Lok Sabha Elections 2019 LIVE updates: Rahul Gandhi to release Congress manifesto today

Lok Sabha Elections 2019 LIVE updates: Rahul Gandhi to release Congress manifesto today

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: On Monday, Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP filed a complaint to the EC against the recently launched NAMO TV that covers PM Modi's campaigns live.

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Narendra Modi vs Rahul Gandhi

As the country braces for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2019, political parties continue to engage in harsh exchange of words. During a public meeting in Wayanad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Rahul Gandhi is afraid of contesting from a Hindu-majority constituency because the Congress party coined the term 'Hindu terrorism'. Following the comment, Rahul Gandhi has asked the Prime Minister to apologise for hurting the sentiments of people from Wayanad.

Separately, at a rally in Ghaziabad on Monday, Yogi Adityanath referred to the Indian Army as 'Modi ji ki sena'. The comment has not gone down well with the Opposition as well as the EC. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the UP Chief Minister for 'humiliating' the Indian Army. Moreover, the EC has also asked for a factual report from the District Election Office (DEO), Ghaziabad by Tuesday on the comment.

On Monday, Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP filed a complaint to the Election Commission against the recently launched NAMO TV that covers PM Modi's campaigns live. "Did BJP approach the Media Certification committee established to certify the contents of the telecast and cost of the telecast? If not, why show cause not issued for the violation of MCC?" the AAP letter stated.

However, the highlight of the election developments today is that Congress will release its manifesto.

Follow the Lok Sabha Elections 2019 updates on BusinessToday.In LIVE blog:

11:05am: The district election officer of Mumbai has issued a notice to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut for alleged violation of the model code of conduct over his comments against CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar. Raut, who is the editor of Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', said in the publication on Sunday that Kumar should be defeated in the elections even if it means the BJP has to "tamper with EVMs".

11:00am: "When we will come to power, we will initiate an inquiry into Rafale deal on the first day and we have included this in the manifesto," said Bhalchandra Mungekar, member of Congress' manifesto committee.

10:50am: Supreme Court declines urgent hearing of Patidar leader Hardik Patel's plea seeking a suspension of his conviction in a 2015 case relating to rioting, so that he can contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. "The order was passed in August 2018. What is the urgency now?" the bench said while refusing to accord urgent hearing on the petition. Patel, 25, had started preparations to contest from Jamnagar on a Congress ticket after joining the party on March 12 and the last date for filing of nominations is April 4.

10:40am: Former Navy Chief Admiral L Ramdas said he would approach the Election Commission against UP CM Yogi Adityanath's comment on Indian Army. The CM called the Indian Army 'Modi ji ka sena'. "The armed forces do not belong to any one individual, they serve the country. Till the polls get over, the Chief Election Commissioner is the boss. I am going to approach the Election Commission in this regard," Admiral Ramdas said.

10:30am: BSP chief Mayawati said that it was the will of the people while justifying expenses in installations of her statues and of elephants in Uttar Pradesh.

10:15am: BSP MLA Maulana Jameel joined the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Talking to reporters in Muzaffarnagar, Jameel said he left the Mayawati-led outfit as he felt only Congress could defeat the BJP in the coming elections.

10:10am: Arvind Panagariya, former Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog on NYAY (Nyuntam Aay Yojana): If you are giving Rs 72,000 per annum to 5 crore families then there will be an expense of Rs 3.6 Lakh Crore - this is 13% of the total budget of central govt. No one has given details of how Rs 3.6 Lakh crore will be arranged for the implementation of the scheme. It's more than our defence budget. Fiscal situation is always tight, it's almost impossible to take out 13% of the budget.

10:00am: "My campaigns across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have been overwhelming. NDA's solid track record and development agenda has connected with people. Votebank politics and failed promises of the Opposition has repulsed India," tweeted Narendra Modi.

9:45am: Congress on Monday fielded Olympian discus thrower Krishna Poonia from the Jaipur Rural constituency as it released another list of nine candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. She will contest against Union Information and Broadcasting Minister and Olympic medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore, who is the Jaipur Rural MP.

Read the full story here: Congress fields Krishna Poonia against Rajyavardhan Rathore from Jaipur Rural

9:38am: In an attempt to urge people to vote in the upcoming elections, Coimbatore-based miniature artist Raja has carved 18 election party symbols in one gram silver and 300 milligram gold.

9:35am: Electoral Officers of West Tripura constituency took part in a one-day technical training on the Commissioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) on Monday.

9:30am: In a press statement, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said that the PM Modi's comments on Rahul Gandhi's nomination from Wayanad are a "disgrance to the high office of Prime Minister". "Without understanding the cultural legacy and demography of Wayanad, the PM was making a communal and diviisive statement," Venugopal said.