PM Modi speaks at his first ever first conference.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now speaking at his first ever press conference. At the media interaction, PM Modi said,"I believe we can say some things proudly We are the biggest democracy in the world but to showcase our capability is a responsibility we all share." He added that

Campaigning for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polls in 50 constituencies spread over six states and one union territory elections will come to an end this evening.

In West Bengal, campaigning in the remaining nine constituencies ended last night, a day ahead of the scheduled closing.

Here are the LIVE Updates of the Lok Sabha elections 2019:

May 17, 2019 18:09 (IST) Campaigning ends for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. The last phase of elections will be held on May 19. Results will be announced on May 23.



May 17, 2019 16:56 (IST) PM Modi on election outcome

It has not happened often in our country that a government with full majority returns once again with a majority



May 17, 2019 16:55 (IST) "Our Responsibility To Show Capability As World's Largest Democracy": PM At First Press Conference

I believe we can say some things proudly We are the biggest democracy in the world but to showcase our capability is a responsibility we all share

May 17, 2019 16:43 (IST) BJP Chief Amit Shah speaking at the press conference

Happy to say this time too, we are going to form another Narendra Modi government with an overwhelming majority

When we got a historic mandate in 2014, we undertook what we called the 'Narendra Modi Experiment'

In 2014 there was an atmosphere where there was a question over our multi-party system Now, there is more faith than ever in our multi-party democracy

PM undertook the most extensive election campaign in India's history



May 17, 2019 14:31 (IST) Priyanka Gandhi Attack On PM Modi

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday included a not-so-subtle dig at mega film star Amitabh Bachchan, who was once one of her father Rajiv Gandhi's closest friends. The Congress leader made the comments in Uttar Pradesh on the last day of an acrimonious campaign for the marathon national election. "You must understand that you have made the world's biggest actor your Prime Minister. You might as well have chosen Amitabh Bachchan as PM. No one would anyway do anything for you," Priyanka Gandhi said in Mirzapur. Mirzapur is around 85 km from Allahabad, from where Amitabh Bachchan contested his first and only election, at the instance of Rajiv Gandhi. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday included a not-so-subtle dig at mega film star Amitabh Bachchan, who was once one of her father Rajiv Gandhi's closest friends. The Congress leader made the comments in Uttar Pradesh on the last day of an acrimonious campaign for the marathon national election. "You must understand that you have made the world's biggest actor your Prime Minister. You might as well have chosen Amitabh Bachchan as PM. No one would anyway do anything for you," Priyanka Gandhi said in Mirzapur. Mirzapur is around 85 km from Allahabad, from where Amitabh Bachchan contested his first and only election, at the instance of Rajiv Gandhi.

May 17, 2019 13:13 (IST) PM Calls For Second Term At Madhya Pradesh Rally

On the last day of campaign for Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said he is sure of the BJP-led ruling dispensation winning over 300 seats. Addressing a rally in Khargone, PM Modi also thanked people for deciding to make him the prime minister again. "From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Kutch to Kamrup, the whole nation is saying- Ab ki baar, 300 paar, phir ek baar Modi sarkar," PM Modi said, expressing confidence that the BJP- led alliance will win over 300 seats. "This Sunday when you go to cast your vote then you will be scripting history. After decades you will elect a majority govt for a second time in a row," PM Modi told the voters. The fourth and last phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state will be held on May 19.

May 17, 2019 13:09 (IST) PM Narendra Modi in Khargone,Madhya Pradesh: This Sunday when you go to cast your vote then you will be scripting history. After decades you will elect a majority govt for a second time in a row pic.twitter.com/hOFV3ms6Up - ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2019

May 17, 2019 12:59 (IST) Leaders To Explain Godse Remarks Within 10 Days: Amit Shah

The ruling BJP today launched damage control after a rash of comments in favour of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse, just two days before the final round of voting for the national election. Pragya Singh Thakur, Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde and Nalin Kumar Kateel, all contesting the election, have been asked for an explanation within 10 days, BJP president Amit Shah said in a series of tweets on Thursday. "These comments have nothing to do with the party. All three have apologized, but these comments are against the ideology of the BJP and are being referred to the disciplinary committee," Amit Shah tweeted.

May 17, 2019 11:28 (IST) Congress NCP candidate from Thane cuts birthday cake with Desh ka Chowkidaar hi chor hai written on it Maharashtra: Congress- NCP candidate from Thane, Anand Paranjpe cut a cake on his birthday with 'Desh ka Chowkidaar Hi Chor Hai' written on it. (16/05/19) pic.twitter.com/v8zWcjeJhZ - ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2019

May 17, 2019 11:12 (IST) Last Day of Campaigning Ends Today

Today is also the last and the final day of campaigning for this year's staggering seven-phased Lok Sabha elections, which will end on Sunday with voting in 59 parliamentary constituencies across seven states and the Union territory of Chandigarh.

May 17, 2019 10:50 (IST) BJP Lawmaker Drags In Rajiv Gandhi To Pragya Thakur's Godse Controversy

After Pragya Singh Thakur, a second BJP leader has made shocking remarks on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse. Nalin Kumar Kateel, a BJP MP from Karnataka, has compared Godse with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, who has been a chief target of the ruling party in the national election campaign nearly 30 years after his assassination."Godse killed one, Kasab killed 72, Rajiv Gandhi killed 17,000. You judge who is more cruel in this??" - Nalin Kateel tweeted on Thursday, amid a raging controversy over Pragya Thakur's comment glorifying Godse as a patriot. Rajiv Gandhi has also been named in the same breath as 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, who was executed in 2012. After Pragya Singh Thakur, a second BJP leader has made shocking remarks on Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse. Nalin Kumar Kateel, a BJP MP from Karnataka, has compared Godse with former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, who has been a chief target of the ruling party in the national election campaign nearly 30 years after his assassination."Godse killed one, Kasab killed 72, Rajiv Gandhi killed 17,000. You judge who is more cruel in this??" - Nalin Kateel tweeted on Thursday, amid a raging controversy over Pragya Thakur's comment glorifying Godse as a patriot. Rajiv Gandhi has also been named in the same breath as 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, who was executed in 2012.

May 17, 2019 10:11 (IST) Pragya Thakur Apologies

Under fire from her own party, the BJP's Pragya Thakur has apologised for her controversial statement that Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse is a "patriot" after it sparked a political storm. The BJP candidate from Bhopal stopped short of an apology twice but appeared to give in after pressure from the BJP ahead of the final round of voting on Sunday. "I apologise to the people of the country for my statements on Nathuram Godse. My statement was absolutely wrong. I have huge respect for the father of the nation, Mahatama Gandhi," Pragya Thakur tweeted in Hindi late last night. Under fire from her own party, the BJP's Pragya Thakur has apologised for her controversial statement that Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse is a "patriot" after it sparked a political storm. The BJP candidate from Bhopal stopped short of an apology twice but appeared to give in after pressure from the BJP ahead of the final round of voting on Sunday. "I apologise to the people of the country for my statements on Nathuram Godse. My statement was absolutely wrong. I have huge respect for the father of the nation, Mahatama Gandhi," Pragya Thakur tweeted in Hindi late last night.

May 17, 2019 10:10 (IST) Congress Openly Saying It Is Ready To Forgo Its Claim On PM's Post

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that the Congress, which "considers the PM's post its birth-right", is backing out even before the elections are over and this indicates how badly the party expects to perform. After the sixth round of election, BJP chief Amit Shah has predicted that the party's tally has crossed 300 seats. "Even before voting ends, before exit polls, before counting, (the Congress) is saying openly that it is ready to forgo its claim on the PM's post," PM Modi said on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declared that the Congress, which "considers the PM's post its birth-right", is backing out even before the elections are over and this indicates how badly the party expects to perform. After the sixth round of election, BJP chief Amit Shah has predicted that the party's tally has crossed 300 seats. "Even before voting ends, before exit polls, before counting, (the Congress) is saying openly that it is ready to forgo its claim on the PM's post," PM Modi said on Thursday.

May 17, 2019 10:07 (IST) Kamal Haasan Defends Godse Comment

Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan today said he was "not intimidated" by the backlash over his comment that Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse, "independent India's first extremist", was a Hindu. "Terrorists abound in all religions, none can claim that we are sanctimonious," Kamal Haasan told NDTV. Earlier this week, slippers were thrown at Kamal Haasan during his campaign in Madurai. A Tamil Nadu minister, KT Rajenthra Bhalaji, controversially said his tongue should be cut off.

May 17, 2019 10:03 (IST) Smriti Irani Attacks Priyanka Gandhi

In a bitter attack on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday said the Congress general secretary offered ''namaz'' in Amethi and then also visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Madhya Pradesh, all for votes, amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. "The Congress was so flustered in Amethi that its general secretary, after offering namaz for votes there, now visited the revered Mahakal temple in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain," Ms Irani said at rally without naming Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, news agency PTI reported.

May 17, 2019 10:02 (IST) PM Offers To Build Vidyasagar Statue

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee -- accused by the BJP of engineering the vandalism of the statue of 19th century reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar -- on Thursday provided a laundry list of such destruction the BJP is allegedly responsible for. The smashing of the statue has become an emotive issue - Vidyasagar had been Bengal's Renaissance man who, among other things, had championed the cause of women's education and remarriage of widows.