Campaigning for 2019 Lok Sabha elections is in full swing in various states.
As campaigning for 2019 Lok Sabha elections is in full swing a week before polling begins, party leaders are chalking out various strategies to gather votes.
Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani, who is contesting against Congress president Rahul Gandhi, will address a public meeting in Amethi today. It is for the first time that Ms Irani will be campaigning in the high-profile constituency, after the schedule of the polls were announced.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is contesting from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala in addition to his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, files his nomination today.
Here are the LIVE updates from Lok Sabha election campaigning:
After Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad tour, BJP national general secretary P Muralidhar Rao says: "Not love for South India but making a virtue out of necessity is the desperate game-plan of the frustrated Congress leadership to save the face of its Party President Rahul Gandhi. South has rejected Congress, lock, stock and barrel and the trend will continue."
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi says Rahul Gandhi, her brother, is by far the most courageous man she knows.
Watch: Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad
Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad says:
- A lot of people are feeling that their culture, language, etc is being attacked. Hence, I am contesting from both South and North. They (the BJP) are attacking the Constitution. Be it the north, the northeast and here in the south too, the RSS and BJP are trying to destroy their culture and history. India is a country of different languages and cultures.
- The two main issues in this country today are jobs and farmers. Youngsters are running from state to state looking for jobs. Also, on the matter of corruption, PM Modi said that the country has "faith" in him, a "chowkidar". But the "chowkidar" himself has given money and an important deal to Anil Ambani.
- The CPM and Congress are locked in a fight in Kerala but I want to make it clear to the people in Kerala, CPM and in the Congress, I am not going to say a word against the CPM. I am here to send a message of unity. I will absolve all the comments they say against me. You will not hear a word against the CPM from me during this campaign.
- There is a feeling in South India that the way Centre, Modiji and RSS are working its like an assault on culture and languages in the South.
Nishad Party leader Praveen Nishad joins BJP, reports news agency ANI. Nishad Party will support the BJP in Uttar Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge files nomination from Gulbarga parliamentary constituency in Karnataka, reports news agency ANI.
Former Rajya Sabha MP Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu joins Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of Union Minister JP Nadda in New Delhi, reports news agency ANI. He had resigned from Congress party last month.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi holds a roadshow in Wayanad after filing nomination. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ramesh Chennithala also present.
Watch: Congress president Rahul Gandhi files nomination papers
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi files nomination papers from Wayanad, Kerala.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi reaches Kerala's Wayanad to file nomination papers. He is accompanied by his sister, and AICC in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Congress Central Election Committee announces two more candidates for the ensuing elections to the Lok Sabha from Gujarat. Babubhai Katara will contest from Dahod and Sherkhan Pathan will contest from Bharuch.
Union Minister Smriti Irani tells news agency ANI: "He (Congress president Rahul Gandhi) enjoyed a position of power for 15 years because of the support from Amethi, but now he is going to file nomination from elsewhere. This is an insult of Amethi and people here will not tolerate this."
The BJP has topped the chart of political advertisers on Google with an advertisement spent share of around 32 per cent, while its rival Congress is ranked sixth with a meagre 0.14 per cent share.
Political parties and their affiliates have spent Rs 3.76 crore on advertisements since February 19, 2019, according to the internet giant's Indian Transparency Report released today.
Election Commission of India has seized Rs 377.511 crore cash, Rs 157 crore worth of liquor, Rs 705 crore worth of drugs and metals worth Rs 312 crore till date, report news agency ANI.
BJP chief Amit Shah is scheduled to address rallies in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh today.