Election Tracker LIVE: Some Crazed People Attacked Our Kashmiri Brothers in Lucknow, Says PM Modi

BJP president Amit Shah's decision to give him an important organisational responsibility signals the importance the party has given him.

Shashi Tharoor on reports that ex-Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan will contest against him: “Not seeing this as fight against individual rather against party. As far as Rajasekharan is concerned, he’s been kind enough to come to my son's wedding reception, no personal bitterness.”

Congress MLA Jawahar Chavda joins BJP in Gandhinagar today.

Gujarat: Congress MLA Jawahar Chavda who had submitted resignation to the assembly speaker earlier today, joins BJP in Gandhinagar pic.twitter.com/I7UEZaBQm8

— ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2019

CM Palaniswami writes to PM requesting Param Veer Chakra for Abhinandan | Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami writes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting Param Veer Chakra (country's highest military honour) for Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman.

BJP appoints Baijayant Jay Panda its national vice president and spokesperson. After nine months of intense speculation, high-profile former MP Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda finally took the plunge into the saffron pond at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi on March 4.

Slamming the opposition, PM Narendra Modi in Kanpur says, “Unfortunately, attempts are being made to downplay our Army's valour. Can we forgive those who give statements which please Pakistan? The whole world is putting pressure on Pakistan but statements from some people in the country are helping Pakistan.

Addressing the rally in Kanpur, PM Narendra Modi speaks on the attack on two Kashmiri dry fruit vendors in Lucknow by a group of men belonging to a fringe right-wing group.

PM Modi in Kanpur: Desh mein ekta ka vatavaran banaye rakhna bahut ahem hai. Lucknow mein kuch sirphire logo ne hamare Kashmiri bhaiyon ke sath jo harkatein ki thi uss par UP sarkar ne turanth karwayi ki. pic.twitter.com/wepqoY6kfU

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 8, 2019

Speaking on the occasion of the International Women’s Day at Odisha, Rahul Gandhi said, “For women's safety, a special officer will be posted in every panchayat. A financial corporation will be formed to assist small and medium women entrepreneurs: Congress President.”

When we form the govt, we will provide free education to every girl in Odisha. We will provide ₹2,000 widow allowance and financial assistance for marriage of every poor woman: Congress President @RahulGandhi #OdishaWantsCongress pic.twitter.com/oLvLFWvz5E

— Congress (@INCIndia) March 8, 2019

Rahul Gandhi in an interaction at Odisha’s Koraput said, “Modi government making mockery of farmers by giving Rs 3.50 per day, but waives Rs 3.5 lakh crore industrialists’ loans.” Modi himself prepared new contract for Rafale deal, held separate negotiations, says Gandhi. “Few days ago Air Force attacked Pak, our people were martyred. For 70 years HAL is manufacturing aircraft for Air Force, Indian youth make aircraft for Air Force. PM talks of patriotism but he takes money from Air force and gives it to Anil Ambani.”

The analysis shows that Akhilesh Yadav's party has the highest income of Rs 47.19 crore, which forms 19.89 percent of the total income of all 37 parties, while the DMK and the TRS have declared a total income of Rs 35.748 crore and Rs 27.27 crore, respectively.

Senior Gujarat Congress Leader Jawahar Chavda Resigns as MLA | Senior Congress leader Jawahar Chavda on Friday resigned from the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, a development that comes just days head of the March 12 Congress Working Committee meeting in the state. Chavda a four-time MLA, represented Manavadar seat in Junagadh district and is considered to be an influential OBC leader from the Ahir community.

Adnan went on to say that since the BJP has come to power in UP, the condition of roads have not improved and employment opportunities have significantly gone down.

Richest Regional Parties | According to a report released by the Association for Democratic Reforms, the Samajwadi Party is the richest regional party. The report analysed the income and expenditure of 37 regional political parties for the financial year 2017-18. The analysis shows that Akhilesh Yadav’s party has the highest income of Rs 47.19 crore, which forms 19.89 percent of the total income of all 37 parties, while the DMK and the TRS have declared a total income of Rs 35.748 crore and Rs 27.27 crore, respectively. 

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Election Commission of India secretary to appear before it on March 12 in connection with a PIL alleging that certain category of persons in Assam have been deprived of voting rights ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The apex court sought the personal appearance of the secretary as despite the notice being issued on February 1 no one appeared to represent the Election Commission. The matter came up before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices S A Nazeer and Sanjiv Khanna.

Calling for the ouster of the Narendra Modi government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused it of stealing the country's reserves and wondered how would it ensure the security of the nation when it could not protect the Rafale files. Stating that there had been a 260 per cent rise in terror incidents in Kashmir during the present regime, Banerjee said the BJP-led NDA government could not restore peace in the valley as it had crossed the 'expiry date'.

'Congress Has Zero Tolerance for Atrocities on Women' |  On International Women's Day, Rahul Gandhi vowed to ensure passage of women's reservation bill if voted to power. At women's convention in Odisha's Jeypore, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, said, "We will ensure passage of women's reservation bill if voted to power. Congress has zero tolerance for atrocities on women. If Congress forms government in Odisha, girls will get free education."

Kummanam Rajasekharan's tenure as Mizoram Governor lasted less than 10 months and the appointment came as a shock to many as it was just a couple of days before the crucial by-election in Chengannur.

Sharp Criticism | Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, attacked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre for failing to protect Rafale files. "You can't protect Rafale files, how will you protect national security," said Banerjee.

Mizoram Governor Resigns | In an interesting turn of events, Mizoram governor Kummanam Rajasekharan resigned from the post on Friday to contest in the upcoming elections for the NDA. According to highly placed sources, the 66-year-old will be the candidate of NDA  from Thiruvananthapuram against two heavyweights, Shashi Tharoor of Congress and former state minister C Divakaran of CPI. The tenure of Kummanam as the Governor lasted less than ten months and the appointment came as a shock to many as it was just a couple of days before the crucial by-election in  Chengannur. 

Modi Govt Delayed Rafale Deal | Senior Congress leader S Jaipal Reddy claimed that Rafale negotiations were brought to an "advanced stage" during UPA regime but the Modi government "delayed" the deal. Reddy said that  Rafale negotiations were brought to an advanced stage during the Manmohan Singh government and it was almost finalised in March, 2014. Then came the elections. "Then you (Modi) took office in May. Why did you delay it for four years. There was no delay on the part of the UPA government at all," he said.

The convention will deliberate on the current national, social and religious scenarios in the country and pass some important resolutions.It will also decide the RSS's year-long programmes on various activities, including those in the field of education, he had said.

3-day Meet of RSS' Highest Policy-making Body Starts in MP | The annual meeting of the highest policy-making body of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) began in Gwalior on Friday. The meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha is being attended by around 1,400 select representatives from 11 regions and 43 provinces (in Sangh parlance) and will also see the participation of its chief Mohan Bhagwat.

While Mulayam Singh Yadav will contest from Mainpuri, Dharmendra Yadav will fight from Badaun and Akshay Yadav from Firozabad.

While Mulayam Singh Yadav will contest from Mainpuri, Dharmendra Yadav will fight from Badaun. Dharmendra Yadav will contest again from the seat that he has won thrice. The other cousin of Akhilesh and uncle Ram Gopal Yadav's son Akshay will contest from Firozabad.

Mulayam Singh's Constituencies | At present, the SP patriarch represents Azamgarh constituency. He had represented Mainpuri three times earlier — in 1996, 2004 and 2009. In the 2014 polls, Mulayam contested from two constituencies — Azamgarh and Mainpuri — and won both. While his victory margin in the former was only 63,204, he secured a whopping lead of 3.64 lakh in the latter. In 2009 too, the SP patriarch won the Mainpuri seat by a margin of over 1.6 lakh votes.

SP Released First List | The Samajwadi Party has released its first list of candidates for Lok Sabha elections 2019. The first name on the list is of party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav who will contest from Mainpuri seat.

SC Order Shall Not be Questioned | Referring to the Supreme Court's mediation order Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case, Deputy CM of UP, KP Maurya, said that his party won't question the SC. "In the past, efforts were made to arrive at a solution, but with no success. No Lord Ram devotee or saint wants delay in the construction of Ram Mandir," Maurya said.

Supreme Court Orders Mediation | Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench refers Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case for court appointed and monitored mediation for a “permanent solution”. With this judgment, the Supreme Court  paved way for a time-bound mediation with a panel of three. The panel of mediators will be headed by Supreme Court judge FM Kalifullah and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Shriram Panchu will be the other two members of the panel. The Supreme Court said in its order that the process of mediation shall remain confidential and the Media is barred from reporting on the matter.

Most of these names are of leaders who had won the Lok Sabha polls in 2009, when the Congress had won 22 seats from the state.

Congress First List Comes as No Surprise | As Congress ups the stakes in most crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, its list of first 11 candidates and their constituencies for the Lok Sabha polls comes as no major surprise. All these seats are well part of its core 'Mission 30' in UP. Choice of candidates for these constituencies too springs no major surprise. All of the 11, including party president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, perfectly fit in the 'tried and tested' label.