Election 2019 LIVE: Mamata Snubs PM Modi's 'Offer', Says Won't Accept Vidyasagar Statue

Kejriwal on Kolkata Violence | Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal condemns the violent clashes that took place in Kolkata on Tuesday. "Whatever Amit Shah and Modi are doing in West Bengal is wrong. We condemn this act by them, we are together with Mamata. We also condemn the steps taken by EC they allowed Modi rallies. They are openly biased, have never seen this in the country ever," he says.

Raising the issue of demonetisation, Priyanka Gandhi says, "Whenever the election period comes they come to you asking for votes. During demonatisation, he made all of you stand outside banks and ATMs but were not able to bring back blackmoney."

Targeting the BJP, she says, "BJP netas and PM are only busy advertising. All the claims that they make in their speeches are false. For 5 years they have been in center and state but having so also they have done nothing for the people and development."

Priyanka in Maharajganj | Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra  remembers Pulwama martyr in her addressing in Maharajganj. Asking people to reflect upon what has been done for them, she says, "This is the land of Pulwama martyr Pankaj Tripathi. Every party leader comes to you for votes and you have to decide whom to chose for the next five years. From the past five elections you have the same people whom you have voted, therefore you know what have they done for you."

Modi in Mirzapura: Addressing a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur, Narendra Modi raises the issue of naxalism in the region. Blaming the earlier governments for the current situation, he says, "It was the mahamilawat alliance that pushed Mirzapur into the trap of naxalism...and now they abuse me."

Training her guns at the BJP-led NDA government, the West Bengal chief minister says, "Crores of money has been made in the name of demonitisation. The RBI Governor did not recommend this. After distributing this money you are asking people for votes but don’t work for them."

Banerjee further alleges, "Bengal was never so violent till the BJP entered here. It it is the BJP, which is causing communal riots in Bengal, this never happened before."

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, responds to the ongoing controversy over violence in Kolkata, saying, "​Modi today said he will build a new statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar but we don't need your help, they were the ones who broke it. If you break the statue of Ambedkar, Gandhi, Tagore and then say you will rebuild it, people of bengal will not forgive what 'goonda' Amit Shah has done."

BSP chief Mayawati targets the prime minister over the issue of caste, saying, "Narendra Modi is from Upper caste by birth but for election he listed his caste as backward caste. He is only backward on papers. Akhilesh yadav is a real backward caste."

Alleging that the EC decision to curtail campaign in Bengal is a biased one, Yechury says, "Violence has been on since many phases. Why has the EC waited for the last phase? The EC is allowing Modi to go ahead with his campaign while stopping other parties. BJP president came to WB and he did what he wanted to, but no action is taken"

CPIM leader Sitaram Yechury questions the Election Commission for the lack of action against the culprits behind Tuesday's violence in Kolkata. "The reason why EC suspended election campaign in West Bengal is the violence that took place but has the EC taken action against the culprits? They have video evidence, so what has EC done with it? EC should have suspended campaigning from today morning but they have not," he says.

BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga called for a campaign asking people to write Jai Shri Ram on post cards and send it to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

BJYM Bengal will distribute 10 Lakh Postcards today with Mamata Didi address. Anyone can write Jai Shri Ram Message & Drop to nearest letter box, it will reach to Mamata Didi address. You can support the campaign with the Hashtag #MamataDidiJaiShriRam pic.twitter.com/oEIVGhJcIl

— Chowkidar Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) May 16, 2019

Bihar RJD leader and former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav extends support to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, saying,"The campaigning call off by EC in Bengal is against the democratic spirit of free and fair elections. EC is behaving like BJP cell. We fully support Mamataji in this fight."

Speaking in Chandauli, the prime minister alleges that the previous Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party used to distribute electricity according to their vote bank in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Uttar Pradesh's Chandauli. "The young voters are convinced that only this gvt can fulfill their dreams...the poor have also realised this," he says.

The BJP and TMC supporters on Tuesday fought pitched battles on the streets of Kolkata during a massive road show by Amit Shah.

BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi speaks on the issue of violent clashes in Kolkata, which took plac on Tuesday. He says, "Our primary request to the EC was to have goons interfering in polls to be arrested...there needs to be stricter measures that need to be implemented in WB."

Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal campaigns in Faridkot, Punjab.

AAP National Convenor & Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal doing a road show in support of Faridkot Loksabha candidate @prof_sadhu in Faridkot Constituency. 👇#PunjabJhaduNaal pic.twitter.com/OhLdZX3kI8

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) May 16, 2019

Rahul Gandhi will address an election rally in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh today.

"I had thought the way Mamata didi is targeting UP-BIhar Purvanchal ppl, calling them outsiders for her politics, Behen Mayawati will surely slam Mamata didi, but this did not happen," says Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her gratitude towards the Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party for their support.

Thanks and gratitude to @Mayawati, @yadavakhilesh, @INCIndia, @ncbn and others for expressing solidarity and support to us and the people of #Bengal. EC's biased actions under the directions of the #BJP are a direct attack on democracy. People will give a befitting reply

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 16, 2019

Talking about Tuesday's violence in Kolkata, he says, "During Amit Shah's rally, TMC goods had destroyed Vidyasagar's statue. We will set up a new statue there and give a befitting reply to CM Mamata."

Prime Minister Modi speaks on the issue of women's safety and alleges that the SP, BSP alliance is against securing women. He says, "We brought in the law against triple talaq but they made sure that the bill was stalled." He alleges that the 'mahamilavati' alliance has given ticket to a rape accused.

Rahul Gandhi Assures Justice | Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is in Alwar to meet the gang rape victim, has assured justice in the case. Addressing a press conference along with Ashok Gehlot, he says that he will ensure that justice is meted out and the culprit gets the maximum punishment.  

Commenting on the issue of violence in Kolkata, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh says, "BJP has become epitome of desecration of memory of all Social Reformers in the Country from Mahatma Gandhi to Periyar to Baba Saheb Ambedkar to Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. Shame on you Mr Amit Shah." 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his address at an election rally in Mau, Uttar Pradesh. Speaking in Bhojpuri, he greets his supporters.

ECI's inability to not be able to hold free and fair elections is giving rise to fear psychosis...people are questioning ECI's credibility. Has Model Code of Conduct become Modi's Model of Misconduct? ECI never suspended the broadcast of NaMo TV: Randeep Surjewala

In a press conference, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said, “EC decision to suspend campaigning in West Bengal is a dark moment for India. This suspension appears to be EC's goodbye gift to PM Modi as none of PM's campaigns in West Bengal is being hit.”

EC Has Not Been Free, Fair: Mayawati | We condemn the way the EC has banned campaigning in West Bengal. Elections under the current EC has not been free and fair. If they wanted to suspend campaigning then they should have done it from early morning rather than wait for PM to complete his engagements: Mayawati

The Way Mamata is Targeted by PM, Shah is Shameful: Mayawati | BSP chief Mayawati said, "Prime Minister and Amit Shah have targeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Bengal for a long time. They are doing this so that people of Bengal are distracted from the real issues and the PM Modi's failures. The way Mamata has been targeted is shameful and has tarnished the post of PM. But the country is beginning to see through this strategy of the BJP. Just like UP, WB has also come to realize what BJP has done."