Election 2019 LIVE: TMC Returns BJP Fire, Says Has 44 Videos to Bust Violence Lies

Meanwhile, BJP leader Rahul Sinha holds a press conference, where he questions why outsiders, were present inside the Vidyasagar College premises. Producing pictures taken during the event, he says outsiders were seen with TMCP leaders, which establishes they are associated with the party.

TMC leader Derek O'Brien addresses a press conference on the issue of violence in Kolkata. He claims to have video footage of the incident which will serve as proof of TMC's innocence. He further says, "We will be going to EC with the video footage at 4.30 pm today."

Reiterating Congress' poll promise, party president Rahul Gandhi says that the poor will benefit from the NYAY scheme and it will help boost the economy as it will support businesses in the country. Gandhi is addressing a poll rally in Faridkot, Punjab.

In a veiled attack on Congress leaders Sam Pitroda and Mani Shankar Aiyar, the PM says, "Congress has fielded 'two batsmen' to take the blame for its poll defeat. One 'batsman' says 'hua toh hua' on anti-Sikh riots, the other is abusing me again."

Addressing a rally in Jharkhand's Deoghar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Congress preparing to shift the blame from 'naamdar' for its defeat after polls."

BJP chief Amit Shah on Wednesday enthused confidence that his party has already crossed the majority mark after sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls and took a swipe at opposition parties over their proposed meeting, saying they may meet to elect a leader of opposition. "I am fully confident that the BJP after fifth and sixth phase of the elections has crossed the majority figure. It is going to cross 300 after the seventh phase," he told a press conference in New Delhi.

The prime minister talks about the violence, which followed panchayat elections in the state. Several people lost their lives, he claims. The 'neutral' ones kept silent even as BJP, Congress and Left parties protested. The TMC government found its strength in their silence, he says.

Talking to News18, Modi also questions the silence of those who claim to be neutral, but are only targeting him. He asks why they haven't spoken on the matter and says that this is a worrying situation.

Training his guns on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, the prime minister says, she is not afraid of anyone, including BJP, Congress or the Left parties but only fears the public and the fact that if the people find out the truth her government may fall apart. The TMC's fight is against the people and not other parties.

PM Modi on Bengal Violence | Speaking on the issue of violence during Amit Shah's rally in Kolkata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi blames the Mamata Banerjee government for the incident. He says that there have been reports of violence from West Bengal throught these elections. Taking on the TMC rule, the prime minister says even polls in Jammu and Kashmir are more peaceful than this.

After Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's rally in Kolkata was cancelled, BJP leader Rahul Sinha claims, "Yesterday night all labourers, who were building the stage for the rally were beaten up. I want to request the EC to take an action. Yogi programme has been cancelled keeping this in mind, the decorator and labourers ran away, we informed the police but they were standing there as mere spectators."

A four-member delegation of TMC MPs will address a press conference at Constitution Club in New Delhi at 2 pm.

#BREAKING 4-member delegation of Trinamool MPs to address a press conference at Constitution Club in New Delhi at 2 pm and will display video evidence of yesterday's carnage in #Kolkata by BJP outsiders. The delegation will meet the @ECISVEEP at 4:30 pm later today

— All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 15, 2019

On Tuesday’s vandalism at Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Evening College, Left Front chairperson Biman Basu says, "I don’t think it’s a handiwork of someone from Bengal. A true Bengali cannot do this. There should be a probe in to this matter. The incident is a black day for us. We strongly condemn this incident." 

Here are some interesting facts about the writer and reformer, whose contribution towards education and empowerment of women in India was remarkable.

Meanwhile, CPIM chief Sitaram Yechury condemns the vandalisation of the Vidyasagar statue, saying, "Not about just a statue, but a systematic attack on Bengal. One of the biggest symbols of the Bengal renaissance is what BJP-RSS have attacked. These obscurantists have always opposed Vidyasagar’s ideas. But Bengal will not succumb. At College Square now."

BJP-TMC created chaos is hitting at the heart of Bengal and its core. They cannot be allowed to get away with this. They will not. #Vidyasagar #Kolkata pic.twitter.com/cYfG4Ai6oR

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 15, 2019

The apex court had on Tuesday granted bail to Priyanka Sharma and had asked her to tender a 'written apology' at the time of her release from jail for sharing the meme on Banerjee.

Priyanka Sharma Refuses to Apologise | "My bail was granted yesterday, but still I wasn't released for another 18 hours. They didn't allow me to meet my advocate and family. They made me sign an apology," Sharma alleges. She further states that she will fight a case and refuses to apologise to the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

After being released from the Alipore Correctional Home today, Priyanka Sharma alleges that she was forced to sign an apology letter by the police. Saying that she was jailed for five days for sharing a meme, Sharma alleges that she felt tortured by the treatment meted out to her. She claims that she was pushed around by the jailer.

Priyanka Sharma Released | BJP Youth Wing Convenor Priyanka Sharma at BJP office after being released from Alipore Correctional Home. 

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders hold a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) holds protest against violence in BJP President Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata, West Bengal yesterday. Union Ministers Harsh Vardhan, Jitendra Singh and Vijay Goel also present pic.twitter.com/pIK872wgYF

— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2019

While the BJP chief blamed TMC 'hooligans', West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit out at the saffron party and said she would not spare its 'goons'.

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad condemns Bengal violence, saying, "We condemn such incidents of violence...BJP is also responsible for it. BJP wants to win seats in West Bengal and for that it is using its powers from Centre like CBI, ED and income tax department, but they wont achieve anything."

"EC has banned UP CM Yogi Adityanath and many others for making speeches that they felt are inappropriate...but what did EC do when Mamata threatened PM and BJP?" Amit Shah questions.

बंगाल में चुनाव आयोग मूक दर्शक बना है। चुनाव आयोग ने तुरंत हस्तक्षेप करना चाहिए।

मैं पूछना चाहता हूं कि क्यों चुनाव आयोग चुप बैठा है?

इन सब के बाद चुनाव आयोग की निष्पक्षता पर सवाल उठ रहे हैं: श्री अमित शाह #SaveBengalSaveDemocracy pic.twitter.com/s6I5dNbMfK

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 15, 2019

Speaking in Bihar's Paliganj, PM Modi has said, "Be it Congress' 'naamdaar' family or the corrupt family in Bihar, their assets are in thousands and crores now. Where did the money come from? If they had any concerns about the nation and the poor, they would have hesitated from doing corruption."

Amit Shah challenges Mamata Banerjee to initiate independent probe headed by the Calcutta High Court or the Supreme Court if she has nothing to hide. He further says, "I am also distressed at the fact that Vidya Sagar's statue was vandalised."

EC's Credibility at Stake, Says Shah | Targeting the Election Commission, Shah says, no action has been taken so far and it puts the EC's credibility at stake. "EC should interfere in this matter at the earliest...they are just mute spectator to what is going on in West Bengal," he says.

Meanwhile, BJP chief Amit Shah alleges that the West Bengal police watched as mute spectators as the TMC workers vandalised BJP posters. Asserting that the TMC is responsible for the violence, he says that the party is trying to gain sympathy as it knows that it is going to lose in these Lok Sabha elections.

Taking on the RJD, the prime minister alleges that the regional party used the caste card to rule the people of Bihar and worked merely to fill their coffers. Their rule hampered the progress of the state, he says.

Modi in Bihar | Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his address at BJP's election rally in Paliganj in the Patna district of Bihar. He is campaigning for NDA candidate Ram Kripal Yadav.

BJP national president Amit Shah addresses a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Addressing the issue of Tuesday's clashes between ABVP and TMCP, he says, "There have been no instances of violence in any other place except in West Bengal."