Election 2019: TMC Files Police Complaint Against BJP Leader for 'Threatening Voters'

Scuffle Breaks Out at Hardik Patel's Rally in Ahmedabad | A scuffle has broken out at Congress leader Hardik Patel's public meeting in Ahmedabad,

#WATCH: Scuffle breaks out at Congress leader Hardik Patel's public meeting in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. More details awaited pic.twitter.com/Eb7iK5WHrQ

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2019

TMC Files Complaint Against its Former Leader Arjun Singh Over Bike Rally | The Trinamool Congress has lodged a complaint against its former leader and BJP's Barrackpore Lok Sabha candidate Arjun Singh for taking out a bike rally in the constituency and violating the Model Code of Conduct. "We anticipate that such bike rallies are an attempt to terrorize voters in the constituency," Samrat Topadar, general secretary of Trinamool youth Congress, said.

Trinamool Congress has written to Election Commission against special observer Ajay V Nayak for his comments likening the present-day condition in Bengal to that of Bihar from 10 years ago. "Everything is not well with democracy in Bengal," Nayak had said. The party, in its letter to the EC, said that the comments were "highly objectionable and undesirable" and that Nayak was "acting in a partisan manner, with preconceived notion, to destabilise the conduct of elections in the state".   

TMC writes to Election Commission of India against Ajay V Nayak, special observer for Bengal in #LokSabhaElections2019 , for his reported comments, 'present condition of Bengal is like it used to be in Bihar 10 years ago' & that 'everything is not well with democracy in Bengal' pic.twitter.com/pSQEa18oS9

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2019

Poll Panel Issues Notice to Sidhu Over Remark Urging Muslims Not to Split Votes | Election Commission of India has issued a notice to Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu seeking an explanation within 24 hours for his remarks 'urging Muslims to not split votes,' made during a rally on April 16 in Katihar, Bihar. The Congress leader in the rally had said, "I want to warn my Muslim brothers that some people are trying to divide you. They are trying to prop up people like Owaisi to divide your votes. If you unite and vote as one, Modi will be driven out." 

'Hindutva' Not in My Dictionary. Says Digvijaya Singh | Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh when asked if he thinks the elections will see polarisation on the Hindutva issue, questions why the word is being used "All of you use the term 'Hindutva'. But there isn't such a word in my dictionary," he says.

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh on being asked 'if he thinks there will be polarisation in elections on the issue of Hindutva' : Aaplog Hindutva shabd ka upyog kyo karte hain? Hindutva shabd meri dictionary mein hai hi nahi. pic.twitter.com/Pm7YQaAdGF

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2019

PM Modi's Goal is to Destroy PSUs by Privatising Them : Rahul Gandhi | 

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is addressing a rally at Bhilai in Chhattisgarh. In his rally address, Rahul Gandhi slams the PM Modi government for "destroying" public sector undertakings. "Under UPA govt, Rafale deal was given to HAL, which would've given employment to our youth. But Mr Modi stole the deal away and gave it to Anil Ambani. Narendra Modi's goal is to destroy PSUs and privatise them by giving it to Anil Ambani," he says. 

Under UPA govt, Rafale deal was given to HAL, which would've given employment to our youth. But Mr Modi stole the deal away and gave it to Anil Ambani. @narendramodi's goal is to destroy PSUs and privatise them by giving it to Anil Ambani: CP @RahulGandhi #CGbadlaDeshBadlo pic.twitter.com/rkTG11y0Km

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 20, 2019

The Congress Election Committee announces the names of Sher Singh Ghubaya and Amarinder Singh Raja from the seats of Firozpur and Bhatinda respectively.

Convener's Move Was Unauthorised, Says AAP's Somnath Bharti | Meanwhile, the AAP suspended its Kerala convener C R Neelakandan for allegedly announcing the party's support to the Congress in the southern state without any consultation with the party's political affairs committee. AAP's Somnath Bharti said Neelakandan held an unauthorised press conference in Kerala in which he extended support to the Congress. "That press conference was unauthorised and conducted without the knowledge or consultation of the Aam Aadmi Party. The AAP's political affairs committee has condemned his move and decided to suspend Neelakandan from the primary membership of the party," he said.

The Aam Aadmi Party has extended unconditional support to all candidates of the Left Democratic Front in Kerala for the Lok Sabha elections. CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu thanked the AAP for the support. "Our main aim is to remove the NDA and stop communal tension and polarisation done by them and in this direction, we are campaigning in different states. We thank the AAP for supporting us," he said. 

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Gowda lashes out at the BJP over Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur's candidature from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat."The BJP had no other candidate that they had to go for a terror accused?" Gowda, convener of the Congress'manifesto committee, questions. Gowda also remarks, "After she is nominated (by the BJP), she defames a martyr. This is what PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah have reduced this country to." 

As per nomination papers filed by Jannayak Janata Party nominee Dushyant Chautala, the elder son of jailed leader Ajay Singh Chautala, from the Hisar Lok Sabha seat on Saturday, he has borrowed unsecured loan of Rs 17 lakh from Arjun Chautala and Rs 5 lakh from Karan Chautala. Both Arjun and Karan are sons of Ajay's younger brother and INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala. Arjun is making his electoral debut from the Kurukshetra Lok Sabha seat on the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) ticket.

Former Maharashtra CM and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan also slams Pragya Thakur over her remarks on former ATS chief, the late Hemant Karkare. "It insults people of Maharashtra, the entire police force of the country and his family. The PM must not only apologise for nominating her, but also withdraw her candidature," he says. 

Former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan on Pragya Thakur's remark on former ATS Chief Late Hemant Karkare: It insults people of Maharashtra, entire police force of the country & his family. PM not only must apologise himself for nominating her, but also withdraw her candidature. pic.twitter.com/t4KEit3zIG

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2019

BJP Complains to Maha CEO Over Cong Rap Song | BJP leader Vinod Tawde says that they have complained to Maharashtra CEO about the rap song which the Congress had tweeted earlier today. "Today Congress tweeted a rap song in which they have taken help of religious feelings to spread negativity. Since it is against the election code of conduct so we have complaint to CEO of Maharashtra for removal of the tweet & take action against the party," Tawde says. Earlier today, Congress had put out a tweet enclosed a video of the song 'Bhakt Chitra' "This is the modus operandi that Modi gives his blessings for- organized propagation of hate, spreading of fake news, misleading people, rampant misogyny, abusing the Constitution & misuse of religious sentiments to incite hatred."

This is the modus operandi that Modi gives his blessings for- organized propagation of hate, spreading of fake news, misleading people, rampant misogyny, abusing the Constitution & misuse of religious sentiments to incite hatred. #BhaktCharitra pic.twitter.com/mIVEWBirrE

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 20, 2019

"When bomb blasts used to happen in the country they (the Congress) would never take any action, but they blamed Hindus for their vote bank politics and even coined the term 'Hindu terrorism'," PM Modi says. 

"Whether it be Congress or the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, they don't have a vision. They only have one agenda - to remove Modi," PM Modi says against the rival parties. 

Cong Wants Army to Fight Court Cases Instead of Stone Pelters: PM Modi | PM Modi is addressing a campaign rally in Uttar Pradesh' Bareilly city. At the rally, the PM hits out at the rival Congress' manifesto promise to review the AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir. "The opposition is saying that army should be removed from Jammu and Kashmir... we are saying that the army should be given a free hand. The Congress says that the special privileges given to the army should be taken back, they want the army to fight court cases instead of fighting stone pelters," he says.

Addressing a rally at Baramati, where his daughter is seeking a re-election Pawar says, "Modi says he came into politics holding my finger. But now I am terribly afraid because what this man will do, nobody knows.

The BJP has, however, accused the Congress-led government in Madhya Pradesh of pressurising the district administration into keeping Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, their Bhopal candidate, from organising public meetings. Sitting BJP MP Alok Sanjar alleged that their officials had been waiting at the Additional District Magistrate's office, but the permissions didn't come through.

Complaint Filed Against Pragya Thakur Over Remarks on Late ATS Chief | A police complaint has been registered against the BJP candidate from Bhopal, Pragya Thakur, by Congress leader Devendra Singh Yadav over her remarks about the late anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare. Thakur had sparked a massive row on Thursday for saying that Karkare died in the Mumbai 26/11 terror attack because she had cursed him.

Gujarat minister and BJP leader Ganpatsinh Vasava drew the ire of his party over his comments against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi.Speaking at a tribal gathering in Dediapada in Narmada district today Vasava had said, "When Rahul Gandhi gets up from the chair, it appears as if a puppy has got up wagging its tail, which would go to Pakistan and China if they threw bread at it." While the state Congress unit said that Vasava's language "will not get him any support", CM Vijay Rupani also advised the minister to exercise restraint. "Words should be used with firmness, but one should not use unsavoury personal language," Rupani said.

Jyotiraditya Scindia Files Nomination From Guna | Jyotiraditya Scindia has also filed his nomination from Madhya Pradesh's Guna Lok Sabha constituency. The sitting MP is pitted against BJP's K P Yadav.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel slams the BJP for its "double standards" over Malegaon blast main accused Pragya Singh Thakur's candidature. "On one side, the BJP talks about fighting terrorism. And those who are actually fighting terrorism are being criticised by BJP candidates," he says and adds that "there is a huge difference between what the BJP preaches and what it actually does."

EC Replaces Arnab Ghosh With Ajay Prasad as Malda SP | Meanwhile, just two days ahead of the third phase of the polls, the poll body has decided to remove the  Police Superintendent of West Bengal's Malda district, Arnab Ghosh. Ghosh will be succeeded by Baruipur SP Ajay Prasad. Both the seats in the constituency will go to polls on April 23.

Manmohan Singh's statement comes a day after the Allahabad High Court's notice to the Congress and Election Commission on a plea seeking deletion from the party’s election manifesto the promise of the minimum income guarantee scheme to grant Rs 72,000 per annum to the poorest families. Singh writes, "NYAY will also help restart our economic engine that has come to a stop today," he says and explains that the "money in the hands of the needy will stimulate demand in the economy."

Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh makes a statement on the historic NYAY Scheme launched by Congress President @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/FWcS7LdNG6

— Congress (@INCIndia) April 20, 2019

Will Ensure a Basic Level of Dignity For Every Indian Family: Manmohan Singh on NYAY | Former PM and veteran Congress leader Manmohan Singh in a statement extends his support for the party's proposed Nyuntam Aay Yojana scheme (NYAY). Terming it as a powerful idea he says that the scheme intends to "wipe out the last remnants of poverty and to restart stalled economic activity in our nation." "NYAY will ensure a basic level of dignity and respect for every Indian family," he writes.

NYAY Will Add 'Petrol' to Economy, Says Rahul Gandhi | Meanwhile, the Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who is  addressing an election rally at Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh, hails the party's manifesto promise and says, "NYAY will add 'petrol' to the Indian economy."

Priyanka Gandhi says, "A government and a Prime Minister that do not have the courage to accept the power of the people is a weak government and a weak Prime Minister and it is better that they are just taught a lesson by this country."

They (the BJP-led Centre) are so weak that to protect themselves they want to destroy the Constitution. They want to destroy the institutions, which empowers the citizens of the country: Priyanka Gandhi

Hitting out at the PM Narendra Modi Priyanka Gandhi says, "In fact when I visited his (PM Modi) constituency I was shocked to find out that he hasn't visited his it even a single day in the five years."
 

BJP Hasn't Delivered on Promises of Progress, Says Priyanka Gandhi | Congress in-charge for UP East, Priyanka Gandhi, is addressing a public meeting in Kerala's Areekode town. "Young men and women placed their faith in the BJP because they were told that two crore jobs will be provided every year. They were told that great progress was going to take place, that the GDP would increase. Yet in the last five years, having made all these big promises we saw absolutely nothing. GDP has reduced by 2 percent, 50,000 lakh jobs have decreased," she says.