Lok Sabha Elections 2024 top developments: Rahul Gandhi promises 50 pc reservation for women in govt jobs

The Congress fielded Rajasthan Assembly Speaker C P Joshi from the Bhilwara parliamentary constituency replacing its candidate Damodar Gurjar. The party declared its ninth list of three candidates and two replacements for the Lok Sabha polls.

Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav speaking over the upcoming polls said, “We are fully prepared, and we will fight the elections with all our might. I have said time and again that the Lok Sabha Poll results in Bihar will be surprising.”

TMC leader Shashi Panja said, "Yesterday we had given a request seeking an appointment and probably we'll get to meet the full bench of the Central Election Commission on Monday. We are worried about a few things in West Bengal during the elections and CEC is the only place where we can go."

"We have given a memorandum. The main issue is that the ED, CBI and NIA are there in West Bengal. Everyone knows that the Model Code of Conduct is in effect, candidates are busy but investigations are being done to disturb the candidate and for political signalling... The party in power at the centre, the BJP is using these institutions as a political tool to disturb the opposition parties but none of the agencies reach the BJP leaders," she added. 

Complete story: INDIA bloc gets permission to hold rally to protest against Kejriwal's arrest

INDIA bloc gets permission to hold rally in Delhi on March 31 to protest against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's arrest.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Somebody denying tax to the govt is denying benefit to the poor...Tax money goes to the public welfare. If Congress is not paying the taxes, it means they are against the welfare activities, poor and the downtrodden..."

Kolkata, West Bengal: TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, "BJP is misusing agencies like CBI, ED, NIA and Income Tax...We have information from NIA sources that two BJP leaders (both are Lok Sabha candidates) met NIA officer Dhan Ram Singh at his residence and had meetings in two phases. They handed over a list of TMC workers to arrest, detain and harass..."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi promised 50 per cent reservation for women in government jobs if his party is voted to power. 

"Why even today only 1 out of 3 women have employment? Why is only 1 out of 10 government jobs held by a woman? Isn't the population of women in India 50 per cent? Isn't the presence of women in higher secondary and higher education 50 per cent? If yes, then why is their participation in the system so low?," Rahul Gandhi wrote on X in a post in Hindi. 

"Congress wants - 'Half the population, full rights' (Aadhi Aabadi, poora haq), we believe that the full potential of women will be utilised only when women have equal contribution in the government running the country. Therefore, Congress has decided that half of all new government jobs should be reserved for women. We are also in favour of immediate implementation of women reservation in Parliament and Vidhan Sabha. Women with secure income, secure future, stability and self-respect will truly become the power of the society. Having women in 50 per cent of government positions will give strength to every woman in the country and powerful women will change the fate of India," Gandhi added.

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday (Mar 28) hit out at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the latter's remarks on the country's judiciary. Prominent lawyers including Harish Salve, Manan Kumar Mishra and Adish Aggarwala wrote to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud expressing concern over attempts to undermine the judiciary’s integrity.

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Archana Patil Chakurkar, daughter-in-law of senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, is likely to join the BJP on Saturday.

RJD, Congress and Left leaders hold a joint press conference and announce seat allocation.  

RJD to field its candidates on 26 seats, including on Purnea and Hajipur.  

Congress on 9 seats, including Kishanganj and Patna Sahib  

Left on 5 seats.

Himachal Pradesh: BJP candidate from Mandi and actor Kangana Ranaut addresses people as she conducts a road show here. 

She says, "...Don't think that Kangana is a heroine, that she is a star. Consider Kangana your sister, your daughter. Everyone is my family..."

“PM Modi has arrested an elected Chief Minister (Arvind Kejriwal). There is anger in everyone. Questions are being raised about this. Yesterday, Arvind Kejriwal put forth the truth in front of the court. AAP has started this door-to-door campaign from today against this dictatorship. We are inviting everyone and have appealed to them to gather at Ramlila Maidan on March 31," says Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai was quoted as saying by news agency PTI during his door-to-door campaign in Karol Bagh.

The wife of jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sunita Kejriwal, launched a WhatsApp campaign on Friday (Mar 29), calling on people to show support for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader.

"We are starting a drive from today - Kejriwal ko aashirvaad. You can send your blessings and prayers to Kejriwal on this number," she said in a video conference. 

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Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi Marlena has accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of being the ruling party BJP's political weapon.

News agency PTI reports that the AAP leader alleged that the agency's interest in accessing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's phone is an attempt to obtain details of the AAP's Lok Sabha election strategy on behalf of BJP.

Atishi pointed out that Kejriwal's phone, is relatively new and did not exist during the formulation and implementation of the excise policy behind his arrest.

This she said proves the ED is being used as a "political weapon" by the BJP.

"They want it because they will find in it details of AAP's Lok Sabha poll strategy, campaign plans, talks with INDIA bloc leaders and information regarding media and social media strategy," she alleged.
 

Karnataka leader of opposition, R Ashoka claims Congress fears the upcoming elections in Karnataka.

Karnataka is set to go to polls in two phases starting on April 26.

Talking to ANI the leader revealed that a meeting was held with former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular) to strategise for the upcoming elections in the state. 

"We discussed issues regarding the election strategy and how to organise rallies with HD Kumaraswamy so that we can win 4 constituencies in the Bengaluru region."

On the nomination of Congress leader DK Suresh from the Bangalore rural constituency, he said, "Naturally, he (DK Suresh) has filed the nomination but they (Congress) are in fear; they distributed nothing last time but are doing so this time (Cooker and everything)."

Here are 10 facts about the now-dead gangster, encompassing his early life and his flourishing mafia empire.

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Communist Party of India (CPI) MP Binoy Viswam on Thursday criticised the Congress party for fielding Rahul Gandhi in the Wayanad constituency, where he is contesting against the CPI's Annie Raja.

Viswam said that Rahul Gandhi's candidacy from Wayanad was not discussed in any meeting of the INDIA alliance.

"Somebody said, Rahul Gandhi is a candidate of INDIA alliance. I was astonished to see that. In no meeting of INDIA alliance, the candidature of Wayanad was ever discussed. It is very clear from the beginning that the fight in Kerala will be LDF Vs UDF."

"In Kerala, nobody is contesting as a candidate of the INDIA alliance, that is the political reality of Kerala," he added.

Highlighting the disparity in the number of seats between Kerala and North India, he remarked: "What is the main, focal point of this battle? The North India which has 200 plus constituencies or Kerala, which has only 20 seats in Lok Sabha. Who is the main enemy of Congress? RSS, BJP or their partner in the India alliance? The Left?"

"They feel that Kerala is the focal point of this battle, which has only 20 seats. They forget to see the heartland of India which has 200 plus seats."

Former Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh, OP Singh, has dismissed the allegations that gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, was being poisoned in jail. Labelling the claims as "absolutely baseless," he said that the situation would become clearer after the post-mortem examination.

Talking to ANI, he said that "various kinds of rumours are being spread in the state, and a high alert has been issued. Police and administration are absolutely alert, especially in areas like Ghazipur, Mau, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, and Varanasi."

Singh also said that Ansari had a history of filing medical grounds applications during his time in a Punjab jail to avoid appearing in Uttar Pradesh courts.

"When Mukhtar Ansari was lodged in Punjab jail, he had submitted many such applications on medical grounds so that he would not have to appear in UP courts. He has not always been healthy and has been ill for a long."

"Accusing that he was being poisoned is absolutely a baseless allegation. The situation will become absolutely clear after a postmortem is done… Mukhtar Ansari was a criminal, a don, and a mafia, and his death should not be thought of extensively," he added.

Umar Ansari, son of Mukhtar Ansari, has alleged that his father had been given poison in his food and has voiced his intention to approach the judiciary regarding the matter.

Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati has called for a high-level investigation into the allegations made by Mukhtar Ansari’s family regarding his death in jail. Ansari, a gangster-turned-politician, died of heart attack in judicial custody, on Thursday (Mar 28), following which his family has voiced concerns and suspicions, alleging foul play.

In a statement posted on her official X account, Mayawati emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to uncover the facts surrounding Ansari's death. She said that the family's distress in such circumstances is understandable and offered her condolences.

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been extended in four districts of Assam - Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideo and Sivasagar - for a further period of six months with effect from April 1, 2024.