Election 2019 LIVE: After Gag on Mayawati, Akhilesh Asks if EC Has Integrity to Act Against PM Modi

I Challenge You to a Debate on Performance : Nirupam | Former Maharashtra Regional Congress Committee President Sanjay Nirupam in an open letter challenged the incumbent Shiv Sena MP from Mumbai North West constituency, Gajanan Kirtikar, to an open debate. In the letter Nirupam, who is fighting the elections from the same constituency wrote, "With the objective of providing the electorate of Mumbai North West a fair opportunity to assess their candidates I challenge you to a debate on your performance in the past 5 years with regard to issues and problems of the constituency as well as projects, plans and programs for the next 5 years at a date, time and venue of your convenience and choice."

In a statement to reporters CPI(M) chief Sitaram Yechury alleges foul play in 464 booths across West Bengal and Tripura, which went to the polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Yechury claims that incidences of booth capturing, EVM manipulation and violence were seen in many of the booths. "We have given a list of booths to the Election Commission where re-polling should happen," he says. 

Money For Nyay Will Come From Choksi, Modi, Mallya, Says Rahul Gandhi | Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is addressing a rally in Gujarat's Bhavnagar city. "The money for the 'Nyay' scheme will come from the pockets of people like Choksi, Nirav Modi, Mallya," he says.

BJP leader and Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi in a Twitter post launched an attack on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and threatened to file a defamation suit against him "for calling all Modi’s surname chor".

Will file defamation suit against @RahulGandhi for calling all Modi’s surname CHOR.

— Chowkidar Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) April 15, 2019

"Rahul Gandhi has made it a part of his habit to denigrate the Constitution," Ravi Shankar Prasad says. "You have the right to speak in the country, but you don't have the right to spew lies."

Rahul Gandhi is Spreading Lies, Says Ravi Shankar Prasad | Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in a press conference slams Rahul Gandhi and says that the Congress chief is "spreading lies." "Rahul targeted the Prime Minister by making false allegations. He twisted the court's facts," Prasad says hours after the Supreme Court issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi.

Azam Khan Was Talking About Someone Else,Yadav Says | Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav backs the party veteran leader Azam Khan, who got pulled up for his remarks against BJP candidate Jaya Prada.  "Azam Khan was talking about someone else. We are Samajwadis we never use foul language for women," he tells reporters.

Referring to the April 7 incident in which a Muslim shopkeeper was assaulted and forced to eat pork, he says, "If BJP comes to power, they will forcefully feed all of you pork. Will you have it? Either you die, or you go to Bangladesh, or you will have to forfeit all privileges you are enjoying now."

Addressing a rally in Assam's Karimganj district, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal says, "How can we choose BJP government? We have to consider our Deen, Imaan, Constitution, Azaan, Quran, the mosque, the respect of our women and children. Himanta Biswa Sarma is an agent of Modi and Amit Shah."

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi in a press conference condones the EC's actions against Yogi Adityanath over his earlier remarks. "If the poll body is bold enough and is absolutely fearless, all these antics, agenda and sectionalism will stop," he says.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar says that the UPA would give farm loan waivers and conduct a detailed probe into the Rafale fighter jet deal if his party forms the government after the April-May Lok Sabha polls. Addressing a rally at Buldhana in Maharashtara, he says, "We will carry out a detailed probe into the Rafale deal and will not keep quiet until the truth is brought out. We will also solve the problems of farmers once Congress and NCP's UPA comes to power"

The BJP candidate from Nizamabad, Arvind Dharmapuri, has filed a petition before the Election Commission to permit him to lock the polling booth rooms, which house the EVMs and VVPATs. 

Telangana: Arvind Dharmapuri, BJP candidate from Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency has filed a petition before Election Commission to permit him to put his lock also on the strong rooms where EVMs and VVPATs used in the elections are kept. pic.twitter.com/nHmnzv9S5v

— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2019

BJP releases 21st list of 7 candidates from Uttar Pradesh for the Lok Sabha elections. Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan to contest on BJP ticket from Gorakhpur. Ramapathi Ram Tripathi to contest from Deoria (this was Kalraj Mishra's seat). Praveen Nishad, who contested as a SP candidate (backed by BSP) during Lok Sabha by-polls in March 2018 to contest from Sant Kabir Nagar.

Addressing a rally in Srinagar, National Conference patriarch Farooq Abdullah said, “You say that Abdullah is trying to destroy the country. If we wanted to break India, then the country would not have existed.”

Farooq Abdullah, National Conference (NC) in Srinagar: Mai Modi ko challenge karta hoon is jalse mein, ki tum toot jayoge magar Hindustan tutega nahi. Tum yeh kehto ho ki Abdullah Hindustan ko todna chahte hain, arrey hum Hindustan ko todna chahte to Hindustan hota hi nahi. pic.twitter.com/BSlXMvmjxy

— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2019

Abhishek Singhvi tweeted: Extremely happy. My suggestion to EC accepted. In Congress delegation 3 days ago I told EC that EC will become toothless tiger by only giving warnings and censures. They must direct one day stoppage of campaign for first offenders (like communal or prohibited statements etc), three days for second offenders; five for habitual third timers etc. This takes away from valuable limited campaign time window and does not allow such defaulters to take advantage of own wrong. EC has accepted and banned Yogi Adityanath for 72 hours and Mayawati for 48 hours!

1/1 extremely happy My suggestion to #EC accepted. IN cong delegation 3 days ago I told #EC that #EC wl become toothless tiger by only giving warnings and censures. they must direct one day stoppage of campaign for first offenders( like communal or prohibited statements etc) ctd

— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) April 15, 2019

Hema Malini on Azam Khan's remark: No one has a right to talk about any women like this, it is a very derogatory comment. This shows what kind of a mentality he has. No one has the right to speak like this

Farooq Abdullah, today at a rally in Srinagar, said, “Modi we don’t trust you but our trust lies with Allah. You can never win our hearts as it cannot be won with use of pallet guns or closing highways. You (Modi) promised that you will provide 2 crore jobs in 5 years. I will never support you till the day I die. I want to see the day when our brothers, sisters and elderly can walk freely on road...when no one asks what religion you belong to.”

Election Commission bans BSP chief Mayawati from campaiging for 48 hours, starting from 6 am tomorrow. Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav were scheduled to address a joint rally in Agra tomorrow. However, after the EC's order she will not be able to attend the rally.

Election Commission bans UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath from campaiging for 72 hours, starting from 6 am tomorrow.

Election Commission's order prohibits UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath from campaigning for 72 hours and BSP chief Mayawati for 48 hours for violating Model Code of Conduct. Earlier in the day, Supreme Court summoned senior Election Commission official and said EC is duty bound to take action. "You can't sleep over such issues. You have done nothing about such statements. You must act when these statements are issued." SC took note of th estatements by Mayawati, appealing Muslims to vote and Yogi Adityanath's statement on Ali and Bajrang Bali. Mayawati was scheduled to address a rally tomorrow at Agra.

Addressing a rally at Sher-e-Kashmir Park Srinagar, Omar Abdullah said, “Modi... you said the same thing in 2014... you said you will not join hands with 2 families here, but what did you do after the elections it is was not even two months that you had to formed government with one of the two family. We are not the ones who say something before the elections and after elections you do something else.”

Urmila Matondkar, Congress candidate from Mumbai (North) on scuffle between Congress workers and BJP supporters during her campaign said, “It is being done to create fear. It is just the beginning, it'll take violent turn. Have asked for police protection; there is a threat to my life; I have filed a complaint.

Urmila Matondkar,Congress candidate from Mumbai(N) on scuffle b/w Congress workers&BJP supporters during her campaign: It's being done to create fear. It's just beginning,it'll take violent turn.Have asked for police protection; there's a threat to my life; I've filed a complaint pic.twitter.com/ZcTTKmOOx6

— ANI (@ANI) April 15, 2019

Addressing a rally in Gujarat, BJP President Amit Shah, “Not only Azam Khan, but both Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party should apologize to the crores of women in our country.”

BJP President Amit Shah: Not only Azam Khan, but both Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party should apologize to the crores of women in our country pic.twitter.com/MoAkv5Rgkp

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 15, 2019

Addressing a workers convention in Bijbehara today. In Kashmir, issues such as maintaining status quo on Article 370 and Article 35A have taken precedence over other matters and rightfully so. In its desperation to win this election, seems like misappropriation of our jawans sacrifices and polarising the electorate hasn’t helped BJP. Now they are creating fear psychosis by using national security as a guise to prepare ground for another Balakot like strike, said Mehbooba Mufti.

Addressing a workers convention in Bijbehara today. In Kashmir, issues such as maintaining status quo on Article 370 & Article 35A have taken precedence over other matters & rightfully so. pic.twitter.com/zB4TvPGQD2

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 15, 2019

This is a fight of ideology. Congress party is about to win. We have started working for farmers in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan & Chhattigsarh. I have a dream that these works begin one day in Uttar Pradesh too. We have told the 3 CMs that in all the districts of their states, food processing unit should be set up. Wherever potato is grown, there will be a chips factory. Wherever tomato is grown, there will be a tomato ketchup factory. We are creating a network of food processing industries in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Farmers will sell their produce directly in factories: Rahul Gandhi

On The Campaign Trail of Rahul Gandhi & Narendra Modi | A News18.com Immersive

News18 Election Lab will be tracking the constituencies Rahul and Modi have visited during their campaign trail since the election dates were announed on March 11th

During the rally in Fatehpur Sikri, Rahul Gandhi said, "During demonetisation did you see Vijay Mallya, Mehul Choksi or Neerav Modi in the queue. Only poor people were affected by it. Not his (Modi’s) rich friends. In 2019, there will be two budgets –one will be the national budget and the second will be a farmers budget."

Party Candidate Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah addressing a massive public gathering at Sher-e-Kashmir Park Srinagar.

Party Candidate Dr Farooq Abdullah & @OmarAbdullah addressing a massive public gathering at Sher-e-Kashmir Park Srinagar.#HalHiHalHai pic.twitter.com/zKsNj83aLR

— Tanvir Sadiq (@tanvirsadiq) April 15, 2019

I won’t promise you 2 crore jobs or 15 lakh, but can promise you Rs 3,60,000 every year.Modi wants to divide the country, one for the rich and the other for the poor: Rahul Gandhi

He (Modi) did injustice to people for five years, He promised 2 crore jobs for unemployed youth but failed to do so. Have you ever seen Chowkidar in front of a poor or a farmer, asks Rahul Gandhi while addressing a rally in Fatehpur