"The BJP’s successes today are possible because greats like him spent decades building the party and providing a fresh ideological narrative to the people," PM Modi wrote on Twitter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday visited veteran senior BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi's at their residence in New Delhi. PM Modi was accompanied by party president Amit Shah.

Taking it to Twitter, PM Modi said, "Called on respected Advani ji. The BJP’s successes today are possible because greats like him spent decades building the party and providing a fresh ideological narrative to the people."

View image on Twitter

Called on respected Advani Ji. The BJP’s successes today are possible because greats like him spent decades building the party and providing a fresh ideological narrative to the people. pic.twitter.com/liXK8cfsrI

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019

PM Modi, Amit Shah visited party veteran Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi to seek his blessings after BJP's landslide victory in the general elections. PM Modi shared a photograph on his Twitter page and wrote, "Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi is a scholar and intellectual par excellence. His contribution to improving Indian education is remarkable. He has always worked to strengthen the BJP and mentor several Karyakartas, including me."

"Met him this morning and sought his blessings," PM Modi said.

View image on TwitterView image on Twitter

Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi is a scholar and intellectual par excellence. His contribution towards improving Indian education is remarkable. He has always worked to strengthen the BJP and mentor several Karyakartas, including me.

Met him this morning and sought his blessings. pic.twitter.com/gppfDt7KiB

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 24, 2019

PM Modi's visit to LK Advani came a day after BJP stamped a historic victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. BJP-led NDA has bagged over 350 seats, while BJP alone is touching 300 marks, making it the single largest party which has achieved the majority by its own.

The United Progressive Alliance led by Congress managed to win only 90 seats while Congress tally currently stands at 52.





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In his victory speech, YS Jaganmohan Reddy claimed people of AP increased his responsibility with the faith they have shown on him by voting for YSR Congres
s in such huge numbers.

Addressing media in Tadepalli, YS Jagan said: 'Grateful to people for offering a great victory. This is a new chapter in AP History. This victory is possible only because of God's will and People's blessings. My responsibility increased now. People have voted for credibility. In less than a year, I will establish myself as a Good Chief Minister. I would work according to the aspirations of the people. Will implement Nava Rathanalu Poll Promise. I had seen the hardships of everyone during Padayatra...Nenu Vinna, Nenu Unna. My swearing-in ceremony will happen on May 30th'.

By the end of the counting process, YSR Congress could be winning not less than 150 MLA Seats and 23 MP Seats. Who would have anticipated this kind of result for 2019 AP Elections? It shows how badly people wanted TDP to lose power and how determined they are to make Jagan the next Chief Minister.

Jagan always wished to rule AP for 30 years at a stretch. Let's only hope he fulfills his dream by establishing himself as a People's Leader..!



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Just one more day is left for 2019 Election Results. Counting of votes would begin at 8 am on Thursday. A clear picture of Polling Trends will be arriving by 11 am. The official declaration of results could begin only by 10 pm due to the counting of VVPAT Slips.

11 Exit Polls released until now favored National Democratic Alliance. They predicted 290 to 380 MP Seats for Narendra Modi-led NDA. Not even a single Exit Poll offered a prediction that NDA will face defeat.

Narendra Modi gets complete credit if NDA obtains magic figure without the support of any regional parties. He will also create history as the only one who could match Indira Gandhi who brought her party to power single-handedly twice only because of her charisma.

Opposition Parties failed to withstand the strategic and aggressive campaigning of Narendra Modi. If NDA wins 300 seats, Modi not only creates history but also emerges as an even more powerful leader.





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Smriti Irani slammed the Congress saying that it cheated the farmers on the loan waiver promise.

In a veiled dig at Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Union minister Smriti Irani Thursday said the Congress general secretary offered 'namaz' in Amethi "for votes" and then also visited Mahakal temple in Madhya Pradesh.

"The Congress was so flustered in Amethi that its general secretary, after offering namaz for votes there, now visited the revered Mahakal temple in MP's Ujjain district," Irani said in a public meeting without naming Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Irani contested the Lok Sabha election against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi from Amethi seat, where his sister played a key role in drumming up support for him.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had visited the Mahakal temple two days back and offered prayers there.

She had held a roadshow in Ujjain.

Irani further accused the Congress chief of spreading lies.

"Before last year's MP assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi had promised loan waiver to farmers, but after his party came to power in the state he has betrayed them. Now he is saying that he does not have a magic wand," she said.

Ahead of MP assembly polls, Rahul Gandhi had said that money would be given to unemployed youth, but this did not happen, she said.

The Union minister said the Congress government formed in MP in December has failed on all the fronts.

"Power cuts have become the order of the day," she added.

Irani later addressed an election rally at Satvas area in Dewas district under Khandwa Lok Sabha seat and slammed the Congress saying it has cheated the farmers on the loan waiver promise.




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Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that he would prefer to die than insult Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parents. Gandhi was addressing an election meeting in Ujjain in the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacking his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi for corruption and calling him ‘Bhrashtrachari No. 1'.

Gandhi said that he does not hate anyone. "But Narendra Modi Ji insults my father. He speaks about my grandmother and grandfather. I will never speak about Modi's family and parents. I will die but will never insult Modiji's parents because I am not an RSS man. I am a Congressman," said Rahul Gandhi. He addressed two more meetings in Neemuch and Khandwa districts, all in Malwa-Nimad region goes to polls on May 19 in the final phase.

Modi was in Madhya Pradesh to address an election meeting at Ratlam in the region. Gandhi said, "Modi ji does not talk about farmers' suicide, unemployment, and corruption but in his interviews, he tells how he eats mango, how he peels the mango and how did he cut the sleeves of his kurta to save space in his bag."

Ridiculing the Prime Minister's recent statement in an interview with a TV news channel that clouds helped Air Force's fighter planes avoid radars in Pakistan during Balakot air strike, the Congress president asked, "when there are storm and rain in India, do all the planes disappear from radar?"

Referring to the police firing on farmers in Mandsaur in 2017 which had left 5 farmers dead, Gandhi said the Prime Minister did not say anything when the police opened fire at farmers. He said that he had kept his promise to farmers and waived off their loans but wondered why Modiji was saying that the loans were not waived. "Even the loans of Niranjan Singh and Rohit Singh, belonging to former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's family were waived."

Gandhi said no farmer would go to jail for non-payment of their loans after the Congress was voted to power. "There would be two budgets, including one for farmers." Regarding the Congress' promise on NYAY scheme to give Rs. 72,000 annually to 50 million poor families, he reiterated his charges on the PM with regard to Rafale deal.

He said once Congress was voted to power, money would be taken away from the pockets of Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Anil Ambani and would be given to the poor. State BJP vice-president Vijesh Lunawat said, " Rahul Gandhi fearing rout in 2019 elections and that is why targeting the PM Modi in his election speeches. He is trying to save his chair and position in the Congress."





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The district election officer PS Pradyumna announced that the Election Commission of India has ordered repolling in five polling booths of Chandragiri assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh on May 19. The re-polling will be for both Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies between 7 am to 6 pm.

Gopal Krishna Dwivedi, who is the State Chief Electoral Officer, said that the reports which are submitted by his office were checked and taken into account facts and material circumstances declared as a void in the polling in 5 booths in Chandragiri Assembly constituency. Repolling will be held in polling stations 321, 104, 316, 318 and 313 of both Assembly and Lok Sabha segments.

The decision was taken by the EC on the recommendation of state election authorities. Also, a complaint has been considered by outgoing MLA from Chandragiri and YSR Congress Party candidate C. Bhaskar Reddy that voters of one particular community were not allowed to cast their votes on April 11. In addition, other complaints were received from many sources too, CEO said. On this, the CEO asked the Chittoor collector to inquire into the complaints and based on it, repolling has been declared.

However, the Telugu Desam Party said the ECI should not go in a "biased manner." TDP state president K Kala Venkata Raio met Addl. CEO Sujata Sharma and objected for a repoll based on YSRCPs complaint. Earlier, on May 6, repolling was held in five polling booths over three districts.





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In 2014, BJP emerged as the King of Delhi by winning all the 7 MP Seats in the national capital. While BJP received 46 percent vote share, AAP attained 33 percent vote share and Congress was restricted to the third position. During 2015 Assembly Polls, AAP stunned BJP and Congress with a record vote share of 54 percent. Aam Aadmi Party brought remarkable changes in education, health, and basic facilities in the past 4 years. This could be given an edge for AAP in 2019 Elections. Most of the residents in Delhi are either employees or business people who are adversely affected by Note Ban & GST. That is why Congress pinned hopes on reviving its fortunes.

For 2019 Lok Sabha Polls, There is a triangular fight between BJP, Congress, and AAP. Congress and AAP held talks for alliance but they couldn't reach an understanding and eventually decided to contest separately. This would be an advantage for BJP as the Anti-Incumbency Vote would split. While Congress believes Demonetisation and GST would fetch it a success, AAP is relying on its rule in the past four years.

The Party which won a maximum number of seats in Delhi had formed the government at the national level in the past four elections. Can AAP leave it's impacting this time? If that happens, Then AAP could even retain power in the 2020 Assembly Polls.




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"Rahul Gandhi chooses to become UK citizen by choice but probably want to remain Indian by compulsion because he is a Lok Sabha MP and does politics in the name of family. So, he is Indian by compulsion and presents him British by choice," he said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi chose to become UK citizen by choice, but probably want to remain Indian by compulsion, said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra hours after Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a notice to Gandhi over his citizenship on Tuesday.

Describing Rahul Gandhi as a "man of mysteries", BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra asked which is real—"Rahul Gandhi London wale or Lutyens wale".

"Rahul Gandhi chooses to become UK citizen by choice but probably want to remain Indian by compulsion because he is a Lok Sabha MP and does politics in the name of family. So, he is Indian by compulsion and presents him British by choice," he said.

"We have registration papers, dissolution and annual returns of Backups Limited. Rahul Gandhi is director, promoter, and secretary. In annual returns of the company filed on October 10, 2005, Rahul was a shareholder of 65 percent. He has presented himself as British in registration papers, dissolution papers, and annual returns," he added.

1. MHA issues notice after Swamy's complaint


Earlier yesterday, MHA issued notice acting on a complaint by Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy. The complaint states that the Congress president had declared his nationality as British in a UK-based company. The BJP leader demanded Rahul should dismiss these documents in a press conference and tell that he has not authenticated them.

.
2. No political vendetta: BJP


Patra also denied any political vendetta behind MHA's notice in which he was asked to respond in the matter within a 'fortnight'. "If complaints go to the Home Ministry and leader of the house, they are bound to get clarification from authority against whom the complaint is made. This is not political vendetta but a clarification that the country seeks," he said.

3. Home Minister's comment


Hours after the MHA served a notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi seeking clarification on his citizenship status, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday said the timing of the communication is not relevant, even though it came in the middle of general elections.

"It is not a big development. It is a normal process," he said when asked about his ministry serving the notice to the Congress chief asking him to clarify within a fortnight his "factual position" on a complaint questioning his citizenship status.

The Home Ministry issued the letter after it received a representation from BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in which he has claimed that a company named Backups Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in 2003 with Gandhi as one of its directors.

4. Normal process: Rajnath


Singh told media persons, "If any member of Parliament raises a question in Parliament, it becomes necessary to respond to it. If any MP writes a letter to any ministry, then necessary proceedings are undertaken by the ministry. It is not a big development, it is a normal process." Asked specifically if the timing of the letter raising the question on the citizenship of the country's main opposition leader was relevant as it comes in the election season, Singh replied, "No, no. This question was raised in Parliament also. A Member of Parliament (Dr. Subramanian Swamy) has written to the ministry several times as well, following which the action has been taken." Gandhi is seeking reelection from the Amethi Lok Sabha constituency which goes to polls in the fifth phase of voting on May 6




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He also wrote: “One of these days I will prove that TDK’s Indian citizen was illegally given since she refused to answer the mandatory questions in her Application form.”

In a move that comes in the middle of the Lok Sabha polls, the Centre issued a notice to Congress president Rahul Gandhi seeking the "factual position" of his citizenship within a fortnight following a complaint by a BJP MP, setting off a political row.

The notice by the Union Home Ministry on Monday on the complaint from Subramanian Swamy alleging that Rahul Gandhi was a British national was dismissed as "rubbish" by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra while her party said the entire world knows the Congress chief is an Indian citizen by birth.

Swamy upon whose complaint the MHA issued a notice to Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to explain on Wednesday that if the MHA had issued the show cause notice two-days before Rahul Gandhi’s Amethi form scrutiny, the Returning Officer could’ve ‘disallowed’ him.

Using one of his oft-repeated sobriquets for the Congress president, Swamy wrote: “If the Home Minister show cause Notice to Buddha had been issued two days before Amethi  form scrutiny, the RO would have disallowed Buddhu to contest pending the inquiry.”

He also wrote: “One of these days I will prove that TDK’s Indian citizen was illegally given since she refused to answer the mandatory questions in her Application form.”

1. What the notice says


The notice letter, accessed by Zee Media, states that a company named Backups Limited was registered in the UK in the year 2003, with address 51 Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire and that Gandhi was one of the directors and secretary of the company.

According to the notice, the company's annual returns, filed in 2005 2006, states that Gandhi was born on 19/06/1980 and that his declared nationality was British. Indians aren't allowed to hold dual citizenships. Earlier, Swamy had claimed that Gandhi's declaration of being a British citizen was illegal since he was also an MP in India at that time.

The notice asks Rahul Gandhi to intimate the factual position in the matter to the Home Ministry within a fortnight of receiving the communication.  The later was dated April 29, 2019.

Swamy had earlier raised doubts about Rahul Gandhi’s citizenship.  He had claimed that the Congress president had been issued an extra passport by MEA in 1994 and that his ‘citizenship would be canceled’.

2. MHA notice to Rahul


The Home Ministry communication said Swamy's letter also mentioned that in the British company's annual returns filed on October 10, 2005, and October 31, 2006, Rahul Gandhi's date of birth has been given as June 19, 1970, and he had declared his nationality as British.
"Further, in the dissolution application dated February 17, 2009, of the above-referred company, your nationality has been mentioned as British.

"You are requested to intimate the factual position in the matter to this ministry within a fortnight of the receipt of this communication," the notice to Rahul Gandhi said.
In November 2015, the Supreme Court had dismissed a public interest litigation seeking a CBI investigation into the citizenship of Rahul Gandhi while noting that PIL pleas were not meant to target one individual or organization but were a medium to resolve human suffering through good governance.

A bench of the Chief Justice of India H L Dattu and justice Amitava Roy rubbished the plea questioning the source and authenticity of the documents attached to a petition.
Rajnath Singh told reporters in Lucknow that if any MP writes a letter to any ministry, then necessary proceedings are undertaken by the ministry. "It is not a big development, it is a normal process," he said.

Asked specifically if the timing of the letter raising the question on the citizenship of the country's main opposition leader was relevant as it comes in the election season, Singh replied, "No, no. This question was raised in Parliament also. A Member of Parliament (Dr. Subramanian Swamy) has written to the ministry several times as well, following which the action has been taken."

3. What Rahul said in 2016

 In 2016, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had forwarded to the Parliamentary Ethics Committee, headed by veteran BJP leader L K Advani, Swamy's "complaint of ethical misconduct" against Rahul Gandhi that he had accessed documents in which the Congress leader had called himself "British".

In his reply to the ethics committee on the allegations of British citizenship, Rahul Gandhi had said he had never "sought or acquired British citizenship" and that his "identity is that of an Indian".
Rahul Gandhi also questioned the committee's decision to look into a "complaint that is not in order", claiming it was "an endeavor to malign" him.

The panel had issued a notice to him, seeking an explanation to whether he had once declared himself a British citizen on the legal papers of a company in the United Kingdom.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lost the plot. After four phases of elections, it is clear that Modi ji and the BJP are hurtling towards an imminent defeat at breakneck speed. Consequently, they seek to manufacture one malicious and fallacious agenda every day. These are rehashed allegations of the year 2014-15. I had rejected them then also," Surjewala told reporters in Delhi.

"Modi government should be renamed as a desperate government manufacturing one allegation per day, but your fake allegation will not replace the truth".

The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections are underway of which four phases were completed on Monday.
Rahul Gandhi is seeking re-election from party bastion Amethi in Uttar Pradesh which goes to polls in the fifth phase of voting on May 6. He is also contesting from Wayanad in Kerala where polling has been completed.

An objection on the citizenship issue was also raised by an independent candidate against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, but the returning officer after scrutiny declared his nomination papers as valid.




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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has served notices to Congress President Rahul Gandhi on his citizenship. There were many rumors that Rahul Gandhi also holds British citizenship but none of them got a clarification from the Congress president himself.

It is BJP's controversial MP Dr. Subramanian Swamy who lodged a complaint against Rahul's citizenship and also listed out the evidence. A company by name Backops Limited was registered in the United Kingdom in the year 2003, with address 51 Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9EH and Rahul is one of the directors of the company.

The MHA sought Rahul's reply within 15 days and if failed to do so an appropriate action would be taken against him. If Rahul doesn't reply, he might be declared as an ineligible candidate to fight the elections.

Reacting to this notice, Congress said it is politically motivated. "BJP knows that it is losing the elections and so it is indulging in cheap tricks and silly politics. Rahul Gandhi will answer to the notices legally," said Congress official spokesperson Sanjay Jha.



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Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Priyanka Chopra, Madhuri Dixit, Tiger Shroff and other celebrities cast their vote in Mumbai for Lok Sabha Elections 2019

Phase 4 of Lok Sabha General Elections is finally taking place across the country. Today, the people of Mumbai are coming out to cast their votes and among them are Bollywood celebrities. A whale of celebs are heading to polling booths to vote and even posting their photos on social media pages. Among them, the first to come out and vote in Mumbai was Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who was seen at a booth in Versova.

Post that, celebs namely Aamir Khan, Kiran Rao, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Madhuri Dixit, Tiger Shroff were spotted by the paparazzi while heading to vote at their respective centers in Mumbai. Moreover, they even showed their index finger after voting and urged people to come out of their house and vote.

Let's take a look at their photos below:

1. Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao

.@aamir_khan with wife Kiran Rao cast vote in #Mumbai
#LoksabhaElections2019 #Phase4

Catch all updates here- https://t.co/NJGiwmXpO5 pic.twitter.com/2BkANXTjrH

— DNA (@dna) April 29, 2019

Aamir Khan and wife Kiran Rao were snapped post casting their vote in Mumbai

Live Lok Sabha Election Phase 4: Babul Supriyo's car attacked, TMC-BJP cadre clash in Asansol

2. Ajay Devgn and Kajol


Actors Ajay Devgn and Kajol have clicked along with their son Yug Devgn outside their polling booth.

3. Madhuri Dixit

View this post on Instagram

Voting is our right, let's use it wisely! The future of our country is in our hands. Let's do our duty and #VoteForIndia

A post shared by Madhuri Dixit (@madhuridixitnene) on Apr 28, 2019 at 9:27pm PDT

 Madhuri Dixit posed happily for the paparazzi after voting in Mumbai.

Live Lok Sabha Election Phase 4: Babul Supriyo's car attacked, TMC-BJP cadre clash in Asansol

4. Priyanka Chopra

.@priyankachopra casts her vote in #Mumbai
#LoksabhaElections2019

Catch all live updates here- https://t.co/NJGiwmXpO5 pic.twitter.com/vUdyHfNJ7q

— DNA (@dna) April 29, 2019

Priyanka Chopra Jonas was first among many celebrities to cast her vote in Mumbai.

View this post on Instagram

This is the moment that matters.... Every vote is a voice that counts. #LokSabhaElections2019

A post shared by Priyanka Chopra Jonas (@priyankachopra) on Apr 28, 2019 at 7:50pm PDT

5. Tiger Shroff

Lok Sabha Election 2019: 4th phase polling underway for 71 seats in 9 states
Polling has begun for the fourth phase of Lok Sabha election in 71 parliamentary constituencies spread across nine states. Voting has been started for 17 Parliamentary seats in Maharashtra; 13 each...

6. Urmila Matondkar


Congress candidate and actor Urmila Matondkar happily posed after casting her vote in the morning.

(All photos via Yogen Shah)

7. Anupam Kher


Anupam Kher was also clicked post casting his vote. The veteran actor even posed for the shutterbugs present there.

8. Dia Mirza


The pretty actor was all smiling while heading to the polling booth to cast her vote.

9. Zeenat Aman


Veteran actor Zeenat Aman was seen with her son while heading to cast her vote.

10. Zoya Akhtar


Gully Boy director Zoya Akhtar showed her inked finger to the paps post voting in Mumbai.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday filed his nomination in Varanasi Lok Sabha Constituency. Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Nitin Gadkari, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and AIADMK Leader O Panneerselvan were present when PM filed his nomination.

Modi offered prayers at the Kaala Bhairava Temple in the city ahead of the nomination process. People gathered in huge numbers to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister on the banks of Ganga and also during the Rally.

If the reports in a section of media are to be believed, Over 1 lakh liters of drinking water was used to wash the roads of Varanasi for the sake of PM Narendra Modi's tour. This happened when more than 30 percent of the population in Varanasi don't even receive piped water. 400 Labourers worked tirelessly for cleaning the roads using 40 Water Tankers. There is severe criticism on BJP for wasting drinking water in such a manner.

In 2014 Polls, Narendra Modi secured around 5.8 lakh votes and won with a majority of over 3 lakh votes. Congress had once again fielded Ajay Rai in Varanasi. Shalini Yadav is the common candidate of SP-BSP Combine.



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Speculations were rife that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra might contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi. However, the Congress today confirmed that it is not Priyanka, but Ajay Rai would once again be its candidate from the seat. This decision left many in Varanasi in great disappointment, thinking Priyanka as the strongest candidate.

In fact, a few Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party workers also hoped the Congress would field Priyanka opposite Modi. Yesterday, Samajwadi Party announced Shalini Yadav's name as its candidate from the seat, who is the daughter-in-law of Shyam Lal Yadav of the Congress. He represented Varanasi in the Lok Sabha in 1984.

Gossips went around thinking that the SP would withdraw its candidate if the Congress fields Priyanka in Varanasi. It is reported that weavers of famous Banarasi sarees have continued to leave the city, to settle in other cities. Also, the city's wooden toy industry is on bleak. Both of these businesses have been largely affected with GST, misleading weavers that they needed to pay the tax as well. It is vividly seen that Varanasi no more like 2014. People's opinions have distinctly changed.

Congress believes Modi is unbeatable in Varanasi. Hence, opted out Priyanka as the party wants her to campaign for winnable seats for the next four phases. It also focussed on 18-seats across UP for a good fight.  Varanasi is impossible to win and a loss by a big margin could hurt Priyanka's future career. Also the chances are high that Priyanka might contest in bi-elections from either Wayand or Amethi, that Rahul Gandhi is expected to win in both and the vacate one of them. Varanasi goes to polls on May 19.




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Will AGP reap the advantage of possible division in Muslim votes

Barpeta Lok Sabha seat in Lower Assam will be witnessing an interesting three-way fight. Historically, it has been one of the safest seats for Congress with the party winning it ten times. The Left has won the seat twice in 1991 and 1996 and AIUDF clinched the seat in 2014.

This time AIUDF which is contesting in only three seats in Assam in order to stop the division of 'secular votes' hoped that Congress will not file any candidate in Barpeta. At least, they were hoping for a weak candidate from Congress. But the grand old party which is wary that such action would help BJP consolidate Hindu vote in Assam has rejected AIUDF's overtures. This has lead to great heartburn among the AIUDF leadership and Badruddin Ajmal has warned that division of Muslim votes may pave the way for the victory of NDA candidate.

Congress has fielded MLA Abdul Khaleq who is up against AIUDF’s Hafiz Rafikul Islam and Kumar Deepak Das from AGP.

As part of seat sharing deal, AGP is contesting with BJP support from Barpeta. In the 2014 elections, traditional powerhouse Congress came third and BJP candidate was second though Badruddin's brother Sirajuddin won comfortably by 42 thousand votes. 13 candidates are in the fray.

The Muslim population of Barpeta is close to 70%, mostly who have migrated from Bangladesh. Thus Citizenship Amendment Bill is a big issue here. All the parties in the past have looked to polarise voters to win elections and 2019 has been no exception. According to reports, Badruddin Ajmal has claimed that if Modi against PM, Muslims of Barpeta will be sent to Bangladesh. Invoking Nellie massacre of 1983, he has reportedly accused Kumar Deepak Das of having a role in it.

Assembly segments under Barpeta are Bongaigaon, Abhayapuri North, Abhayapuri South (SC), Patacharkuchi, Barpeta, Jania, Baghbar, Sarukhetri, Chenga, Dharmapur.  Congress had won five of these 10 seats and Jania MLA is the Barpeta MP candidate in 2019.

Kumar Deepak Das, AGP candidate is a former Rajya Sabha MP and had previously strongly objected to Citizenship Bill. Around 16.76 lakh voters will decide the fate of Barpeta on April 23.




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Congress list includes stalwarts of the party.

Days after it was clear that no there is no real chance of cracking a deal with AAP, which is acceptable to both parties, Congress has gone ahead and announced candidate list for Delhi. Out of 7 names, it has announced six.

Congress has nominated its big hitters in the capital to ensure that the party can finally get on board. After getting zero in 2014 Lok Sabha election, it again failed to open its account in 2015 Assembly election. The Congress list has JP Agarwal from  Chandni Chowk, Congress Delhi President, and former CM Sheila Dikshit from North East Delhi, Arvinder Lovely from East Delhi, Ajay Maken from New Delhi, Rajesh Lilothia from North West Delhi and Mahablal Misra from West Delhi.

It is clear that by fielding some of the biggest names, it is hoping to put up a strong fight against AAP and BJP and doesn't want to merely add up to the numbers. Earlier, Sheila Dikshit had fervently resisted any alliance with AAP. However, other leaders including Ajay Maken preferred an alliance. But AAP's demand that the seat-sharing shouldn't be only in Delhi and be extended to other states like Haryana and Punjab found few takers. In the meantime, Rahul Gandhi publicly slammed Arvind Kejriwal on Twitter saying that Congress is willing to give up 4 out of 7 seats in Delhi, yet AAP is not agreeing to a deal. In reply, Kejriwal accused Rahul and Congress of dividing anti-Modi votes and in turn helping BJP.

AAP and Congress have now announced their candidates. BJP has announced candidates for 4 seats. Delhi goes to poll in a single phase on May 12.




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Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said Congress' Karnataka unit has already filed a complaint with the Election Commission in this regard.

The Congress Sunday demanded a probe into the alleged transportation of a "suspicious black trunk" in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter during his visit to Chitradurga in Karnataka for poll campaign.

Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma asked the prime minister to come clean and said the Election Commission should inquire into the contents of the "trunk".

He said the Congress' Karnataka unit has already filed a complaint with the Election Commission in this regard.

The prime minister had addressed an election rally in Karnataka's Chitradurga on April 9.

"We saw there were three more choppers escorting the prime minister's helicopter. After landing, a black trunk was taken out and whisked away in a private car which was not part of the SPG carcade," he alleged.

Sharma suggested there was cash stashed in the trunk. "What was there in the trunk. If there was no cash in it, let there an inquiry be held." The party also played a video clip claiming that the purported trunk, after being unloaded from the PM's helicopter, was shipped to a private Innova car, that Sharma alleged was not a part of the SPG carcade, and taken away.

Sharma also asked Modi to give an account of his five-year rule to the people of the country as a tribute to Dr. B R Ambedkar on his birth anniversary.

"The Prime Minister is trying to control and change the narrative because he has no courage the face real issues," he alleged.

Raising the issue of Rafale, Sharma asked Modi to make public the minutes of a meeting held last year between him and former French president Francois Hollande on the fighter jet deal.

"Why is he (PM) silent on his role in Rafale scam? Make the minutes of the meeting between Prime Minister and former French president Francois Hollande on the Rafale deal public by tomorrow. As there has been a controversy, it would help settle it once for all," he said.

The Prime Minister in his "desperation to win has done an enormous disservice to the nation by dragging in the Armed Forces for Partisan political propaganda", Sharma further alleged.

"Seeking votes for the courageous action and sacrifices of our soldiers is an unpardonable transgression and also an insult to the Armed forces who defend the motherland under the tricolor and not under one person or party. The Indian Army belongs to the Republic of India," he said.

Sharma also slammed BJP leader and Union minister General VK Singh (Retd).

"There is Prime Minister's defense and his apology minister including one of his ministers, who should have been made literate in the military history of the country. I am referring to retired General V.K. Singh, he said - Indira Gandhi benefitted electorally from the Bangladesh war." "Is he ignorant of history when he himself was a commissioned officer?" Sharma asked.

"To reeducate him, these are the facts: General Singh got commissioned in June 1970, Smt Indira Gandhi recorded a massive electoral win in March 1971 and India won the 13-day war with Pakistan on 16 December 1971. VK Singh should extend an unconditional apology," he said.




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