Election 2019 LIVE: PM Modi, SP-BSP Alliance Set For Face-Off Near Ayodhya Today

Shiv Sena Finds New Supporter in Its Burqa Ban Call | BJP candidate from Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya Thakur extended her support to the Shiv Sena's proposal to ban the burqa in India. Pragya said that in the interest of the nation and its security, the Muslim community should come forward and express their solidarity in the matter.

CPI(M) Polling Agent's House Torched in Bengal's Birbhum | A CPI(M) polling agent's house has been allegedly torched by TMC goons in Painguni village at Illambazar in Birbhum district. With Sheikh Khilafat and his family members still inside, the fire continues to blaze.

State Police Barred from Polling Premises in Bengal | For the fifth phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, the state police have been barred within the polling premises, which are now to be manned only by the central forces. As many as 578 companies of central forces are to be deployed across the various constituencies where polling will be taking place on May 6. While the state police will only maintain the law and order outside the polling stations, 142 quick response teams will be stationed at strategic locations inside the booths.

Memon further added that there is "no possibility of a terror attack in India" while elections are being conducted "smoothly, calmly and in peace" "Let us carry out this exercise. We will discuss the burqa matter after May 19th. Ramdas Athawale, their own ally has not supported Shiv Sena. According to me it should me dismissed at the face of it," he said.

Urging the Election Commission to take note on the matter, Memon said, "Shiv Sena has no business, it is a political party. It can't make this kind of a statement in middle of the polling to influence voters in Ayodhya and other places. PM is also going to speak and he may also touch this subject. I am not going to say a word on the merits today. This subject can be discussed on May 20 after the polling is over.

NCP Obects to Shiv Sena's Timing of Burqa Ban Porposal | NCP MP Majeed Memon questioned Shiv Sena's timing of raising the issue of banning the burqa or other forms of veils in India. "Why this issue has been raised when the polling process is still on. There are 3 more phases left. This is a sensitive issue, it should not have been raised now," Memon said. It is not desirable to discuss the issue at this time as it may amount to polarisation, the NCP MP added.

In a series of tweets on Labour Day, Congress veteran and the party candidate from Bhopal, Digvijaya Singh, tore into the Modi government over demonetisation and unempoyment.

प्रश्न 2- क्या यह सही नहीं है कि भाजपा सरकार में बेरोजगारी की दर 6.1% से अधिक हो गई है जो 45 साल में सबसे ज्यादा है? 2018 में देश में 1.1 करोड़ नौकरियां खत्म हुईं नोटबन्दी के कारण 50 लाख नौकरियां चली गईं। कौन है इसका गुनहगार?

— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) May 1, 2019

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala took to Twitter, expressing displeasure over clean chit to PM Modi in a case of alleged poll code violation. 

Disappointed that the Prime Minister of India is permitted to go scot-free after rampant violation of Article 324 & MCC

It is now crystal clear that MCC has become 'Modi Code of Conduct' !

There cannot be two laws for Modiji & the rest of the country. https://t.co/K3i1xijatl

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 1, 2019

The Election Commission on Tuesday served notice to the Samajwadi Party’s Varanasi candidate Tej Bahadur Yadav and directed him to procure a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Border Security Force (BSF). The EC asked Yadav to file his response by 11 am on May 1. Yadav, a former BSF constable, was dismissed from service in 2017 after he released a video on the allegedly poor quality of food served to soldiers. As the candidate representing the SP-BSP opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav is locked in a high-stakes battle with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha constituency.

Bihar's female labour participation rate is the worst in the country. According to a 2011 report, just 19.1 per cent women participate in the workforce as compared to a national average of 25.5 per cent.

The Election Commission on Tuesday gave clean chit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the alleged case of violation of poll code  in Wardha. The Congress had filed a complaint after he said Rahul Gandhi was fighting elections from Wayanad because minorities are in a majority there.

Meanwhile, SP leader Azam Khan has once again been banned from campaigning by the Election Commission over his provocative remarks against poll authorities in Uttar Pradesh and making communal statements. 

Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati will be holding a joint rally at Ram Snehi Ghat, a location that is on the border of Uttar Pradesh's Barabanki and Ayodhya districts and 70 km from the temple town. It may be a virtual face-off here as PM Modi as also scheduled to hold a rally in Ayidhya. 

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi will address rallies and hold roadshows in AMethi and Rae Bareilly today. 

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will be addressing rallies in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh today. After addressing rallies in Sitapur and Barabanki of Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi will head to Madhya Pradesh's Piparia. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will campaign in  Ambedkarnagar constituency today. He will be addressing a rally near the makeshift Ram Lalla temple in Maya Bazar on the outskirts of the town. The area is among the 14 UP constituencies headed to polls on May 6. 

The  campaigning for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls is on in full swing, with top leaders of the major politcal parties addressing rallies at several places.