The second phase of voting for 95 Lok Sabha seats across 12 states and one Union Territory is scheduled to take place on Thursday. The polling for Vellore parliamentary constituency in Tamil Nadu has been cancelled by EC following allegations of use of money to sway the voters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address rallies at Akluj in Maharashtra, Himatnagar, Surendranagar and Anand in Gujarat on Wednesday.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a rally in Wayanad in Kerala. Rahul is also contesting from this seat besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar will address rallies in Supual, Jhanjharpur and Madhepura. BJP leaders Sushil Modi and Mangal Pandey will address rallies in West Champaran, East Champaran and Chhapra. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav is scheduled to address rally in Begusarai and Araria.
BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh will file her nomination from Motihari. RLSP candidate Akash Singh will also file his nomination from Motihari in the presence of Shatrughan Sinha, Jeetan Ram Manjhi and Upendra Kushwaha on Wednesday.
BJP candidate Rama Devi will file her nomination from Sheohar Lok Sabha Seat. Sitting BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal will file his nomination from West Champaran. JD(U) candidate Vaidyanath Prasad will file nomination from Valmiki Nagar LS seat.
Here are the latest and live updates from April 17 (Wednesday):
* “I have formally joined BJP, I will contest elections and will win also. I have been extended BJP membership on Tuesday,” Sadhvi Pragya Thakur said.
* Mohammad Ali Ashraf Fatmi resigns from Rashtriya Janata Dal after being denied a ticket to contest Lok Sabha poll. He was an MP from Darbhanga constituency.
* Raia parish priest tenders unconditional apology for his controversial statements during sermon, EC strongly warns him not to repeat such things in future
* Election Commission is organising workshops in different parts of the country in order to create awareness among voters ahead of the second phase of Lok Sabha poll.
सारण में आंगनवाड़ी केन्द्रों में take home rashan के दौरान मतदाता जागरूकता गतिविधि आयोजित की गई और आगामी मतदान दिवस पर सक्रिय मतदान हेतु प्रोत्साहित किया गया।@ECISVEEP @PIB_India #LoksabhaElections2019 #GoVote #IndiaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/1rorkLU6pj
— Chief Electoral Officer, Bihar (@CEOBihar) April 16, 2019
The D-Day is just around the corner!! With 1 day to go for polling for #IndiaElections2019 , gear up to cast your vote. #GoCheck your name in the Voters’ List. #GoVote #NoVoterToBeLeftBehind @CEOBihar @CEOChhattisgarh @CEOMPElections @ceopuducherry @CEO_Maharashtra @ceoup pic.twitter.com/mc02H7kGPY
— ECI #DeshKaMahatyohar (@ECISVEEP) April 17, 2019
Information empowers!
Here are the important things that a voter must know for a smooth voting experience.#GoVerify #DeshKaMahaTyohar pic.twitter.com/QXUTOoRnT8— ECI #DeshKaMahatyohar (@ECISVEEP) April 17, 2019
* “I understand there are complex problems here. I am not here to tell you my Mann Ki Baat…I want to know what is in your hearts,” Rahul Gandhi said while addressing a rally in Wayanad.
* “In order to make India advanced, the country should have a similar government at the Centre and state to deliver new heights in the 21st century. It was because of the saffron sea that Sharad Rao left the field. He is a big player and understands which side the wind blows,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the rally in Madha.
* CPI candidate Kanhaiya Kumar was surrounded by angry locals in Begusarai during his campaign and was questioned by the locals over his ‘azadi’ slogans.
* Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has arrived at the BJP office in Bhopal and is currently meeting senior BJP leaders Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ramlal, and Prabhat Jha.
Madhya Pradesh: Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has arrived at the BJP office in Bhopal and is currently meeting senior BJP leaders Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Ramlal, and Prabhat Jha. pic.twitter.com/9rG7KuLiq0
— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2019
* “When CBI went to SC, Lalu sent his messenger Prem Gupta to Arun Jaitley, asking to not let CBI appeal to the SC in the case. He said that if they get help ’24 ghante mein Nitish Kumar ka ilaaj kar dunga’,” said Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Modi
Bihar Deputy CM Sushil Modi: When CBI went to SC, Lalu sent his messenger Prem Gupta to Arun Jaitley, asking to not let CBI appeal to the SC in the case. He said that if they get help ’24 ghante mein Nitish Kumar ka ilaaj kar dunga’. 2/3 pic.twitter.com/7PVCbaH8Zp
— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2019
* Congress President Rahul Gandhi performs rituals in memory of his father Rajiv Gandhi after offering prayers at the Thirunelli temple.
More visuals from Wayanad as Congress President Rahul Gandhi performs rituals, after offering prayers at the Thirunelli temple. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/MUzC1SpXU0
— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2019
* Congress President and party’s candidate from Wayanad parliamentary constituency, Rahul Gandhi offers prayer at the Thirunelli temple.
Wayanad: Congress President and party’s candidate from Wayanad parliamentary constituency, Rahul Gandhi offers prayer at the Thirunelli temple. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/8uuZta227m
— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2019
* AIADMK ally and Vellore candidate AC Shanmugam to move Madras High Court today against EC’s decision to cancel Vellore Lok Sabha poll.
* “If you want to win a war, there’s nothing fair or unfair, democratic or undemocratic way of winning. You’ve to win it by any means. I’ve seen in 2016 elections, how central forces beat up our boys, there was bloodbath,” said TMC MLA from Chakdaha, Ratna Ghosh Kar.
TMC MLA from Chakdaha, Ratna Ghosh Kar: If you want to win a war, there’s nothing fair or unfair, democratic or undemocratic way of winning. You’ve to win it by any means. I’ve seen in 2016 elections, how central forces beat up our boys, there was bloodbath. (15.04) pic.twitter.com/Mof8Wz0YHC
— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2019
* “On the election, I think it is the party which decides who contests from where. So I go by that,” Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on why is she not contesting Lok Sabha election.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on why is she not contesting Lok Sabha elections 2019: On the election, I think it is the party which decides who contests from where. So I go by that. pic.twitter.com/ENSo2qGS4Z
— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2019
* EC issues fresh show cause notice to SP leader Azam Khan for making inflammatory remarks. (Read more)
* “The point is, no one ever disputes veterans contacting or writing to the Supreme Commander…It is well within every veteran’s prerogative to contact the Supreme Commander,” Defence Minister Sitharaman to ANI on letter to the President signed by Armed Forces veterans
Defence Minister to ANI on letter to the President signed by Armed Forces veterans: The point is, no one ever disputes veterans contacting or writing to the Supreme Commander…It is well within every veteran’s prerogative to contact the Supreme Commander. pic.twitter.com/u3Ifwr4tvp
— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2019
* “I think that there should be consciously somewhere in the back of our minds when we’re discussing in politics – Is that what is going to be the legacy we leave for the next generation?,” Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told ANI
* As a part of SVEEP program a ramp walk event was orgainised by Raipur district. Many Octagenerians participated in this ramp walk event.
As a part of SVEEP program a ramp walk event was orgainised by Raipur district. Many Octagenerians participated in this ramp walk event. #ChhattisgarhVotes@SpokespersonECI @ECISVEEP pic.twitter.com/wi9VsIgSn0
— CEO Chhattisgarh (@CEOChhattisgarh) April 17, 2019
* EC issues notice to Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma for controversial remark on EVM.
* Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to visit Ayodha on Wednesday.
* India will see Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as ‘thief’s wife’, said BJP leader Uma Bharti (Read more)
* After Ferdous, another Bangladeshi actor spotted campaigning for TMC (Read more)
* “CEC has implemented the order given by Delhi. There is admittance at some level that polls in Tripura on 11 Apr wasn’t free & fair as claimed by BJP govt in state,” Pradyot Kishore, Congress on deferment of 2nd phase polling in Tripura East LS constituency.
Pradyot Kishore, Congress on deferment of 2nd phase polling in Tripura East LS constituency: CEC has implemented the order given by Delhi. There is admittance at some level that polls in Tripura on 11 Apr wasn’t free & fair as claimed by BJP govt in state. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/NJ5s1Rsv2e
— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2019
* “BJP cannot prevent my success through this income tax raid. The raid is anti-democratic, deliberately planned and tested, and no documents have been seized,” DMK candidate Kanimozhi on IT raids at the house where she is staying, in Thoothukudi.
Source: Zee News