Elections 2021 Live Updates: The results of the Assembly polls to West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry will be declared on May 2.The Bharatiya Janata Party Monday released its manifesto for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections. The manifesto was officially unveiled by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and VK Singh, with Gadkari saying it gives the “highest priority to farmers”. The saffron party promised to create 50 lakh new jobs in the state and make it number one in ease of doing business. It also promised to set up multi-speciality government hospitals in every district. For women drivers, BJP promised a free driver’s license to girls between 18 and 23.
The Election Commission on Monday banned ‘bike rallies’ 72 hours before the date of polling and on the polling day in all election bound states for the upcoming assembly polls. This announcement comes amid reports that “anti-social elements” use motor bikes to intimidate voters.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday addressed rallies in Dhemaji and Maujli in Assam and said that BJP’s priority of development and security has changed the state in the last 5 years. If Congress comes to power, Shah said, infiltration and terrorism would increase. “Congress party’s policy is to “quarrel, break and rule” whereas BJP believes in “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas,” Shah said in Dhemaji.
Meanwhile, addressing more rallies in Dibrugarh and Jorhat, BJP President JP Nadda said that since NDA came to power, “it changed the face of Assam” and that BJP has been at the forefront of contributing to the state’s progress. This, he said, was prevented during Congress’s regime who “neglected the region, preventing the wheel of development here.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is on a two-day visit to Kerala, where he will be addressing poll rallies in Ernakulam district on Monday.
BJP’s manifesto for the Assembly polls in West Bengal was released on Sunday. The manifesto, called ‘Sankalp Patra’, promised to implement CAA and stated that refugees, who have been staying in Bengal for 70 years, will be given citizenship.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election campaign rally, ahead of West Bengal assembly polls, in Purulia district. (PTI)
State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday released the party’s election manifesto titled ‘Banglar Disha’ for the upcoming Assembly polls in West Bengal.
The manifesto has eight distinct promises for the people of the state and focuses on long-term development.
Chowdhury said this manifesto has been made in line with the vision of late Bidhan Chandra Roy, the second chief minister of West Bengal, who played an important role in the state’s development. Read more
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked the Narendra Modi government over the fuel price hike and its economic policies, accusing it of taking money from the pockets of people instead of putting it in their hand, as launched his second leg of campaign for the April 6 assembly elections in Kerala. He also slammed the LDF government in the state over its alleged bid to strike a deal with a US-based company on "deep sea fishing", saying "it shows the intention" of the CPI(M)- led dispensation. --PTI
Senior RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Monday alleged that the 'double- engine' governments run by the BJP at the Centre and in Assam are 'useless' as they indulged in corruption spread hatred among people. Addressing his first election rally in Assam at Tinsukia, the former deputy chief minister of Bihar claimed that the saffron party practises the politics of hate. "Inflation is at its peak. BJP governments are there in Assam and at the Centre. That means it is a double-engine government. But it is useless. Everywhere corruption is taking place and they are creating enmity between brothers. Politics of hate is happening," he said. --PTI
For Assembly by-elections in the state of Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram, Congress President Sonia Gandhi has chosen the Ajay Tondon for Damoh constituency(MP) and PC Laltlansanga(Mizoram) for Serchhip-ST constituency.
Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday released its manifesto for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections. In its manifesto, the saffron party promised to create 50 lakh new jobs in the state and make it number one in ease of doing business. It also promised to set up multi-speciality government hospitals in every district.
For women drivers, BJP promised a free driver's license to girls between 18 and 23. Under the Jal Jeevan mission, pure drinking water through pipelines will also be provided free of cost, the manifesto read. (With Janardhan Koushik )
Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday released its manifesto for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections. The manifesto was officially unveiled by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and VK Singh. The manifesto gives “highest priority to farmers” Gadkari said after releasing the document.
DMK President MK Stalin on Monday campaigned in Ramanathapuram assembly constituency. For the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Stalin will contest from Kolathur constituency. This will be the third time the DMK leader will be contesting from the constituency after winning the previous two elections.
BJP's election manifesto for West Bengal has promised a Rs 1500 crore package for the ailing jute sector whose workers and farmers are seen as a vote bank for the party. Some 3 lakh workers mostly Hindi speaking, toil in Bengal's jute mills and are seen as a potential vote bank by the saffron party. The Jute sector also supports some 35 lakh farmers spread over 18 out of 23 major districts. "We will revamp the jute industry with a SPV (special purpose vehicle) having a corpus of Rs 1500 crore.
The amount will be used for financial restructuring of jute mills, modernizing infrastructure of mills, production linked incentives and marketing centers," the manifesto said. The manifesto also promises to continue with rules on compulsorily using jute packaging for foodgrains and sugar. The TMC manifesto on the other hand offers sops for all farmers and not specifically for the jute sector. (PTI)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is set to address a public meeting in Puthupally shortly. Puthupally is the pocket borough of former Congress CM Oommen Chand.
Addressing a rally in Assam, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday slammed BJP for not being able to announce a chief ministerial candidate till now. "BJP has not been able to decide who will be their chief ministerial candidate. They are not able to respect their own chief minister and spell out the name. If there is no stability and unity in the party, then how will it bring stability to Assam and assure the people to give a stable government? (With PTI)
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday alleged the ruling BJP in Assam was functioning like a mafia and running syndicates. Addressing a rally here, the Congress general secretary said, the saffron party in the state has two "factions", both of which have betrayed people.
The Congress leader compared Assam's BJP leadership with 'Dritarashtra' and 'Shakuni', characters in the epic Mahabharata, without naming whom she meant. Dhritarashtra was known to be a blind ruler while Shakuni was a political manipulator. "...in the Assam government, there is a Shakuni Mama- like leader and a Dritarashtra. Both of them and the BJP have betrayed the people of Assam." "The 'Dritarashtra' who was at one time called 'Jatiya Nayak' (people's leader) betrayed the six ethnic communities whom he had promised to get included in the Scheduled Tribes list. But did not do so," she said. (PTI)
The Election Commission on Monday banned ‘bike rallies’ 72 hours before the date of polling and on the polling day in all election bound states for the upcoming assembly polls. This announcement comes amid reports that “anti-social elements” use motor bikes to intimidate voters.
In a directive issued to chief electoral officers of poll-bound West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry, the poll body pointed out that it has been brought to its notice that "in some places bikes are used by anti-social elements to intimidate the voters before the poll day and/or on poll day."After considering the reports, the Commission has decided that "bike rallies shall not be allowed at any place 72 hours before date of poll or on the poll day in all poll-going constituencies," the directive said. (With PTI)
Addressing a rally in Majuli, Assam, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that in 15 years that Congress ruled Assam “many terror outfits killed people and security personnel in that state and that there was no probe done on such incidents. Under the BJP rule,however, Shah says, that “terrorists surrendered, left terrorism and entered mainstream.”
'BJP can do the work of preventing infiltration under the leadership of PM Modi.Only Modi ji can do the work of keeping Assam free from terrorism, ' Shah added.
In campaigning for the upcoming assembly polls in Kerala, parties have been consistent with their poster wars. While, UDF and NDA avoid the portrayal of their national leaders on the posters, LDF posters are dominated by Pinarayi Vijayan. (With Liz Mathew)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused the BJP of making a false promise to supply free ration ahead of the assembly elections in the state and said the saffron party will "never fulfil this".
Addressing a rally here in Bankura district, she described the BJP as a "party of outsiders", and alleged that it is bringing "goondas to create terror" in the state. "The BJP has made a false promise of free supply of ration. It will never fulfil this. (PTI)
Addressing a rally in Jorhat, Assam, BJP President JP Nadda on Monday said that BJP increased border security in the state by “satellite surveillance and smart fencing.”
Speaking at Kotulpur poll rally, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that goons from CPI(M) have unleashed terror in parts of the state and attacked her when she was in opposition.
In a setback to the Congress in poll-bound Kerala, KPCC Vice-President and veteran AICC member K C Rosakutty on Monday announced her resignation from the primary membership of the party.
"I have taken this decision after long deliberations. I am fed up with the faction wars in the party and hence decided to resign", Rosakutty told reporters.Former Chairperson of the Kerala Women's Commission, Rosakutty had represented Wayanad's Sulthan Bathery in the Assembly from 1991-96. (PTI)
Addressing a rally in Dhemaji, Assam, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that if Congress comes to power, “infiltration in the state would surge” as Congress’s rule brings “instability and violence.” BJP on the other hand, he said, brings prosperity and development.
Shah also slammed Congress for forging an alliance with Badruddin Ajmal. “We worked for the development whereas Congress is forging an alliance with Badruddin Ajmal. If they come to power infiltration in the state will surge. Do you want to stop infiltration? Congress party should be ashamed for coming together with Ajmal,” Nadda said.