Lok Sabha polls, April 24: As it happened

Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh lashed out at current-CM Kamal Nath after he was reportedly denied permission to land chopper at Umreth in Madhya Pradesh.

Madhya Pradesh BJP chief Rakesh Singh made a potentially controversial statement when he said, "Aatankwad toh tyaag, tapasya aur balidaan ka prateek hota hai"

He made the statement right after he said that a person who bears the colour saffron can never be a terrorist.

Pragya Thakur is contesting Lok Sabha elections 2019 from Bhopal on a BJP ticket.

She hit headlines recently because of her comments on 26/11 Mumbai attacks martyr Hemant Karkare.

What had Pragya Thakur said exactly?

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After the controversy, Pragya Thakur had retracted her statement and apologised.

Security of BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal Pragya Thakur may get fortified and she may be provided a Z-security cover, IANS reported.

The decision has reportedly been taken after a man with a black flag approached her while she was filing nomination papers.

Voter turnout in Kerala during phase 3 of Lok Sabha Elections 2019 was 77.68%. Kannur Parliamentary constituency registered the highest voter turnout of 83.05%.

News agency ANI reported the figures.

Gautam Gambhir took a political plunge and joined BJP very recently.

Want the scoop on what's up with the former cricketer?

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Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir's nomination for East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency has been accepted by the returning officer. Congress and AAP had previously raised objections on his candidacy.

Gautam Gambhir joined BJP recently and he is now contesting Lok Sabha elections on BJP ticket.

PM Narendra Modi criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for supporting what he called a "weak" coalition. He said that India does not want a "Majboor" (weak) sarkar.

PM Narendra Modi trained his guns at the Opposition and said that Opposition parties are blaiming Electronic Voting Machines to hide their defeat in the elections.

Watch the video below

PM Narendra Modi said that he knows the plight of the poor as he himself has lived through poverty.

PM Modi addressed the contentious issue of National Register of Citizens (NRC) and said that with the help of the NRC, infiltrators will be kicked out.

PM Narendra Modi hinted at "big decisions" post election results on May 23

"Those who have looted the poor in the name of Chit Fund will be shown their place," he said.

PM Narendra Modi continues his rallies in Mamata Banerjee's backyard. He has begun his address at Ranaghat rally in West Bengal.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee accused PM Narendra Modi of "purchase" of votes with black money. She was speaking at a public meeting at Serampore in Hooghly District.

"Modi Babu you may forcibly impose notebandi (demonetisation) on people to convert black money into white and spend them during elections to purchase votes, but you can never purchase voters in Bengal," Banerjee was quoted by PTI as saying.

Union Minister Smriti Irani lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi. She challenged him and dared him to talk about development projects that were implemented during Rahul Gandhi's time as MP of Amethi.

Re-poll to be held at polling station 181 in Cooch Behar, West Bengal on April 29 following allegations that voters were stopped from casting vote.

"I read somewhere that 'chaiwala' only made foreign trips in five years. But let me tell you India's might is acknowledged everywhere because of these visits," PM Modi says, while addressing a rally in West Bengal.

"It seems everyone wants to be the prime minister of the nation; any party fighting from 20 or 25 seats wants to claim PM's post," he adds.

BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday launched a stinging attack on his Congress counterpart Rahul Gandhi whom he accused of having gone into mourning upon air strikes in Balalot along with those in the Pakistan ruling establishment even though nation-wide celebrations were held to hail the operation.

He said Gandhi may carry on doing "Ilu Ilu" (a famous Bollywood song of the 1990s that abbreviated the expression I love you) with Pakistan, but they under Prime Minister Narendra Modi having a 56-inch chest will give beffiting reply to any act of cross-border terror.

Only two types of people were mourning the Balakot airstrike. One was those in the ruling establishment in Pakistan. The second was Rahul baba and company," Shah told an election rally here.

Since the 1990s, whenever the Congress was in power, we had to contend with the humiliation of Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killing our soldiers, mutilating their bodies.

Karyakartas (BJP-RSS workers) like me cannot forget how helpless Mouni Baba (Manmohan Singh) used to look, the BJP president said.

"Should AFSPA be repealed? I've come to tell Rahul baba it will not be repealed in his whole life. After him, if another Gandhi comes, he also will not be able to repeal it," Shah says.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav Wednesday said the SP-BSP alliance will not let the saffron party succeed in its designs.

The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said people voted for 'chaiwala' and tasted tea. 

"As you know the taste of tea now, will you vote for him again?" he asked the gathering at an election meeting here.

"The BJP is playing divide and rule game of Britishers. They are creating division (in society) on the basis of caste and religion with the sole purpose of grabbing power. But, the SP-BSP alliance will not let the BJP succeed in its designs," he said.

"Unitedly we will fight and also win against these forces," he said.
Akhilesh asked if the alliance of three parties (SP-BSP-RLD) is 'maha-milawat' (as described by Prime Minister Modi), then what will you call alliance of 38 parties.

He said, "The nation needs a "Pradhan Mantri" (prime minister) and not a "Prachar Mantri" (publicity minister)."

Akhilesh, however, said he would not coin any nomenclature for the NDA "as people will themselves understand."

He added, "Baba (CM) says that had there been no Constitution, I would have been grazing buffalo. What would he (CM) be doing, if there was no Constitution? I will not say as you all know."

Congress's candidate for Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat Vinay Kumar Pandey was booked allegedly for making derogatory remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Nath sect, to which the CM belongs, officials said Wednesday.

According to District Magistrate Nitin Bansal, the Congress candidate Tuesday made derogatory remarks against Adityanath, Mahant Avaidhyanath and the Nath sect.

"Late on Tuesday night, based on a complaint of the in-charge of the video monitoring team, a case was registered against Pandey under various sections of the IPC and the Representation of the People Act," the DM said.

He said a notice was served on the Congress candidate, who had been told to furnish a reply, failing which action would be initiated against him as per the Election Commission directives.

Pandey is pitted against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of the BJP, who is also the sitting MP, and BSP's Chandradev Ram Yadav for the Kaiserganj Lok Sabha constituency, which goes to poll in the fifth phase on May 6.

The AAP Wednesday raised objections on nominations filed by two BJP candidates - sitting South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri and East Delhi contestant Gautam Gambhir, alleging that there were "shortcomings" in the documents submitted by them.

Tuesday was the last day of filing nominations for the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, which is due on May 12.

AAP South Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha has alleged that Bidhuri's nomination has a few "shortcomings" and hearing is slated to take place this evening at the Returning Officer's (RO) Office, a senior official said.

Bidhuri, a BJP leader is the lawmaker from the South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. 

AAP East Delhi candidate Atishi has also alleged that there are "issues" with the affidavit submitted by cricketer-turned politician in his nomination.

"Hum 2 Bhojpuri kalaakaaron ko chunaav ladaa rahe hain -- eik Azamgarh aur eik Gorakhpur se. Mumbai se pakad kar laaye hain inko. Zabardasti laaye hain ki abb poorvi UP ke liye bhi kuchh karo. Jab yeh kalakaar saansad banenge to poorvi UP mein bhi filmcity ban sakti hai," Adityanath shares his interesting plan.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday said the 'mahamilawatis' have realized they stand no chance after three phases of elections and are looking for excuses to defend their poor show.

PM Modi said the opposition parties have no option left but to accept defeat.

At a press meet on Tuesday, leaders of several major opposition parties raised doubt over the credibility of the Electronic Voting Machines  (EVMs), renewing their demand that 50 per cent of the voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips be matched with the EVM results before declaration of election results.

"Just like a child who makes excuses to justify his underperformance in exams, opposition parties have started directing their anger on the EVMs and the voting process for their shortcomings.

"The response in first three phases of polls have left the opposition with no option but to accept defeat," he said.

Hitting out at the Congress, the prime minister said the "party that ended up shedding tears when Pakistan threatened India" is eyeing the seat of power in Delhi.

The court has said it can’t stop an individual from contesting the elections.

"Do jagah maatam thha. Ek Pakistan mein -- wahaan hona bhi chahiye. Doosra Rahul baba and company -- gathbandhan walo ke wahan. Udhar Pakistan ke aatankwadi mare usmein aapke chehre ka noor kyun gaayab ho gaya hai? Kya mamere, chachere bhai lagte hain?" Shah takes on Mahagathbandhan.

The 66th National Film Awards will be declared after Lok Sabha polls 2019 as the awards also include one for the most film friendly states. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force so the awards will be declared after the election process is over and the MCC concludes.

"The Congress would end up shedding tears as and when Pakistan threatened India. But we showed the courage. When nurses were held captive in Iraq, we did our best to get them home. Indians everywhere are my responsibility. Those who demoralised armymen saying people who cannot make ends meet join the forces should just drown," PM Modi adds.

"Inko ye sanak hai. Mere pariwaar ke baare mein hi baat karte rehte hain. 50% inka jo chunaavi bhaashan hota hai yahi hota hai ki Nehru ji ne kya kiya, Indira Gandhi ne kya kiya. Lekin ye nahi bataayenge ki 5 saal mein inhonein kya kiya," Priyanka says.

"The Opposition has anticipated its loss. That's why it has started blaming the EVMs. I now know, after seeing the number of people who turned out for my road show yesterday in Ranchi, that the Modi wave is still there. Modi ki leher hai. Yeh leher nahin lalkaar, phir eik baar Modi sarkar!" PM Modi says.

"They used to abuse Modi but since yesterday they have been abusing EVMs. It seems they have decided to pin the blame of the loss on EVMs, just like a student whose exam doesn't go well comes home and gives excuses like pen was not good etc."

PM Modi is addressing a rally in Jharkhand's Lohardaga.

"Main jis gaon mein chai bechta thha wahaan maalgaadiyaan aati thhi. Unke drivers se baatein hoti thhi. Toh unse baatein karke main Hindi seekh gaya. Chai ne mujhe Hindi sikha di..." PM Modi says.

"Mujhe subah 5 baje aur shaam 6 baje chai peeney ki aadat hai. Aisa lagta hai meri body maang rahi hai chai," PM Modi says.

"Bachpan mein doston ke saath kaii filmein dekhi. Phir jeevan aisa ho gaya ki filmein nahin dekh paaya. Aapki film 'Toilet-Eik Prem Katha' main toh nahin dekh paaya, par maine sabse kaha ki woh dekhein. Ki samaajik samasyaaon par filmein ban sakti hain," PM Modi tells Akshay Kumar.

Because, he says "main tweets padhta hoon saare. Isse aapka [Akshay Kumar] ka paarivaarik jeevan bada khushnuma beet-ta hoga. Aapki patni ke bhi tweets padhey maine. Unka saara gussa yahin nikal jaata hoga. Mujhe khushi hai mera issmein yogdaan hai," and laughs.

We laugh too. Literally.

"Mukhyamantri banne tak maine apne kapdey khud dhoye hain," PM Modi says.

Some luck!

"Abb meri body clock hi aisi ho gayi hai ki neend nahin aati. Koi stress nahin hai. Par aapne poochha na ki retirment ke baad kya karoonga. Main soch raha hoon ki neend badhaane ke tareeqey dhoondhunga..." PM Modi's honest confession.

"Former US president Barack Obama and I share a tu-tadak waala rishta. Woh jab bhi mujhse miltey hain, poochhtey hain ki neend badhaayi ya nahin badhaayi," he adds.

"Duniya mein koi Alladin ka chiraag nahin hota. Mehnat karni padti hai," PM Modi tells Akshay Kumar.

No?

No problem. Watch PM Modi mouth it. 

p.s. It's good.

"Opposition party mein kaii dost hain. Hum kaii baar saath mein khaana khaatey hain. Eik baar Parliament ke baahar main Ghulam Nabi Azad se main gappe maar raha thha. Logon ne poochha yeh kaise possible hai," PM Modi says.

And then a revelation.

"Yeh bolne se mujhe nuksaan bhi ho sakta hai. Mamata didi mujhe saal me eik-do baar kurtey bhej ti hain. Bengali mitthaai bhi."

"Discipline thopne se nahin aata. Main kaam ke waqt sirf kaam karta hoon. Main kisipar bewajah dabaav nahin daalta. Log abb meetings ke waqt mobile phones nahin laatey," PM Modi says.

"Vyast honey ki wajah se apni maa ke saath samay na bita paaney se dukh hota hai," PM Modi says.

"Raazi naraazi gussa -- yeh sab zindagi ke hissey hain. Iske bagaaer zindagi adhoori hai. Mujhe kabhi gussa vyakt karne ka avasar nahin mila hai," PM Modi replies.

Akshay: Aapki chhavi bahot hi strict administrator ki hai.

PM Modi: Strict alag baat hai. Par kisiko neechaa dikhaana meri aadat nahin hai.

"Main aam khaata hoon, pasand bhi hai. Gujarat mein toh aam ras ka riwaaz bhi hai," PM Modi says.

He adds, "Hum log khet mein jaakar khaatey thhay. Bharat ka jo kisaan hai woh bahot udaar hai. Kabhi manaa nahin kartey thhay. Uss samay toh hygiene ka sense bhi nahin thha."

The discussion begins with Akshay Kumar saying he wants to know PM Modi as a person.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bollywood star Akshay Kumar’s interaction at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg will be released shortly.

The fourth phase of polling will take place across 71 parliamentary constituencies in nine states on April 29.

Voting will take place in some seats of Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

The electorate in Odisha will also vote for the legislative assembly election.

Counting on votes will take place on May 23.

The polling percentage was quite low at 12.86 per cent in six assembly constituencies of Anantnag that went to the polls on Tuesday. The poll percentage was 39.37 per cent in 2014. Anantnag has a three-phase schedule. 

The interim polling percentage was 74.05 per cent in Assam compared to 80.21 per cent in 2014, Chhattisgarh 64.02 per cent (69.01 per cent in 2014), Karnataka 60.42 (67.2 per cent in 2014), Goa 70.9 per cent (76.86 in 2014), Gujarat 59 per cent (63.34 in 2014), Kerala 73.06 per cent (74.02 in 2014), West Bengal 78.97 per cent, Tripura 79.64 per cent (83.02 in 2014), Bihar 60 (59.08 in 2014), Maharashtra 62 per cent (62.86 in 2014), Odisha 64 per cent (73.75 in 2014) and Uttar Pradesh 60.52 per cent (61.48 in 2014).

The polling percentage was 71.43 per cent in Dadra and Nagar Haveli (84.08 in 2014) and 73 per cent in Daman and Diu (77.84 in 2014).