ELECTION WRAP: ACTOR SHEKHAR SUMAN, EX-CONGRESS LEADER RADHIKA KHERA JOIN BJP AMID PHASE 3 POLLING, PM MODI'S 'BABRI LOCK' DIG, AND MORE

Voting got underway in 93 constituencies across 11 states and union territories on Tuesday in the third phase of Lok Sabha polls. Some of the prominent names who stepped out to vote included Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, industrialist Gautam Adani, among others -- with each of them encouraging people to come out and vote in large numbers.

Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, former Congress leader Radhika Khera and actor Shekhar Suman joined the BJP at the party headquarters in the national capital. The two joined the party in the presence of BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde and national media department in-charge Anil Baluni.

This, and more, in today's top political developments --

Actor Shekhar Suman, former Congress leader Radhika Khera join BJP

Actor Shekhar Suman and former Congress leader Radhika Khera on Tuesday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the party headquarters in New Delhi amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Both Khera and Suman joined the saffron party in the presence of senior leaders, including BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde and national media department in-charge Anil Baluni.

Khera, the former national coordinator of the Congress's media department, resigned from the party's primary membership on Sunday, days after her altercation with another leader at the party's Chhattisgarh office. "The manner in which I was misbehaved with on the land of Kaushalya Mata for being a devotee of Ram, for having darshan of Ram Lalla, I would not have been able to reach here if I had not got the protection of the BJP government, the Modi government. Today's Congress is not Mahatma Gandhi's Congress, it is anti-Ram, anti-Hindu Congress," Khera said after joining the party.

Meanwhile, Shekhar Suman stated, “It becomes necessary for the people to contribute to the country's progress. We are actors but we do have a social responsibility. I thought this (to join the BJP) was the right thing to do to contribute to the nation's development."

Want 400 seats to ensure Congress doesn't put 'Babri lock' on Ram Temple: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that he has set a target of over 400 seats for BJP-led NDA in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls to make sure that Congress does not restore Article 370 in Kashmir and place a "Babri lock" on the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Speaking at a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar, PM Modi launched a fiery attack on Congress and accused it of belittling Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of India's Constitution. He added that the grand old party has started saying Ambedkar had a very little role in framing the Constitution.

"The truth is that the Congress parivar deeply hates Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar,” Modi said.

'Modi and BJP want to gain power at any cost': Sonia Gandhi amid phase 3 voting

Continuing Congress' tirade against the ruling BJP-led dispensation, Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday blamed the BJP for the 'prevailing' situation in the country. Her statement comes amid the ongoing voting in the third phase of general elections.

Urging the electorate to vote for the grand old party, she said: "The Congress Party and I have always fought for the progress of all, justice to the deprived and to strengthen the country." She added that the Congress as well as the INDIA alliance is dedicated to protecting the Constitution and democracy.

Commenting on the the prevailing political situation in the country, the Congress leader said the current atmosphere is due to the intentions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. "Their focus is only on gaining power at any cost. They have promoted hatred for political gain," stated the Congress leader.

No relief for Kejriwal in liquor policy case: SC puts off bail plea hearing; Delhi court extends judicial custody

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would likely hear Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim bail in the Delhi liquor policy case on May 9. The development came after Delhi's Rouse Avenue court extended Kejriwal's judicial custody till May 20.

A bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said Kejriwal will only be granted relief subject to the condition that he will not discharge any official duties as it may have a “cascading effect”. The judges also asserted that the situation was “extraordinary” since Lok Sabha elections are once in a five-year event. “While granting interim bail, we examine whether there will be any misuse or if the person is a hardened criminal. That is not the case here," Justice Khanna said during the proceedings.

Addressing the ED’s argument that exceptions should not be made for politicians, Justice Khanna said, "We are not going by whether it is a politician or not. Every individual would have some special or exceptional circumstances. We are considering whether an exception is required in view of the elections. We are not saying there has to be a different law for politicians.”

'Those who gobbled up fodder ...': PM Modi's fierce attack after Lalu Prasad bats for Muslim quota

Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up his offensive on opposition after RJD chief Lalu Yadav said on Tuesday that Muslims should get reservation. "Reservation toh milna chahiye Musalmano ko, pura (Muslims should get reservation)," Lalu said while speaking to reporters earlier.

The RJD chief also accused BJP of trying to undermine the Constitution. "The votes are on our side... They are saying that there will be 'Jungle Raj' because they are scared, they are trying to instigate... They want to finish the Constitution and democracy," he said.

Later, addressing a rally in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar, PM Modi seized on Lalu's remarks and said that those who went to jail after "gobbling up fodder meant for animals" are now shamelessly saying that Muslims should get reservation. He added that opposition leaders are batting for Muslim quota because they rely on the minority community for votes.

Gautam Adani votes from Ahmedabad, says 'cast your vote for shaping future of India'

Voting provides a powerful voice in India’s democracy and every citizen should exercise this right and privilege, said Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani on May 7 after casting his vote from Ahmedabad.

“Proud to have voted with my family today. Voting is a right, a privilege and a responsibility we all share as citizens of this great nation. Every vote is a powerful voice in our democracy. Cast your vote for shaping the future of India. Jai Hind,” Adani said in a post on X platform (formerly Twitter). He also posted pictures of him and his wife Priti along with their elder son Karan and daughter-in-law Paridhi.

During a media interaction after casting his vote, the billionaire also said the country is already growing and he hopes the growth continues in the next five years.

2024-05-07T11:44:13Z dg43tfdfdgfd