Catch all the updates on the upcoming Lok Sabha elections here.
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We'll Fill 22 Lakh Government Vacancies: Rahul Gandhi
Making a big poll promise, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has said there were 22 lakh vacancies in the government and if voted to power, his party will fill them in less than a year.
He said devolution of funds from the Centre to the state governments for healthcare, education and other schemes will be linked to these posts.
"Today, there are 22 lakh job vacancies in government. We will have these vacancies filled by March 31, 2020. Devolution of funds from the Centre to each state government for healthcare, education etc., will be linked to these vacant positions being filled," Gandhi said in a tweet on Sunday.
EVMs, Not Ballots, to Be Used in Nizamabad Where 185 Are in Fray: EC
The Election Commission has directed the Chief Electoral Officer of Telangana to make arrangements for conduct of elections in Nizamabad constituency, where 185 candidates including over 170 farmers are in the fray, using EVMs instead of ballot papers, news agency PTI reported.
After the deadline for withdrawal of nominations ended on 28 March, a total of 443 candidates remained in fray in Telangana, with Nizamabad topping the list at 185.
With the number of candidates higher than what the EVMs can accommodate, Telangana CEO Rajat Kumar had earlier said the polls will be conducted through ballot paper and the matter will be referred to the EC for approval.
Mamata Urges BJP's Sister Organisations to Not Support Modi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Sunday urged BJP's sister organisations to not support Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party chief Amit Shah during the national polls.
Addressing an election rally in Vishakapatnam, organised by Chandrababu Naidu's TDP, Banerjee said the BJP won't get a single seat in Bengal and the party won't cross the 125-mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
“BJP has sister organisations, I would like to request them that if you love the country, please don’t support Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. This is a special election. There are not many people to fight for the country, please vote for Chandrababu Naidu. Modi and Shah bully everyone.Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minster of West Bengal
Taking on the BJP, the Trinamool Congress chief said the BJP will not get a single seat in Bengal.
BJP Supporters Clash in MP Over Nominations
Supporters of the BJP candidate from Balaghat Lok Sabha seat Dhal Singh Bisen and sitting MP Bodh Singh Bhagat clashed Sunday over the party's denial to renominate the latter.
Police had to resort to a mild baton charge in which no one was injured, said Kotwali police station officer Mahendra Singh Thakur.
He said Bhagat's supporters laid siege to the local BJP office between 11am to 3pm and locked it, after which they were baton charged.
Two days ago, the BJP had dropped Bhagat and replaced him with Bisen.