Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address three public meetings in Rajasthan’s Hindaun, Sikar and Bikaner on Friday.

BJP president Amit Shah was also expected to address rallies in Jharkhand, however, due to bad weather conditions in the state.

Trinamool chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also cancelled all her political programmes scheduled for the next 48 hours to monitor and coordinate relief work during Cyclone Fani as it made landfall in Odisha.

Follow updates here:

9:35 pm IST Extension granted to Rahul Gandhi to reply to EC notice over his April 23 statement The Election Commission has accepted the request made by Rahul Gandhi seeking extension for filing the reply to the notice issued by the EC to the Congress chief on May 1 over his impugned statement made on April 23 in Shahdol of Madhya Pradesh. The extension has been made till May 7. He was earlier given 48 hours to reply. :ANI Election Commission has accepted the request seeking extension till May 7 for filing reply to the notice issued by Commission to Congress President Rahul Gandhi on May 1 over his impugned statement made on 23rd Apr in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh. He was earlier given 48 hrs to reply. pic.twitter.com/fL5hBiZUuj — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019





9:15 pm IST PM Modi’s speeches in Nanded, Varanasi not poll code violations: EC The Election Commission said it had examined the speech delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Maharashtra’s Nanded on 6 April and in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on 25 April. According to an EC communication, the poll body is of the “considered view” that “no violation of the extant advisories/provisions is attracted”.





9:00 pm IST EC rejects Randeep Surjewala’s poll code violation complaint against Amit Shah The Election Commission said it had looked into a complaint made by Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala alleging that BJP President Amit Shah had violated the code of conduct in his speech in Krishnanagar of Nadia district in West Bengal on 22 April. The EC said no violation of MCC or ECI’s instructions is made out.





8:30 pm IST Memorandum submitted to EC to ensure free, fair elections A memorandum has been submitted to the Election Commission of India regarding guidelines to ensure free and fair elections. :INC Sandesh INC COMMUNIQUE



Memorandum submitted to the Election Commission of India regarding guidelines to ensure free and fair elections.https://t.co/jfBC43OnQ6 — INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) May 3, 2019





7:45 pm IST PM Modi tweets about the last ‘125 memorable and humbling’ days of ‘vibrant rallies’ “Inaugurating new development works. Kickstarting long pending projects. Going to places associated with India’s culture. Engaging with professionals. Vibrant political rallies. The last 125 days have been both memorable and humbling,” PM Modi tweeted.





7:15 pm IST ‘We respect the great historical leaders of our country’: Rahul Gandhi ‘“We protect the history of this country. We do not do things like insulting our leaders, the way Amit Shah insulted Maharaja Surajmal. We respect the great historical leaders of our country,” said Rahul Gandhi.:INC हम देश की इतिहास की रक्षा करते हैं। अमित शाह ने जिस तरह महाराजा सूरजमल जी का अपमान किया, हम वैसा कभी नहीं करेंगे। हम देश के महापुरुषों का आदर करते हैं : कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष @RahulGandhi#AbHogaNyay pic.twitter.com/M8tE6LTAJT — Congress (@INCIndia) May 3, 2019





6:55 pm IST ‘As responsible citizens we respect country’s law’: Producer Sandip Singh “As a responsible citizen we respect the law of the country. After a lot of discussions and keeping the curiosity and excitement about the film in mind we have decided to release the film immediately after the Lok Sabha election results,” producer of the biopic, Sandip Singh said in a statement. “We are now releasing our film on 24th May 2019. This is the first time a film will be promoted for only four days. I hope now nobody has any problem with the film and we are hoping for the smooth release this time,” he added.





6:30 pm IST Modi biopic to release on May 24, a day after LS poll results The makers of Vivek Oberoi-starrer biopic on Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday announced that the film will be released countrywide on May 24, a day after the results of the Lok Sabha elections are declared. The film, titled ‘PM Narendra Modi’, was earlier set to release on April 11 but was banned by the Election Commission.





6:10 pm IST ‘Namdaars supporting the oriental view that India is land of snake charmers’: PM Modi “The fourth generation of ‘namdaars’ is supporting the oriental view that India is the land of snake charmers. Look at them, asking for votes through snake charming. Now, India is the nation which holds a mouse, not a snake. Our students and technicians are known worldwide now,” said PM Modi in Rajasthan.





5:45 pm IST ‘India leading international initiative for solar power usage’: PM Modi “International Solar Alliance is being lead by India worldwide. This is the first such international alliance which has a headquarter in India. We are leading this initiative to maximise solar energy usage. This initiative could have been taken up by Congress also, but they are unable to work for anyone’s benefit but for their family,” said PM Modi.





5:35 pm IST ‘Should the country thirsty for our blood have been given so much water?’: PM Modi on water given to Pakistan under Congress govt “Should the country which was thirsty for our blood have been given so much of water, when our own Bikaner was thirsty? The Pakistan, which used to suppress us under the Congress government, is now dealing with India’s strikes ,” said PM Modi.





5:25 pm IST ‘Air strikes, surgical strikes are made only under strong govts’:PM Modi “Decision to carry out air strike, or surgical strike, are made only under strong governments,” said PM Modi in Rajasthan’s Bikaner. :ANI जब देश में मज़बूत सरकार होती है तब एयर स्ट्राइक और सर्जिकल स्ट्राइक जैसे फैसले लिए जाते है: पीएम @narendramodi https://t.co/sXeC4gTTZI #ModiJahanVikasWahan pic.twitter.com/qKPDPvp6Jt — BJP (@BJP4India) May 3, 2019





5:05 pm IST ‘World is listening to what India has to say because of your vote’: PM Modi in Bikaner “The world is listening to what India has to say only because of your votes. You voted for the BJP, and that is why what has been achieved has been achieved,” PM Modi in Bikaner.





4:45 pm IST ‘Why is PM not talking about employment, farmers these elections?’: Rahul Gandhi in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur “During the previous elections, in every rally, PM Modi used to talk about employment and farmers. He has been in power for five years. Now, during these elections, why is not talking about these issues at all?” said Rhaul Gandhi. LIVE: Congress President @RahulGandhi addresses Public Meeting in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. #AbHogaNyay https://t.co/8OY3HhDGkv — Congress (@INCIndia) May 3, 2019





4:15 pm IST Sonakshi Sinha campaigns for mother and SP candidate Poonam Sinha Actor Sonakshi Sinha campaigns for mother and Samajwadi party candidate Poonam Sinha in Lucknow. Dimple Yadav was also present.:ANI Lucknow: Actor Sonakshi Sinha campaigns for mother and Samajwadi party candidate Poonam Sinha. Dimple Yadav also present pic.twitter.com/4i5da2XenQ — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 3, 2019





3:55 pm IST ‘If you want to carry out strikes on video game, you can put the number at anything’: PM Modi to Congress “If you want your carry out strikes only ‘on video game’ then you can put the number at 6 or 3 or 20 or even 25. The numbers will not make a difference to these liars,” said PM Modi in Sikar on Congress’s claim that 6 surgical strikes were carried out under UPA government . :ANI PM Modi in Sikar, Rajasthan on Congress's claim that 6 surgical strikes were carried out under UPA government: Jab kagaz par hi karni ho, jab video game mein hi strike karni ho to 6 ho ya 3 ho, 20 hon ya 25 hon, ye jhoote logon ko kya fark padta hai. pic.twitter.com/hJp6shVWdz — ANI (@ANI) 3 May 2019





1:22 pm IST Masood Azhar, now designated as global terrorist, was giving India injuries after injuries: PM Modi “Several brave mothers of Rajasthan lost their brave sons while they attacked such terrorists but now this terrorist is finding it difficult to enjoy in Pakistan. Surgical strike, air strike & now this major international strike on intentions of Pakistan, terrorists & terrorist leaders,” said PM Modi.





1:10 pm IST NDRF, Indian Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force are working with administration: PM on cyclone Fani “I took latest update from officers. I held a review meeting y’day. More than Rs 1000 crore was release to concerned govts y’day in advance. NDRF, Indian Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force are working with admn. I assure the affected people that nation & centre are with them,”said PM Modi over cyclone Fani.





1:07 pm IST Listing of Azhar as global terrorist 3rd strike on Pakistan: PM Modi After surgical strike and air strike, the listing of Masood Azhar as global terrorist is the third strike by an international body, said PM Modi.





1:03 pm IST Centre in contact with state govts over cyclone Fani, says PM “We have gathered here today. At the same time people living in coastal areas in eastern and southern India are facing an extremely severe cyclone. Centre is in continuous contact with govts in Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry,” said PM Modi in Rajasthan’s Hindaun



