LIVE Updates | Lok Sabha Elections: Rahul Dares PM Modi For Debate, Says 'I Know He Won't Come'

Lok Sabha Chunav 2024 Live Updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address multiple ralies in support of their party candidates in Haryana and Delhi on Saturday.

Lok Sabha Elections Live Updates: The Bhartiya Janta Party-led NDA and Congress-led INDIA-bloc are preparing for the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. On May 20, the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election is expected to be held in six states and two union territories. In phase 5, 695 contenders compete for 93 seats. On June 4, the results of all 543 constituencies will be announced.

The fifth phase of voting will take place in Bihar (5), Jharkhand (3), Maharashtra (13), Odisha (5), Uttar Pradesh (13), West Bengal (7), and the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir (2) and Ladakh (1).

The slugfest over the Congress manifesto and the BJP's 'Hindu-Muslim' jibe continues for another round. Prime Minister Narendra Modi defended himself against accusations of inciting a religious divide, saying that the day he says 'Hindu-Muslim', he will be unfit for public life.

Here are major political events in the run-up to the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address public meetings in Haryana and Delhi on May 18.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be in Uttar Pradesh on May 18
• Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will hold public meetings in Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi on May 18.
• Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will campaign for the party candidates in Raebareli and Amethi on May 18.

Stay tuned to Zee News English for live updates on Lok Sabha Elections 2024

18 May 2024

22:54 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Delhi CM Kejriwal Addresses Rally In Delhi 

Addressing a public rally in Mohan Garden, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says, "I am an ordinary man & we have a small party. Why did PM Modi send me to jail? What was my crime? I was sent to jail because I made good schools for your children..."

22:24 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Rajasthan CM Praises PM Modi  

Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma addresses 'Pravasi Rajasthani Sammelan' at Puri. He says, "After 2014, under the leadership of PM Modi, kind of changes that happened in the country and you (people) have seen these changes, you can speak about it to other people... Congress ruled Odisha for 50 years but the condition of poor people, labourers, women and youth are still the same and BJD ruled for 25 years and they have done the same..."

21:45 IST

Amethi Lok Sabha Seat: Congress Leader Deepak Singh Slams Smriti Irani 

Congress leader Deepak Singh says, "Smriti Irani shut down several development projects in Amethi and broke the promises made to the people here. She never stayed in Amethi. She never understood the pulse of Amethi...In the past 2-3 months, she used to come in the morning on an aircraft and leave in the evening...I booked a train ticket for her so that when she returns to Delhi on a train, she would be taught a lesson by the passengers for the arrogance she showed the people of Amethi and the atrocity she unleashed on them..."

21:30 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress Slams BJP's Yogi Adityanath Over 'Gau Bhakt' 

Congress leader & candidate from Rajnandgaon, Bhupesh Baghel says, "...How long will you deceive and mislead voters? I would like to ask Yogi Adityanath, you are 'gau bhakt' but your party has taken RS 250 Crores from the exporters of beef. Should you stay in that party even for a minute?..."

20:44 IST

Lok Sabha Polls Live Updates: 'I'll Vote For AAP, Kejriwal For Congress', Says Rahul In Delhi

It's interesting that I'll vote for AAP and Arvind Kejriwal will vote for Congress in these elections: Rahul Gandhi at poll rally in Delhi

20:34 IST

Lok Sabha Chunav Phase 5 LIVE Updates: Rahul Dares PM Modi For Debate

I'm ready to debate with PM Modi whenever and wherever he wants, but I'm sure he won't come: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi

20:16 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live Updates: Rahul Addresses Rally In Delhi's Ramlila Maidan

"Our (AAP and Congress) karyakartas have joined hands to save the Constitution. If the Constitution gets abolished, which the BJP and PM Modi want; their top leaders have openly said that they will abolish the Constitution if they get a chance. Therefore, it is our job to safeguard the Constitution," says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing a public gathering at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi.

19:40 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live Updates: Campaigning Ends For 5 LS, 35 Assembly Seats In Odisha

The high-decibel campaigning for Odisha's five Lok Sabha seats and 35 assembly constituencies, which will vote on May 20, came to an end on Saturday. Among the prominent candidates in the second round of simultaneous elections in the state are BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, as well as his state government colleagues Bikram Arukha, Niranjan Pujari, PK Amat, Tukuni Sahu, Rita Sahu, and SP Nayak.

Jual Oram, a former union minister and sitting MP in Sundergarh, former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey, former union minister and hotelier Dilip Ray, and BJP's four-time Lok Sabha MP Sangeeta Singh De are also running in this round of elections. Patnaik is seeking re-election from his home turf Hinjili, as well as from the Kantabanji assembly segment.

19:16 IST

Lok Sabha Chunav 2024 Live Update: PM Modi Meets Pak Refugees Who Got Indian Citizenship Under CAA

PM Narendra Modi met Pakistani refugees who recently received Indian citizenship under the CAA during his public address in Delhi North East constituency today.

18:16 IST

PM Modi Alleges, 'Congress Tried To Stop Construction Of Ram Temple' 

PM Narendra Modi said, "Congress tried their best to stop the construction of Ram Temple just to please their 'vote Jihad'. Despite that, they were invited for 'pran pratishtha'. However, they didn't the 'pran pratishtha' because of their hatred for Lord Ram. Will you accept those who declined invitation for Lord Ram's 'pran pratishtha'?"

17:28 IST

Lok Sabha Polls 2024: PM Modi Calls INDI Alliance 'Corrupt' 

Addressing a public gathering in Sonipat, Haryana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Congress has been out of power for 10 years & therefore are bewildered. They are recalling those old days when the royal family controlled the government with a remote control. All the Yojanas would be in the name of members of one party. The money of these Yojanas used to go into the coffers of the corrupt people...Reality does not change by changing the name. INDI alliance is a group of corrupt people. They want power at any cost..."

16:45 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: UP CM Yogi's BIG Statement On PoK

Addressing a public rally in Palghar, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says, "We will not worship our enemy. If someone kills our people we will not worship them but give them an answer that they deserve. It has become difficult for Pakistan to save Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Let PM Modi become the Prime Minister for the third time and within six months PoK will become part of India..."

16:16 IST

Lok Sabha Chunav 2024: BJP Leader Himanta Biswa Sarma Addresses Rally In Siwan

Assam CM & BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses a public rally in Raghunathpur, Siwan "...We closed 700 madrassas in Assam and no one raised their voice against it. Why? Because this is new India...Aaj mullah banane ka dukaan khulne nahi dunga. Doctor, engineer banane ka kaam karunga...We need 400 seats so that we can bring the Uniform Civil Code, construct Krishna Janambhoomi temple, construct Gyanvapi temple and stop reservation to Muslims...."

15:33 IST

Lok Sabha Elections LIVE: PM Modi Seeks Blessings In Haryana

In Ambala, PM Narendra Modi says, "Haryana means 'himmat', Haryana means 'hausla'. That is why, Haryana is 'dhaakad'...Just like Haryana, Modi has run the government for 10 years in 'dhaakad' manner. Today, when you see Rafale aircraft in the skies of Ambala, don't you feel proud? I have come to seek your blessings for the next 5 years..."

14:38 IST

Lok Sabha Election 2024: 'Hope That People Will Come Out To Vote,' Says Ghulam Nabi Azad 

Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party, Ghulam Nabi Azad said, "I hope that people will come out in large numbers to vote and press the 'Bucket' button".

11:57 IST

2024 Lok Sabha Polls LIVE| Is Mamata With INDIA Alliance? Kharge Answers 

Regarding CM Mamata Banerjee, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Mamata ji first said they would support from outside. Recently, she has said if the government is formed, she will join, so naturally, she is with the alliance. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury does not make decisions; we do. It is the Congress party high command, so whatever decision we take will be right."

10:49 IST

2024 LS Polls Live| 'Privatised All Institutions..': Tejashwi Slams BJP-Led Centre

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav stated, "What we have achieved in 17 months hasn't been accomplished in 17 years. If you ask the central government about the number of jobs they have provided, they will have no answers. All institutions have been privatized... The electricity prices in Bihar are the highest in the country. We will provide 200 units of free electricity if we come to power. As Mallikarjun Kharge has officially announced, we will also provide 10 kg of rations for free..."

#WATCH | Former Dy CM Bihar & RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "What we have done in 17 months, it has not happened in 17 years. If you ask the central govt about how many jobs they have provided, they will be left with no answers. All the institutions have been privatised... The… pic.twitter.com/Y0uVbIdDCe

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2024

10:47 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Live| INDIA Bloc To Get 46 Seats Out Of 48 In Maharashtra: Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge stated, "The INDIA alliance will secure 46 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra. This is the sentiment expressed by the people themselves. Our alliance will win the maximum seats and defeat the BJP..."

#WATCH | Mumbai: Congress president Malliakarjun Kharge says, "INDIA alliance will win 46 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra. People are saying this themselves. Our alliance will win maximum seats and defeat BJP..." pic.twitter.com/SweiUNnbKb

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2024

09:09 IST

Lok Sabha Polls 2024 LIVE| No Government Can Change Constitution: Nitin Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday asserted that no government can change the Constitution drafted by Dr B R Ambedkar, and the Congress was spreading lies that the BJP plans to alter it.

"No government can change the Constitution created by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Only its sections can be changed or amended. Congress has committed the sin of amending the Constitution 80 times. Despite that, they are spreading false propaganda that we will change the Constitution," he said.

07:43 IST

2024 Lok Sabha Polls Live| BJP Candidate From Mumbai North Lok Sabha Seat Takes A 'Campaign Walk' In Park

Union Minister and BJP candidate for the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat, Piyush Goyal, takes a morning walk at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, greeting people as part of his election campaign.

#WATCH | Mumbai: Union Minister and BJP candidate from Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat, Piyush Goyal takes morning walk at Sanjay Gandhi National Park and greets people as part of his election campaign.

Mumbai North goes to polls on May 20. #LokSabhaElections2024 pic.twitter.com/B6aR17DGfM

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2024

06:37 IST

2024 Polls Live| 'If Congress Was Dissolved Post-Independence As Per Mahatma Gandhi's Wishes...': Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday tore into the Congress's election manifesto, dubbing it a "Maoist" document, which he cautioned will put a break on the country's economic growth and lead it to bankruptcy if implemented.

He said if the Congress was dissolved post-independence as per Mahatma Gandhi's wishes, India would have been five decades ahead in terms of social and economic development than what it was today.

06:30 IST

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 LIVE| Raj Thackeray Shares Stage With Modi In Mumbai

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday shared the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an election rally in Mumbai and praised the Centre over construction of the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and nullification of Article 370.

Addressing the rally at the sprawling Shivaji Park ground in Dadar, Raj Thackeray, who has extended unconditional support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ruling allies in Maharashtra in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, listed out his expectations from the PM in his third term in office