New Delhi

Election Commission examining Modi's address on Mission Shakthi

The Election Commission of India has tweeted this: “The matter related to the address of the Prime Minister to the Nation on electronic media today afternoon has been brought to the notice of ECI. The Commission has directed a Committee of Officers to examine the matter immediately in the light of Model Code of Conduct.”

Amethi

People must know about BJP’s ‘jumlebazi’: Priyanka

Campaigning in her brother Rahul Gandhi’s parliamentary constituency, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday asked party workers to reach out to the villages and expose what she called was the BJP’s “jumlebazi” or empty rhetoric.

Ms. Priyanka Gandhi, who arrived in Amethi via Lucknow to hold a dialogue with the booth-level presidents as part of the party’s “humara booth, humara gaurav” campaign, remained closeted with representatives of Amethi for around two hours at the A H Inter College in Musafirkhana.

This marked the beginning of the second phase of her election campaign in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has said that she will contest elections if party asks to contest. “I will definitely contest,” she says. But she hasn't “decided yet and [her] wish is to work for the party”.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra interacts with party workers in Amethi on March 27, 2019. Photo: Twitter/@INCIndia

New Delhi

Giriraj Singh to contest from Begusarai: Shah

BJP chief Amit Shah said on Wednesday that Union Minister Giriraj Singh would contest the parliamentary election from Bihar's Begusarai constituency and all his problems would be resolved by the party.

Mr. Singh on Monday accused the party's State leadership of letting him down by "violating" his self-respect after denying him a ticket from Nawada, a seat which he won in 2014.

The BJP has announced Mr. Singh as its candidate from Begusarai this year.

Extending best wishes to Mr. Singh, Mr. Shah in a tweet said he has heard all the issues raised by the Union Minister and "all his problems will be resolved by the party".

"Giriraj Singh will contest from Beghusarai only," Mr. Shah tweeted.

BJP is contesting on 17 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar. An equal number number of seats are being contested by its ally JD(U).

Its another partner LJP is contesting on the remaining seats.

As per the seats arrangement between the three parties, the Nawada seat has been given to the JD(U). — PTI

Kolkata

Trinamool releases manifesto

Trinamool Congress releases manifesto, promises probe into demonetisation if Opposition alliance comes to power. The manifesto also promises to double 100 days work scheme to 200 days and also the wages and review the present GST. “Will revive Planning Commission, which was dissolved by the Modi government,” the party document says.

Photo: Twitter/@AITCofficial

New delhi

“The lower they go, the stronger we will emerge”, Arun Jaitley on Opposition

Addressing a media conference in the party headquarters, senior BJP leader and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said the Prime Minister had to make the announcement on Mission Shakti, since it was a deterrant.

“Since it’s is a deterrent and has to be informed to all, no one better than PM to do it," Mr. Jaitley said. He also said the area will be free of debris in a matter of three weeks.

Reacting to Opposition's criticism of the Prime Minister making an announcement in the time of elections, Mr. Jaitley said the “Indian space mission will go on 365 days, polls or not.” Taking a dig at the opposition parties, Mr. Jaitley said, “The lower they go, the stronger we will emerge."

Maharashtra

Urmila Matondkar joins Congress

Bollywood actor Urmila Matondkar has joined Congress in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi. She is likely to be fielded in a Mumbai constituency in the upcoming elections.

"Today is important day for me because today I will be formally stepping into active politics," Ms. Matondkar said after joining Congress.

Uttar Pradesh

BJP MP Anshul Verma joins SP

BJP MP Anshul Verma joined the Samajwadi Party on Wednesday after he was denied ticket by the Bharatiya Janata Party for the Lok Sabha polls.

“I have joined the SP without any conditions. My fault for denial of ticket might be that I had raised voice against distribution of liquor in a temple premises at a conference of the Pasi community, to which I belong,” Mr. Verma said.

“I was hurt by this and had also written to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,” Mr. Verma told reporters at the SP headquarters in presence of party supremo Akhilesh Yadav.

Mr. Verma said his other fault might be that he did not prefix the word ‘chowkidar’ to his name in Twitter profile.

Well done DRDO, extremely proud of your work.



I would also like to wish the PM a very happy World Theatre Day. — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 27, 2019

Sources in Election Commission said there was no need for prior permission for the Prime Minister to make an announcement on A-SAT as it was a matter of national security.

The UPA government had initiated the ASAT program which has reached fruition today I congratulate our space scientists & the visionary leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh, Congress leader Ahmed Patel has tweeted.

The A-SAT or anti-satellite mission demonstrates India's capability to shoot down an enemy satellite in the low-earth and polar orbits.

The DRDO has been working on the technology for a while.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins his speech.

India has established its name as a space power, he says. Only the US, Russia and China has the destination so far. India is the fourth nation now.

"Our scientists have successfully shot down a Low Earth Orbit satellite, 300 km away in space."

The operation was a success. 'Mission Shakti' was a difficult mission. It happened in just three minutes.

It's a proud moment for all Indians. It’s a matter of pride for all of us that it has been done by indigenously developed technology.

The Prime Minister congratulates the DRDO for the feat.

Today, we have enough satellites that are contributing in various segments such as agriculture, disaster management, communication, weather, navigation etc.

The anti-satellite A-SAT will strengthen the country's defence.

India has always been against warfare in the space. This has not changed. Today's test is within the limits of international laws.

“Our aim is to maintain peace, rather than war mongering. The aim of our space programme is peace, India’s economic and technological progress”

Today's success will ensure a safe, secure nation. We must always think two-steps ahead and have the courage to move forward.

The Prime Minister once again congratulates the people behind this successful feat.

It's past noon and the Prime Minister is yet to address the nation. Mr. Modi's Youtube page will be streaming the address live.

"What announcement will fit within the code of conduct guidelines of the Election Commission of India?" former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has tweeted.

As per the model code of conduct the Prime Minister cannot make any new policy announcement after the elections have been announced.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation via radio and television at 11:45 am on Wednesday.

मेरे प्यारे देशवासियों,



आज सवेरे लगभग 11.45 - 12.00 बजे मैं एक महत्वपूर्ण संदेश लेकर आप के बीच आऊँगा।



I would be addressing the nation at around 11:45 AM - 12.00 noon with an important message.



Do watch the address on television, radio or social media. — Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2019

Uttar Pradesh

Mayawati calls Congress, BJP birds of same feather

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati on Wednesday hit out at the ruling BJP and the Congress for their ‘garibi hatao’ promise calling it a bluff.

She accused both of the parties of being “birds of the same feather” who betray people, despite such eradicate poverty slogans which comes to nothing after the votes are over.

Mayawati said: “Ruling BJP calling Congress slogan of Garibi Hatao 2.0 a bluff, is true.

“But is poll bluff and reneging of poll promises the sole domain of the BJP?”

“In fact BJP and Congress party are both birds of the same feather. They betraying the interests of the poor, labourers, farmers and others,” Mayawati tweeted.

The Dalit leader’s remarks came after the ruling BJP described Congress’ minimum income scheme ‘NYAY’ announced by party chief Rahul Gandhi for elimination of poverty a “bluff”.

Gujarat

Congress announces two more candidates for Gujarat

The AICC came out with a list of three candidates on Tuesday, of which two are for Gujarat — one for Kutch and the other for Navsari.

The grand old party has trusted experienced political leader Naresh Maheshwari for Kutch — a seat reserved for the Scheduled Castes. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded a sitting legislator Vinod Chavda in the constuency.

Dharmesh Patel has been nominated for the Navsari seat in south Gujarat, who will be fighting it out against the BJP stalwart C.R. Patil.