Election 2024: PM Modi Says Biggest Challenge in Bengal Is Violence, 'We'll Keep Eye On Situation'

Lok Sabha Election 2024: The upcoming Lok Sabha elections for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases between April 19 and June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.

Amid the ongoing rift with the Congress party over Sangli and Hatkanangale seat, Uddhav Thackeray led Sena on Wednesday declared four more candidates. In addition to this, Boxer Vijender Singh joined BJP ahead of the upcoming polls.

Lok Sabha Election 2024 Live Updates 

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday filed his nomination from Wayanad constituency. He submitted his documents at the collectorate in the presence of his sister and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

With the first phase of the polls to be held in a few days, several parties have announced the list of their candidates. While the BJP has formed its manifesto committee, the Congress is set to release its poll manifesto on April 5 at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office in the national capital.

Polling for the Lok Sabha elections will be conducted in seven phases, the first of which is on April 19. Voting will also be held on April 26, May 7, 13, 20, 25, and June 1. The counting of votes for all 543 Lok Sabha seats will take place on June 4.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE Updates

• Boxer Vijendra Singh Joins BJP: Boxer Vijendra Singh joined BJP today in Delhi. “Today I am joining BJP..it is like a ghar wapsi for me. When we would go out for the fight there were issues at the airports but now under this government we are getting all respect,” he said.
• Rahul Gandhi Terms Upcoming Polls ‘Fight for Democracy’: “This election is a fight for democracy and for the Constitution of India. On one side are the forces that want to destroy the democracy of this country and the Constitution of this country. And on the other side, there is a force that is protecting the Constitution and protecting the democratic nature of our country. It’s very clear to all of you who is on which side. It is very clear who’s attacking the Constitution, who is attacking the democratic structure of this country,” Rahul Gandhi said in Wayanad.
• Congress Launches ‘Ghar Ghar Guarantee’: Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday launched the party’s ‘Ghar Ghar Guarantee’ initiative under which it aims to reach out to crores of households across the country and make them aware of its “guarantees”. Kharge launched the initiative from Usmanpur, Kaithwada, in the North East Delhi Parliamentary Constituency and distributed pamphlets on the party’s ‘Paanch Nyay Pachees Guarantee’.
• BJP’s Mahesh Sharma Files Nomination from Gautam Budh Nagar: BJP candidate from Gautam Budh Nagar, Mahesh Sharma filed his nomination for Lok Sabha elections in presence of Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak.
• Shiv Sena UBT declares 4 More Candidates: The four candidates named in the list are: Vaishali darekar from Kalyan; Satyajit Patil from Hatkanangle; Bharti Kambli from Palghar and Karan Pawar from Jalgaon.
• BJP MP from Jalgaon Unmesh Patil Joined Shiv Sena (UBT): BJP MP from Jalgaon Unmesh Patil on Wedensday joined Shiv Sena (UBT) in the presence of UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray.
• Rahul Gandhi Files Nomination From Wayanad: Congress party’s sitting MP and candidate Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Wayanad. His sister and party’s general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present with him.
• In Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi Says ‘You Love Without Religious Bias’: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, “It has been an honour for me to be your member of Parliament. I don’t treat you and think of you like an electorate. I treat you and think of you the same way I think of my little sister Priyanka. So in the houses of Wayanad, I have sisters, mothers, fathers and brothers. And I thank you from the bottom of my heart for that.”
• Rahul Gandhi Conducts Roadshow in Wayanad: Congress sitting MP and candidate Rahul Gandhi conducts a roadshow in Wayanad – his constituency before filing his nomination. His sister and party’s general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is also accompanying him.
• We Will Win 45 Seats in Maharashtra, Says Sena Leader Uday Samant: Maharashtra Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said, “Our opponents will not win and the resolution taken by CM (Eknath Shinde) to win 45 seats will be fulfilled here.”
• CPI’s Annie Raja to File Nomination Today: CPI candidate from Wayanad for Lok Sabha elections, Annie Raja will file her nomination today against Congress’ sitting MP and candidate Rahul Gandhi.
• NCBC Writes to DGP West Bengal: National Commission for Backward Classes writes to DGP West Bengal over the objectionable and caste-based words by TMC leader Piyush Panda for PM Modi.
• Rahul Gandhi to File Nomination from Wayanad Today: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to present his nomination documents at the collectorate for the Wayanad parliamentary constituency after leading a roadshow.
• AAP Releases Another List of 2 Candidates for Punjab: The Aam Aadmi Party has decided to field Raj Kumar Chabbewal from Hoshiarpur and Malvinder Singh Kang from Anandpur Sahib for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Punjab.
• BJP’s Shantanu Thakur Assails TMC Over Matua Maha Mela: Political turmoil erupted over the Baruni Mela of Matuas to be held on April 6. The religious fair is held every year at Thakurnagar Thakurbari of Gaighata in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Union State Minister and Bangaon Lok Sabha MP Shantanu Thakur held a press conference on Tuesday and alleged that TMC leader Mamata Thakur has requested to issue Section 144 to stop the religious fair of Matuas.
• PDP to contest Lok Sabha elections alone: In another jolt to the fledgling INDIA bloc, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti announced on Wednesday that they will pitch their candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The development came after National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah said that they would be contesting elections for all three seats in Kashmir.
• Congress removes Sanjay Nirupam’s name from star campaigner’s list:  Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole said, “We have cancelled his (Sanjay Nirupam) name from the star campaigners’ list.”
• Tripura CM Manik Saha campaigns for Sukanta Majumdar: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday campaigned for BJP candidate from Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency in Dakshin Dinajpur of West Bengal.
• Maharashtra Congress files complaint against Nitin Gadkari: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee has filed complaint with Chief Electoral Officer against BJP and its Nagpur candidate Nitin Gadkari for allegedly violating Model Code of Conduct. The letter reads, “Despite clear directives from the Election Commission regarding the prohibition of involving children in election-relate activities, BJP and Nitin Gadkari have been using school children for the purpose of their personal campaign.”
• Poll violence biggest challenge in West Bengal, says PM Modi: Speaking about poll violence in West Bengal, PM Modi on Wednesday said, “It was the biggest challenge in the state. “Poll violence is a major challenge in West Bengal, but the Election Commission has made strong security arrangements. We all also keep an eye on the situation in Bengal.”
• 22 Leaders Quit Chirag Paswan’s Party: In an upheaval within the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), 22 party leaders have tendered their resignations simultaneously while expressing anger at not getting tickets for the Lok Sabha elections. Among the notable figures who stepped down include former minister Renu Kushwaha, former MLA and national general secretary of LJP, Satish Kumar, state organisation minister Ravindra Singh, Ajay Kushwaha, Sanjay Singh and State General Secretary Rajesh Dangi.