PM Modi will also address rallies in UP.
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has decided to take the lead in consolidating the opposition and has called the respective parties for a meeting on May 23, the day the results of the national election will be declared. Mrs Gandhi has written to several opposition leaders, including DMK chief MK Stalin, Janata Dal Secular, Sharad Pawar's NCP and the Uttar Pradesh opposition alliance partners, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav, according to sources. Sonia Gandhi has so far kept a low profile with the initiative to push for campaigning for the Congress given to her son and party chief Rahul Gandhi and his sister, the party's eastern Uttar Pradesh in-charge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
The opposition also tore into the BJP today, questioning the Model Code of Conduct, after the Election Commission cut short campaigning in West Bengal for the last round of the national election. Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala termed the Model Code of Conduct as the "Modi Code of Misconduct".
The Election Commission took this step after violence broke out during Amit Shah's rally in Bengal capital Kolkata. The clashes ended with vandals destroying a bust of iconic 19th century reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. The BJP and Trinamool Congress proceeded to trade charges against each other of inciting the violence and desecrating the statue of the social reformer, widely revered by Bengalis.
Amit Shah termed the violence during his roadshow as a part of a "conspiracy", while Trinamool leader Derek O' Brien in turn called the BJP chief "pukeworthy" and "dhokebaaz".
Here are the highlights of Lok Sabha Elections 2019:
Read Here: Lok Sabha Elections 2019: "I Want To Earn It": Robert Vadra On Joining PoliticsRobert Vadra, the husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, says he has "learnt a lot in the past 20 years", as part of the Nehru-Gandhi family, but when it comes to joining politics, he wants to earn it. The businessman, who is being investigated over allegations of money laundering and illegal land deals, also says that he has tolerated so much political attack that it has stopped affecting him.
Election 2019: Didi (Mamata Banerjee) has problem with people coming from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar but she welcomes infiltrators," says PM Modi
"Didi (Mamata Banerjee) has problem with people coming from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar but she welcomes infiltrators. West Bengal is not the personal fiefdom of Didi and her nephew," PM Modi was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Lok Sabha Election 2019: "Didi is busy abusing the Election Commission and central forces today," says PM Modi
"Didi (Mamata Banerjee) is busy abusing the Election Commission and central forces today. Had the election panel and central forces not conducted free and fair polls, Didi would never have been the Chief Minister," PM Modi was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
"This Lok Sabha election will remain etched in our minds for the attack on democracy and opposition workers in Bengal," PM Modi said.
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: "Ganga Maa will punish you," Mayawati attacks BJP
"Ganga maa helped you (BJP) by ensuring your victory in 2014, but you did not take the benefit of her blessing. This year she will punish you and throw you out," Mayawati was quoted as saying by news agency ANI, while addressing a joint election rally with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Lok Sabha Election 2019: "In last five years, you (PM Modi) could not build Ram Temple and you want to make Vidyasagar's statue?" says Mamata Banerjee
"In the last five years, you (Modi) could not build a Ram Temple and you want to make Vidyasagar's statue? People of Bengal won''t beg before you. We have enough money to build it," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: "TMC goons vandalised Kolkata college, broke bust of Visyasagar": PM Modi
"It was TMC goons who vandalised Kolkata college and broke the bust of Vidyasagar," PM Modi was quoted as saying by PTI.
"CCTV cameras were installed there. The way the state government erased evidences of the Narada & Sarada scam, it is trying to remove evidence in the incident. I demand strict action should be taken," PM Modi was quoted as saying by ANI in West Bengal's Mathurapur.
Lok Sabha Elections 2019: "They ended campaigning after allowing Modi's rallies," says Arvind Kejriwal
"They allowed Modiji's rallies and ended campaigning after it, it makes it clear that Election Commission is totally biased. It is very dangerous for the country," Arvind Kejriwal was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Lok Sabha Election 2019: BJP "does not agree" with Pragya Thakur's comment on Nathuram Godse
"Nathuram Godse was, is & will remain a 'deshbhakt": BJP does not agree with this statement, we condemn it. Party will ask her for clarification, she should apologise publicly for this statement, reported news agency ANI.
Watch: NDA Wave In UP, Says PM Modi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hits back at PM and says: "Bengal doesn't need BJP's money to rebuild Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's statue.
Election Commission Behaving Like BJP Cell, Alleges Tejashwi Yadav
Going to West Bengal for rally in Dum Dum. Let us see if Didi allows it. If she has her way she will not allow helicopter to land: PM Modi said, news agency PTI reported
Mamata Banerjee Thanks Opposition For "Expressing Solidarity"
Sonia Gandhi Writes To MK Stalin, Invites Him For Opposition MeetUPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has written to DMK Chief MK Stalin inviting him for the Opposition Parties meeting in New Delhi on May 23.
PM Modi Promises To Build Grand Statue Of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said Trinamool Congress "goons" vandalised Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar statue in Kolkata, he has promised to build a grand statue at the same spot. Read
here.
Mayawati Did Not Slam Mamata Didi: PM ModiAfter Mayawati's attack, PM Modi today in Uttar Pradesh's Mau said: "I had thought the way Mamata didi is targeting UP and Bihar, and people from Purvanchal, calling them outsiders for her politics, Behen Mayawati will surely slam Mamata didi, but this did not happen."
A day after the Election Commission cut short campaigning in Bengal for the last round of the national election over violence during BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata, opposition parties closed ranks behind Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and accused the election body of submitting to the ruling party. Mayawati, coming out in strong support of Mamata Banerjee, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and other BJP leaders of "planned targeting" of the Bengal Chief Minister in a "disgusting" and dangerous manner. "This doesn't suit the Prime Minister of the country," the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader said. Read
here.