Assembly Elections Highlights: PM Modi addressed a virtual rally for Uttar Pradesh. (File)
Ahead of Assembly elections, PM Modi launched a scathing critique of Congress in Lok Sabha today, holding them -- along with the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi -- responsible for the countrywide spread of Covid and the migrant crisis in early days of the pandemic. He also accused Congress of adopting the "Divide and rule" policy of the British in their approach to governing a multicultural, diverse country.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi also addressed the people of Uttar Pradesh virtually after his scheduled 'hybrid' rally ahead of assembly elections in the state was cancelled due to weather issues.
Soon after, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Chief Jayant Chaudhary hit out at the BJP and PM Modi. "The BJP had earlier promised better electricity and development in Bijnor. If the PM had visited them today people would have asked questions. So suddenly BJP's weather turned bad," he said.
Meanwhile, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended two public meetings in Uttar Pradesh's Shahjahanpur and Bulandshahr Assembly constituencies. The Defence Minister has continuously been addressing public gatherings in different UP constituencies as well as in other poll-bound states such as Punjab and Uttarakhand for nearly a month.
Trinamool supremo and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also arrived today in Lucknow, where she will address an election rally and hold a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav during her two-day visit ahead of UP Assembly polls.
Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Punjab, and Uttarakhand will vote over seven phases starting February 10, with counting of votes scheduled for March 10.
Here are the Highlights on Assembly Elections 2022:
Goa Polls: BJP brings out the big guns in Goa as campaigning enters last lapWith just a week left for voting in the Goa assembly polls, the ruling BJP is stepping up campaigning with its top leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, set to address physical election rallies in the state over the next few days.
Besides PM Modi and Mr Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh, among others, will address public meetings ahead of the polling on February 14 for the 40-member assembly, the party said on Monday.
BJP will also release its election manifesto on Tuesday.
Mamata Banerjee arrives at Lucknow, Akhilesh Yadav receives her at airportWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday reached Lucknow, where she will address an election rally and hold a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav during her two-day visit ahead of the state Assembly polls.
Mr Yadav welcomed her at the Amausi airport.
"We defeated together in Bengal, now we will defeat in UP. This is a promise to Didi, we will emerge winners. Warm welcome and greetings to Didi in UP," the SP chief tweeted sharing a picture with Banerjee.
Mamata Banerjee was also welcomed by her party workers.
Actress Mahie Gill, Punjabi actor Hobby Dhaliwal join BJPJust days ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, Dev D fame Mahie Gill and Punjabi movie actor Hobby Dhaliwal on Monday joined the BJP.
Apart from Dev D, Ms Gill has worked in the movie Saheb, Biwi Aur Gangster.
Ms Gill said she wanted to do something for girls in Punjab and felt confident that she could do it with the BJP only. "I have always felt that my home was calling me back and I wanted to serve it and I did not find any better party than the BJP," she said.
Hobby Dhaliwal said he was impressed by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Punjab.
PM Modi to address first virtual rally for Punjab polls on TuesdayPrime Minister Narendra Modi will address his first virtual rally for the Punjab Assembly polls on Tuesday.
In his rally, Modi will address people from 18 Assembly segments of Ludhiana and Fatehgarh Sahib parliamentary constituencies, according to a statement issued by the BJP.
The party has set up LED screens all over the 18 Assembly segments. About 50,000 people are expected to watch the PM's address, it said.
Modi had visited Punjab on January 5 but he returned without dedicating development projects and addressing a rally as his convoy was stuck on a flyover due to a blockade by some protesters in Ferozepur.
The BJP is fighting the state Assembly polls in alliance with the Amarinder Singh-led Punjab Lok Congress and the Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).
UP Election: BJP Leaders Tell Lies, Indulge In Politics Of Accusations, Alleges SP's Akhilesh YadavSamajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday launched a scathing attack against the ruling BJP, asking the party to change its name as he alleged that its leaders tell lies, cheat people and pit them against each other.
The bigger the BJP leader, the bigger the lies he or she tells, the SP president alleged.
The party should change its name from "Bhajpa" to "Bhajhpa", he said, adding that "jh" in its name meant "jhansa" (cheating), "jhagra" (bickering) and "jhooth" (lies).
Rift Between Mamata Banerjee, Prashant Kishor? Buzz After Civic Poll ListThe infighting within the ruling Trinamool Congress over the candidate list for the upcoming elections to 108 municipal bodies escalated Monday as protests spread across Bengal, forcing the party top brass to mount a damage control exercise.
Among other measures, the Trinamool announced Monday that it had formed coordination committees in all districts comprising senior leaders to look into party members' grievances.
The issue also brought to the fore rumors of strains in the relationship between TMC and the Prashant Kishor-led political consultancy I-PAC.
UP Election: Samajwadi Party fields Subhavati Shukla against Yogi Adityanath in Gorakhpur UrbanSamajwadi Party's Subhavati Shukla will take on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the Gorakhpur Urban constituency in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.
Ms Shukla is the widow of late BJP leader from Gorakhpur, Upendra Shukla, who was UP BJP's Vice President. He had unsuccessfully contested the by-election from the Gorakhpur parliamentary constituency in 2018 after the seat was vacated by Yogi Adityanath when he became Chief Minister.
Upendra Shukla passed away in May 2020. He was a popular leader and was seen as BJP's Brahmin face in Purvanchal region.
BJP's Smriti Irani slams Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav for seeking Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee's support BJP leader Smriti Irani on Monday hit out at Akhilesh Yadav, wondering why the Samajwadi Party president was seeking support of Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had "insulted" the people of Uttar Pradesh.
While addressing a poll programme in Gautam Buddh Nagar's Jewar, the Union Minister claimed Mr Yadav's reach out to Ms Banerjee was an indication that he is "not getting people's support on his own strength".
Ms Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress had defeated the BJP in the high-stake West Bengal elections last year, on Monday reached Lucknow, where she is expected to campaign in support of the SP on Tuesday.
UP Elections: Akhilesh Yadav Ally Says Alliance Intact, Will Contest Against Deputy Chief MinisterThe troubles between the Samajwadi Party and its ally, Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) has been ironed out, said party chief Pallavi Patel, who will now contest against Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya.
Brushing off the delay about the announcement, Ms Patel -- who will contest under the Samajwadi Party banner -- told NDTV that it was just a "miscommunication" and the matter has been sorted at her meeting with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.
"As I said earlier, there was miscommunication. But we have spoken... and the matter has been resolved to our satisfaction... Tomorrow I will file my nomination against Keshav Maurya," Ms Patel told NDTV in an exclusive interview.
Why Eat Into Votes?: Mamata Banerjee's Advice To Congress For UP PollsBengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, travelling to Uttar Pradesh to campaign for Akhilesh Yadav today, said the Congress should support the Samajwadi Party in the UP polls, since "they won't win".
"Milega kuchh nahin toh kisi ka vote kaatne ki jaroorat nahin hain (they won't win, so why eat into someone else's votes)?" Mamata Banerjee told reporters at the Kolkata airport, from where she flew to Lucknow.
"Akhilesh Yadav is putting his heart into the election. If every community, every voter is with him, then he has a chance of winning," she said.
Her words come at a time there is new friction between her Trinamool and the Congress over the Goa election.
Watch: "Since you've made up your mind not to return to power for 100 years, I've also made preparations," PM Modi roasts Congress
Lost Many Elections But Not Lost Your Arrogance: PM Modi To CongressPrime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the Opposition in Parliament today, accusing them of being responsible for the countrywide spread of Covid and the migrant crisis in the initial days.
"You people pushed the labourers into difficulties," he asserted, pointing a finger at the opposition-ruled states, including national capital Delhi. Read more here.
"Still stuck in 2014": PM Modi attacks Congress in Lok Sabha
Congress instigated migrants to defy Covid curbs, says PM ModiPM Modi on Congress:
When experts said to stay where you are, the Congress then encouraged migrant labourers to return and gave them free tickets during the first wave. As a result, Covid spread rapidly in Punjab, UP & Uttarakhand.
Coronavirus is a global pandemic but some even misused that for political gains. In the time of coronavirus, the Congress crossed all limits.
PM Modi targets Congress' "arrogance" in Parliament sessionPM Modi on Congress:
Even after so many losses, your arrogance remains. The question is not about the election result, but the intention of those who have stayed in power for so long.
Wherever people got a way, they didn't let you enter again. Several states have rejected the Congress party for decades.
Criticism is a jewel of democracy, but blind opposition in an insult to democracy.
Trinamool, AAP are parties of defectors, cutting into non-BJP votes in Goa: Congress leader P ChidambaramA week before Goa goes to polls and multi-cornered contests shaping up, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday termed the Trinamool Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as the parties of defectors. He also said that both these parties lacked a winning potential but they are dividing non-BJP votes.
Addressing a public meeting at the Nuvem assembly constituency, he said that voters should not waste their votes by supporting the AAP or Trinamool, and instead they should choose the NOTA (None of The Above) option.
"These parties have suddenly descended on in Goa. They have no roots. Is there any grassroots worker that has risen from the ranks of the AAP and TMC?" he questioned.
Punjab Assembly Elections: "AAP Will Do Bhangra" On March 10, Says Bhagwant Mann To NDTVBhagwant Mann, the presumptive Chief Minister of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, said today that he was getting a "fantastic response" from people on his campaign and predicted the Congress' defeat, targeting both its Chief Ministers, Amarinder Singh and Charanjit Singh Channi.
"The previous government was run from the palace and the palace doors never opened to the people in 4.5 years," Bhagwant Mann told NDTV while campaigning for the Punjab election in Lambi, an Akali Dal stronghold.
Mr Mann is contesting the February 20 Punjab election from Dhuri and was recently named AAP's Chief Minister pick.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says she wants Samajwadi Party to win election in UP
Punjab Assembly Elections: "Out Of Active Politics," Says Punjab Congressman Sunil Jakhar Days After "42 MLAs" ClaimFormer Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, who was once being considered for the chief minister's post, has said he has quit electoral politics but would continue to remain with the party.
"I am out of active politics. I have been saying this for the last five days. But I am very much part and parcel of the Congress," Mr Jakhar had said on Sunday in Ludhiana.
A few days ago, Mr Jakhar had claimed that 42 MLAs wanted him to be the chief minister of the state after the unceremonious exit of Amarinder Singh last yea
Karnataka Chief Minister to discuss cabinet reshuffle if he gets appointment with top BJP leadersKarnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said he would discuss the issue of cabinet reshuffle if he gets an appointment with top party leaders during his two-day visit to New Delhi.
"These issues can be discussed if the central leadership gives time. I cannot share immediately. I can share only after the meeting and before leaving (to Bengaluru)," he told reporters.
Mr Bommai said he has sought an appointment with Union Home Minister Amit Shah as well as the party national president JP Nadda.
"I will meet them if they confirm," he added.
Election Commission to be in Manipur for 2 daysThe full bench of the Election Commission will be in poll-bound Manipur for two days beginning Monday, sources said.
Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey left for Manipur this morning along with other senior officials to take stock of preparation in the northeastern state.
Manipur will go for a two phase assembly polls on February 27 and March 3.
Goa Polls: This election significant for future of Goa, says Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
Uttarakhand Election: PM Modi hits out at Congress, alleges it blocked development in UttarakhandThe upcoming polls are a fight between those who created Uttarakhand and those who conspired to block its creation, said PM Modi while addressing a virtual rally in Haridwar.
Congress is blocking the development in Uttarakhand as it was created despite its opposition, said the PM. Non-implementation of the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag railway line during the Congress rule is a burning example of their "anti-development approach," he alleged.
"Congress has committed the sin of throttling Uttarakhand's dreams. People won't forgive it," PM Modi added.
"It's Just 1 Vote": Row After UP Official Allegedly Changes Voter's PollSamajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav today urged the Election Commission to take action against an official who allegedly forced them to change their vote. He also urged his party officials and workers to stay vigilant during polling.
A specially-abled person alleged that the polling parties in Agra's Fatehabad forced him to vote for the BJP on Sunday, even though he wanted to cast his vote to a different party.
In a video tweeted by Akhilesh Yadav, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate can be heard telling the voters that one vote does not make a difference. Watch here.
Rashtriya Lok Dal Chief Jayant Chaudhary questions BJP's ties with Kangana RanautRashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Chief Jayant Chaudhary hit out at Yogi Adityanath for comments that he will cool down other parties. "They want us to cool down but there is a lot of heat here... They want to talk about Jinnah but we want to talk about jobs and sugarcane dues," he said.
He also questioned BJP's ties with actor Kangana Ranaut. "The government is not providing facilities to industries but to Kangana Ranaut. They are clicking pictures with her... and have made her the ambassador of an industrial scheme."
Kangana Ranaut is the brand ambassador of UP government's "one district-one product" programme.
PM cancelled Bijnor visit to avoid questions: Rashtriya Lok Dal's Jayant ChaudharyRashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) Chief Jayant Chaudhary, at a rally in Meerut Cantt in Uttar Pradesh, hits out at BJP and PM Modi's cancelled event in Bijnor.
"The BJP had earlier promised better electricity and development in Bijnor. If the PM had visited them today people would have asked questions. So suddenly BJP's weather turned bad," he says.
Have improved health facilities in UP: PM ModiPrime Minister Narendra Modi, in his virtual address ahead of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, says: "Our government has helped women live better and safer. Education and its coverage has been increased by our government. The poor were only a way for the predecessors to play petty politics but we have done works for the poor".
"We have improved the health facilities in Uttar Pradesh. All they (the previous governments) did was bring the name of Uttar Pradesh down but we ensured that UP progresses."
"They kept UP in the dark": PM Modi
"Ask people who are trying to manipulate you, how much electricity was provided by them in Western Uttar Pradesh? Everyone talked about the lack of electricity and the adverse impact of it on the youth. They kept Uttar Pradesh in the dark so that crime increases," PM Modi said.
PM Modi on UP farmers: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says his government has followed the ideals of Chaudhary Charan Singh and hence, "done immense work for farmers."
"Farmers were beaten for demanding Urea. People in power who did this to the farmers can only cheat. People who are appropriating Charan Singh are only trying to manipulate you," he says.
"Yogi government has made new records in MSP buying from farmers."
What PM Modi said at UP rally:"Progress is not limited to only select areas under the BJP government. We have aimed to increase connectivity in all areas like in the Aligarh-Moradabad corridor which will be finished soon."
"Ganga Expressway will be a big boon for Uttar Pradesh."
"BJP government has focused on all these areas in the past 5 years especially on roads and infrastructure to ease the lives of farmers and also the everyday lives of people in Uttar Pradesh."
"In this period of Azadi ka Amrit Kal, we have seen many dreams for Uttar Pradesh. When India completes 100 years of independence, we aim that UP is a part of India's success story."
We Don't Ask Names When Distributing Free Ration: PM Modi PM Modi says, "When people get a house under BJP's scheme, we do not see their caste or their position. Free ration is given without seeing who is who or whose son they are."
"Every farmer is given water and paid their dues. This difference Uttar Pradesh will not forget -- between us and them... People who are seeking votes on the basis of caste, when they reach the position of power, all they care about is their own families," he adds.
PM Modi's Virtual Address To Rally In UP's BijnorPrime Minister Narendra Modi in a virtual address to a rally in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, says, "I apologise for not being able to come to Bijnor because of the weather. Hence, I am only able to address you virtually."
"This land is a witness to Ram and Krishna and has been the birthland of so many heroes whose sacrifice for the country is immense."
"Before our government, the development in UP was not moving because of fake Samajwadis... They do not care about the poor or the marginalised. All they care about is their families and have selfish motives.
He adds: "BJP considers everyone in Uttar Pradesh family and this is why there is no place for family supremacy in our government."
Give a "tight slap" with your votes: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the 'Jan Choupal' program organised in Bijnor says: "I appeal to everyone that if 100 per cent of the people here are fully vaccinated, it's time to give a tight slap with your votes to those who spread rumours against the vaccine and called it a 'Modi'/'BJP' vaccine".
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on farmers' scheme Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says PM Kissan Samiti Scheme has changed the lives of farmers in the state and "this is only possible because of the arduous efforts of our government."
PM Modi would have come here himself but his blessings are with all of us today, he adds.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addresses rally in BijnorUttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says, "We have given everything in free: electricity, ration, medicines, vaccine. We made efforts to provide ration to all in need. This is the work of our double-engine government".
No Riot In Uttar Pradesh In 5 Years: Yogi AdityanathIn the last five years, Uttar Pradesh has seen reduction in crime, state Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said.
"Mafia and criminals have been reduced to begging for their lives as UP has changed now. Women, farmers and everyone who were scared of these criminals but now these criminals are ready to become street hawkers and give up crime."
Poll Body Team To Visit Manipur TodayA team of the Election Commission of India will visit Manipur today to review the poll preparedness for the ensuing election to the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly. One of the key agendas of the team will be to do a ground zero review of the COVID-19 situation apart from law and order updates, official sources said.
Read more. Mamata Banerjee on two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh from todayWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will begin her two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh to "support Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for upcoming state assembly elections" that are scheduled to be held in seven phases beginning from February 10.
The chief minister will reach the state today at around 5.20 pm and hold a press conference at the Samajwadi Party office on Tuesday and will appeal to people to support them in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.