Amethi. Irani is expected to speak at the BJP’s Kisan Morcha Sammelan around 11 am.

Rahul Gandhi to file papers from Wayanad today

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is expected to file his nomination from the Wayanad seat in Kerala on Thursday in the presence of his sister and party general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He will lead a roadshow before filing the papers around 10.30 am.

Rahul is also scheduled to address a rally in Nagpur around 5 pm.