India General Elections 2024 updates | Highlights of May 16, 2024

About 39% of candidates contesting in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha polls are crorepatis with average assets of ₹6.21 crore, according to poll rights body ADR. 

Among the candidates contesting in the sixth phase on May 25, the highest assets have been declared by BJP candidates from Kurukshetra Naveen Jindal at ₹1,241 crore followed by Santrupt Misra at ₹482 crore and Sushil Gupta at ₹169 crore, the analysis by Association of Democratic Reforms said. 

Out of the 866 candidates contesting the Lok Sabha polls, 338 (39%) are crorepatis and the average assets per candidate contesting in the Lok Sabha phase VI election is ₹6.21 crore. 

Among the major parties, all six candidates from BJD, four out of four candidates each from RJD and JD(U), 48 (94%) out of 51 candidates from BJP, 11 (92%) out of 12 candidates from SP, 20 (80%) out of 25 candidates from Congress, 4 (80%) out of 5 candidates from AAP and 7 (78%) candidates out of 9 candidates from AITC have declared assets worth more than ₹1 crore. - PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a two-day visit of Srinagar from May 16 during which he is likely to chair a security review meeting.

Mr. Shah arrived at a Srinagar hotel where he is scheduled to meet local BJP leaders ahead of the remaining two phases of elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

A local BJP leader said Mr. Shah’s visit to Kashmir is not political. - PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged people to vote for AAP if they don’t want him to return to jail.

Holding a roadshow in Punjab’s Amritsar for the party’s candidate Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, the AAP supremo also claimed that the BJP will end reservation for SC, ST and OBC if it gets a majority in the Lok Sabha.

Referring to the BJP, Mr. Kejriwal said saffron party leaders are saying he will have to go to jail after 20 days.

“Whether I go (back) to jail or not depends upon you. If you press the ‘jhadoo’ (AAP’s election symbol) button, I will not need to go to jail,” Mr. Kejriwal said.

“While pressing the button, remember if you are pressing the button for Mr. Kejriwal’s freedom or for sending Kejriwal to jail,” the AAP chief said. - PTI

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Ravikaran Singh Kahlon joined the BJP, a day after he was expelled from the SAD over alleged anti-party activities. 

Mr. Kahlon is the son of former Punjab Assembly Speaker and former rural development and Panchayat Minister Nirmal Singh Kahlon. Mr. Kahlon had unsuccessfully contested the 2022 Punjab assembly polls from the Dera Baba Nanak seat. 

Mr. Kahlon took a swipe at SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, saying he was thankful to him for throwing him out of the party “for speaking the truth” and rejected any charge of any indiscipline. 

The SAD’s situation has gone from bad to worse, he said, adding that whoever speaks about the party’s welfare is “either shown the door or his voice is suppressed”. - PTI

West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury claimed that TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee is now endorsing the opposition INDIA bloc recognising its growing momentum and aiming to maintain her relevance in national politics.

Mr. Chowdhury’s remark comes a day after Ms. Banerjee’s announcement that her party will extend support to the opposition INDIA bloc from outside to form the government at the Centre.

Mr. Chowdhury termed Ms. Banerjee as an “opportunist politician” who altered her stance after realising the changing political landscape.

“This clearly indicates that the India alliance is striding ahead and on the verge of forming the government and that’s is why as an astute and opportunist leader, Mamata Banerjee has decided to extend her support well in advance,” Mr. Chowdhury told reporters.

“She (Banerjee) has lost her credibility. She has understood the crude reality that voters are gearing towards the INDIA bloc. She has realised that she has been isolated in national politics. This is a ploy to stay alive in national politics,” he said. - PTI

The Congress claimed that the BJP is “spreading lies” about food rations in India and asserted that what Karnataka has accomplished through its 10 kg free rice guarantee scheme of ‘Anna Bhagya’ will now be implemented across the country by an INDIA bloc government.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed that the country faced an identity crisis while every citizen’s security was under threat during the previous Congress-led government at the Centre.

“Earlier, whenever a terrorist incident took place in the country and the world, its links were invariably established with Azamgarh, defaming the district for no fault of its own,” he said, adding that those who defamed Azamgarh stand completely exposed today.

The chief minister was addressing a rally in the Lalganj Lok Sabha constituency in Azamgarh in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek votes for BJP’s Azamgarh candidate Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua and Lalganj nominee Neelam Sonkar.

Continuing his attack on the opposition, Mr. Adityanath said, “The country faced an identity crisis while every individual’s security was under threat in the previous Congress governments. Development activities had come to a grinding halt because the Congress-led government was mired in corruption. The poor starved to death while farmers committed suicide as well as daughters and traders were unsafe.” - PTI

A day after announcing that he would extend outside support to the opposition front INDIA after it comes to power, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she is very much part of the anti-BJP alliance at the national level and would continue to be in it.

While addressing an election rally at Tamluk, Ms. Banerjee said that the TMC is not in alliance with the CPI(M) and the Congress in West Bengal.

“At all India level, some people have misunderstood my statement yesterday. I am very much part of the INDIA alliance. The INDIA alliance was my brainchild. We are together at the national level and will continue to be together,” she said.

Ms. Banerjee alleged that the West Bengal units of both CPI(M) and Congress, who are part of the INDIA alliance, have joined hands and helped the BJP in the state.

“Do not count on the CPI(M) and the Congress in Bengal. They are not with us, they are with the BJP here. I am talking about that (INDIA bloc) in Delhi,” she said. - PTI

PDP candidate from Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency Waheed Para has been booked for violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by holding a road show without prior permission in south Kashmir’s Pulwama last month, officials said on May 16.

The officials said the FIR was lodged against Para on May 8 under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code at Pulwama police station on the complaint lodged by nodal officer, MCC and additional deputy commissioner, Pulwama.

The PDP leader is accused of holding a road show in the areas of Beighpora, Padgampora, Larkipora, Wankanpora, Goripora, Dangerpora, Jangalnad, Batapora, Dhawatoo, Khandaypora and Panzgam in Pulwama on April 27, without any permission from the authorities concerned. - PTI

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeting him by saying that one cannot trust him and there is no weightage left in his words.Speaking with ANI while on the campaign trail in Raebareli, Priyanka Gandhi on the PM’s statement that the INDIA bloc is indulging in appeasement politics while NDA is doing satisfaction politics, Congress general secretary said, “Yesterday or the day before, he was saying that if he says such words, he is not fit to be the Prime Minister. What happened today? Mann badal gaya ki bheed badal gayi? What happened?” - PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the INDIA bloc wants to make five prime ministers in five years and claimed that it will disintegrate after June 4 (the counting of votes).

Addressing an election rally in support of the BJP candidate, the PM said the INDIA bloc wants to replace the stable NDA government and make five prime ministers in five years.

“Many things will happen after June 4. The INDI alliance will disintegrate and they will look for a scapegoat after the defeat.” In an apparent attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, he said, “The shehzade (princes) of Lucknow and Delhi will leave for abroad on summer vacations,” said Mr. Modi.

Commenting that running a country is not a play for those born with a golden spoon, Mr. Modi said, “They have gone from Amethi and will go even from Rae Bareli.” - PTI

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on May 16 targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he has lost his confidence as people want political change this time.

He also criticised Ajit Pawar-led NCP’s leader Praful Patel for placing a ‘jiretop’, the headgear that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used to wear, on PM Modi’s head, stating that it showed the former Union minister’s “lachari” (slavish attitude).

Interacting with media persons in Nashik, Mr. Pawar said, “I visited many places to campaign during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. People’s mindset is towards (political) change now and Modi has lost his confidence due to it. There is a favourable condition for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in the state.” He criticised PM Modi for conducting a roadshow in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area on May 15. - PTI

The cumulative turnout in the first four phases of the Lok Sabha elections has been recorded at 66.95%, the Election Commission said on May 16, adding that 45.10 crore of the nearly 97 crore electors have voted so far in the ongoing electoral exercise.

According to the poll authority, the updated voter turnout in the fourth phase of polling held on May 13 was 69.16%, 3.65 percentage points higher than the corresponding phase in the 2019 Parliamentary polls.

The updated voter turnout figures for the third phase of polling in the Lok Sabha election stood at 65.68%. In the third phase of the 2019 general election, the turnout was 68.4%. In the second phase of the election held on April 26, the turnout was recorded at 66.71% as against the 69.64% in the second phase of the 2019 polls.

In the first phase of the ongoing general elections, a 66.14% turnout was recorded. In the 2019 polls, the turnout in the first phase was 69.43%. A total of 379 seats across 23 States and Union Territories have voted in the first four phases of elections. - PTI

“Country needs strong PM, not one on yearly basis,” Home Minister Amit Shah attacked INDIA bloc at a rally in Bihar’s Madhubani. “Even if INDIA bloc wins, which I am sure won’t happen, who will be its PM candidate? Are Mamata, Lalu and Stalin INDIA bloc’s PM candidates,” asked Mr. Shah. - PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Thursday that his party Shiv Sena will retain the Nashik Lok Sabha constituency with a bigger margin this time.

Shinde was here to canvass for Sena candidate and incumbent MP Hemant Godse, who had defeated NCP’s Sameer Bhujbal, nephew of state minister Chhagan Bhujbal, by a margin of nearly 3 lakh votes in 2019.

Shinde also took part in a motorcycle rally organised for Godse’s campaign.

“Our candidate Hemant Godse will win the election with a higher victory margin than last time... Hemant Godse works 24x7. Therefore, our victory is certain. The polls are on May 20. Shantigiri Maharaj (spiritual leader) should bless Hemant Godse and support him,” Shinde said.

-PTI

The district authorities in Maharashtra’s Thane have unveiled a map-based QR code system for three Lok Sabha constituencies in the district to facilitate voters in finding the route of their polling booth, an official said on Thursday.

This initiative has been introduced in response to consistent complaints received from voters that they find it difficult to locate their polling booth to cast their vote, district collector and district election officer Ashok Shingare said.

“This map-based QR code system is aimed at guiding voters seamlessly to their designated polling booths. Separate QR code has been assigned to each of the three Lok Sabha constituencies. Voters can simply scan the QR code, select the relevant assembly constituency and choose their specific polling station,” he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) belongs to India and the country will take it back “at any cost”.

Addressing an election rally in Sitamarhi Lok Sabha seat in Bihar, the former BJP president slammed the Congress-led Opposition for “raising fear about Pakistan’s atomic power”.

“When Article 370 was scrapped, Rahul Gandhi had said that it would lead to bloodshed. Five years have elapsed and not a pebble has been hurled. But Congress’ ally Farooq Abdullah tries scaremongering by saying that we cannot take back PoK as Pakistan has atom bombs,” Mr. Shah asserted.

“I wish to declare from the birthplace of Goddess Sita that Bharat and its 140 crore people fear no one. Pakistan occupied Kashmir is ours and it will remain so. We will take it back,” he said. - PTI

“BJP has worked hard round the clock to change Uttar Pradesh’s image,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a election rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi. “We are pushing for ‘one district, one product’ but under Samajwadi Party’s (SP) rule, it was ‘one district, one mafia’,” he said. PM Modi said, “I have not built house for myself, I have made houses for four crore poor families.” 

Mr. Modi said terrorists got special treatment under Samajwadi Party government, it was kind to SIMI. - PTI

BJP candidate from New Delhi Lok Sabha seat Bansuri Swaraj called the alliance of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress “unnatural” as the AAP always has gained power by replacing the Congress whether in Punjab or Delhi. 

“Whenever Congress lost the power, the AAP snatched it, be it in Punjab or Delhi. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal swore on his kids that he will never ally with the Congress. Now, this alliance has eroded his credibility. This alliance is not a big challenge as the public of Delhi will vote for development, PM Modi and ‘Viksit Bharat’ and give all seven seats to BJP,” Bansuri Swaraj said.

The 40-year-old daughter of late Union Minister Sushma Swaraj is contesting against the AAP’s MLA Somnath Bharti from the New Delhi seat.

Ms. Bansuri also condemned the alleged incident in which former Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Swati Maliwal was assaulted by a personal assistant to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and asked the Delhi CM how he would protect the women of the national capital if their party MP was not safe in his presence. - PTI

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said it was inhuman for PM Modi to hold a roadshow in the same area of Mumbai where the hoarding collapse incident claimed the lives of 16 persons.

He said that roads and Metro rail services were shut 12 noon onwards on May 15 on account of PM Modi’s roadshow from Ghatkopar west to Ghatkopar east.

“Never ever has such an incident happened where roads were shut for one person’s campaign, causing inconvenience to people. It is inhuman to hold a roadshow where people died after the hoarding collapse,” the Sena (UBT) MP said.

PM Modi held the mega roadshow in Ghatkopar on May 15 to canvas support for the candidates of the BJP and its allies. - PTI

Congress veteran Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday said people are looking at his party with great hope and it is set for a clean sweep in Haryana in the Lok Sabha elections.

The former chief minister said the Congress is receiving overwhelming public support.

While the Congress is contesting nine seats, its INDIA bloc ally AAP has fielded its candidate from the Kurukshetra constituency.

“People are looking at the Congress with great hope and there is a wave in our favour,” Hooda said, exuding confidence that his party and its ally AAP will win all the 10 seats in Haryana.

He also exuded confidence that the INDIA bloc will form the next government at the Centre.

-PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that this Lok Sabha election is an opportunity for the country to choose a leader who can run a strong government which “makes the world aware of India’s strength”.

“This election is an opportunity to choose the prime minister of the country. Such a prime minister who runs a strong government which cannot be dominated by the world but which makes the world aware of India’s strength,” he said.

“Therefore, when you vote for our Kripashankar ji from Jaunpur, BP Saroj ji from Machhlishahr, your vote forms a strong government. The votes given to them will go directly into Modi’s account,” the prime minister said.

-PTI

The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow in Mumbai will prove to be a nemesis for the BJP and its allies in the city in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

“While the relatives of those who lost their lives in the tragic hoarding collapse in Ghatkopar were mourning, the BJP held the roadshow of PM Modi in the same vicinity,” claimed NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto in a statement.

The hoarding accident, triggered by gusty winds on Monday, has claimed 16 lives and left 75 injured. Ahead of the May 20 polling for the six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai and seven others in Maharashtra, PM Modi held a mega roadshow in Mumbai on May 15 to canvass for the candidates of the BJP and its allies Shiv Sena and the NCP.

“To add “salt to the wounds of Mumbikars”, the Metro and local train services were cancelled and roads in that area were blocked to give a smooth passage to the roadshow,” he claimed. - PTI

Holding a roadshow in the Odisha capital in support of party candidates, BJP president J. P. Nadda asserted that people of the State have “decided to give rest” to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik by electing the saffron party to power.

Speaking to reporters during the 3km roadshow, Mr. Nadda said people’s enthusiasm indicates that they have “decided to give rest” to Naveen Patnaik, who has been ruling Odisha for the last 24 years, and elect a BJP government in the State.

Referring to the first phase of simultaneous elections in the State on May 13, when voting was held in four Lok Sabha seats and 28 Assembly constituencies, Mr. Nadda said, “The BJD has missed the bus.” Asked on the BJP’s probable CM face in Odisha, Mr. Nadda said the saffron party had decided on its Chief Ministers in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan within three days of the election results. “Odisha will also see something similar,” he said. - PTI

Yogi Adityanath has run my cleanliness campaign successfully in UP by acting against mafia, rioters and extortionists, PM Modi said at a rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh.

Work of giving citizenship to those who are victims of partition has already started under CAA PM Modi said at a poll rally in UP’s Azamgarh.

SP, Cong spread lies about CAA and tried to push country towards riots, PM Modi said at a rally in Azamgarh.

The Prime Minister said that the Opposition parties want to divide the country’s budget and allot 15% to minorities.

SP, Cong are two parties but have one shop where they sell appeasement, lies, ‘parivarvad’, corruption< Mr. Modi added.

- PTI

The release of the Kangana Ranaut-starrer “Emergency” has been postponed amid the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections, the makers have announced.

Ms. Ranaut, the lead actor, writer, director, and producer on “Emergency”, has been fielded by the BJP for the Mandi constituency in Himachal Pradesh in the polls. The state will vote in the last phase on June 1.

Manikarnika Films Production, the studio behind the upcoming political drama, shared the update on its official X page on May 15.

AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the BJP will change the Constitution and end reservation if it comes to power after the Lok Sabha polls.

“The people of BJP have always been against reservation. They will change the Constitution and end reservation after coming to power,” he said at a joint press conference with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav here.

Mr. Kejriwal reiterated his claim that Yogi Adityanath will be removed as Uttar Pradesh chief minister if the BJP again comes to power.

- PTI

The Congress renewed its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP giving a Lok Sabha ticket to the son of incumbent MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing charges of sexually harassing women wrestlers, and asked whether women ever be safe in “Modi’s India”.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posed questions to the prime minister ahead of his rallies in Uttar Pradesh.

“Will the Jaunpur medical college ever be completed? Why has the Gomti river been re-branded and not re-vived? Will women ever be safe in Modi’s India?” Mr. Ramesh said.

- PTI

A BJP worker was killed and seven others were injured in a clash between supporters of the ruling BJD and the saffron party in Odisha’s Ganjam district, police said on Thursday.

The incident took place in Sri Krushna Saranapur village in Khallikote police station area on Wednesday night over putting up posters for poll campaigning.

The deceased has been identified as Dilip Kumar Pahana (28), who was a resident of the village. He succumbed to injuries during treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital here, a police officer said.

According to preliminary investigation, the clash occurred over putting up posters of a candidate and both sides used sharp weapons in the fight, he said, adding the injured persons are undergoing treatment at the state-run hospital and their condition is stated to be stable.

- PTI

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati hit out at “BJP and company” on Thursday, saying they want to take credit for providing free rations to the country’s poor.

“Far from freeing the people of the country from rising inflation, poverty, unemployment and backwardness, people of BJP and company are bent on extracting electoral gains for giving the poor a little bit of ration. This is not right as this is not kindness,” she wrote in Hindi on the social media platform ‘X’.

“The free ration to the poor is not a favour by the BJP or the government, it comes from the tax money paid by the people. Therefore, it is inappropriate to make fun of the poor by asking them for votes in return...,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister added in another post.

- PTI

In a scathing and unsparing attack on his Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee and the ruling Trinamool Congress, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma accused her of leading a government for ‘appeasement’.

Campaigning for the BJP’s candidate for the Howrah Lok Sabha constituency, Dr Rathin Chakraborty, the Rajasthan CM said on Wednesday, “You are all aware of the state of affairs here. This is a government being run on the basis of appeasement politics. The people of Bengal are fed up with the government for its brazen appeasement of a certain vote bank and rampant corruption. However, they have decided to rise against the misrule this time and vote for change.”

Later, taking to his official X handle, CM Bhajan Lal posted, “Kolkata is Modi-fied. Lotus is sure to bloom at every booth. Today, during my visit to West Bengal, I established a positive dialogue with the migrant industrialists of Rajasthan in Kolkata and called upon everyone to form the Modi government again with a historic majority in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024.”

- ANI

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on termed “totally false” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that the previous Congress government wanted to allocate 15% of the budget for Muslims, and said the PM’s statements have been “increasingly bizarre”.

Mr. Chidambaram said the prime minister claimed on Tuesday that if he played the Hindu-Muslim divide, he would not be fit to be in public life but the very next day, “he played his usual game of dividing Hindus and Muslims”.

“Hon’ble Prime Minister’s statements are increasingly bizarre and show that his speech writers have lost their balance,” the Congress leader said in a post on ‘X’.

Reacting to good voter turnout recorded in Jammu and Kashmir in Lok Sabha polls, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) PDP leader Iltija Mufti said that people are expressing themselves through their vote and conveying the message that they have not accepted the abrogation of Article 370 by the government on 5th August 2019.

The Srinagar constituency, which saw the first general election after the abrogation of Article 370 in J-K, recorded 37.99% voting, according to the Information and PR Department, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the highest voter turnout in several decades.

”... People are expressing themselves through their vote. People have shown that they have not accepted the black decision taken on 5th August 2019... We have not been given the right to protest in the last five years. When Mehbooba Mufti goes to another state to protest, she is arrested. It’s a healthy sign for democracy that more and more people are asserting their rights,” said Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti.

- ANI

BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has claimed that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should be named “Corruption-wal” (corrupt man) alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party leader has “broken all records” in corruption.

”There is no one whom Arvind Kejriwal has not cheated. First, he cheated on Anna Hazare and then the people of Delhi. Now his name is not Kejriwal but Corruption-wal. He has broken all records of corruption. He is the biggest example of corruption.

Kejriwal’s party has become the most corrupt. Wherever they go, they indulge in corruption in new ways. All the leaders of this alliance are alike,” Mr. Chouhan said while addressing a rally in Delhi.

- ANI

Rachakonda Police Commissioner Tarun Joshi suspended two constables for withholding seized cash from two men on the night of May 11. The cash, about ₹31 lakh, was eventually handed over to the Income Tax Department. However, the official delinked the suicide of one Ranjith in Chengicherla with the cash seizure or suspension of police officials as is being speculated in news reports.

Explaining the sequence of events, the Commissioner said that on the night of May 11, Armed Reserve head constable K. Krishna and police constable A. Srikanth stopped Sai Kumar and Ranjith. “The two men on their bike were caught at Karimguda crossroads and the cash of about ₹31 lakh was seized from them. Instead of depositing the seized currency, the two constables allegedly retained the cash and also handed a part of it to Sai and Ranjith,” said the official.

Observing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the only leader talking about the future of India in his election speeches, a prominent Indian American philanthropist said none in the opposition camp can match his dynamism.

In an interview with PTI, Suresh V. Shenoy said with India’s economy making great strides, the country is all about opportunities.

“What I find in Indian elections is that Modi is the only guy who’s talking about the future. He’s talking about how to implement technology,” said Mr. Shenoy, an IITian and a successful businessman.

“I’m not necessarily a Hindutva guy per se. I think that’s a narrative that sort of makes political talk. But look at what India has accomplished from an economic standpoint in the last 10 years. It’s incredible. They’re now the fourth largest economy in the world,” he said in response to a question.

- PTI

Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams has endorsed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and said that the country would “suffer if its leadership passes into weak hands.”

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