Lok Sabha elections: The country will witness the first phase of polling for a total of 91 Lok Sabha seats spread over 20 states and UTs on Thursday (April 11). Campaigning for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2019 came to an end on Tuesday, as political parties, including the BJP and Congress, made king their ditch efforts to woo voters. Meanwhile, Congress President Rahul Gandhi will file his nomination papers from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also hold public meetings in Gujarat and Goa.
Catch all the latest updates on BusinessToday.In live blog on the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
8.50am:
Odisha: Kajal Kinnar Nayak, a transgender candidate of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) filed her nomination for the Korei assembly constituency. She says, "I can't believe how much love I got from the public despite being a transgender." (9/4/19) pic.twitter.com/I5Q7yrc5CQ
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2019
8.40am: Rahul Gandhi says "NYAY is such a powerful idea. Absolutely amazing resonance in the field."
NYAY is such a powerful idea.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 9, 2019
Absolutely amazing resonance in the field. Even PM (Past Master) can’t stop talking about it.
8.35am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also hold public meetings in Gujarat and Goa.
Today’s public meetings will take place in Gujarat and Goa, where BJP’s good governance has positively impacted several lives. Will be addressing rallies in Junagadh, Songadh and Panaji. @BJP4Gujarat@BJP4Goa
— Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2019
Here are highlights from yesterday’s massive rallies in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Do watch. pic.twitter.com/mzNsxUU6kb
— Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 10, 2019
8.25am: Uttarakhand, which goes to polls on April 11, has 11 polling booths which voters can reach only after traversing a distance 15 to 20 km on foot, Chief Electoral Officer Saujanya said on Tuesday, reported. Tehri district has four such booths, followed by Pithoragarh (3), Chamoli (two), Rudraprayag (1) and Uttarkashi (1), she said. Government Primary School, Dumak in Chamoli district has the farthest located polling booth in the state, which is 20 km from the nearest road, the official said.
8.20am: A total of 452 candidates have filed nomination papers for 17 constituencies in Maharashtra which will go to the polls in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 29, reports PTI. Tuesday was the last date of filing of papers. The constituencies going to the polls in the fourth and the final phase in the state are Nandurbar, Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Thane, Maval, Shirur, Shirdi and the six seats in Mumbai.
8.15am: The Election Commission is learnt to have directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi to ensure that the contents of NaMo TV are pre-certified by the local media certification and monitoring committee, reports PTI. Such committees are formed at district and state levels during polls. They clear political campaign and advertisements.
8.03am: The Income Tax Department has written to the Chief Electoral Officer seeking legal action against Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and a host of his cabinet colleagues for allegedly intimidating tax officers and obstructing them from discharging duties, PTI reported.
8.00am: Congress President Rahul Gandhi will file his nomination papers from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat. He will also hold a roadshow and address a gathering.
7.55am: All parliamentary constituencies in 10 states and UTs, including Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep, Telangana and Uttarakhand, will go to polls in the first phase on Arpil 11. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Edited by Manoj Sharma