In continuing campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, leaders of various political parties, including PM Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and Congress Rahul Gandhi will address poll rallies on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held one public meeting in Jharkhand and will address two rallies in West Bengal while Amit Shah will hold three rallies in Bihar.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address three rallies in Uttar Pradesh.

Follow live updates here:

5: 13 pm IST Mamata once wanted to remove illegal immigrants, now she shields them: PM Modi Mamata Banerjee used to shed tears in Parliament seeking that illegal immigrants be thrown out, is now their biggest protector: PM Modi in West Bengal





5:12 pm IST Mamata Banerjee is Speed braker and sticker didi Mamata Banerjee is not only speed braker didi, but she is also sticker didi. She puts stickers of her government on the schemes announced by Central government. But due to her selfishness she has not approved Aayushman scheme, which has made treatments difficult for the general public: PM Modi





5: 06 pm IST I have experienced poverty first hand, do not need to read books for that: PM Modi I do not need to read poverty in books or news paper, I am the one who has experienced it first hand. I have seen my mother cooking food with wood. I have seen her having eye problems: PM Modi in West Bengal





5:00 pm IST ‘Mamata for goons and Nirmamata for the people’: PM Modi attacks Bengal CM Didi wanted to escape investigation in the Chit Fund scam and therefore, she is supporting a coalition that’s weak. In Bengal now the situation is that there is Mamata for goons but Nirmamata for people: PM Modi





4: 51 pm IST PM Modi launches attack on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee In 2009, Mamata wanted to have president’s rule in West Bengal during the election, because she knew communist will try to influence voters. General public believed in her intentions and voted for her to remove the communist government but Didi has let the public down. She just made changes in the slogans, election symbol but kept the governance same like communists.





4:45 pm IST PM Modi addresses poll rally in West Bengal’s Ranaghat Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing a public meeting at Ranaghat, West Bengal. LIVE : PM Shri @narendramodi is addressing a public meeting at Ranaghat, West Bengal. https://t.co/5hAHyGDj8v #BharatKaGarvModi — BJP (@BJP4India) April 24, 2019





3:39 pm IST Congress president Rahul Gandhi addresses rally in Unnao Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in an election rally in Unnao, says the party wants to remove fear from the hearts of the people. He says Congress will give them justice. Says if Congress’ Unnao candidate is elected, Congress will form government and their problems will be solved.





3:28 pm IST ‘Didi wants to bring people from B’desh and oust Modi’ The Centre is working on projects to improve the conditions in Bengal but Didi is trying to put obstacles. State government has not implemented Ayushman Bharat scheme. But didi is not worried about the poor, she only wants to bring people from Bangladesh and oust Modi, says PM. Modi says, “To remove ‘Speed-breaker’ Didi, you will have to strengthen this Chowkidaar. I urge you to go and vote for BJP.”





3:24 pm IST Didi asked proof of our soldiers’ valour: Modi Didi questioned surgical strikes, asked for proof of our soldiers’ valour, says PM Modi. It is your Chowkidar’s govt which has attacked terrorists in their den, adds PM. Your vote will end terrorism and strengthen this chowkidar who will fulfil your dreams.





3:22 pm IST ‘Got 800 Indians released from Saudi prisons’ It is due to our increasing influence that Saudi Arabia has released more than 800 Indians. When UAE felicitated me, there was criticism here in India. I got the Haj quota increased and a Hindu temple is now being built in UAE. More than 800 Indian prisoners were released by Saudi Arabia due to strengthening bond between India and Saudi: PM Modi





3:12 pm IST First time voter doesn’t want neither dadagiri nor didigiri PM says, “Gurudev didn’t imagine a Bengal where people have to plead for their rights. The goons of TMC have disturbed the peace of Gurudev’s Shanti Niketan”. He says the first time voter doesn’t want either Dadagiri or Didigiri but the development of the state: PM Modi. He says Mamata Banerjee accused him of just travelling around the world but because of these visits, now India’s increasing power is being recognised in the world. Today, the world stands with us which shows our increasing power and acceptance in the world community. It is due to India’s increasing influence and power that in the last five years, we have brought many criminals back to India and many idols etc that had been stolen.





3:09 pm IST ‘Didi has put speed breaker on Bengal’s development’ If Didi has goons, we have the power of democracy, says PM Modi. Says,the countdown of tyrannical rule of TMC will begin when we again form govt on 23rd May in the country. “You trusted TMC and Didi but she put speed breaker on the state’s development. Speed breaker Didi has played with not only the present but the future of the state’s people”,PM says.





3:02 pm IST Didi’s sun has started setting in Bengal: Modi The report coming after the first three phases of polling shows that Didi’s sun has started setting in West Bengal, PM Modi said referring to CM Mamata Banerjee. He said, Didi and his goons are ruffled now.





3:00 pm IST PM Modi addresses election rally in Bolpur, West Bengal. PM Modi has reached Bolpur in West Bengal where he is to address the second election rally of the day.





2:52 pm IST Cong candidate booked for alleged derogatory remarks against UP CM Congress’s candidate for Kaiserganj Lok Sabha seat Vinay Kumar Pandey was booked for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the Nath sect, to which the CM belongs, officials said Wednesday. According to District Magistrate Nitin Bansal, the Congress candidate Tuesday made derogatory remarks against Adityanath, Mahant Avaidhyanath and the Nath sect. : PTI





2:39 pm IST Adityanath cleansed CM residence with gangajal: Akhilesh Yadav Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is addressing election rally in Kanpur. He attacked the BJP and said two-and-half people are running the country. He says their time is over. Adds, BJP leaders owe allegiance to two flags . Accuses the UP CM Adityanath that the latter cleansed the CM residence was cleansed with gangajal after Akhilesh vacated the residence.





2:29 pm IST Case filed against Rahul Gandhi for reported statement of Modi surname A case was filed against Congress President Rahul Gandhi in a Bihar court for his reported statement that “all thieves have Modi as their surnames”. A BJP leader Manoj Modi on Wednesday filed the case in the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s (CJM) court in Purnea district. The petitioner’s lawyer Delip Kumar Deepak said his client Manoj Modi was deeply hurt by Gandhi’s statement. Last week Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi also filed a defamation case against Gandhi for the same reported statement. : IANS





1:59 pm IST BJP using divide-and-rule policy of British to grab power: Akhilesh Akhilesh Yadav said, “The BJP is using divide and rule policy of British to grab power. They (BJP) are creating division on basis of caste and religion with sole purpose of grabbing power, charges .” : PTI





1:57 pm IST SP-BSP alliance won’t let BJP succeed in its designs: Akhilesh Yadav Speaking at a pubic meeting in UP’s Hardoi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “SP-BSP alliance will not let BJP succeed in its designs.” : .PTI





1:50 pm IST 21 opposition parties file plea in SC on EVMs Twenty one opposition parties filed a review petition before the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking a direction to the Election Commission to verify 50 % of the EVMs using VVPAT. : ANI





1:28 pm IST Was in BJP for a platform for Dalit issues: Udit Raj Replying to a question, Udit Raj said he was in BJP for a platform for Dalit issues and since the platform isn’t there anymore, he saw no point in staying with the party.





1:18 pm IST BJP dropped me because I supported Dalits: Udit Raj Udit Raj, after joining Congress, expressing gratitude to party chief Rahul Gandhi, said, he wanted to join Congress since 2012 and Rahul Gandhi knew this. He added that If BJP had given him ticket, he would have contested election. But (dropping me) has made one thing very clear - that BJP is anti-Dalits. He said the BJP dropped him because he supported Dalit agitation in April 2018 and his fault is he wasn’t a deaf and dumb leader.





1:09 pm IST Sheila Dikshit welcomes Udit Raj to Congress North West Delhi MP Udit Raj formally joins Congress in New Delhi. He was welcomed by Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit. Says, she was surprised and sad that BJP did not give him LS ticket.





1:02 pm IST Do not allow person who speaks lies to move ahead: Priyanka Gandhi Priyanka Gandhi said, “Do not allow a person who speaks lies and does not work for you to move ahead.” : PTI





1:00 pm IST Remove politics of divisiveness& negativity: Priyanka Gandhi in Fatehpur Congress general secretary for East UP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, addressing a rally in Fatehpur on Wednesday, said, “Change politics not only of your area or for your needs, but for future generations and to save country. “ She added, “Remove politics of divisiveness and negativity, usher in politics which speaks about your grievances.” : PTI





12:31 pm IST Country will become strong when you press lotus symbol: PM I want to ask you which leader can tackle terrorism, who has the guts to wipe out terrorism, work on development? You are saying Modi will do all this but you are wrong, all this will be done by your vote. When you press the lotus symbol, then the country will become strong: PM Modi





12:25 pm IST ‘Cong govts not implementing PM Kisan Yojana properly’ Congress governments in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and MP are not implementing PM Kisan Yojana properly. It is spreading lies that Modi govt will take back the money under this scheme. But that is lie, no one can take it back from you. You’ll get it lifelong , three times a year.After election results, Modi govt will begin a pension scheme for farmers.: PM Modi





12:23 pm IST Modi assures tribals their rights and land won’t be usurped Modi says, “Congress has used STs as a vote bank for years. So I want to warn you about the rumours being spread by Congress. Till the time Modi is around, your land and rights won’t be usurped, says Modi. We created district mineral fund to protect the rights of tribals. From this money, infrastructure is being developed in tribal areas.”





12:18 pm IST ‘Congress attitude towards the country’s security has done a lot of harm’ Modi says, “The Congress doesn’t have faith in our army. Congress is insulting those families whose son is in any paramilitary force, army or police. Karanataka CM said only those young people join army who are poor and can’t afford two square meals. Is that why the people send their sons to join army? What kind of language are they using? Why are they insulting the soldiers? Congress attitude towards the country’s security has done a lot of harm to the nation. Congress only thinks about one family and is dedicated to it and the rest of the people are mere vote bank for the party.





12:12 pm IST ‘Brought back nurses from Iraq, father Tom from Afghanistan’ PM Modi says, “We rescued the 46 nurses abducted in Iraq and brought them back to their homes. We brought back father Tom from Afghanistan,





12:05 pm IST Before 2014, India was facing terrorism, says PM Modi PM Modi says, “You chose a strong government in Delhi, which is why we have been able to rein in Maoists and Naxals and you can see it in Jharkhand. Today not only India, there is the challenge of terrorism in front of the world. You saw how terrorists attacked churches on Easter in Sri Lanka. Before 2014, India was facing the same situation. Terrorists sent by Pakistan were attacking India and the Congress govt of the day used to cry. But is this how you tackle terrorism? Your govt has replied to Pakistan in its own language, today every terrorist is scared that Modi will search for him even in hell and punish him.”





12 noon IST Opposition blaming EVMs for their defeat: PM PM Modi: I have been many times to Jharkhand as the prime minister but I have never seen such huge crowds before today. After polling on 300 seats in three phases, the opposition has no option but to accept defeat. Now these people have got tired of abusing Modi, so from yesterday they’ve started abusing EVMs. They are blaming EVMs for their defeat. Like a child who makes excuses to justify underperformance in exams, oppn blaming EVMs for their poor show.”





11:53 am IST PM Modi addresses rally in Lohardaga PM Modi is addressing an election rally in Lohardaga, Jharkhand.





11: 50 am IST Cong candidate Urmila Matondkar meets locals in Dahisar Congress candidate from Mumbai North, Urmila Matondkar, met locals during her election campaign in Dahisar area on Wednesday. Congress Candidate from Mumbai North Urmila Matondkar meets locals during campaign in Dahisar area #Maharashtra #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/lWKK5Uhuud — ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2019





11:30 am IST BJP MP Udit Raj joins Congress BJP’s North West Delhi MP Udit Raj on Wednesday joined the Congress. On Tuesday, he had said he will resign from the BJP if denied ticket in the Lok Sabha elections and may contest independently from the North West Delhi parliamentary seat. Later in the day, the BJP declared singer Hans Raj Hans as its candidate from the LS seat.





10:20 am IST Get to what is happening through social media: PM Modi I am active on social media. I get to know what is happening in the world through socia media, says PM Modi in his interview with actor Akshay Kumar.





10:08 am IST Asked people to watch Toilet Ek Prem Katha, PM Modi tells Akshay Kumar PM Modi said that he asked people to watch Akshay Kumar’s movie, Toilet Ek Prem Katha’ because the film is about a social issue. He said health is the biggest issue in our country and there are only two ways to deal with it- cleanliness and fitness.





10:02 am IST ‘Never thought I would become the PM’ PM Modi said he never thought he would become the prime minister one day. Giving reason for this, he said that was so because ordinary people never think about becoming the PM. He added, that given his family background, his mother would have distributed sweets if he had got a small job.





9:58 am IST I don’t get angry easily, says PM Modi Asked by actor Akshay Kumar if he ever gets angry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he never gets angry as it spreads negativity. “Suppose, if I get angry in a meeting it will just distract everyone,” he said.





9:55 am IST ‘Didi sends me kurtas every year’: PM Modi on Mamata Banerjee Speaking about Trinamool Congress chief and Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, the PM said, “Despite all the rivalry, didi sends me kurtas every year. She also sends me sweets as she knows I am fond of Bengali sweets.”



