Election 2019 LIVE: After Mayawati, Navjot Sidhu Stirs Row With Vote Appeal to Muslims

Shivpal Singh Yadav's Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) releases a list of 14 candidates for Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and Haryana.

Even after the EC imposed a ban on politicians for polarising the voters based on religion, Navjot Singh Sidhu in Bihar said that the Muslims "must come together and destroy the BJP with their solidarity." "I am warning you, my Muslim brothers as these people were divide you like the Owaisi lot. They will come up with a new party to divide the hindus and the muslims , however, if you are united, then Modi and the BJP will be decimated," he said.

PM Modi Flays Congress Govt for Dantewada Naxal aAtack | In Korba rally, Chhattisgarh, Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi paid his respects to the slain BJP MLA who lost his life in an blast last week. He said, "I pay my respects to Bheema Mandavi (BJP leader) and the four PSOs who lost their lives in Dantewada naxal attack. It is unfortunate that the attack took place in an area where presence of naxals had reduced. Question is why did the attack happen?"

Poonam Sinha reaches Samajwadi Party office in Lucknow. Sinha is the Mahagathbandhan's candidate contesting against BJP's Rajnath Singh.

Sidhu Appeals Muslims to Vote for Congress | Despite the Election Commission's model code of conduct in place, politicians continue to polarise votes and latest example is Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu. At a rally in Bihar's Katihar, Sidhu appealed to the muslim voters to vote for the Congress. "My muslim brothers and sisters, you must vote for the Congress. If you show solidarity, nobody can defeat your candidate.  You are not a minority but a majority," he said.

Questioning the credibility of the I-T raids, Naidu said, "No I-T raids are carried out in BJP ruled states, but only at the residences of opposition parties like DMK, Telugu desam and JDS."

Plea in SC Seeking Safety of EVMs | Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking direction for Election Commission to ensure the safety and security of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) and to secure that they are not tampered with, during the post polling period.

Chandrababu Naidu Attacks PM Modi | Chandrababu Naidu launched a scathing attack againts PM Narendra Modi for "doing grave injustice" to India. In Tamil Nadu, he said, "I want to appeal to all voters in that democracy is in danger. Modi has done so much of injustice to the nation."

Poonam Sinha, wife of Shatrughan Sinha, will land at Lucknow airport shortly. She is the alliance candidate against Rajnath Singh from Lucknow.

For the Gorakhpur seat, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath was in search of a popular face who wouldn't try to deepen his own roots in the constituency.

In Karnataka's Davanagere, BJP president Amit Shah said, "JD(S) got the least number of seats in the recently held state Assembly elections, BJP got the most number of seats but the 'mahamilawat' made that person the CM whose party got the least number of seats."

A BJP delegation comprising senior leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Jagat Prakash Nadda, will approach the Election Commission later today against the ban on UP CM Yogi Adityanath who has been barred from election campaigning for 72 hours.

The flying squad of the Election Commission checks luggage of former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa at helipad in Shivamogga, Karnataka

#WATCH Election Commission flying squad checks luggage of former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa at helipad in Shivamogga, Karnataka pic.twitter.com/uZAdRCA5sO

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2019

Amit Shah Dubs Karnataka 'ATM of Corruption' for Congress | BJP president Amit Shah said, "Karnataka CM made false promise to the farmers and failed to waive farm loans. For the Congress, the development of Karnataka isn't important. In fact, Karnataka is an ATM of corruption for them."

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has reached Pathanamthitta and begun his speech. He said that the Congress will will spend money on education, healthcare and hospitals if it comes to power in 2019. "Modi has reduced the amount of money spent on education this is a shame. We have a target of spending 6% of GDP on education. We want poorest and weakest people to have access to the best education and healthcare system," Gandhi said.

Militants Hurl Grenades at NC Leader in Kashmir | Militants attacked residence of National conference leader Ashraf Bhat by firing UBGL Grenade at tral when NC's Anantnag Parliamentary seat candidate Hasnain Masoodi was adressing workers their, Grenade Exploded outside the residence. No loss or damage reported.

Congress led UPA govt gave only Rs 88,583 crore to Karnataka under the 13th Finance Commission. However, BJP led NDA govt allocated Rs 3.88 lakh crore under the 14th Finance Commission, said Amit Shah.

Campaigning in Karnataka's Tumkur, "On one hand is the BJP and the NDA who are ready to make Modi the PM  again in 2019 and on other side there is Rahul baba and company who don't even have a PM candidate. If they win the elections, the Mayawati will be PM on Monday, Akhilesh will be PM on Tuesday, Devegowda will be PM on Wednesday, Naidu will be PM on Thursday, Sharad Pawar will be PM on Friday, Mamata will be PM on Saturday and the country will go on leave on Sunday.

Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore files his nomination from Jaipur parliamentary constituency. His wife Gayatri and Yoga guru Ramdev were also present.

Rajasthan: Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore files his nomination from Jaipur parliamentary constituency for #LokSabhaElections2019 . Yog guru Ramdev and Rathore's wife Gayatri Rathore are also present. pic.twitter.com/wl1FTjbLMe

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2019

Bihar Deputy CM to File Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi | Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi said that he will file a defamation case against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his statement 'All thieves have Modi in their surnames'. The Deputy CM said, "He has referred to crores of people as 'chor' and hurt their sentiments."

BJP Trying to Crush Voices of the Dalits, Muslims: Son Azam Khan | Azam Khan's son has hit out at the Election Commission and the BJP and said, "Both the ban on Azam khan and Mayawati clearly shows that the BJP government and the people who are on top positions are trying to crush the voices of dalits and muslims."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "For 20 years you trusted Odisha's govt blindly but now the people of the state want change. Once we come to power in the state we will implement Ayushman Bharat Yojana."

A visual from Union Minister & BJP leader Rajnath Singh's road show ahead of filing nomination from Lucknow parliamentary seat

PM Modi said, "We amended decade-old mining law and ensured that a part of the fund from the resources extracted is utilised for the development of local infrastructure. In the last five years, over 12 lakh houses were given to the BPL families and by 2022 everry family in Odisha will have their own house."

"In the past, there was no one to stop corruption but our government has brought transparency. Now in Delhi, you have a 'majboot sarkar'. Before that, we had 'majboor sarkar'. Now our opposition is very much hurt by the steps taken by out government," said PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flayed the BJD government in Odish for underutilising the Centre's funds. "We are bound to credit money directly in our farmer's account. On May 23, once again our government is going to form and more money will be direcrly credited into our farmer's accounts. There will be a different Water Ministry to solve the scarcity of water. The Centre has allotted Rs 6,000 crore to odisha for schools, hospitals, etc. But you will be shocked in hearing that this BJP government has specnt only Rs 1000 crore out it," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his Sambalpur rally by acknowledging the "enthusiasm" of the people. "In such hot weather, such a huge crowd, such enthusiasm; pictures of these rallies are giving sleepless nights to others. People are supporting us because they want a strong government."

Nephew Akash to Rally on Mayawati's Behalf in Agra |  After Election Commission banned Mayawati from campaigning for 48 hours, her nephew Akash will likely deliver a speech in a joint rally with SP in Agra today. Akhilesh Yadav, Ajit Singh will also be present.

"As PM said 'Congress mukt Bharat', meaning we'll erase idea of Congress from India. What Congress says to Narendra Modi is we don't agree with you.We'll fight you to convince you, you're wrong. We'll beat you in e election but we won't use violence against you," said Rahul Gandhi.

Meanwhile, CPIM workers have staged sit-in demanding re-polling in 464 booths on allegations of BJP rigging these booths during the West Tripura parliamentary constituency election on April 11.