Lok Sabha Election 2024 news LIVE: Preparations underway at Congress office for poll manifesto release

Lok Sabha Election 2024 news LIVE: Opposition INDIA bloc partners plan to meet here on Saturday and chalk out a strategy to counter the dominant BJP in Madhya Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, a senior Congress said on Friday. The BJP, which scripted an emphatic victory in the recent assembly elections, is preparing for a clean sweep in the general elections in the central state, its leaders have claimed.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 news LIVE: 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. Terming it an “important and good day” in her political life, the 60-year-old said she is deeply inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, his dream for the country by 2047 and his dedication towards it.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 news LIVE: Only 12 women candidates out of 146 nominees in the fray for the Sikkim Assembly and the lone Lok Sabha seat in the Himalayan state. Sikkim has 32 Assembly seats and a lone Lok Sabha constituency. Voting for the Assembly and Lok Sabha seat will be held on April 19.

“There is a picture on water management in Congress manifesto. This picture is of the Buffalo River in New York state. Till now they have not been able to find out who was tweeting from their social media chairperson’s Twitter, but who sent them this picture? Under the Environment section, a picture from Rahul Gandhi’s favoured destination, Thailand has been put. Who is putting all this in their manifesto?” BJP national spokesperson Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi asked.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 news LIVE: “At this time, some people are running away from us out of fear. They are the same people who have done something wrong. The one who stands straight on his principles, no one can scare him. We are the people who will get scared. Our leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi do not fear, but the PM does. He talks about ‘400 paar’ after taking our people. He could not go to Manipur but went all over the world. When our leader Rahul Gandhi went there, why couldn’t he? He did not go because he fears and the one who gets fear, cannot run a country,” Kharge said.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 news LIVE: “We will repair relations with the Maldives and work with Myanmar to protect the political and human rights of the people of Myanmar. Engagement with Pakistan depends fundamentally on its willingness and ability to end cross-border terrorism. Congress will significantly increase the size of the Indian Foreign Service, open more missions abroad, leverage our economic strengths, and acquire a position of leadership through the country’s values and mutually beneficial economic relationships,” the manifesto said.

BJP’s guarantee is zero. The BJP has MLA, MP from north Bengal. They stopped taking tea leaves from about 10 lakh tea garden workers. Our government supported those people and I said, we will take tea leaves from you, we helped 10 lakh labourers: Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal CM

The Congress would abolish the Agnipath programme and direct the armed forces to resume normal recruitment to achieve full sanctioned strength: Manifesto

Whatever has been done in 10 years is just a trailer and is like an appetizer, main course is yet to come: PM Modi in Churu rally.

It is a great manifesto which has been prepared after listening to the people’s voice. The public wants a better option, and they are ready for a change after 10 years. The Congress and I.N.D.I.A alliance partners have presented a better option in front of the people: Sachin Pilot, Congress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a rally in Rajasthan’s Churu. The BJP dropped its sitting MP from Churu, Rahul Kaswan, who then joined the Congress, and has been fielded by the grand old party. The BJP has given ticket to Paralympian Devendra Jhajharia.

This manifesto will be remembered as ‘Nyay ka dastavez’ (document of justice) in the political history of the country. The Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra, which was run under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, focused on five pillars during the yatra: Yuva Nyay, Kisan Nyay, Naari Nyay, Shramik Nyay and Hissedari Nyay was announced. Out of these five pillars, 25 guarantees emerge, and in every 25 guarantees, someone or the other gets benefited, under this, we have our manifesto here: Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president

The Congress will ensure that, like every citizen, minorities have the freedom of choice of dress, food, language and personal laws. We will encourage reform of personal laws. Such reform must be undertaken with the participation and consent of the communities concerned

The Congress pwill 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% cap on reservations for SC, ST and OBC: Manifesto

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launches party’s manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Former party chiefs Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, general secretary KC Venugopal, among those present. Ex-Union minister P Chidambaram, who headed the manifesto committee, also present.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sachin Pilot arrive at Congress headquarters for the party’s poll manifesto release.

No one trusts Lalu Yadav’s statements. He is famous for nepotism and scams. All the leaders of Mahagathbandhan have accepted that no one can compete with PM Narendra Modi. They know, the people will make him the Prime Minister again with more than 400 seats. They are troubled by the popularity of PM Modi.  The nation is moving towards development, becoming Aatmanirbhar, all by the efforts of PM Modi. India has never seen such a leader who worked to eradicate poverty… The more objectionable comments the INDI alliance and their leaders make on PM Modi, the more the people give him their love: Nityanand Rai, BJP

I welcome her (Kangana Ranaut) as she is the daughter of Himachal. She has joined politics to work for the state and has started working actively. She is a woman, it’s our duty to respect her. I appeal to the people not to make objectionable comments, it’s not good. We should contest on the issues instead of commenting on her be it through media or at any public meeting. I condemn the way it all started and the kind of things that were said a few days back: Pratibha Singh, Mandi MP

A senior leader like Randeep Surjewala, is giving a very crass comment (on BJP MP Hema Malini). He is also justifying his comments. DMK party insults women. It speaks bad about women. Now the same disease is spreading to the Congress party. The people of India are watching and in the 2024 elections they will teach them a lesson

K Annamalai, BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit chief, holds a roadshow in Coimbatore. Annamalai has been fielded from the Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituency.

Preparations underway at the Congress headquarters in Delhi ahead of the unveiling of the party’s Lok Sabha poll manifesto.

The Congress party shall be unveiling its Manifesto today. Our 5 NYAY — 25 GUARANTEE agenda represents our non-negotiable commitment to the welfare of Nation. Since 1926 till date, the Congress Manifesto is a solemn document of the inseparable trust between us and the People of India: Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president

Development and good governance are the two of our agendas. 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 a party that does negative politics. We correct things that have been done wrong, and we forget the things of the past. We are united and will win all 25 seats in Rajasthan: Arjun Ram Meghwal

The (Bengal) government has repeatedly lied and given false figures (regarding funding given by the Center to state govt) to mislead the people. I am saying that today everything is in the public domain, what is the central government doing, what is it giving and how much did the state government get? CAG has exposed a scam of ₹229 crore, which the state government is yet to answer. That is the money of the poor people: Dilip Ghosh, BJP MP

All the 48 seats in Maharashtra belong to the Maha Vikas Aghadi and not particularly to the 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 their top leadership to speak to them. We will try our best to win Sangli’s seat: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT)

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: Jayanta Mallabaruah, Assam minister

The grand old party will unveil its vision document, the Manifesto, at its headquarters in Delhi. has already revealed 25 of its guarantees, which it calls ‘Paanch Nyay’ or ‘five pillars of justice.’

Each ‘pillar’ consists of five ‘guarantees.’