Election Tracker LIVE: Congress is Like Sinking Titanic, its Allies Are Either Drowning or Swimming Away, Says Modi

The Congress leader claimed that India was not using efficient use of connectivity, which was similar to a monkey fiddling with a new toy.

PM Modi continues his stinging attack on Congress. He says that the grand old party is like a sinking Titanic and its allies are either drowning or swimming away.

PM in Nanded: Congress ki haalat titanic jahaz ki tarah hai, ye har ek naye din ke sath duubti hi ja rahi hai. Congress ke sath jo jo iss jahaz mein baetha tha vo NCP ki tarah ya toh khud bhi duub raha hai ya uth uth kar ke bas jaan bachane ke liye bhaag raha hai.#Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/67LCTJeFjF

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2019

BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav slammed the Congress manifesto while addressing an election rally in Jammu. “It appears as if this manifesto has been made to gather votes of the separatists of Jammu & Kashmir. There is no all India vision in it. It is a manifesto made for vote-bank only,” said Madhav.

While sitting YSR Congress MLA Rama Krishna Reddy is known among locals for taking up their issues with the state government, the TDP young gun is seeking votes in the name of development.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the BJP on Saturday for turning patriotism into an election issue and ignoring the poor and farmers, saying had the ruling party leaders been patriots they would not have been "selective" in respecting martyrs. Addressing a 'nukkad sabha' in favour of Congress nominee Rakesh Sachan here, the Congress general secretary incharge of eastern Uttar Pradesh said, "The issue of patriotism is raised whenever elections come, but the real questions on farmers, unemployed, women safety are left behind."

Time to get rid of those who have put democracy in danger: Gehlot | Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said it was time to get rid of powers that have created an "environment of hatred" in the country and put democracy in danger. Addressing a rally in Banswara ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Gehlot said: "There is an environment of hatred in the country. The country is getting ruined." "Democracy and the Constitution are in danger. It is time now that we get rid of them," he said at the rally in support of Congress candidate Tarachand Bhagora.  Stressing that there was no difference in the words and deeds of the Congress, Gehlot said that the party has fulfilled its promise of waiving-off farm loans after coming into power in the state.

The Narendra Modi government at the Centre is serving the interest of big business houses and is "anti-farmer", CPI leader D Raja said on Saturday. Raja also dubbed the BJP-led government as "anti-people" and "anti-women". "Modi government is serving the interests of finance capital, of big business houses and of big corporate houses. Modi government is not with the people. It is anti-people, anti-farmer and anti-women," he said.

A special press conference to launch Congress Party’s publicity campaign will be held on Sunday at 12 noon at AICC headquarters. The slogan of Congress for 2019 Lok Sabha elections will be launched tomorrow.

Odisha chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik Saturday sought to know from the BJP the reason behind discontinuation of funding for KBK scheme after Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the state government accusing it of lacking intent to eliminate poverty. Patnaik raised the issue while addressing an election meeting in Nabarangpur district, one of the poorest areas among the KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) region.

PM Modi in Maharashtra’s Nanded: The naamdar seems to have used a microscope to find a seat for himself since he knows that he will not win Amethi. The seat is such where the minority is the majority...did you see his rally? Where were the Congress flags? Did you see the pictures on social media. Did you see any congress flags?

At Rally, UP BJP Leader Refers To Lord Ram, Hanuman As 'Chowkidar' | A BJP leader has termed gods 'chowkidars' during a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur district, according to a video that has surfaced on social media. The video purportedly shows Manoj Kashyap, former convenor of the 'Braj Prant', an unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the 'Braj' (Mathura-Vrindavan) area, raising slogans at a youth workers' meeting on Tuesday. Kashyap can be seen chanting "Mera Ram" (my Ram), and the crowd responding with "chowkidar" (watchman). Similarly, slogans like "mera Shankar" and "mera Hanuman" were followed by chants of "chowkidar".

There is widespread resentment within the local Congress over the JDS being alloted the seat under an electoral arrangement between the coalition partners.

Solar Scam accused Saritha S Nair cannot contest Lok Sabha polls as the returning officer has rejected her nominations. The nominations were rejected on the ground that she has been convicted in criminal cases. Saritha had filed nomination from Ernakulam and Wayanad but both nominations have now been rejected.

A kite maker in Kolkata is making and selling kites with the symbols of political parties on it, ahead of Lok Sabha elections. He said, "This is a way to express our interest in the upcoming elections. I sell these kites from Rs 5 to Rs 15."

#WestBengal: A kite maker in Kolkata is making and selling kites with the symbols of political parties on it, ahead of Lok Sabha elections, says, "This is a way to express our interest in the upcoming elections. I sell these kites from Rs 5 to Rs 15." #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/Z3yLqmxRtD

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2019

Some pictures from BJP president Amit Shah’s road show in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar. Shah is also the BJP candidate from Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, replacing LK Advani. 

In a strongly-worded letter to the Election Commission of India, West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday questioned the decision to transfer Kolkata Police Commissioner Anuj Sharma and Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Gyanwant Singh ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2019.

Union railway minister Piyush Goyal slammed Rahul Gandhi for attacking PM Modi over "sidelining" BJP veteran LK Advani. "Congress is completely disgruntled. They are using any word that comes to their mind, no matter how unparliamentary it is. First he (Gandhi) hugs, then he sits on the chair and winks at his colleagues. This shows the true face to the grand old party."

कांग्रेस के नेता बौखला गए हैं, उनको यह भी ध्यान नही रहता कि की वह कैसे शब्दों का उपयोग कर रहे हैं। हमारे देश की एक सभ्यता है जहाँ बड़ों से उचित व्यवहार करना सिखाया जाता है। pic.twitter.com/ddB0Bbgwkx

— Chowkidar Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 6, 2019

BJP national president Amit Shah will be visiting Bhubaneswar on Sunday. He will unveil BJP Manifesto for Odisha in Odia at Hotel Mayfair around 10.30am in the morning. Shah will also attend programmes at Baragada and Polsara.

In a fresh setback to the TDP in Telangana, its senior leader and former minister Mandava Venkateswara Rao and the party's Hyderabad unit president M N Srinivas joined the ruling TRS on Saturday. Venkateswara Rao, a five-time MLA and an influential leader from Nizamabad, was welcomed into TRS fold by party president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, TRS sources said. Rao's entry is expected to add to TRS' strength in the Lok Sabha poll battle in Nizamabad and other places.

Uma Bharti, who currently serves as the Cabinet Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, had already announced that she would not contest the elections.

Speaking to media, BJP state chief P S Sreedharan Pillai alleged the IUML and the Communist party had favoured the partition of the country. When the country gained independence, the Communists had wanted to divide the country into 16 sovereign republics and to carry out a referendum, Pillai alleged. "Gandhi's allegation that the Modi government is neglecting south India is divisive politics. Even the Congress party has not raised such an allegation so far," he said, while speaking at a meet-the-press programme here.

The BJP in Kerala on Saturday criticised AICC chief Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that the Narendra Modi-led government was neglecting south India. The saffron party said the allegation was part of Gandhi's "divisive politics" and further criticised him for contesting the general elections from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency with the support of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

UP CM Yogi Adityanath's Odisha election rally has been cancelled. CM Yogi addressed the Berhampur rally on telephone.

Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Saturday launched an offensive on the Narendra Modi government, saying people are being taught a new definition of patriotism while those not accepting diversity are being called patriots. Gandhi alleged the current government was not ready to respect dissent, and said when there are attacks on people who stick to their faith, this government turns away. “Today, we are being taught new definition of patriotism while those not accepting diversity are being called patriots,” Gandhi said.

Union railway minister Piyush Goyal attacked Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's advisor Sam Pitroda in a press conference. "Rahul Gandhi's advisor Sam Pitroda insults our army, humiliates middle class and calls Indians “monkeys”. If Guru thinks like that, his disciple will also follow his footsteps. Would anyone want such dynasts to govern us?" he tweeted. 

Rahul Gandhi's advisor Sam Pitroda insults our army, humiliates middle class and calls Indians “monkeys”. If Guru thinks like that, his disciple will also follow his footsteps. Would anyone want such dynasts to govern us? pic.twitter.com/4DWgNJhtvB

— Chowkidar Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) April 6, 2019

"In today's global scenario, the country needs a strong leadership. I was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and that's why I am joining BJP," said former vice chief of army staff Lieutenant General (retd) Sarath Chand after joining BJP. The BJP has done a lot for soldiers, he added.

Modi said that a strong government at the Centre is needed to punish terrorists for their sins.

J&K: Former independent MLA from Kathua joins BJP | Days ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, former independent MLA Charanjit Singh on Saturday joined the BJP in Kathua district of Jammu & Kashmir. 68-year-old Singh, who had won the Kathua assembly seat in 2008, joined the saffron party in the presence of BJP National vice-president and in-charge of Jammu & Kashmir, Avinash Rai Khanna and former minister Rajiv Jasrotia. "I am joining the BJP along with my supporters to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is taking every one along in the development of the country under the slogan of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas," the former bureaucrat turned politician told reporters.

On Sunday, PM Narendra Modi will address rallies in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar, Tripura’s Udaipur and Manipur’s Imphal.

First joint rally of SP-BSP-RLD alliance to be held in UP's Deoband on Sunday at 12pm.