Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Updates: Arun Goel quits as election commissioner days before announcement of polls

On the resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal says, "It surely is (surprising). If at the cusp of an election, which is just a couple of months away, you resign - obviously there is something serious on the basis of which he must have resigned. I can't possibly speculate that reason but obviously there is some element of difference of opinion, especially when his term was still not over." (ANI)

Following the resignation of Arun Goel, the meeting to pick the Election Commissioner will be held on March 15, sources close to the development cited.

Sources further revealed, PM Narendra Modi will head the meeting and leader of the largest opposition party, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, would be also be present. Read here.

Launching a sharp attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that the BJP has changed the name of the tribals as the party does not want to give them their rights.

The remark by Gandhi was made while addressing a public gathering during the party's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' in Gujarat's Bharuch.

"The population of the tribals in the country stands at 8%; the OBC and backward class constitute 50% of the population; the Dalits account for 15%; there are 15% of the minorities; and the poor belonging to the general class constitute 5%," Gandhi said. (ANI)

Amid, PM Narendra Modi's claim ‘Ab ki baar, NDA sarkar, 400 paar…’, a survey shows though the alliance will witness a landslide win in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024, it is likely to fall short of the 400 target by a few seats.

As per the TN-ETG Research survey, the NDA is likely to win 358-398 seats, while I.N.D.I.A might gain about 110 to 130. Read here.

The BJP sealed its alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Saturday for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, with former chief minister of the southern state N Chandrababu Naidu asserting that the combine will sweep the polls.

The alliance was formalised after the two parties and actor Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party (JSP) held another round of talks involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief J P Nadda, besides Naidu and Kalyan. (PTI)

Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress on Saturday released its "Nyay Geet", which talks about the party's "five pillars of justice" and its "guarantees" to youngsters.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and many other leaders shared the video of the song on social media.

Gandhi shared the "Nyay Geet" on X and said in a post in Hindi, "The dreams of those who have been left behind will also be fulfilled! This song of justice is the music of the coming of the dawn in the lives of the deprived."

The two-minute and 34-second-long video talks about the five "pillars of justice" and "guarantees" for youngsters. (PTI)

In a whirlwind campaign ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held rallies in three eastern states i.e. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal and also held a late-night roadshow in Varanasi.

He also held prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple today.

PM Modi is on a three-day visit to the four states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, which began on March 8.

Laying the foundation stone for a bouquet of development projects for the Northeast in the state capital, Itanagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the region, once ignored, was fast emerging as a strong and thriving corridor for trade with South Asia and East Asia. (ANI)

TMC MP Sagarika Ghose said on Arun Goel quitting as election commissioner ahead of upcoming Lok Sabha polls, "The BJP is anti-Bengal, it is anti-Bengali, it is a party of outsiders and of zamindars. Funds to Bengal have been stopped, trains have also been stopped for our 'Jana Garjan' rally on March 10. Central forces have only been sent to Bengal, and not to Gujarat and UP. Now on the eve of elections, an election commissioner - Arun Goel - has actually resigned. What message does this send about the world's largest democracy?" (PTI)

Questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Aab Ki Baar 400 Paar" claim, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Saturday asked why the BJP is patching up with old partners and bringing new ones into its fold if it is so confident of the NDA winning over 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Addressing a gathering in Hyderabad, CM Reddy said, "Modi is going around the country claiming that they (BJP-led NDA) are on course to getting over 400 seats (in the Lok Sabha polls). If they are getting over 400 seats then what is the need for allying with Chandrababu Naidu (in Andhra Pradesh) and Naveen Patnaik (in Odisha)?" (ANI)

The Congress on Saturday expressed "deep concern" over Election Commissioner Arun Goel's resignation and said that if the "systematic decimation" of independent institutions is not stopped then democracy shall be usurped by dictatorship.

Goel resigned on Saturday, days before the expected announcement of the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His tenure was till December 5, 2027, and he would have become Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) after incumbent Rajiv Kumar retired in February next year.

In a post on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Election Commission or Election OMISSION? India now has only one Election Commissioner, even as Lok Sabha elections are to be announced in few days. Why?"

"As I have said earlier, if we do not stop the systematic decimation of our independent institutions, our democracy shall be usurped by dictatorship!" he said. (PTI)

Congress General Secretary, KC Venugopal, expressed shock over the abrupt resignation of the Election Commissioner ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, saying that the entire nation is anxious about the upcoming elections. He also said that the government doesn't want a "free and fair election."

Earlier, Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned from his post on Saturday, with his resignation being accepted by the President.

"This is quite shocking; just before the declaration of elections, the Election Commissioner has resigned. Now, only one Election Commissioner is there... What is happening in this Election Commission? The entire country is anxious. The government of India doesn't want a free and fair election," said Venugopal while speaking to ANI.

Arun Goel resigned from the post of the Election Commissioner (EC) of India on Saturday. His decision to resign came ahead of the Lok Sabha Election 2024.

Who is Arun Goel?

Arun Goel assumed charge as Election Commissioner on November 21, 2022. He is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1985 batch, Punjab cadre. Read here.

Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned on Saturday, days before the expected announcement of the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

His tenure was till December 5, 2027, and he would have become Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) after incumbent Rajiv Kumar retired in February next year.

According to a law ministry notification, Goel's resignation has been accepted by President Droupadi Murmu with effect from Saturday. It was not immediately known why he stepped down.

Goel, a retired bureaucrat, was a 1985-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre. He had joined the Election Commission in November 2022. (PTI)

Upping the ante against opposition parties over issues of corruption and dynasty politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lashed out at the TMC and the Congress for "prioritising their family interests" over the nation's development.

Calling to oust the Mamata Banerjee-led party in West Bengal from "each of the 42 seats of the state", Modi, while addressing a mega public rally in the northern Bengal city of Siliguri said, “The doors to remove the corrupt TMC from power will open from the Lok Sabha polls.”  (PTI)

Several opposition leaders have expressed their shock regarding the sudden resignation of the Election Commissioner Arun Goel before the Lok Sabha elections, emphasizing the widespread concern across the nation regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal also slammed the Centre and said that the government is uninterested in ensuring a transparent and impartial electoral process. Read here.

Arun Goel resigned from the post of the Election Commissioner (EC) of India on Saturday. His decision to resign came ahead of the Lok Sabha Election 2024.

Arun Goel assumed charge as Election Commissioner on November 21, 2022. He is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 1985 batch, Punjab cadre.

Arun Goel served as a secretary at the Ministry of Heavy Industry, Government of India, after more than 37 years of service. In this role, he "catalyzed the E-vehicle movement in India to a Tipping Point", the Elections Commission's website says. Read here

Sharad Pawar, the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader, declared his daughter and MP Supriya Sule as their candidate for Maharashtra's Baramati Lok Sabha seat on Saturday.

The announcement was made by Pawar during a rally organized in Bhor taluka of Pune district.

During his speech, the NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar said, "The Election Commission (EC) is likely to declare the Lok Sabha elections on March 14 or March 15. These elections will decide the future of our country. Nobody was ever worried about the future of our nation, but now change is needed." (ANI)

On the resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal says, " This is quite shocking, just before the declaration of elections, the Election Commissioner has resigned. Now, only one Election Commissioner is there... What is happening in this Election Commission? The entire country is anxious. The govt of India doesn't want a free and fair election. Earlier they removed Chief Justice of India from the selection body of Election Commission and Election Commissioner. In place of CJI, they included a cabinet minister...now it has become a govt affair...transparency has been lost in this process"

In a whirlwind campaign ahead of Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held rallies in three eastern states i.e. Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal and also held a late-night roadshow in Varanasi.

He also held prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple today.

PM Modi is on a three-day visit to the four states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, which began on March 8. (ANI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party will hold a late night meeting to finalise the remaining seats in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, sources told PTI on Saturday.

According to the sources, a meeting of BJP's core group leaders from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana will be held with BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah tonight.

“Everywhere in the state, people are happy with the government led by CM Revanth Reddy. Every survey shows that Congress is going to win at least 14 seats from Telangana in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, and we are very confident,” said Telangana Congress campaign committee chairman Madhu Goud Yaskhi.

Members of the Muslim community gather outside the Kashi Vishwanath temple to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Lok Sabha 2024 LIVE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. Watch video here

Tamil Nadu Lok Sabha seat: The DMK has reportedly finalised seat-sharing deal with the Congress. According to NDTV sources, MK Stalin's party has alloted nine seats to the Congress in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry

"There is no discipline," said former Congress MLA from Bassi Pathana Gurpreet Singh after joining the AAP.

In West Bengal, PM Modi said, “Salutations to every person working in the tea gardens from a tea-seller (PM Modi). Whenever I have come to North Bengal, I have received blessings from you, especially from mothers, sisters and daughters. I feel very happy to be amongst my family members.”

"The whole country is talking about what TMC leaders did to poor, dalit and adivasi women in Sandeshkhali. TMC has always oppressed women and stole the hard-earned money of the poor," PM Modi said.

The Election Commission of India is likely to announce the dates for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 next week, around March 14-15, sources told NDTV on Saturday. TAP HERE TO READ FULL STORY

Speaking in West Bengal on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "...Modi is creating more and more opportunities for every poor but this is not liked at all by those family members who have come into politics only for power. Therefore, they hatch conspiracies to keep his family at the top of power."

"This alliance of TMC and Congress also does the same. TMC people are worried about their nephews, and Congress people have to promote the sons and daughters of their royal family...," PM Modi said.

Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki resigned as the president of the state Congress, ahead of the Lok Sabha and the assembly elections, a party leader said on Saturday. "Tuki sent his resignation to the All India Congress Committee on Friday, following the defection of three party MLAs to BJP," he said.

TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu said, “Andhra Pradesh has been destroyed badly. BJP, TDP coming together win-win situation for country, state.”

TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu said, “The BJP, TDP and Jana Sena have come to understanding for alliance in polls” in Andhra Pradesh. The state will witness assembly elections as well as Lok Sabha elections this year.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was speaking on Saturday after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for various development projects in Chandauli. “Do you all agree with ‘Firse Ek Baar Modi Sarkaar’. If yes, then we need to make sure that lotus blooms in every household," he said.

Congress leader Manish Khanduri joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, at the BJP Mahanagar office in Dehradun. Election in-charge Dushyant Kumar Gautam and state party chief Mahendra Bhatt also present.

Amid speculations over the BJP-BJD alliance in Odisha, state BJP election in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar said, “There has been no discussion among us with regards to the alliance. We only talk about the number of seats we'll be contesting, what is our situation in the state, and other political aspects. There is no such thing as an alliance in our knowledge.” 

He added that the BJP is ready to contest 147 Vidhan Sabha seats and 21 Lok Sabha seats. "I am confident of BJP forming the government and 80 of our Vidhan Sabha candidates and more than 16 Lok Sabha candidates will definitely win in Odisha...," he told ANI. READ FULL REPORT HERE

The discussion over the alliance between Odisha’s ruling BJD and opposition BJP hit a stalemate as unanimity over the seat sharing cannot be reached, leaders of both parties told news agency PTI on Friday.

According to sources, Naveen Patnaik's BJD sought to contest from over 100 seats in the 147-member Odisha Assembly. However, this is not acceptable to the BJP. Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are held simultaneously in the state.

“The BJD is demanding about 75 per cent of the assembly seats which is not accepted by us,” a senior BJP leader said adding that such a situation would adversely affect the prospect of the saffron party in the state.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was speaking at a rally in Patna, Bihar, on Saturday and said the Lalu ji "lived his entire life for the family in the name of backward people".

"Sonia Gandhi's only goal is to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister. Lalu ji has only one goal - to make his son the Chief Minister," Shah alleged.