India General Elections 2024 updates: Highlights on May 29, 2024

The Congress has accused the Modi government of “ruining” the Indian Railways and flagged issues such as “anti-poor infrastructure priorities” and a “callous attitude” towards passenger safety. 

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Odisha to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections, one should remember that on June 2 last year, one of the biggest train accidents of independent India took place there.

In a post on X, he said the five major issues of railways are “ticket vasooli, anti-poor infrastructure priorities, lagging train speeds, callous attitude to passenger safety and deteriorating railways finances”.

Explaining the issues, he said the railways reports an average price per passenger per kilometre. In 2013-14, this was ₹0.32/passenger-km and by 2021-22, this had more than doubled to ₹0.66/passenger-km, a 107 per cent increase, he said. “If we compare this to the UPA’s performance from 2003-4 to 2013-14, we see a much more reasonable increase from ₹0.24 to ₹0.32 (a 33% increase),” the Congress leader said.

“If we look past the averages and at specific ticket types, the Vasooli becomes even more clear and insidious. We must credit the Modi government for coming up with so many different ways to extort India’s people!” Ramesh said.

Passengers are being made to pay up to ₹180 extra per reservation in sleeper class without even getting any real improvement in speed or quality, he claimed and tagged a media report on it. PTI

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that the BJP-led government at the Centre is yet to declare the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as a national holiday, which has belied due honour to the national hero like him. 

Ms. Banerjee said this before taking part in a roadshow from Shyambazar five-point crossing to the ancestral house of Swami Vivekananda at Simla area in north Kolkata. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow took the same route yesterday.

Both leaders paid floral tributes to Netaji at his statue in Shyambazar.

“The Prime Minister yesterday played to the gallery by garlanding the statue of Netaji but failed to recognise his birthday, January 23, by not declaring it as a national holiday. But our government has already declared it as a State holiday,” she said.

“I strongly register my protest against this failure of the Centre. I salute national heroes like Netaji,” she said and chanted ‘Jai Hind’ slogans coined by him.

Had Netaji been not there, India would not have become independent, she asserted. He also conceptualised the planning commission which has been abolished, she said.

Ms. Banerjee said, “The disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has not been unravelled and remains a mystery. All the files relating to this have been released by the state government. The Centre did nothing”.

PTI

Out of the 440 BJP candidates contesting the Lok Sabha polls, 191 have declared criminal cases in their election affidavits, according to an analysis by a poll rights body.

For the Congress, out of its 327 candidates, 143, or 44%, have declared criminal cases, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said in a report based on data compiled from the affidavits on the Election Commission’s website. The cases, it said, include those related to murder, attempted murder, crimes against women and hate speech.

The ADR said the data obtained from the poll panel’s website reveals that a “significant portion of candidates contesting in the elections have self-declared criminal cases against them”. PTI

Ahead of the last phase of elections slated for June 1, senior BJP leader Ajay Alok has said the NDA under the leadership of Prime PM Modi is set to win over 400 seats. 

Speaking to reporters, the BJP’s national spokesperson Mr. Alok said, “I must say the NDA under the leadership of Modi is going to win 400 plus seats. The Congress-led ‘Ghamandiya’ (arrogant) alliance will face a humiliating defeat in this election.”

“This country wants Modi for a third term. He has been relentlessly working for the overall growth of the country for the last ten years. The results will be out on June 4 and we will be crossing the 400 mark,” he said. He added that the NDA will secure all 40 seats in Bihar and 80 in Uttar Pradesh.

“Modi’s sole aim is the welfare of every person from the Dalit, backward, and socially weaker sections of society. But INDIA bloc leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav want to give reservations on religious lines. Both have already said that if they are voted to power, they would bring amendments in the provisions of the Constitution to give reservations of OBCs and others to Muslims. They will do this because of their politics of appeasement,” he added.

PTI

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his “sent by God” remark, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to clarify their stand on the issue. 

In an interview with ANI, Mr. Kejriwal said, “There is a lot of rage in public against BJP. People are fed up with inflation and unemployment...people are not able to make ends meet, and their children are unemployed. They hope that the Prime Minister will resolve their issues. But when they open their television and listen to PM’s speech, they find him hurling abuses.” 

“He (PM Modi) is saying that if you vote for the INDIA bloc, they will take one of your two buffalos, they will take away ‘tontis’ (tap), they will take away your ‘mangalsutra’. In Maharashtra, he said Sharad Pawar is a ‘bhatakti aatma’, Uddhav Thackeray is the fake son of his father,” Kejriwal said. 

“People don’t expect these things, they expect the PM to speak on reducing petrol/diesel prices...so on one hand, they are suffering and on the other hand, the Prime Minister is busy abusing,” he added. 

Further taking a swipe at the Prime Minister, the AAP national convenor asked people if they were ready to accept PM Modi as ‘God’. “Nowadays, PM Modi is in a different world altogether. If you look at his last 10-12 interviews, he is openly saying that I am not a normal human, I am God’s avatar. I was not born out of my mother but directly emerged on this planet. Today, I want to ask the people of this country, do they also believe that PM Modi is God? We believe in Lord Ram, Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, and Waheguru. How can we accept him as God?” he asked. 

This comes after PM Modi, in an interview said that he has been “sent by Parmatma (God).” 

ANI

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has claimed that if the BJP retains power at the Centre, it will introduce a law similar to the repealed farm laws to “snatch the lands of farmers”. 

He also promised to provide “record” employment on coming to power if the INDIA bloc wins the Lok Saba elections.

Addressing a poll rally to seek votes for SP’s candidate from Robertsganj Lok Sabha seat Chhotelal Kharwar, Mr. Yadav promised that if the INDIA bloc formed the government at the Centre, it would waive off all loans of farmers.

He pointed out that the BJP leaders seeking votes for the party to retain power at the Centre are the “same people who brought the black farm laws to take away the lands of farmers.”

“The black laws were repealed only after the protest of farmers who united against it. The black laws have been repealed but we need to remain alert. If they come back to power, they will bring a similar law to encroach the land of farmer and Adivasis,” he said.

He also accused the Modi government of exploiting farmers by making urea fertilisers costlier.

PTI

The ECI has said that it is committed to incorporating principles and practices of inclusivity and accessibility throughout the entire election process. 

An EC statement quoting Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said, “EC is dedicated to incorporating and deeply integrating the principles and practices of inclusivity and accessibility throughout the entire election process, setting an example before the society for replication everywhere.” 

He added that the EC was determined to make the elections “truly reflective” of the spirit of plurality and diversity that is the pride of the country. The EC has put in place various features to ensure persons with disabilities and senior citizens can vote without hindrance. It has allowed home voting facility for the first time in Lok Sabha elections. Any eligible citizen aged 85 and above or with 40 per cent benchmark disability, can avail of the provision through postal ballot. 

This facility has received an enthusiastic response from voters, the poll panel said. 

PTI

Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that her party would complain to the ECI if PM Modi’s meditation trip to Kanniyakumari is televised as it would amount to violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

“We will complain. He can meditate, but televisions cannot show it,” she said, alleging that this would amount to a “violation of the MCC.” “Does anyone have to get cameras for doing meditation?” she asked, claiming that it was a way of campaigning during the silence period between the end of the campaign and the poll date.

Mr. Modi is scheduled to visit Kanniyakumari on May 30 and meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a monument built in tribute to Swami Vivekananda.

The Prime Minister had gone on a similar meditation exercise in a Kedarnath cave after the 2019 poll campaign.

PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the drug problem in Punjab “exists even today and is increasing”, and called for strict action against the menace.

“The drug issue in Punjab exists even today and it is increasing. Strict action needs to be taken against it. Punjab should fight against drugs with full authority and aggression,” he said.

Mr. Gandhi is the second senior Congress leader to raise the issue of the drug problem in Punjab, which is ruled by the AAP government, after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

On Tuesday, Mr. Kharge in Amritsar said the drug problem has become the biggest challenge for the future of Punjab. “Because of this, the law and order situation is deteriorating day-by-day. After selling land, farmers are sending their children abroad, fearing that they will not fall prey to drugs. Each one is forced to migrate as employment opportunities are not available,” he said.

Addressing a poll rally in favour of Congress’ Ludhiana candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring in Ludhiana’s Dakha, he also spoke about his party’s poll promises, including the Mahalakshmi scheme, loan waiver for farmers and ensuring legal guarantee on minimum support price if the INDIA bloc comes to power.

The Congress and the AAP are allies in New Delhi, but are fighting the Lok Sabha polls separately in Punjab.

PTI

Raising questions over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meditation at Rock Memorial from May 30 to June 1, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said it is good if he is going to Kanyakumari for “ prayashchit” (atonement).

“The person who does not understand the meaning of ‘ vivek’ (wisdom), what ‘ dhyan’ (meditation) he will do.

“If he is going for ‘ prayashchit’, then it is a good thing or if he is going to take inspiration from writings and speeches of Swami Vivekanand, even then it is good,” said Mr. Sibal.

PTI

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday accused the BJP government at the Centre of harming small and medium businesses, including the tourism sector in Himachal Pradesh.

Addressing a Lok Sabha election rally in Kullu, she alleged that people are now dying due to the Covid vaccine and the BJP had taken a ₹52-crore donation from a manufacturer.

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“There has been an increase of 104% in the number of political parties contesting Lok Sabha elections from 2009 to 2024,” according to an analysis by poll rights body ADR. According to the analysis, 751 political parties are participating in 2024 as compared to 677 who participated in 2019, 464 in 2014, and 368 in 2009. This surge represents a staggering 104% increase from 2009 to 2024.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the self-sworn affidavits of 8,337 candidates vying for seats in the Lok Sabha 2024 Elections.

​Read the full story here​

Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a jibe at the Samajwadi Party and Congress, saying they have decided to blame electronic voting machines for their defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.

At a public meeting in support of party candidate Pankaj Chaudhary, he also claimed that the BJP has crossed the majority mark in the first five rounds of polls.

“The counting is on June 4. In the afternoon the two ‘ shehzade’ (Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav) will hold a press conference and say we lost the election because EVM was defective,” he said.

PTI

FIR lodged against PDP president and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti over her street protest on polling day to press for release of arrested workers and polling agents on May 25: PDP

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 29 announced that a special committee will be set up to ascertain the reasons behind Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s deteriorating health when BJP comes to power after June 10.

“Elections are for saving Constitution, the BJP wants to scrap it,”: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said at a rally in Punjab’s Ludhiana. He said that if voted to power, the INDIA bloc will waive farmers’ debt, give legal guarantee on MSP. The Congress leader also said the drug problem in Punjab is increasing and strict action is needed.

Further, the Congress leader said, “INDIA bloc will scrap Agnipath scheme, throw it in dustbin on June 4.” - PTI

Chhattisgarh CM and BJP leader Vishnu Deo Sai criticised Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi for her comments on PM Narendra Modi, in which she accused him of asking the public to vote in the name of Gods and Goddesses.

Mr. Sai also informed the media about his upcoming rallies in Jharkhand, focussing on the Dumka and Rajmahal Lok Sabha constituencies.

Condemning Priyanka Gandhi over her remarks on PM Narendra Modi, the BJP leader said, “People don’t have any faith in them. They have completely lost the trust of the people.” - PTI

LJP (Ram Vilas) chief and the party’s candidate from Hajipur Lok Sabha seat, Chirag Paswan on May 29 slammed the Opposition INDIA bloc, saying that the alliance has neither a leader nor any policy to gain the support of the people. 

He said that the only aim of the INDIA alliance is to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that such an agenda can’t be a vision for the development of the country. “INDIA bloc has neither a leader nor any policy. Their priority is to defeat PM Modi, and it can’t be a vision for the development of the country,” Chirag Paswan said.

“Just to defeat a person, you (parties in the INDIA alliance) have done everything possible and compromised with your principles, policies and everything to join together,” he added. He asked why anyone should support the INDIA alliance which does not have a vision other than to defeat PM Modi. - ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday alleged that the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal was giving away the rights of “original” OBCs to Muslims by issuing “false caste certificates”.

Addressing an election rally at Kakdwip in Mathurapur Lok Sabha seat, he accused the TMC of not allowing the implementation of development schemes in West Bengal with its mantra “eta hotey debona” (will not let it happen).

“To appease a section, the TMC government is openly attacking the Constitution, which has given reservations to Dalits and backward castes. But an open loot of reservations happened in West Bengal... false OBC certificates were issued to Muslims,” he alleged.

“The Calcutta High Court has cancelled these false certificates but the TMC cannot accept this verdict. They are misguiding the Muslims,” he added.

Mr. Modi attacked the TMC, accusing it of preventing the implementation of central schemes for fishermen, and other initiatives such as Ujjwala Yojana and Ayushman Bharat.

He said Matua community members will get Indian citizenship with “aan, baan aur shaan” (respect that’s due to them).

Mr. Modi accused the TMC government of compromising national security by allowing unchecked infiltration into West Bengal from across its borders.

“TMC and INDIA bloc are pushing West Bengal to the direction opposite to development. Trinamool Congress even takes cut money from PM Awas and mid-day meal projects,” he alleged.

He charged “TMC goons” of attacking Bharat Sevashram and Ramakrishna Mission establishments in the state.

“To enforce ‘Viksit Bharat’, we need a ‘Viksit Bengal’,” he added. 

PTI

Speaking at a rally in Bengal’s Kakdwip, Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday said, “To enforce ‘Viksit Bharat’, we need a ‘Viksit Bengal’”

He alleged that the TMC is compromising national security by allowing unchecked infiltration from Bengal’s borders. He also guaranteed Indian citizenship to Matua community members. 

“TMC, INDIA bloc are pushing Bengal to the direction opposite to development,” the Prime Minister said. 

He further said that the TMC government forbids implementing central schemes for fishermen, Ujjwala gas, and Ayushman Bharat. 

He also alleged that the TMC is giving away rights of ‘original’ OBCs to Muslims by issuing false caste certificates. 

Mizoram’s Rajya Sabha MP K. Vanlalvena has urged the Election Commission of India to allow 1,047 police personnel to cast their votes as they were away on poll-related duties in other States. 

The police personnel failed to cast their votes at the time of elections to the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram held on April 19 as they had gone to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on poll duty. 

Mr. Vanlalvena in a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Tuesday said that currently 15 companies of Mizoram Armed Police comprising 1,047 personnel are on election duty in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. 

PTI

The Congress on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi whether he was withholding Rs 7,000 crore of paddy procurement funds to West Bengal and if the CBI case against Suvendu Adhikari has got “washed away” in the BJP’s washing machine.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also asked if the prime minister prioritised his PR over vaccines and funds under the National Health Mission. 

“Today’s questions for the outgoing PM’s West Bengal visit: Is the outgoing PM withholding Rs 7,000 crore of ration funds so that his face is plastered on ration shops? Did Suvendu Adhikari’s CBI case get washed away in BJP’s washing machine? Does the PM prioritise his PR over vaccines for India’s children?” he asked in a post on X. 

The Indo-Nepal Border will be sealed for 72 hours from Wednesday evening to Saturday evening in view of the polling in this Lok Sabha constituency in the seventh phase of the polls, officials said.

Security has also been beefed up in the area ahead of the polls on June 1.

District Magistrate Anunaya Jha told PTI that joint forces of India and Nepal will be deployed at two crucial border points in the district and barriers would be placed.

The crossing points with Nepal will be completely sealed and only emergency services will be allowed during this period, the DM said.

Cameras will be installed on trade and transit points along India’s border with Nepal to prevent illegal movement of people ahead of the polling in Mahrajganj seat. 

PTI

Congress candidate from Chandigarh Lok Sabha constituency Manish Tiwari lashed out at the BJP, saying that the party has done nothing for the development of Chandigarh for the last ten years when it represented the constituency.

BJP’s Kirron Kher has been representing the constituency for the last ten years.

“In the last 10 years, the BJP has done nothing for the development of Chandigarh. They did not complete even one promise out of 56, that they made in 2019,” Tiwari told reporters.

“They (BJP) murdered the democracy in Chandigarh. It is a request to the people of Chandigarh to never trust such immoral people... This appeal is on behalf of the INDIA Alliance,” he added.

-ANI

In a big setback to the Samajwadi Party just before the last phase of the general elections, the party’s prominent Bhumihar face in purvanchal, Narad Rai has announced his exit from the party and vows to support the BJP.

Narad Rai is said to have joined the SP in the 1980s. This step is being seen as a major setback for the Samajwadi party and the INDIA bloc as Ballia is to go to polls in the last phase on June 1.

Elaborating on his decision, Narad Rai told ANI, “Samajwadi Party was nurtured by my blood and sweat. I worked on the principles of Dr Rammanohar Lohia, to stand with the poor. I stood beside Netaji like his own son when he was insulted. I kept saying that insulting Netaji would prove costly for the Samajwadi Party. Netaji cried when he was removed from the post of party chief. 

“Akhilesh Yadav then took over the charge forcefully. We thought that Akhilesh Yadav must have forgotten whatever happened after he started giving respect to Netaji. But that did not happen.”

-ANI

Former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday accused the Congress of indulging in bogus voting at few places in the State during the Lok Sabha election on May 25. 

Addressing a press conference here after his party’s review meeting a day earlier, Mr. Khattar alleged that the Congress workers at some places were found indulged in bogus voting, especially in the Rohtak and Sirsa Lok Sabha constituencies, and efforts were made to prevent it strictly. He said the authorities were informed “verbally”, but the time to challenge it had lapsed. “Bogus voting is something that needs to be dealt with at the spot. It can’t be identified later,” Mr. Khattar said.

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Decide between Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has taken the country to new heights in the last ten years, or the INDIA bloc and its corrupt leaders who are “either out on bail or in jail”, BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda said.

Addressing election rallies in Kinnaur, Rampur and Shimla, Mr. Nadda said that the Congress was involved in “mega scams” like CWG, 2G, 3G, helicopter scam, sugar scam, fodder scam and coal scam.

Now money has been recovered from ministers of the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, he said. ₹365 crore were recovered from the house of a Congress MP and ₹29 crore were recovered from the PA of a minister in Jharkhand, the BJP chief added.

-PTI

In the last phase of polling for the Lok Sabha election, all eyes have now shifted to Santhal region in Jharkhand where voting will take place for three parliamentary seats of Dumka, Rajmahal and Godda. 

Sixteen of the 18 constituencies in six districts — Deoghar, Godda, Sahebganj, Pakur, Dumka and Jamtara — are bracketed as Santhal Pargana. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be trying to retain its two parliamentary seats. The party had won Godda and Dumka seats in the 2019 general election whereas it lost Rajmahal seat to Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

-PTI

Inflation was higher whenever the Congress governed at the Centre, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, asserting that India’s unemployment rate is the lowest among big countries. Mr. Singh made the remarks at election rallies in Punjab’s Ferozepur and Anandpur Sahib parliamentary constituencies.

The Union minister said the inflation rate was 2% from 1947 to 1950, and it “increased to 13.8% during Nehru’s time. From 1964 to 1966, it was over 10%”.

During Morarji Desai’s government, the first thing that was done was to lift restrictions on the movement of farm produce from one state to another, Mr. Singh said.

As a result, inflation, which had touched 30%, came down to 7%, he claimed.

-PTI