Lok Sabha Election 2024 LIVE Updates: Re-polling at 11 seats in Manipur concludes, 85% turnout recorded (2024)

National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Mondayvoiced concerns over attempts being made todivide the country along communal lines and said that the opposition-led INDIA bloc is fighting against those trying to spread hatred and fear.

"The country is being told that Hindus are in danger," he said, apparently referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "redistribution of wealth" attack against the Congress.

"Attempts are being made to create tension. Hindus constitute 80 per cent of the population, while Muslims constitute about 14 per cent. How can 14 per cent of the population be a danger to the 80 per cent," Abdullah asked, addressing an election rally in Shopian.

A delegation of the BJP on Monday met officials of the Election Commission and demanded strict action against West Bengal government over violence during Ram Navami celebrations in the state. The delegation also urged enhanced security for voters in the Mamata Banerjee-led ruled state.

(With inputs from Anmol Nath Bali.)

The re-polling at 11 polling stations in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency concluded on Monday peacefully with a voter turnout of 85.43 per cent, officials said. The re-polling was conducted from 7 am to 5 pm amidst tight security arrangements.

The decision about fresh polling was taken following a directive from the Election Commission, which declared voting held at these stations on April 19 as null and void.

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Senior Congress leader andThiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday took a swipe at Narendra Modi and said that a Prime Minister should be the Prime Minister of for whole nation and not just for a segment of people.

"The PM claims to be an admirer of Dr BR Ambedkar. Dr BR Ambedkar said one of the important things missing in this country and society was brotherhood among citizens, which is why he insisted on adding the word 'Fraternity' to the constitution. If we're all brothers, should we be drawing distinctions that PM is doing? If I am looking after my brother who is not doing well, how will it become appeasem*nt? There is something wrong with the mentality that classifies the citizens in such a way. A PM should be PM for the whole nation, not just for a segment of people," he said while speaking to news agency ANI.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that the BJP is in a "panic mode" after sensing defeat in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls last week and asserted that the rout of the saffron camp across the country is imminent.

"Fear and panic have gripped the BJP. After the first phase of polling in nearly 100 seats across the country, they have sensed defeat. That is why they are making baseless statements. The rout of the saffron camp is only a matter of time," she said.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit out at the BJP on Monday after the saffron party's candidate for the Surat Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat was declared the winner before the polls. He accused the BJP of "trying to match-fix the Surat Lok Sabha polls" because the party is "scared" of the "anger" among the people.

Jairam Ramesh reacted to the development and said, "Seeing the problems and anger of MSME owners and businessmen during Prime Minister Modi's injustice era, the BJP is so scared that it is trying to "fix the match" of Surat Lok Sabha." Read more.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for bringing development to the state.

Addressing an election rally in Aligarh, PM Modi said, "It is because of that BJP that our Uttar Pradesh is becoming a hub of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat - Aatmanirbhar Sena’. I want to tell those who identify Yogi (Adityanath) through bulldozer, that the industrial work that has been done by the Yogi government, was never done since Independence by anyone. I feel proud that I have a Chief Minister like him." Read more.

Madhavi Latha, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Hyderabad candidate, on Monday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against AIMIM chief and Hyderabad AIMIM candidate Asaduddin Owaisi alleging that he expressed support for beef consumption.

The complaint to the poll body came in response to a recent video which surfaced on social media showing Owaisi engaging with a butcher during his campaign in the Old City area. Read more.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Congress again of planning to redistribute people’s property if it is voted to power, but stopped short of saying that the wealth would go to Muslims.

"The Congress 'shahzade' (prince) says if his government comes, they will investigate who earns how much and how much property they have. Not only this, he further says the government will take over the property and redistribute it. This is what their election manifesto is saying," he claimed, referring to Rahul Gandhi at an election rally in UP's Aligarh.

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The BJP candidate from Gujarat's Surat constituency, Mukesh Dalal, who won the polls as all his opponents are now out of the fray, on Monday said that the first lotus has bloomed in the country.

"We were asking for votes for a developed India. Today in Gujarat and in the country, the first lotus has bloomed. Congress form was rejected and the rest of the candidates withdrew their forms by supporting PM Narendra Modi's vision of a developed India," Dalal said while speaking to news agency ANI.

The Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday announced five more candidates in Punjab and one for Chandigarh in the Lok Sabha polls, fielding party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal's wife and former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal from Bathinda.

The party fielded new entrant Mohinder Singh Kaypee from the Jalandhar reserve parliamentary constituency. Former MLA Ranjit Singh Dhillon has been fielded from Ludhiana, former minister Sohan Singh Thandal from Hoshiarpur reserve seat and Nardev Singh Bobby Mann from Ferozepur. Besides, the party also named Hardeep Singh Saini from the Chandigarh parliamentary constituency.

(With inputs from PTI.)

The Communist Party of India's Bihar unit has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission regarding an alleged hate speech by senior BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh.

The Union Minister had reportedly said that he wouldn't seek votes from "pro-Pakistani anti-nationals" and those who "have problem with nationalism" during campaigning in Begusarai on April 19.

(With inputs from PTI.)

Fakkireshwar Mutt seer, Jagadguru Fakira Dingaleshwar Mahaswami on Monday took back his nomination from theDharwad Lok Sabha constituency. The seer will announce his political affiliation tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that he had requested Dingaleshwar Mahaswami to withdraw his candidature and support the Congress candidate in the constituency.Siddaramaiah's request came a day after Fakkireshwar Mutt seer, Jagadguru Fakira Dingaleshwar Mahaswami filed a nomination as an independent candidate from the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency.

(With inputs from Sagay Raj.)

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Mondaydeclined to comment on "those who have more children" remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his poll speech in Rajasthan yesterday."We decline comment," news agency PTI quoted a poll panel spokesperson as saying.

PM Modi on Sunday suggested that if the Congress came to power, it would redistribute the wealth of people to Muslims and cited former PM Manmohan Singh's remark that the minority community had the first claim on the country's resources.

PM Modi took a swipe at Congress during his rally in Aligarh on Monday, saying that the previous Congress government only did politics of appeasem*nt and nothing for the "political and socio-economic upliftment of Muslims". To back his statement, he mentioned his government striking down 'Triple Talaq'.

Congress MP and party candidate fromThiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remark on the grand old party's manifesto similar to that of Muslim League.

"This is a very disgraceful speech made by the Prime Minister. The fact is that people realise that when he says that the Congress party is going to take all your wealth and give to it to the Muslim, this is just a nakedly communal appeal which normally any civilised Election Commission would disallow and warn the candidate for speaking like this. It is simply not decent. Secondly, this has never happened. The Congress party is constantly accused by Mr Modi of having ruled the country for 65 years. Have we taken away people's wealth and given it to the Muslim community?...How can the Prime Minister talk like this? I am truly disappointed," Tharoor told news agency ANI.