Lok Sabha elections 2024 highlights for April 30

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Election Commission of India revises the date of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha constituency (J&K). Polling to now be held on 25th May instead of 7th May, as notified earlier.

ECI publishes Voter turnout data for Phase 1 and Phase 2: Voter turnout of 66.14% in phase 1 and 66.71% in phase 2.

Thirteen more candidates, including BJP’s Bansuri Swaraj from New Delhi constituency and AAP’s Sahi Ram from South Delhi seat, on Tuesday filed their papers on the second day of Lok Sabha poll nominations for seven seats in the national capital.

The nomination papers were filed by 13 candidates on the first day of the process on Monday. The last date for filing nominations is May 6.

As per Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) office, a total of 26 candidates have so far filed nomination papers on the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi

Mamata Banerjee skipped the Ram Temple's consecration ceremony in Ayodhya because she was scared of offending her “infiltrator vote bank”, said union minister and BJP leader Amit Shah. 

Speaking at a rally in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district, Amit Shah urged the public to decide between "dynasty politics" and "Ram rajya."

The Congress made Akshay Bam their candidate and made me substitute candidate. Now, Akshay Bam has withdrawn his nomination. That's why I have filed a petition in the High Court to make me a candidate. I want the Congress party to announce my name as the candidate from: Moti Singh Patel

The Congress has some sort of hatred for our constitution ever since their inception. If they look at the Constitution given by BR Ambedkar, they will see a depiction of scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata on each and every page. It started insulting the Constitution from the first day itself: PM Modi

During the rally in Telangana, PM Modi also accused Congress of "trying to fool the country in the name of the Constitution."

"They are trying to fool the country in the name of the Constitution. The first constitutional amendment was made by the first Prime Minister which was to curtail free speech. They once again tried to censor the press freedom. They have nothing to do with the Constitution," said the Indian PM.

He added, "They are the people who stop the functioning of the Parliament, they question the Election Commission, they question the EVM, and now for their vote bank, they are insulting the constitution... Till the time I am alive, I will not let them give the reservation meant for Dalits, SCs, STs, and OBCs to the Muslims in the name of religion."

An influential figure in Madhya Pradesh politics, Congress leader and six-time Vijaypur MLA Ramniwas Rawat joined the BJP on Tuesday delivering another blow to the grand old party in the state in two days. 

Rawat's exit comes a day after Congress' Lok Sabha candidate from Indore, Akshay Bam, withdrew his nomination and joined the BJP. 

During a rally in Telangana's Zahirabad Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a shot at Congress and talked about the "five markers" wherever Congress forms government. 

"Wherever Congress forms government, they have five markers of their governance. False slogans, and false promises, vote bank politics, encouraging mafias and criminals, dynasty, and corruption," said the PM. 

He added, "These five markers make the Congress hand. People in Telangana can also experience these traits of the Congress."

PM Modi also claimed that Congress has found "another way to loot the people" referring to the party's plan to bring the inheritance tax.

"Congress has found another way to loot the people. If it comes to power (at the Centre), they will bring the inheritance tax. This means that people will not be able to give their savings to their children. More than half of people's savings will be taken away by Congress," said the Indian PM. 

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court dismisses second bail application by AAP leader and former deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in the Delhi Excise policy case. The bail had been opposed by both CBI and ED. 

Sisodia had sought bail on the ground of delay in the trial. His earlier bail application was also dismissed by the court last year. 

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge while addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh said, " PM Modi and his people keep saying give us 400+ majority, why? Not for the benefit of poor people, scheduled tribes or backward classes...it is to end the rights of all these communities including farmers. Their (BJP and RSS) people keep saying that if they get the majority they will change the constitution... the day before yesterday RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said that they won't change the constitution or will end the reservation...why did he say so, if they had not spoken about these things (changing constitution and ending reservation) this subject wouldn't have popped up..."

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav, while addressing a election rally in Raisen, said, "You gave the vote to PM Narendra Modi for national security and good governance... When the Balakot incident happened after the formation of the BJP government, PM Narendra Modi said that Pakistan would have to pay for this. This is the first time PM abides by his words... He is a leader who glorified democracy."

While addressing a public rally in Latur, Maharashtra, PM Modi said, "Before 2014 there would be announcements warning of unattended objects... In the whole country, 24 hours a day, such warnings were issued in important places... Where did these unattended objects disappear after Modi became Prime Minister?... Newspapers had headlines informing about bomb blasts every other day, but today India can protect its borders well..."

Congress MLA Jignesh Mevani in Ahmedabad, Gujarat said, "I can never be a supporter of fake videos or fake propaganda in my life. I condemn all such actions… but no one should be selectively targeted during elections."

"Satish is like my brother and I am proud to have a friend like him. But he is never a person who deliberately does anything with bad intentions. I have known him closely for 6 years," he added. 

Bansuri Swaraj, who is a BJP candidate from New Delhi Lok Sabha Constituency, said, "This is a national election and BJP is loaded with self-confidence. PM Modi has done a lot of work; we are going among people with our performance report card."

"However, if we speak about Delhi, CM Arvind Kejriwal does politics of hatred and because of that he has not let PM Modi's people welfare scheme be implemented in the National Capital like Ayushman Bharat. If people make me win then I am going to ensure that the people welfare scheme of PM Modi 'Ayushman Bharat' will be implemented in Delhi as well," she added. 

Uttar Pradesh CM & BJP leader Yogi Adityanath addressed a rally in Berhampore, Murshidabad. He said, "Today, I have come here to ask the West Bengal government, how are Sandeshkhali-like incidents happening in a State which gave the message of Durga Puja to us?"

"Today's Bengal is not 'Sonar Bangla' which was imagined by our freedom fighters. Attempts are being made to push West Bengal into riots. Be it Congress or Trinamool Congress- both the parties are united to loot the State and conspire against India...7 years ago the situation was the same in Uttar Pradesh. Today, our daughters and businessmen and traders in Uttar Pradesh are safe," he added. 

The JD(S) announced on Tuesday (Apr 30) that Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna was suspended from the the party amid a row over sex scandal - allegedly showing him sexually assaulting multiple women.

Read more: Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna suspended from JD(S)

The National Commission for Women (NCW) strongly slammed the sexual abuse which involved JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna.

NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said that these events have been endangering the safety of the women and perpetuate a culture of violence.

The chairperson has taken suo motu cognisance of this matter and has sent a letter to DGP Karnataka demanding swift action from authorities to apprehend the accused and submit a detailed report within three days.

Karnataka's former CM and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy on 'obscene videos' case related to JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna said, "We are not going to protect him, we will take severe action but the government's responsibility is more. Not only as an uncle but as a common man of the country we have to move further. This is a shameful issue, I am not protecting any person. We have fought against these kinds of illegal things. This is a serious issue. Who is running the government, they have to expose the real picture and the ground reality has to be exposed by the govt and not me..."

When asked if Revanna will be expelled from the party, he said, "Wait for some time. We will give the information after our Core Committee meeting..."

The Congress party has raised concerns over the treatment of its candidates in Surat and Indore, alleging that they were threatened and intimidated into withdrawing their nominations. 

The party claims these actions reflect a broader "threat to democracy," and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "so nervous" and "afraid" even in traditional BJP bastions.

In Surat, the Congress candidate's nomination form was rejected due to discrepancies, which allowed the BJP nominee to run unopposed. Meanwhile, in Indore, Congress candidate Akshay Bam withdrew his nomination a fortnight before the scheduled polling. 

Speaking during a rally in Assam's Guwahati, Amit Shah said that BJP is in favour of implementing the Uniform Civil Code across India.
 

In the lead-up to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, Ponguru Narayana of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as per reports is engaging in a door-to-door campaign in the Nellore constituency. 

The former Andhra Minister, contesting against Mohammed Khaleel Ahmed of the ruling YSR Congress Party, expressed optimism about TDP's chances and said "TDP has done a lot of work for the constituency in the past and people are appreciating this... We are going to win with a high majority."

Here's a detailed schedule of other key political events across India today.

- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief Jitu Patwari will hold a joint public meeting in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district at 11:30 am at the M.J.S. ground.

- Aam Aadmi Party and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh will hold a Sankalp Sabha tiled 'Julm ka Jawaab Vote Se' in Haryana's Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency at 4 pm at the Maharana Pratap Bhavan in Radaur Assembly constituency.

- Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge will address one public meeting each in Chhattisgarh and Karnataka. He will first address a press conference at 12 pm in Raipur (Chhattisgarh) followed by a public meeting at 2:15 pm in Janjgir-Champa (Chhattisgarh). Later, he will address a public meeting at Chittapur in Kalaburgi district of Karnataka at 6:30 pm.

- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold three public meetings in Maharshtra — Madha (at 11 am), Osmanabad (1 pm) and Latur (2:30 pm) districts. Later, he will address another public meeting in Telangana's Zaheerabad district (4:30 pm).

- Home Minister Amit Shah will address one public meeting each in Assam, West Bengal and Gujarat, respectively. He will first address a press conference at the Assam BJP office in Guwahati (at 10 am), followed by a public meeting at Bisnupur football ground in Rasulpur, Katwa district of West Bengal (at 12 pm). He will also address another public meeting at the Panchayat office in Naroda village of Ahmedabad (at 7:30 pm).

- BJP National President J.P. Nadda will address public rallies in Karnataka where he will first address an intellectual meeting in Shivamogga district at Prerana Hall, PESITM College near Sagar Road. Later, he will hold a roadshow in Haveri district at 3 pm in Byadagi from Chandraguttemma Devi Temple near Gandhi Nagar till Subhash Circle.

-Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will address two public meetings in Madhya Pradesh, one at 12:50 pm in Khandwa district and another at 2:20 pm in Barwani district.

- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Yogi Adityanath will visit West Bengal and address public meetings in Behrampore, Birbhum and Asansol districts.