Lok Sabha Elections Live Updates: PM Modi held a rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district today to canvass for Union Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh, who is seeking re-election from Udhampur Lok Sabha seat where polling will be held in the second phase on April 18. He is also scheduled to address rallies in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh and Moradabad.
Congress general secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi held a road show in Assam's Silchar today. Silchar is the constituency of Mahila Congress president Sushmita Dev who is seeking another Lok Sabha term.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders will meet at New Delhi's Constitution Club to discuss transparency in elections and Electronic Voting Machines.
Here are the LIVE Updates from 2019 Lok Sabha Election Campaigning:
Priyanka Gandhi's road show in Assam:
Union Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh has offered to resign from the Cabinet and also as a Rajya Member after the BJP fielded his son Brijendra Singh from the Hisar Lok Sabha constituency in Haryana.
"I thought it proper that if my son gets nomination, I should resign from Rajya Sabha and also from the Ministry. So, I have written to (BJP President) Amit Shahji. I leave it to the party... I am ready to resign," he says.
Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi says: "Names of Lakhs of voters are deleted online without physical verification. There is a long list the parties have given to EC. It has become even more necessary to count at least 50% of the paper trail of VVPAT. We will demand the same in Supreme Court."
Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh on Twitter says: "Shocked by your remarks in Kathua on Jallianwala Bagh @narendramodi ji. You used a somber occasion to play dirty politics, conveniently ignoring your own government's decision to hold a parallel event instead of extending support to my govt, which we'd been requesting for 2 yrs."
Congress General Secretary for eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigns for party's MP candidate from Silchar parliamentary constituency Sushmita Dev.
BJP releases 20th list of 6 candidates in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for Lok Sabha Elections 2019, reports news agency ANI. Union Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh's son Brijendra Singh will contest from Hisar (Haryana). One candidate for by-election to Uluberia Purba assembly constituency (WB) has also been named.
Opposition leaders raise EVM doubts
We are raising doubts about Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The confidence of the voter is EVMs which can only be restored through paper trail, says Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
"Some people say that I am not in a position to face elections. I want to say that I am working for the country. We want to save the country," he adds. "Even a developed country like Germany has changed to paper ballots. The Netherlands also moved to paper ballots. Technology is changing but not EVMs."
Congress general secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi arrives in Silchar, Assam.
PM Modi in Kathua says:
The Congress is saying that it will remove the army from Jammu and Kashmir. "It is saying that they will talk to the people who are taking money from Pakistan and influencing the youth of Kashmir."
As a result of the Congress' policies, my Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters had to leave their homes.
Two families have ruined three generations of Jammu and Kashmir. For better future of state, they need to be voted out.
I am committed to settle displaced Kashmir Pandits in their native places in Kashmir and work has started in this direction.
PM Modi Attacks Punjab Chief Minister For Skipping Jallianwala Bagh Event
The whole nation was remembering the martys of Jallianwala Bagh yesterday. But on this day too, the Congress played politics. Yesterday, the nation's Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu went to the Jallianwala Bagh n Amritsar and paid homage to the victims. But during this event organised by the government, Congress leader and Punjab chief minister was absent. He insulted the programme... Because he is too busy in the 'bhakti' (devotion) of the Congress.
I have know Captain Amarinder Singh since many years and I have never questioned his patriotism. But now I understand how much pressure is being put on him that he had to become a devout of one family. Even the Captain had to bow down to it (the pressure). Wasn't it an insult of martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh?
PM Modi addresses rally in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir
The surveys are showing that the BJP will get three time more than the number of seats the Congress gets in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
You have proven the strength of democracy in India, in the first phase of elections, PM Modi tells people of Kathua. By coming out to vote in huge numbers in Baramulla and Jammu, you have given a befitting reply to the terrorist leaders, opportunists & people in 'mahamilawat' (grand adulteration).
BJP leader Hema Malini took to Twitter to announce that actor-husband Dharmendra Singh is in Mathura to campaign on her behalf.
"They say, as long as there is BJP government, our borders are secure. We the people of Samajwadi Party believe that as long as there are brave soldiers at our borders, the borders are secure. Governments come and go but the jawans stay at the border, protecting India," says Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi says as the campaign is progressing, "I can see that BJP's support is steadily rising."
Bahujan Samaj Party releases fourth list of 16 candidates for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, reports news agency ANI.