PM Modi addressed a poll rally in West Bengal's Buniadpur.
More than a week after voting was held in Arunachal Pradesh in the first phase of national elections, re-polling is being held in 19 polling stations in the state between 6 am to 2 pm. The Election Commission had announced re-polling after glitches were reported in the electronic voting machines (EVMs). Raising the poll pitch, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election rally in Buniaydpur town of northern West Bengal's South Dinajpur. This will be PM Modi's fifth visit to the state this year, and the seventh public meeting in Bengal in around two and a half months, according to news agency IANS. After Bengal, PM Modi will visit Bihar to address three rallies in 1200 Araria, Etah and Aonla. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will also be in Bihar today to hold a public meeting in Supaul. He will later head to Chhattisgarh to hold election rallies. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani will visit Kerala's Wayanad today from where Congress President Rahul Gandhi is contesting the Lok Sabha elections.
Here are the live updates from polling in Arunachal Pradesh, PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi's campaigns in Bihar and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Smriti Irani's visit to Kerala:
Highlights from PM Modi's rally at Araria in Bihar:- The opposition's politics of appeasement may snatch away the rights of Dalits, Tribals and OBC
- Lies are being spread in Bihar that quotas for economically backward among general category will end reservations altogether
- Congress leaders insulted martyrs of the Batla House encounter in New Delhi because of their "vote bhakti"
- Trends of first two phases of Lok Sabha polls have dampened the spirits of those seeking proof of air strikes
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Raises Poll Pitch For Brother Rahul Gandhi In Wayanad:- Five years ago, a government came into power that was voted in with a big majority. In all their wisdom, people of our country placed their faith and hopes in the BJP government. That government, from the moment it came to power, began to betray that faith.
- They began to believe that power belonged to them and not people. The first indication of this gross misunderstanding came when their own President declared shortly after the election that promise of Rs 15 Lakh in every bank account was just for sake of elections, what he called a 'jumla'
- I stand here on behalf of a man who I've known from the day I was born. He'll be your candidate in this election and over last 10 years has faced massive personal attack from his opponents. They've sought to portray a character of his which is very far from truth.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressing a public rally in Moradabad today attacked the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, a day after party supremos Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati shared a stage after several years. "It saddens me to say that Mayawati is seeking votes for those who abused and insulted Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar," Mr Adityanath said.
PM Modi Addresses Poll Rally In Bengal's Buniadpur:- Speed breaker Didi (PM Modi's reference to Mamata Banerjee) will know after May 23 what is the result of the vandalism, looting of money, and stopping the public's growth
- In Purulia, a BJP worker was murdered. I want to assure each West Bengal BJP worker and people of the state that justice will be done. Strict action will be taken against those people who are responsible
- Mamata Didi in the name of "Maa-maati-manush" has only cheated you
- "Speedbreaker" Didi has lost her sleep after the first two phases of Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal
- When our brave soldiers killed terrorists in Pakistan, Mamata Banerjee was one of those who had asked for its proof. If you want to seek evidence, then find proof for those involved in chitfund scam
- It is shameful that people from neighbouring country are campaigning for the Trinamool, which was done to appease the minority community
Bihar politician and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav today
reiterated his attack on PM Narendra Modi of being a "fake backward" person, ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to Bihar. "PM Narendra Modi is coming to Bihar today. He will say he's the son of extreme backward. He will make a failed attempt to polarise. Bihar expects lies and '
jumlas' from him. Hope that the PM would give an account of his promises from 2014, such as special status to Bihar, special package, and free education and medicines," Tejashwi Yadav tweeted, adding #BiharRejectsModi
Repolling is being held across 19 polling booths in Arunachal Pradesh after violence was reported during Assembly and Lok Sabha polling on April 11, the first phase of the national elections. The Election Commission had ordered the repolling after returning officers had reported election malpractices including EVM damage, booth capturing and attack on polling parties. In all, one polling station each in Bomdila, Dumporijo, Bameng, Liromoba and Likhabali Assembly Constituencies is witnessing re-poll. Repolling is also being held at three polling stations in Chayangtajo, two polling stations in Yachuli and three in Daporijo assembly constituencies. In the Arunachal Pradesh East Parliamentary Constituency, one polling station in Pangin, three in Namsai and one each in Kanubari and Longding-Pumao Assembly Constituencies are also seeing repolling.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi has a public meeting at Manathanvady, news agency IANS reported. Later she will attend a farmers rally and then go to Malappuram district, where there are two Assembly constituencies that are part of the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency. Union Minister Smriti Irani, who is the BJP candidate against Rahul Gandhi at his other seat in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, will also arrive in Wayanad today and will hold a roadshow.
Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address a public meeting in Bihar's Supaul. He will also address two election rallies in Chhattisgarh in Bilaspur district and at Bhilai town in Durg district. This will be Mr Gandhi's first poll campaign tour in the state after the announcement of Lok Sabha election schedule. He did not campaign for the first and second phases of poll in Chhattisgarh.
PM Modi will campaign in West Bengal's Buniaydpur today. It would be his fifth visit to the state this year, and the seventh public meeting in Bengal in around two and a half months. PM Modi would also be possibly the first Prime Minister to visit the municipal town, according to news agency IANS, about 400 kilometers north of Kolkata, and part of the Balurghat Lok Sabha constituency. PM Modi will also address public rallies in Bihar's Araria and Etah and Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.