Lok Sabha Elections 2024 HIGHLIGHTS: Kamal Nath's close aide joins BJP in major setback to Congress

Kamal Nath's old aide Deepak Saxena  joined the BJP in major setback to Congress. Former minister Deepak Saxena left Congress, CM Mohan Yadav got him membership of BJP.

After scrutiny, 94 candidates are left in the fray for the eight Lok Sabha seats which go to polls in the second phase of polling, an election official said Friday.

Among those in fray are BJP's Mahesh Sharma, BSP's Rajendra Singh Solanki and Samajwadi Party's Mahendra Singh Nagar: Local election office.

Leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi among the campaigners.

Congress leader Priya Dutt on Friday (April 5) ruled out the talks of her resignation from the party and said that she does not intend to do so, however, she has taken a "back seat". This comes after reports emerged that she would quit the Congress and join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Priya Dutt is the daughter of late actor and Congress leader Sunil Dutt and the sister of actor Sanjay Dutt.

The nomination of Samajwadi Party's (SP) candidate from Khajuraho Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh was rejected by the district returning officer on Friday. SP candidate Meera Yadav's nomination form was rejected as it was incomplete, an official said.

Kanhaiya Kumar's name is being considered to contest from Delhi, sources said.

Late this evening, Sanjay Nirupam can meet CM Shinde at Varsha Bungalows. Tomorrow in the core committee meeting of Shinde Shiv Sena, a decision will be taken on Nirupam's entry and candidature from Mumbai North West Lok Sabha seat. Nirupam Shinde's entry into Shiv Sena is considered certain, sources said.

(With inputs from Sachin)

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said, "...We welcome Mukesh Sahni in the grand alliance."

"There is a picture on water management in Congress manifesto. This picture is of the Buffalo River in New York state," Sudhanshu Trivedi said.

Actor-turned-politician and independent MP from Mandya in Karnataka Sumalatha Ambareesh on Friday joined the BJP, in a boost to the NDA ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

On joining BJP, Karnataka MP Sumalatha Ambareesh says, "...During my election in 2019, the Congress was in alliance with JD(S). Yes, I was supported by Congress workers, it was not the party leadership that ever gave me space or supported me. Ambareesh's supporters stood by me. Now when some people try to take credit for it, I don't know how logical it is? The (Congress) leadership never approached me in all these 5 years. I believe in the leadership of Modi and his ability to convert his vision into reality...My journey to join the BJP has been gradual. I am hoping I will add value to the party and the party will strengthen its base in Mandya."

Congress leader Sachin Pilot on party's manifesto | "Our manifesto is outstanding. People are expecting from the Congress to give a better alternative. What people are expecting, everything is there in the manifesto... It's absolutely correct to say that the BJP's policy is limited to a few capitalists and people from the powerful class. Our manifesto is for the common man, farmers..."

On Congress' manifesto, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai says, "Do you all think that Congress will form a government? In the 2018 assembly elections (Chhattisgarh), they made 36 promises and got a chance to run the government for straight 5 years, did they fulfil any of them? They didn't. The Congress party has completely lost the faith of the people...The party is a sinking ship...."

"I think they (Congress) will find suitable candidates. The people of Amethi feel that they made a big mistake by electing another person from outside the Congress," said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband and businessman Robert Vadra.

"...I came to know that Congress has issued an advisory and asked all its units to remain silent on the issue of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. 'Unko lagne laga hai ki agar Ram ka naam liya pata nahi kab Ram-Ram ho jaye...," said PM Modi in Rajasthan's Churu.

On Karnataka Lok Sabha MP Sumalatha Ambareesh joining BJP, party leader R Ashok says, "BJP's strength is increasing day by day. The future belongs to BJP and we will win all 28 seats in the state."

On ECI issuing notice to AAP leader Atishi, BJP MP and BJP North East Delhi candidate Manoj Tiwari says, "All her allegations were baseless. We warned her, but she did not apologise. We complained about this matter to the Election Commission. Now, the ECI has issued her a notice. The AAP leaders and especially Atishi have always maligned the image of BJP..."

On Congress' Election Manifesto, he says, "Congress is far from justice. There is a long distance between Congress and Justice... The whole nation knows that the Congress is a symbol of injustice, atrocity and corruption."

Addressing an election rally in Rajasthan's Churu, PM Narendra Modi said, "...The entire Rajasthan is saying 'Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar'... and entire country is saying 'abki baar 400 paar.'"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday was felicitated ahead of his public rally in Churu, in view of the Lok Sabha elections.

Releasing its manifesto for the upcoming elections, Congress said that the party will conduct a nationwide Socio-Economic and Caste Census to enumerate the castes and sub-castes and their socio-economic conditions and it will pass a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SC, ST and OBC. | READ MORE

Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party's (SBSP) candidate from the Ghosi Lok Sabha constituency, Arvind Rajbhar says, "...A video is viral on social media and the Opposition is making baseless allegations that I was forced to apologise. Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak asked me to seek the people's blessings. I was seeking blessings from the party workers. In any big event or even at my party's rally, I bow down to my party workers. The Opposition has nothing left with them, it is just a start, they'll do so many things to break the confidence and unity of our party workers. I received the blessings of NDA workers today and on June 4, again the slogan will be raised, 'Ab ki baar, 400 baar', we will win all 80 seats of Uttar Pradesh."

Expelled Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam has said he feels relieved after finally getting rid of the 'Grand Old Party'.

In a post on X, Sanjay Nirupam wrote, "After getting freedom from Congress, my mind is feeling very light today. It seems as if a burden has been lifted... thanks to the entire Congress family."

According to sources, Lalu Yadav had a late night conversation with Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) founder Mukesh Sahni who demanded three seats in Bihar including -- Vaishali, Jhanjharpur and East Champaran -- in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) after a final discussion may agree on alloting these seats to Mukesh Sahni from its quota.

Lalu's party may hold a press conference today and announce its decision.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh says, "Today, I am present here in front of you to tell you how the conspiracy was made to arrest Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal...I will also reveal that this liquor scam has been done by BJP. The senior leaders of BJP are involved in this..."

Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy on alliance with BJP | “How they (BJP) will be going to treat us in the future days… on that basis actually we can decide. Honestly, we wanted to have an alliance. If they are going to honestly work with us... we want to continue this alliance for a long time. This issue only depends on their attitude... how they are going to treat our party leaders.”

Samajwadi Party leader Fakhrul Hasan Chaand on Robert Vadra's 'the people of Amethi expect me to represent them' remark 

"In the I.N.D.I.A bloc, Amethi, Raebareli seats have been given to the Congress and it is for that party to decide the candidates. The Samawadi Party wants that a strong candidate should be fielded, it would be good if someone from the Gandhi family contests. If Robert Vadra wants to contest then it is for the Congress to decide, Samajwadi Party has nothing to say."

CPI(M) candidate from South Kolkata, Saira Shah Halim, niece of Actor Naseeruddin Shah holds a roadshow in Kolkata. West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee's General Secretary Ashutosh Chatterjee was also present with her.

Former Tamil Nadu CM and AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami's vehicle was checked by the Election Commission's flying squad. | WATCH

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on upcoming elections | "Development and good governance are the two agendas of ours. PM Modi's work has reached the ground based on what we are going into this election... We see everything with positivity, we are not the party which do negative politics. We correct things that have been done wrong and we forget the things of the past...The party is united and will win all 25 seats in Rajasthan."

On the seat distribution in MVA ahead of Lok Sabha Polls 2024, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut says, "All the 48 seats in Maharashtra belong to Maha Vikas Aghadi and not particularly to Shiv Sena (UBT) or Congress. Shiv Sena (UBT) has a clear vision of winning all the seats (of MVA). Some people could be furious about Shiv Sena having Sangli seat... Amravati and Kolhapur were our seats, but we explained to our workers... If some Congress people are furious in Sangli, then it is the responsibility of top leadership to explain them... We will try our best to win Sangli's seat."

Assam Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Amit Shah's visit | "On the 7th and 8th of this month, Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Assam and address three meetings... And the Prime Minister will have a meeting on April 17... We will definitely get at least 13 (Lok Sabha) seats for the BJP from Assam..."

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has dismissed a senior UN official’s recent remark on elections in India, saying that he does not need the global body to tell that the elections in the country should be “free & fair”.

His comments came in response to a query regarding a spokesperson for UN Secretary General statement that they “hope” that in India, people's "political and civil rights" were protected and everyone is able to vote in a “free & fair” atmosphere.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh will address media today around 10 am, two days after he was released from Tihar jail. The Rajya Sabha MP has been granted bail by the Supreme Court in the Delhi excise case.