Lok Sabha election: Opposition parties cry foul, BJP sees it as 'excuse before loss'

The political tussle between BJP and rival parties is in full swing this election season.

File photo

The second phase of the high-stakes Lok Sabha poll is scheduled to take place on April 18 and political leaders are busy in hectic campaigning to woo the voters. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed rallies in Kathua, Aligarh and Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav addressed a rally in Rampur together with senior SP leader Azam Khan, who is the mahagathbandhan candidate from the Lok Sabha seat. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was in Assam's Silchar on Sunday in her first campaign trip outside Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed rallies in Aligarh and Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh, while Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was in Nagina, Aonla and Agra in Uttar Pradesh.

BSP supremo Mayawati was in Chhattisgarh on Sunday to address a public rally, while NCP chief Sharad Pawar was seen in Beed and Devrai for public rallies. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray addressed a rally in Osmanabad, Maharashtra. In Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar addressed public rallies in Banka, Bhagalpur and Purnia. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadavaddressed rallies in Banka, Purnia, Madhepura and Bhagalpur.

Here are the electoral highlights from April 14 (Sunday):

* Rahul Dravid may not be able to vote in Lok Sabha election 2019. Click here to find out why

* One of the biggest development of the day has been most opposition parties crying foul over the election process, some even raising aspersions over EVMs. BJP has hit back by regarding it as an excuse before an impending electoral defeat.

* Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman says in Karnataka that the BJP is not politicising the armed forces but that it was not incorrect to compare a 'weak government under Manmohan Singh' to the decisive leadership of Narendra Modi.

* "What used to happen earlier? Terrorists used to come from Pakistan, attack us and Congress govt used to cry before the world that we've been attacked. But this is new India. When terrorists attacked Uri, brave soldiers of the country conducted surgical strike there. When they committed the second mistake in Pulwama, we entered their home and conducted airstrike. Udhar walon ko bhi samajh mein aa gaya hai ki agar teesri galti hui to lene ke dene padd jaenge. (They have also understood that if they commit a third mistake then they will have to pay for their mistakes): PM Modi in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad

* Actress-turned-politician now turns to cricket? Click here to read report.

* Is Robert Vadra set to join Congress? Here is what Raj Babbar said.

* What's in a name? Everything, says VHP. (Read report here)

* TDP chief and Andhra CM Chandrababy Naidu once again points fingers at EC:

Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu: EC is acting under BJP, they are not correct, they have to act impartially which they are not doing. Also, we doubt even EVMs are under manipulation & that's why we are demanding 50% counting of VVPATs. They are not agreeing. pic.twitter.com/tMbYvmFUdX — ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2019

* PM Modi in Aligarh: 

- Today is Ambedkar Jayanti. It is because of B. R. Ambedkar that our democracy is as strong as it is.

- We have to thank Ambedkar because it is because of him that a chaiwala could become PM, a person from the marginalised society could rise up to be the country's President.

* "I am not scared of I-T raids. Even when Deve Gowda went to somebody's house for dinner their house was raided. What kind of govt is this? I don't need to learn from PM. As a CM, I haven't taken lives of innocent people, like he did," Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy told ANI.

Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru: I am not scared of I-T raids. Even when Deve Gowda went to somebody's house for dinner their house was raided. What kind of govt is this? I don't need to learn from PM. As a CM, I haven't taken lives of innocent people, like he did. pic.twitter.com/bu2ZyIOI8v — ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2019

* "Names of Lakhs of voters are deleted online without physical verification. There is a long list the parties have given to EC. It has become even more necessary to count at least 50% of the paper trail of VVPAT. We will demand the same in Supreme Court," Singhvi said at a press conference.

* "Questions were raised after the 1st phase of election,we don't think EC is paying adequate attention. If you press the button before X Party,vote goes to Y party. VVPAT displays only for 3 seconds, instead of 7 seconds," Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi at opposition's press conference.

Abhishek Singhvi, Congress, at Opposition's press conference: Questions were raised after the 1st phase of election,we don't think EC is paying adequate attention. If you press the button before X Party,vote goes to Y party. VVPAT displays only for 3 seconds, instead of 7 seconds pic.twitter.com/78qLE0QlZ7 — ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2019

* Congress General Secretary for eastern UP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigns for party's MP candidate from Silchar parliamentary constituency Sushmita Dev in Assam.

Assam: Congress General Secretary for eastern UP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigns for party's MP candidate from Silchar parliamentary constituency Sushmita Dev. pic.twitter.com/aZwB0sQHe1 — ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2019

* Actor Dharmendra campaigns for Hema Malini, BJP MP & party's candidate from Mathura parliamentary constituency.

Mathura: Actor Dharmendra campaigns for Hema Malini, BJP MP & party's candidate from the Parliamentary constituency. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/yD9wKDWsKA — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 14, 2019

* BJP releases 20th list of 6 candidates in Haryana, MP and Rajasthan for Lok Sabha election.

BJP releases 20th list of 6 candidates in Haryana, MP and Rajasthan for #LokSabhaElections2019 . Union Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh's son Brijendra Singh to contest from Hisar (Haryana). One candidate for by-election to Uluberia Purba assembly constituency (WB) also named. pic.twitter.com/LliLITOxHd — ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2019

* "I would like to ask Congress, who would do justice when they did injustice for 60 years? Will Congress ever be able to provide justice to Kashmiri Pandits? Will they be able to provide justice to those massacred in 1984 riots?" PM Modi asked in Kathua.

* Dharmendra to campaign for Hema Malini in Mathura today.

* "The entire country was celebrating Jallianwala Bagh centenary yesterday but Congress politicised this sensitive occasion too. The Vice President was in Jallianwala Bagh for govt event, he paid tribute to the martyrs but Congress' CM was not there," PM Modi said in Kathua.

PM Modi in Kathua, J&K: The entire country was celebrating #JallianwalaBaghCentenary yesterday but Congress politicised this sensitive occasion too. The Vice President was in Jallianwala Bagh for govt event, he paid tribute to the martyrs but Congress' CM was not there. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/KtQ2zspy6E — ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2019

* "You have proven the strength of democracy in India, in the first phase of elections. By coming out to vote in huge numbers in Baramulla and Jammu, you have given a befitting reply to the terrorist leaders, opportunists & people in 'mahamilawat'," said PM Modi at a rally in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir.

PM Narendra Modi in Kathua, J&K: You have proven the strength of democracy in India, in the first phase of elections. By coming out to vote in huge numbers in Baramulla and Jammu, you have given a befitting reply to the terrorist leaders, opportunists & people in 'mahamilawat'. pic.twitter.com/tOMqmDzQ7P — ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2019

* "Hari Prasad Vemuru has demonstrated before EC many times that EVMs are prone to tampering. Y'day,we made a representation before EC, subsequently it was told that EC is not willing to discuss with him stating a criminal case against him. It's unfortunate," TDP's K Ravindra Kumar told ANI.

TDP's K Ravindra Kumar: Hari Prasad Vemuru has demonstrated before EC many times that EVMs are prone to tampering. Y'day,we made a representation before EC, subsequently it was told that EC is not willing to discuss with him stating a criminal case against him. It's unfortunate. pic.twitter.com/l95TA3OKFo — ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2019

* "They say, as long as there is BJP govt, our borders are secure. We the people of Samajwadi Party believe that as long as there are brave soldiers at our borders, the borders are secure. Govts come and go but the jawans stay at the border protecting India," said SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Akhilesh Yadav, SP President: They say, as long as there is BJP govt, our borders are secure. We the people of Samajwadi Party believe that as long as there are brave soldiers at our borders, the borders are secure. Govts come and go but the jawans stay at the border,protecting India pic.twitter.com/vZAOKQIvFw — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 14, 2019

* BSP releases fourth list of 16 candidates from Uttar Pradesh for Lok Sabha election.

Bahujan Samaj Party releases fourth list of 16 candidates for #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/9cejO6wwMn — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) April 14, 2019

* Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday tweeted that PM Modi goes around the country but does not speak about the real issues.

Mr Narendra Modi goes around the country beating his own trumpet on his so-called achievements. — P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 14, 2019

* “Another day, another set of rallies and the great opportunity of interacting with my fellow Indians...Will join rallies in Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir), Aligarh and Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh).  As the campaign is progressing, I can see that BJP’s support is steadily rising," PM Modi tweeted.

Another day, another set of rallies and the great opportunity of interacting with my fellow Indians...

Will join rallies in Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir), Aligarh and Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh).

As the campaign is progressing, I can see that BJP’s support is steadily rising. — Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 14, 2019

* TDP responds to EC's letter expressing displeasure over Hari P Vemuru being part of N Chandrababu Naidu's delegation that met EC to raise concerns over EVM & VVPAT, states "Would like to state that instead of focusing on the issue, the Commission is trying to avoid the situation"

TDP responds to EC's letter expressing displeasure over Hari P Vemuru being part of N Chandrababu Naidu's delegation that met EC to raise concerns over EVM & VVPAT, states "Would like to state that instead of focusing on the issue, the Commission is trying to avoid the situation" — ANI (@ANI) 14 April 2019

* SP-BSP alliance a mismatch, it will never win, claims Shivpal Yadav (Read more)

* 1,000 youth IPFT workers join Congress in Tripura, reported PTI.

* This election will decide if J-K will be able to remain part of Union with dignity, said National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Saturday.