Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE updates: Campaigning in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, AICC general-secretary Rahul Gandhi, 'After 5 years of being in power, you don't have a single achievement. The only things you say are 'Nehru did this', 'Indira did this'.... Modi ji, what did you do,' she asked.

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With fewer than seven days to go for the first phase of the crucial General Election on 11 April, top BJP and Opposition party leaders continue their campaign blitzkrieg. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold election rallies in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha (12 noon) and Saharanpur (2 pm) along with Uttarakhand's Dehradun (3.40 pm).

He is scheduled to interact with students in Pune's Laxmi Lawns Magarpatta at around 11 am, after which he is likely to address rallies in Chandrapur (2.30 pm) and Wardha (4.30 pm). Modi had held a rally in Wardha last week and slammed the Congress-NCP alliance in the state during his speech.

Shah cancelled his visit to Telangana, where he was scheduled to address two public rallies, on Thursday, as he had to attend an "emergency meeting" on the party's manifesto and poll-related issues, a top leader said. Hewas slated to address public meetings in Karimnagar and Warangal.

Shortly after BJP veteran LK Advani, believed to have been snubbed by the BJP when it comes to allotting the Gandhinagar seat, published a blog on Thursday with a clear call to the party to eschew the policy of calling political adversaries 'enemies, Narendra Modi tweeted that was proud to work in an organisation strengthened by the likes of Advani.

A case has been registered against Bahujan Samaj Party leader Omar Ali Khan and his supporters for violation of Model Code of Conduct. The leader and his supporters are understood to have misbehaved with police as well.

He also said that those "separatists" who were speaking against the Balakot air strikes were speaking in a language sponsored by Pakistan. When asked about his busy campaign schedule, Modi said that he has "done night stays" in 450 districts of the country and that he does not accept fatigue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an exclusive interview with ABP, said this is the first time that the electorate knows the difference between a Congress government and a non-Congress government.

He said that claims made by the Rashtriya Janata Dal, reported by news outlets, were "bogus". In a soon-to-be released book, Lalu has alleged that JD(U) leader and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar wanted to return to the RJD-JDU alliance within months of leaving it, but that Lalu had rebuffed his attempts.

Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party president Shivpal Yadav, who had earlier said he will sweep Uttar Pradesh, will release his party's manifesto today at 2:30 pm, reported News18.

"This is the land where sun rises first. This is why so many of you are so hard working here," he said.

From the Bogibeel Bridge to the smart city initiatives at Pasighat and Itanagar, BJP chief Amit Shah has been repeating the Narendra Modi government's achievements at his rally in Bordumsa in Arunachal Pradesh.

A day after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination papers from Kerala’s Wayanad, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath called the Indian United Muslim League a “virus" that the Congress has infected India with.

He also said Narendra Modi had asked his ministers to come to the North East once every 15 days.

"Morarji Desai was the last prime minister who attended a meeting of the NEC in the North East. After 40 years, prime minister Narendra Modi attended the meeting in Shillong," BJP chief Amit Shah said in Bordumsa on Friday.

"Does Prashant Kishor meet anyone without an agenda? We will never accept Nitish Kumar even if he chooses to return to the gathbandhan today," Tejashwi said.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has said Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had sent messengers to his father Lalu Prasad, to him and to various Congress leaders with deals and offers within six months of him allying with BJP. This comes as a backlash to JD(U) leader Prashant Kishor alleging that Lalu Prasad's claims to that effect were 'bogus'.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is in an interactive session with students, at Pune in Maharashtra. Sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted a link to the live video on Friday morning.

When asked by a student as to how he envisioned the participation of women in politics, Rahul promised that there would be 33 percent reservation of all Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha seats if the Congress is voted to power in 2019. He also said he is planning to employ a similar reservation in various other sectors as well. Rahul asked his questioner as to whether she is interested in joining politics, to which the girl, named Isha, said she wasn't. "Why not meet us and discuss things with us, we will make you interested in politics," he told her, to loud cheers.

"Why should 15 people get access to unlimited amounts of money when no one else can?" Rahul asked in Pune, turning the heat up on the BJP. He said that the Congress is eager to deliver their manifesto promises without raising the tax slab of the middle class.

"I have the guts to stand here and say, ask me whatever you want. Some of you might ask me questions that make me uncomfortable, I will deal with it. Why is the Prime Minister not standing here? It's an attitude of 'I know everything' and do not appreciate questions," he said.

Demonetisation is an injury that India has to now recover from, Rahul said, while walking around on the dais in his Pune interactive session. Rahul answered students' questions on the Balakot air strike ("I think the Indian Air Force should be lauded") and the power of education ("in our system we do not appreciate questions").

Mayawati said on Friday that even though India has suffered immensely under the Emergency imposed by the Congress government, the "undeclared" emergency of demonetisation has been far worse.

Earlier in the day, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath also called Muslim League a “virus” and said Gandhi was having an agenda with the Muslim League, the organisation which caused the division of the country.

"The fact that Rahul Gandhi is against India is known to all. The manifesto that Congress has released has insulted India. Rahul is allying with people and parties (referring to Indian Union Muslim League) who want to divide our country and insult our religion.”

Addressing a press conference, Congress communication in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "LK Advani has given a stinging indictment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah...in his blog he clearly says that people who don't accept BJP ideology are not anti-national. We may not agree with many of LK Advani's opinions but he has exposed PM Modi and Amit Shah."

Speaking at Amroha in Uttar Pradesh, Narendra Modi turned the nationalism pitch up another notch. Modi said the fact that a fitting response has been given to terrorists in Pakistan has scared many people in India who want to be heroes in Pakistan. "You all have placed a chowkidar in Delhi. You know that if someone harms anyone in India, the chowkidar will go to hell and punish him," he said.

Modi also listed out all the alleged injustices done to Uttar Pradesh leaders by Congress through the years, and also mentioned that the party had allegedly insulted BR Ambedkar because he had stood up to the Gandhi family.

"During UPA, there used to attacks in Ayodhya, in Kashi...our agencies used to nab the people responsible but for the sake of their vote bank, Bua and Bhatija used to set them free. These attacks and explosions have stopped because you voted for a chowkidar in Delhi...If needed I will hunt these terrorists in hell," he said.

"Yesterday, the United Arab Emirates honoured your prime servant with the greatest honour, Zayed Medal. This honour is not mine, this for you and for crores of Indians working in the Gulf countries, " said PM Modi to the crowd of Amroha after recieving the highest civilian award of the UAE

Following this, on 4 April, more than 600 theatre artists across India came together under the forum Artist Unite India and issued a statement urging citizens "to vote for love and compassion, for equality and social justice, and to defeat the forces of darkness and barbarism."

Last week, a consortium of writers, filmmakers and artists appealed to the citizens of India to "vote out hate politics" ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. The likes of TM Krishna, Girish Karnad, Urvashi Butalia, Shanta Gokhale and Anand Teltumbde signed a petition highlighting how the current socio-political state of the country is mired in discrimination-based, non-secular ideology.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is holding a sit-in protest in Vijayawada over reported I-T raids on Telugu Desam Party candidates and supporters, said, "Raids are being conducted on TDP leaders on the instructions of the prime minister. Once elections are announced, everything has to be conducted under Election Commission of India's guidance. All parties should have equal opportunity; they can't be partial towards any party, nor can they suppress a party.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday issued a warning to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the TDP leader sat on a dharna in Vijaywada against I-T raids on the party leaders. He said , "I'm warning the prime minister. If you do like this, you will have to pay a heavy price. We are fighting to save democracy and India. Who are you? You are the outgoing prime minister. I am even requesting the officers to not listen to him. If you listen, you will also face serious consequences."

The SP manifesto has criticised the higher classes and alleges that 10 percent of people have been enjoying 50 percent of the wealth. Akhilesh Yadav, after releasing the manifesto, said, “The question is what the farmers have got. This government (BJP) did not fulfil the promises made. We demand from the Centre that Rs 3,000 should be given a pension. It's not a manifesto…but a vision document of the SP.”

Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan has said that she will not contest the 2019 election. She had earlier expressed displeasure at the BJP's delay in deciding candidature for the Indore Lok Sabha seat.

"During the Congress's rule, there were frequent bandhs and the blockade lasted for 160 days. It led to escalation in the price of essential commodities. However, in the tenure of Biren ji Manipur has become blockade free," Amit Shah said.

Rahul has made his tolerance towards political opponents clear, propagating a discourse of love and even hugging the prime minister at the Lok Sabha.

Rahul Gandhi's answer to the question, "What is the definition of love in politics?" received roaring applause from Pune students' who comprised the crowd. "I love Mr Narendra Modi. I genuinely have no hatred towards the man at all. He has anger towards me," he said. At this point, the students began chanting 'Modi' and 'Rahul' almost alternatively.

ANI has shared the letter published by Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan, in which she has stated that she will not be contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Mahajan is over the BJP's 75-year limit for election tickets.

Speaking at his second rally of the day at Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Modi slammed both Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, drawing up the nationalism plank once again and blaming earlier governments for misrules in UP. He specidically called the Congress supporters of the 'tukde, tukde gang',

"Thanks to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, you will be a foreigner for six years and only then will you be given citizenship, why? What will you do in the six years? What about your job, school and every other essential thing. This is nothing but a conspiracy," Banerjee said.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee spoke at a rally at Dhubri in Assam. "Five years ago Modi called himself a 'chaiwala' but now he has forgotten how to make tea and has become 'chowkidar'," she said, hitting out at Narendra Modi.

Income Tax officials have raided the houses of Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's close aide DT Paramesh, and seized Rs 6 crore. Paramesh had earlier alleged that the keys of two of his Canara Bank lockers were lost. He, however, handed over the keys to I-T officials on Friday. The department has been trying to uncover a contractor-politician nexus.

YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy said, in an exclusive interview to CNN-News18, that he is open to an alliance with "whoever will give special status to Andhra Pradesh." Jagan has thus kept the doors open to both the Congress and the BJP, while not revealing his cards. Significantly, his party was formed as a breakaway faction of the Congress.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is likely to file his nomination papers for the Amethi Lok Sabha seat on 10 April and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is expected to file for the Rae Bareli seat on 11 April, PTI reported Congress sources as having said.

Malini reportedly alighted from a chopper to pose with a sickle for a photograph, causing embarassment to the BJP. On Friday, she rode a tractor which Abdullah noted might have been fitted with mist generators. She was not driving the tractor, it was stationery.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has been one among many politicos who have criticised BJP's Mathura candidate Hema Malini for her campaign methods which have appeared far removed from the people in her constituency.

In Dehradun, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "We were able to fix the issue of One Rank One Pension. Otherwise, those who only intend to get votes or notes, they left no stone unturned to stall OROP."

"Now tell me that Ahmed Patel is close to which family," he asked the crowd, hitting out at the Gandhi family.

Addressing a rally in Dehradun, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at Congress over the VVIP chopper scam. He said that the chargesheet filed by ED names an "AP", which is Congress leader Ahmed Patel and the "FAM" which stands for "family".

Lashing out at Congress over its manifesto, Narendra Modi said in Dehradun, "If you read Congress' deceptive manifesto, you will know 'Congress ka haath kiske sath hai". On the party's promise to review AFSPA, Modi said, " If Congress comes to power, it will do away with the law which protects the soldiers from terrorists, stone-pelters, separatists."

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley again alleged that Rahul Gandhi made "sweetheart deals" with fly-by-night operators. "When no reply is given to such serious allegations, then the country is entitled to presume that no reply could have been given," he said.

"The right to silence is available to an accused, not to a prime ministerial aspirant," he said.

Stepping up the attack on Congress over AgustaWestland case, Union minister Arun Jaitley lashed out at Rahul Gandhi over names of "AP" and "FAM" in the ED chargesheet. "Rahul Gandhi talks on several subjects without even having a nodding acquaintance with it. He makes wild and unsubstantiated allegations against all and sundry. Now, who are ‘RG’, ‘AP’ and ‘FAM’ mentioned in the chargesheet in the AgustaWestland scam."

Addressing a rally in Assam's Morigaon, BJP president Amit Shah said, "The chants of Modi-Modi across the country shows that Modi ji is going to win this time with bigger mandate than 2014."

Lashing out at the Congress over development in the state, he said, "Congress did nothing for the progress of Assam. What Congress couldn't do in 70 years, Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal did in five years. Modi government has done the work to provide security to the country."

In Morigaon, BJP chief Amit Shah said, "In Assam, we implemented NRC and identified the infiltrators. Once we form the government in the centre again, we will remove the infiltrators from the country."

In his blog, Advani has said his party has never regarded those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-nationals" or "enemies".

"Advani's remarks in the blog reflected his anguish. For him, country came first, party second and self last. It's reverse in the case of Modi. For Modi and (Amit) Shah, it is self first and country last. The ideals of Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee no longer have value in the BJP," Naidu, an erstwhile ally of the BJP, said in Vijayawada.

TDP president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu Friday latched onto veteran BJP leader LK Advani's blog to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it was "self first and country last" for him.

Addressing a rally at Vijay Sankalp OBC Sammelan, Union minister Smriti Irani said that the upcoming Lok Sabha election will be an election for the freedom of Amethi. "May Amethi be free from the clutches of the missing MP," she said, in a dig at sitting MP and Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna said the issue requires a detailed hearing and, therefore, it will take up the plea on 10 April. "You have not filed an appropriate application for interim stay. You file the application, we will take up the matter on 10 April," the bench told advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for the NGO, Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to grant interim stay on the electoral bonds scheme of the central government on funding to political parties and asked the petitioner NGO to file an appropriate application for it.

"In this election season, the spinning of hundred jumlas has begun. There's a rainfall of baseless and laughable accusations. We have full faith in the judiciary that the truth can never be hidden. It seems like the ED has now become an important part of the NDA," he said on Twitter.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel lashed out at Narendra Modi for levelling baseless and "laughable charges" against him in the AgustaWestland case.

Polling for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will be held in the sixth phase on 12 May. The manifesto, which will list out its agenda for the general elections, will focus on its endeavour to get full statehood for Delhi, a source said.

The Aam Aadmi Party is likely to release its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on April 25, according to sources in the party.

"The person who makes fun of the poor, doesn't help the unemployed, the country will ensure that he is ousted," he said.

Addressing a rally in Wardha, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, "We plan to build a food processing plant closer to your farm, so you can sell your produce directly to the factory. Modi can't even say that he is responsible for the closure of factories and that he will reopen them. He doesn't even accept that he didn't fulfil his promise of giving Rs 15 lakh to the people."

In Maharashtra's Wardha, Rahul Gandhi said, "IAF carried air strikes in Pakistan, showed courage, but the prime minister said he conducted them. You did it? Try holding a rifle like our CRPF personnel for five minutes, if not that, then just try travelling alone in a bus in Jammu and Kashmir. You did it? By sitting in Racecourse Road?"

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi's name featured in the BJP's list of star campaigners for Gujarat. The list, which had 40 names, mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah, and Union minister Rajnath Singh.

The manifesto promises setting up a commission for farmers, industrial reforms and working for the security and honour of the minorities, among others.

Releasing the manifesto at a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav said his party will work for the welfare of all sections of society after coming to power. "We will emerge as kingmaker in the coming polls," he said.

She further lashed out at the prime minister, saying. "After 5 years of being in power, you don't have a single achievement. The only things you say are 'Nehru did this', "'ndira did this'.... Modi ji, what did you do?"

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi claimed that she was told by people in Varanasi that Narendra Modi didn't meet any families in the constituency in the last five years and only came there to give speeches. "Modi roamed the entire world. He went to Japan, and hugged people. He went to Pakistan and ate biryani there. He also went to China and hugged people. But in five years, have you seen him hug a single family in Varanasi," she said.

A Congress delegation comprising Ahmed Patel, Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh reached Election Commission of India. Details about the purpose of the meet are yet to be known.

In Hyderabad, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "The family that has lost two of its members because of terrorists, they're claiming that terrorism is not an issue. Rahul ji, if it's not an issue, then why due you move around with SPG protection?"

A delegation from the Congress met the Election Commission on Friday alleging there were three key poll violations by the BJP. According to News18, the delegation complained about Modi's comments on Hindu terror over Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad nomination and the seizure of Rs 1.80 crore in Arunachal Pradesh ahead of PM Modi's visit to the state on 3 April. The delegation urged that an FIR should be lodged of the seizing. The Congress also said that BJP president Amit Shah had filed a false affidavit of his income declaration in Gandhinagar, and have asked for the disqualification of his nomination. The delegation also urged that the Maharashtra government be requested not to allow the transfer of the high profile IPS officer Deven Bharti.

Karnataka chief minister HD Kumarswamy urged to people not to believe in Narendra Modi's "colorful words". "Why should we have enmity with neighbouring countries? Two years ago,a military officer told me the prime minister will build a story before election to get votes. They(BJP) don't ask for votes on development work," he said.

Polling for the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will be held in the sixth phase on 12 May. The manifesto, which will list out its agenda for the general elections, will focus on its endeavour to get full statehood for Delhi, a source said.

The Aam Aadmi Party is likely to release its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on April 25, according to sources in the party.

"The person who makes fun of the poor, doesn't help the unemployed, the country will ensure that he is ousted," he said.

Addressing a rally in Wardha, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said, "We plan to build a food processing plant closer to your farm, so you can sell your produce directly to the factory. Modi can't even say that he is responsible for the closure of factories and that he will reopen them. He doesn't even accept that he didn't fulfil his promise of giving Rs 15 lakh to the people."

In Maharashtra's Wardha, Rahul Gandhi said, "IAF carried air strikes in Pakistan, showed courage, but the prime minister said he conducted them. You did it? Try holding a rifle like our CRPF personnel for five minutes, if not that, then just try travelling alone in a bus in Jammu and Kashmir. You did it? By sitting in Racecourse Road?"

BJP releases list of star campaigners in Gujarat for #LokSabhaElections2019 and by-election in the state. Actor Vivek Oberoi is also included in the list. The 26 Parliamentary constituencies of the state will undergo polling in the third phase of elections on 23rd April. pic.twitter.com/PC5lKcD3mp

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi's name featured in the BJP's list of star campaigners for Gujarat. The list, which had 40 names, mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah, and Union minister Rajnath Singh.

The manifesto promises setting up a commission for farmers, industrial reforms and working for the security and honour of the minorities, among others.

Releasing the manifesto at a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav said his party will work for the welfare of all sections of society after coming to power. "We will emerge as kingmaker in the coming polls," he said.

She further lashed out at the prime minister, saying. "After 5 years of being in power, you don't have a single achievement. The only things you say are 'Nehru did this', "'ndira did this'.... Modi ji, what did you do?"

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi claimed that she was told by people in Varanasi that Narendra Modi didn't meet any families in the constituency in the last five years and only came there to give speeches. "Modi roamed the entire world. He went to Japan, and hugged people. He went to Pakistan and ate biryani there. He also went to China and hugged people. But in five years, have you seen him hug a single family in Varanasi," she said.

A Congress delegation comprising Ahmed Patel, Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh reached Election Commission of India. Details about the purpose of the meet are yet to be known.

In Hyderabad, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, "The family that has lost two of its members because of terrorists, they're claiming that terrorism is not an issue. Rahul ji, if it's not an issue, then why due you move around with SPG protection?"

A delegation from the Congress met the Election Commission on Friday alleging there were three key poll violations by the BJP. According to News18, the delegation complained about Modi's comments on Hindu terror over Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad nomination and the seizure of Rs 1.80 crore in Arunachal Pradesh ahead of PM Modi's visit to the state on 3 April. The delegation urged that an FIR should be lodged of the seizing. The Congress also said that BJP president Amit Shah had filed a false affidavit of his income declaration in Gandhinagar, and have asked for the disqualification of his nomination. The delegation also urged that the Maharashtra government be requested not to allow the transfer of the high profile IPS officer Deven Bharti.

K'taka CM HD Kumaraswamy in Koppa: I'm pleading with you don't believe PM's colorful words.Why should we have enmity with neighbouring countries? 2 yrs ago a military officer told me PM will build a story before election to get votes.They don't ask for votes on development work. pic.twitter.com/7E5usJEzJX

Karnataka chief minister HD Kumarswamy urged to people not to believe in Narendra Modi's "colorful words". "Why should we have enmity with neighbouring countries? Two years ago,a military officer told me the prime minister will build a story before election to get votes. They(BJP) don't ask for votes on development work," he said.



Lok Sabha Election 2019 LIVE updates: Campaigning in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, AICC general-secretary Rahul Gandhi, "After 5 years of being in power, you don't have a single achievement. The only things you say are 'Nehru did this', 'Indira did this'.... Modi ji, what did you do," she asked.

Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi's name featured in the BJP's list of star campaigners for Gujarat. The list, which had 40 names, mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah, and Union minister Rajnath Singh.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel lashed out at Narendra Modi for levelling baseless and "laughable charges" against him in the AgustaWestland case. "In this election season, the spinning of hundred jumlas has begun. There's a rainfall of baseless and laughable accusations... It seems like the ED has now become an important part of the NDA," he said on Twitter.

Addressing a rally in Assam's Morigaon, BJP president Amit Shah said, "The chants of Modi-Modi across the country shows that Modi ji is going to win this time with bigger mandate than 2014."

Stepping up the attack on Congress over AgustaWestland case, Union minister Arun Jaitley lashed out at Rahul Gandhi over names of "AP" and "FAM" in the ED chargesheet. "The right to silence is available to an accused, not to a prime ministerial aspirant," he said.

Addressing a rally in Dehradun, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at Congress over the VVIP chopper scam. He said that the chargesheet filed by ED names an "AP", which is Congress leader Ahmed Patel and the "FAM" which stands for "family".

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has been one among many politicos who have criticised BJP's Mathura candidate Hema Malini for her campaign methods which have appeared far removed from the people in her constituency.

Malini reportedly alighted from a chopper to pose with a sickle for a photograph, causing embarassment to the BJP. On Friday, she rode a tractor which Abdullah noted might have been fitted with mist generators. She was not driving the tractor, it was stationery.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is likely to file his nomination papers for the Amethi Lok Sabha seat on 10 April and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is expected to file for the Rae Bareli seat on 11 April, PTI reported Congress sources as having said.

YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy said, in an exclusive interview to CNN-News18, that he is open to an alliance with "whoever will give special status to Andhra Pradesh." Jagan has thus kept the doors open to both the Congress and the BJP, while not revealing his cards. Significantly, his party was formed as a breakaway faction of the Congress.

Income Tax officials have raided the houses of Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's close aide DT Paramesh, and seized Rs 6 crore. Paramesh had earlier alleged that the keys of two of his Canara Bank lockers were lost. He, however, handed over the keys to I-T officials on Friday. The department has been trying to uncover a contractor-politician nexus.

Speaking at Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, in his second rally of the day, Narendra Modi turned the heat up on opposition parties again. "They protect their crores, while we protect their daughters," said Narendra Modi, at Saharanpur. He also called out directly to 'Muslim daughters' and warned them that they will be tortured under Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party.

BJP chief Amit Shah, at his second rally of the day, at Thoubal in Manipur, brought up boxing icon Mary Kom and chief minister N Biren Singh (a former footballer) to establish a quick connect with the crowd. "N Biren Singh (Manipur chief minister) served in the BSF and is a great chowkidar. Under him, Manipur has flourished," said Amit Shah. From the time when Narendra Modi came to power, Manipur has been exposed to the best of development. The 14th Finance Commission had come during the rule of the BJP, he reminded.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday issued a warning to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the TDP leader sat on a dharna in Vijaywada against I-T raids on the party leaders. He said, "I'm warning the prime minister. If you do like this, you will have to pay a heavy price. We are fighting to save democracy and India. Who are you? You are the outgoing prime minister. I am even requesting the officers to not listen to him. If you listen, you will also face serious consequences."

Naidu, who is holding a sit-in protest in Vijayawada over reported I-T raids on Telugu Desam Party candidates and supporters, said, "Raids are being conducted on TDP leaders on the instructions of the prime minister. Once elections are announced, everything has to be conducted under Election Commission of India's guidance. All parties should have equal opportunity; they can't be partial towards any party, nor can they suppress a party.

Naidu has begun a sit-in protest in Vijayawada over reported I-T raids on Telugu Desam Party candidates and supporters. Naidu has alleged that TDP leaders have been especially targeted because of his falling out with the BJP.

Narendra Modi, speaking at a rally in Amroha of Uttar Pradesh, listed out all the alleged injustices done to Uttar Pradesh leaders by Congress through the years, and also mentioned that the party had allegedly insulted BR Ambedkar because he had stood up to the Gandhi family. "But now they have to bring him back because of votebank politics," he said.

Speaking at a rally at Amroha in Uttar Pradesh, prime Minister Narendra Modi said the fact that a fitting response has been given to terrorists in Pakistan has scared many people in India who want to be heroes in Pakistan. "You all have placed a chowkidar in Delhi. You know that if someone harms anyone in India, the chowkidar will go to hell and punish him," he said.

When asked by a student as to how he envisioned the participation of women in politics, Rahul promised that there would be 33 percent reservation of all Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha seats if the Congress is voted to power in 2019. He also said he is planning to employ a similar reservation in various other sectors as well.

Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, in an interactive session with students at Pune in Maharashtra said the country no longer respect skills. Furnishing statistics on jobs lost in India, Rahul also made a point on the Congress manifesto, saying he does not believe in making false promises.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav has said Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar had sent messengers to his father Lalu Prasad, to him and to various Congress leaders with deals and offers within six months of him allying with BJP. This comes as a backlash to JD(U) leader Prashant Kishor alleging that Lalu Prasad's claims to that effect were 'bogus'.

At Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh, BJP president Amit Shah once again raked up the Balakot air strike that the Indian government had undertaken to avenge the deaths of soldiers in the Pulwama attack. "Rahul's guru Sam Pitroda can ask why we needed to do the strikes, but we know that you can only answer a stone attack with stones," Shah said.

BJP president Amit Shah, addressing a rally at the General Grounds of Bordumsa in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district, said Narendra Modi has brought great development to the North East and added that India has already decided to vote for him. "This is the land where sun rises first. This is why so many of you are so hard working here," he said.

Janata Dal (United) leader Prashant Kishore has alleged that Lalu Prasad's "best days" are behind him. He said that claims made by the Rashtriya Janata Dal, reported by news outlets, were "bogus". In a soon-to-be released book, Lalu has alleged that JD(U) leader and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar wanted to return to the RJD-JDU alliance within months of leaving it, but that Lalu had rebuffed his attempts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will speak at rallies in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, said in an exclusive interview to ABP on Friday that labour is his commitment. When asked about his busy campaign schedule, Modi said that he has "done night stays" in 450 districts of the country and that he does not accept fatigue.

Back-to-back rallies are the order of the day as the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress brass cover the length and the breadth of the country in fervent campaigns, with less than a week to go for the first phase of the Lok Sabha election to begin.

On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold election rallies in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha and Saharanpur along with Uttarakhand's Dehradun. Congress president Rahul Gandhi will address a public rally and hold an interactive session with students in Maharashtra. He is scheduled to interact with students in Pune, after which he will be addressing rallies in Chandrapur and Wardha.

On Thursday, Rahul filed his nomination papers from Wayanad in Kerala and led a mega roadshow through the town afterwards. He was accompanied by sister, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi who will be present on Friday at an event in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad in support of Congress candidate Dolly Sharma.

BJP president Amit Shah is scheduled to campaign in Arunachal Pradesh's Bardumsa, Manipur's Thoubal and Assam's Jagiroad. Shah cancelled his visit to Telangana, where he was scheduled to address two public rallies, on Thursday, as he had to attend an "emergency meeting" on the party's manifesto and poll-related issues, a top leader said on Thursday. He was slated to address public meetings in Karimnagar and Warangal.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will also be holding a rally in Assam's Dhuburi and West Bengal's Naxalbari.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath is expected to reply to the Election Commission (EC) over the reference to the Indian Army in his "Modi ji ki sena" comment.

The BJP on Thursday reacted as if it had received a major fillip after veteran BJP leader LK Advani, who has been replaced by party president Amit Shah in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat, wrote a blog titled Nation First, Party Next, Self Last ahead of the party's foundation day on 6 April. "Proud to be a BJP Karyakarta and proud that greats like LK Advani ji have strengthened it," Modi tweeted in response.

Tellingly, Advani said on Thursday that his party has never regarded those who disagreed with it politically as "anti-nationals" or "enemies" but only as adversaries. His remarks which come at a time when top BJP leaders have used anti-national barbs against political rivals on the issue of national security.