12:40:42 AM IST, 22 May 2024
Wrap up: All you need to know
- Congress ups ante over BJP leader Sambit Patra’s ‘Lord Jagannath is Modi’s bhakt’ remark
- ‘Very sad for women of Sandeshkhali…will visit there after polls: Mamata Banerjee
- “Sapa ke ladke aaj galti kar ke to dekhe…”: PM Modi attacks SP in Varanasi
- “BJP leaders will go to jail after June 4 for electoral bond scam”: AAP leader Atishi
- “Modi ji jagganath ke bhi upar ho gaye…”: Kejriwal attacks BJP over Sambit Patra’s remark
- “Knows what has happened there”: Tripura CM slams Mamata Banerjee for not visiting Sandeshkhali
09:50:34 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: TMC on seat sharing within INDIA Alliance
TMC leader Sushmita Dev said, “There is a difference between alliance and seat sharing…Seat sharing (within INDIA Alliance) with TMC happened neither in Assam nor in Bengal. Mamata Banerjee is contesting on 42 seats in Bengal, had she not done that, BJP’s seats would have increased there. Had we given 15 seats to Congress in Bengal, BJP would have won 90% of those seats. Now since Mamata Banerjee is contesting on maximum number of seats, chances of BJP’s defeat have increased. This entire elections depends on numbers. Those who will have more seats, will form the government. So, if INDIA Alliance wants to have more seats in Bengal, there is only way to ensure that – Mamata Banerjee (TMC) contest on 42 seats. We needed seat sharing in Uttar Pradesh because we know that TMC is a new party here…So, we express gratitude that we were given 1 seat here…This is a big message to people who say that Mamata Banerjee is not a party of alliance – look at Bhadohi, we were always with alliance and we will be with alliance.”
09:11:03 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: This time, BJP is fighting Assembly elections for Odia language, says Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “This time, BJP is fighting Assembly elections for Odia language, Odia literature, pride of Odisha and history of Utkal Bhoomi. Tell me, can a ‘Tamil Babu’ rule Odisha? Naveen Babu has made ‘Tamil Babus’ the king of Odisha. This is the question of respect of Odia. Uproot this BJD government, BJP will give you a son of this soil, someone who speaks Odia language as the Chief Minister of the state.”
09:09:06 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Union Minister Puri assures MSP for farmers
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, “Farmers are our brothers. Farmers’ issues are our issues. They need MSP, PM Modi will fulfil it…A few people try to provoke farmers but everyone understands it. What did they contribute to the farmers?… I assure you that in the time to come, all misunderstandings will be done away with.”
07:45:03 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Atishi promises jail for BJP leaders, ED, CBI, I-T officers in electoral bonds scam
“The people of this country have made up their mind to remove the BJP government by their votes. They (BJP) can do as many scams as they want because after June 4, investigation into the country’s biggest scam will happen. After June 4, when INDIA alliance will form the government, electoral bonds scam worth crores will be probed. In this, not just BJP leaders, but also ED, CBI, I-T officers will be sent to jail,” said Delhi Minister and AAP leader Atishi at a press conference.
06:56:29 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: INDI alliance opposes reservation for women, says PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “INDI alliance opposes reservation for women. Wherever their government comes to power, the life of women becomes difficult. People of Varanasi are familiar with the ‘jungle raj’ of both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Daughters had to leave their studies and sit at home for their safety and SP people shamelessly used to say that they are boys, boys make mistakes. If SP boys make a mistake today, Yogi Adityanath’s government will do something to them that they would not have even imagined.”
06:55:43 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: PM slams opposition
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “What did the Congress and SP governments do to women… They only neglected them. The mentality of the INDI alliance is anti-women. The INDI Alliance opposes Women’s Reservations.”
06:54:52 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Modi government will make your ‘shakti’ as ‘maha shakti’, says PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Leaders of the INDI alliance openly say that they will destroy the energy in Hindus, but after June 4, Modi government will make your ‘shakti’ as ‘maha shakti’…I am continuously working for the public without stopping or getting tired…”
06:39:49 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi addresses ‘Nari Shakti Samvad’ programme in Varanasi
Addresses ‘Nari Shakti Samvad’ programme in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “This is the first time I have filed my nomination for Kashi without the blessings of my mother. Maa Ganga is my mother that is why I said that Maa Ganga had first called me to Kashi and now Maa Ganga has adopted me.”
05:45:24 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: “Are you Odisha Chief Minister-in-waiting?” 5T Chairman and BJD leader VK Pandian answers
“…Not at all, I am just helping Naveen babu as a foot soldier….Biju babu never groomed Naveen babu and Naveen babu will never groom anyone to follow his footsteps. He is a democrat at heart and he knows the party. The people of Odisha will decide whatever is good for the party and the people of Odisha.”
05:23:41 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Fin Min on granting special status to Bihar
Responding to a question on granting special status to Bihar, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “There have been talks that it has to be given, a decision will be taken on it whenever it will be taken.”
05:14:51 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: 5T Chairman and BJD leader VK Pandian says, “…The polling has gone up well…BJD is sweeping (the polls).”
05:00:37 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Nirmala Sitharaman addresses press conference in Patna
- Nirmala Sitharaman said, “Bihar’s growth was adversely affected due to ‘jungal raj’ before 2005. The per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Bihar was Rs 21,282 in 1991, higher than in Odisha. But during ‘jungal raj’ it came down to Rs 14, 209, almost a 33 per cent drop in the Bihar per capita GDP. Post 2002, Bihar’s per capita grew, though at a steady rate of 5 per cent on average every year to Rs 37,000 by 2019…Without the misgovernance during the ‘Jungle Raj’, Bihar’s per capita income would have risen to Rs 95,330 by 2019…”
- “The accelerated growth of eastern states has always remained a top priority of the NDA-led Central government. The Central government wants eastern states like Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha to become engines of growth for the whole country as part of the goal to make India a developed country by 2047,” she added.
04:41:47 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Here’s what Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said during a press conference in Chandigarh.
“Haryana has always been the state to walk on the path of development, however, the current government has forgotten about it. PM Modi always says that he has a double-engine government, and it can do anything. However, he never provides the record of it and only abuses Congress,” he said.
04:35:03 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: A stampede-like situation was witnessed during a public rally of Samajwadi Party (SP) in Azamgarh today when party supporters and Police entered into a scuffle. The party supporters also took down loudspeakers installed at the event.
04:21:43 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Congress slams Sambit Patra’s ‘Lord Jagannath is Modi’s bhakt’ remark
Election 2024 Live News: On BJP leader Sambit Patra’s ‘Lord Jagannath is Modi’s bhakt’ remark, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said, “It won’t be accepted the way they (BJP) are disrespecting the Hindu gods and faith of crores of Hindus by becoming PM Modi’s ‘andhbhakt’. BJP leader Sambit Patra surprised people yesterday by saying that ‘Lord Jagannath is Narendra Modi’s bhakt’. Who gave him the right to say something like this? He is now apologising when they are facing its consequences.”
04:12:16 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi tried his best to stop me from getting bail, says Kejriwal in Jharkhand
Election 2024 Live News: “One day, I was in my cell in Tihar jail and I saw on TV that the Supreme Court had granted me bail for campaigning. I could not believe it. PM Modi tried his best to stop me from getting bail, but even he could not do anything in front of Lord Bajrang Bali,” says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal while addressing a rally in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand.
I don’t discriminate among religions, work for renovating places of worship of all faiths
– Mamata Banerjee at poll rally in Barasat
04:00:28 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Congress’ Nana Patole asks BJP why it is silent on China
Election 2024 Live News: On UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s statement that PoK will become part of India within 6 months of PM Modi securing third term, Maharashtra Congress leader Nana Patole yesterday said, “Why is he silent on the issue of China? Why doesn’t he speak on this? Even Raavan was wearing ‘bhagwa’ while abducting Sita ji. It is wrong to support wrong policies by wearing saffron-coloured clothes.”
03:43:17 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Uttarakhand CM on Sambit Patra’s ‘Lord Jagannath is Modi’s remark’
Election 2024 Live News: “Congress doesn’t have any issues. Therefore, they are giving importance to such things. The opposition have lost their mental stability because they have accepted their defeat,” says Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on Congress criticising BJP over Sambit Patra’s ‘Lord Jagannath is Modi’s remark’.
03:24:49 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Peaceful election not possible till there’s TMC govt in in West Bengal, says BJP
Election 2024 Live News: West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said, “Peaceful election is not possible in West Bengal until TMC government is there in power in the state. This can only happen when the TMC government is uprooted and the BJP government will come into power here.”
03:00:39 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Robert Vadra opens up about his plans to enter politics
Election 2024 Live News: On being asked about his role in active politics, Robert Vadra said, “I serve the people of the country. I will enter politics for a long time through my hard work but it does not mean that I will enter politics only because I am a member of the Gandhi family. I am very happy because I started working with Kishori Lal Sharma in Sultanpur and Jagdishpur. I was very happy that he has become a candidate for Amethi.”
02:46:24 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi is fast losing his memory, says Jairam Ramesh on PM Modi’s ‘never said a word against minorities’ remark
Election 2024 Live News: Jairam Ramesh said, “The prime minister is fast losing his memory. He has never had any adherence to truth. He is ‘jhoothjeevi’, what he says today, he forgets tomorrow and says he never said it. He has been attacking the Congress party, he’s been talking of Hindu-Muslim, he’s talking about Muslim League, he’s talking about ‘mangalsutra’. He has talked about Congress party giving reservation on the basis of religion. This is all bogus statements that he has made.”
02:20:59 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Removing reservation is BJP’s target, says Jairam Ramesh
Election 2024 Live News: Jairam Ramesh said, “How can it be record-breaking? Rajiv Gandhi’s mandate in 1984 was 410 (seats). What is the real meaning of ‘400 paar’? Their real intent is to change the Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar. Removing reservation is their target.”
01:58:51 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Saurabh Bharadwaj slams Amit Shah calling AAP supporters ‘Pakistanis’
Election 2024 Live News: “It is unfortunate. Amit Shah spent all his life in Gujarat, he doesn’t know about people in Delhi and Punjab. People of Punjab send their family members to Indian Army. It is shameful. It is ridiculous to say that we receive funds from abroad. Will they give funds of only Rs 7 cr from 2014 to 2022. The investigation in Swati Maliwal case is a drama. It is to defame Arvind Kejriwal and his party. It is all rubbish. It will go on till May 25 to influence the election,” said Bharadwaj.
01:53:37 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: ‘Phir ek baar Modi Sarkar, Ab ki baar 400 Paar’, says Yogi Adityanath
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Addressing a public rally in Sant Kabir Nagar, CM Yogi Adityanath says, “Only one voice is resonating in the whole country… ‘Phir ek baar Modi Sarkar, Ab ki baar 400 Paar’. Whenever we talk about crossing 400 seats, Samajwadi Party think that how can someone cross the mark of 400 seats? A voice comes from people which says that we will bring those who brought Lord Ram…”
01:51:50 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: The CM should tell where is the key of Jagannath Temple ‘Ratna Bhandar’, says BJP’s Aparajita Sarangi
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: “The chief minister should tell where is the key of Jagannath Temple ‘Ratna Bhandar’. Have you sent it to Tamil Nadu? Why did you bring a duplicate key, what is the need for a duplicate key? And even if you brought a duplicate key then what all did you take out from the bhandar?” says BJP candidate from Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat Aparajita Sarangi on Jagannath Temple treasury keys row.
01:15:34 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: During the Cong regime, the then PM used to say that 100 paise is sent but only 15 paise reaches the public, says Yogi Adityanath
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath says “…During the Congress regime, the then Prime Minister used to say that 100 paise is sent but only 15 paise reaches down (to the public). This is not the situation today. Today you have a Jan Dhan account. The money comes directly to your account… We people in Lucknow just click once and the next moment the money reaches us… “
01:08:18 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: BJD won’t escalate Sambit Patra’s commens on Lord Jagannath, says VK Pandian
On being asked if BJD will escalate this issue, he says “Lord Jagannath can never be escalated and Lord Jagannath should always be above everything else. BJD never believes in doing politics over religion, especially Lord Jagannath.”
12:44:47 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Modi rally sees huge crowd in Bihar
12:32:22 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: BJP will give Odisha a hard-working young CM, says Amit Shah
Election 2024 Live News: In a rally in Sambalpur, Odisha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Odisha is a very beautiful place, it has a long coastline, a lot of mineral wealth, and hardworking youth but the only thing missing is a hard-working Chief Minister. Form the BJP government, we will give a hard-working young CM.”
12:15:00 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: AAP dubs FCRA violation reports as a ‘joke’
Election 2024 Live News: “This is a joke. Such jokes always surface in the newspapers and on TV for 3-4 days before the election. These allegations end with the election,” AAP’s Bhardwaj on reports that ED wrote to Union Home Ministry alleging AAP received over Rs 7 crore foreign funds in violation of FCRA.
12:02:59 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Nehru and all PMs from Gandhi family opposed reservation, says PM Modi
Election 2024 Live News: PM Narendra Modi, while addressing a public gathering in East Champaran of Bihar, said, “If it wasn’t for Babasaheb Ambedkar, Nehru ji would not have let SC, ST category people get any reservation. In fact, he wrote letters to ministers opposing the idea of reservation for SC, CT, OBCs. From Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi, all PMs from this family always opposed reservation for SC, STs. That is why they are left with only one votebank and to make their (Congress) votebank happy, they want to give reservations on the basis of religion to those who promote ‘vote jihad.”
12:00:37 PM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: INDIA alliance to get over 300 seats, claims Arvind Kejriwal
Election 2024 Live News: “The fifth phase of the Lok Sabha Elections has been conducted. As elections are being held and we are approaching June 4, I can say that BJP will be defeated. As per the survey findings, the INDIA alliance is getting more than 300 seats,” said Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal.
11:55:27 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Jagbir Singh Brar, former Jalandhar Cantt MLA, joins BJP at the party headquarters in Delhi
11:33:37 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Modi attacks Congress, RJD in Bihar
“In the last 10 years, Modi has spent a lot of his time filling the holes of previous governments. More work will be done in the next 5 years than what was done in 10 years.”
“Congress and RJD have only kept you yearning for more. In 60 years these people have built big palaces and opened accounts in Swiss banks. You did not have food to fill your stomach, but these people’s safes and cupboards are full of bundles of notes.”
“21st century India cannot move forward with the sins of the Indi Alliance. That is why in every election the public is attacking parties like Congress and RJD strongly.”
“In the first phase, the Indy Alliance was defeated, in the subsequent phases the Indy Alliance collapsed and in the fifth phase held yesterday the Indy Alliance has been completely defeated.”
11:25:41 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Congress abandoned Bapu after coming to power
Election 2024 Live News: While addressing a rally today, PM Modi said, “On the very first day of coming to power, the Congress completely abandoned Bapu; it abandoned Bapu’s values and ideals. He (Nehru) focused all his attention on taking his family forward. Congress and its allies together ruined 60 years of the country. The lives of 3-4 generations were ruined.”
11:23:03 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi addressing rally in Bihar’s Motihari
Election 2024 Live News: In a rally in Bihar’s Motihari, Modi said that the INDIA bloc will be routed in this election. “India of 21st century cannot move ahead with INDIA bloc’s sins,” he added.
11:07:43 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: BJP national president JP Nadda holds a roadshow in Rohtak
10:41:04 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Sambit Patra’s ‘Lord Jagannath is Modi’s bhakt’ remark says intentional, says Congress
Election 2024 Live News: Slamming BJP leader Sambit Patra for hit ‘Lord Jagannath is Modi’s bhakt’ remark, Congress leader Surendra Singh Rajput said, “He did it intentionally. He had called PM Modi the father of the country. Was that too a slip of the tongue? They are seeking an apology when they are now facing the consequences of it in Odisha.”
10:24:46 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Aam Aadmi Party launches ‘Jail ka Jawab Vote Se’ signature campaign
10:16:25 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: BJP president Samrat Choudhary on Tejashwi Yadav’s ‘will leave politics’ remark
Election 2024 Live News: On RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s ‘will leave politics’ remark, Bihar deputy CM and state BJP president Samrat Choudhary said “Keep it in writing. Whoever wants to leave can do so. Before 2025, we will print advertisements and send it to their home too.”
09:54:50 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi compliments voters of Baramulla on high turnout
Election 2024 Live News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the high voter turnout in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir and said such active participation is a great trend. Baramulla which voted on Monday in the fifth round of the seven phases of elections saw a voter turnout of 55.79 per cent, as per ECI. “High voter turnout, over 58% in Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency, is very encouraging and shows the people’s determination and unwavering faith in democracy. I congratulate and thank the people of Baramulla for joining the Maha Kumbh of our democracy in large numbers,” LG said on Monday.
09:27:22 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: BJP issues show-cause notice to former Union Minister and MP Jayant Sinha
Election 2024 Live News: BJP has issued a show-cause notice to former Union Minister and MP Jayant Sinha and asked him to reply within 2 days. “You are not taking any interest in organisational work and election campaigning ever since the party declared Manish Jaiswal as the candidate from the Hazaribagh Lok Sabha seat. You did not even feel the need to exercise your vote. The party’s image has been maligned because of your conduct,” reads the notice.
09:08:21 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Court to pass judgement on Manish Sisodia’s bail plea
Update Description: Election 2024 Live News: The Delhi High Court will today hear the bail application by Manish Sisodia in corruption and money laundering cases related to the now-scrapped excise policy. The court had yesterday reserved the order on Sisodia’s bail petitions in both the matter being investigated by Enforcement Directorate and Enforcement Directorate. Sisodia has been in custody since February 26, 2023, after arrest by the CBI. Thereafter, he was arrested by the ED. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BRS Leader K Kavitha were also arrested in the excise policy case.
08:46:39 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi pays tributes to Rajiv Gandhi
Election 2024 Live News: “On his death anniversary, my tributes to our former PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji,” tweeted PM Modi.
08:46:56 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Sonia Gandhi, others pay homage to Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary
Election 2024 Live News: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and party MP Rahul Gandhi paid homage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 33rd death anniversary at Veer Bhumi in Delhi on Tuesday morning. Other Congress leaders, including P. Chidambaram and Sachin Pilot, also paid their respects in the national capital.Rajiv Gandhi assumed leadership of the Congress in 1984 following the assassination of his mother and then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. At 40, he became India’s youngest Prime Minister when he took office in October 1984. He served as Prime Minister until December 2, 1989. Born on August 20, 1944, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) suicide bomber during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on May 21, 1991.
08:48:13 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi thanks voters
Election 2024 Live News: In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, “Gratitude to all those who voted in the 5th phase of the 2024 elections which concluded yesterday. The wave of support for NDA is getting stronger and stronger. The people of India have decided that they want a strong NDA government at the Centre. INDI Alliance can try any sort of votebank politics, the people will not believe them. They are totally discredited and dejected.”
08:48:08 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: Congress spreading hatred: BJP’s Manoj Tiwari
Election 2024 Live News: Manoj Tiwari, who is BJP’s candidate from North East Delhi, has accused Congress of “spreading hatred”. “My campaign is development-based. We (BJP) brought the metro to this area for the first time and constructed a Signature bridge… We have to take all of this (development) forward…,” Tiwari told ANI on Monday. Targeting the Congress, the BJP leader further said, “Congress has decided that it has to put a lock on the Ram temple and bring back Article 370. Congress has said that they will distribute the property of the Hindus among Muslims… People will vote keeping all these things in mind”.
08:48:00 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: 60.09 per cent voter turnout recorded in 5th phase
Election 2024 Live News: According to the Election Commission, 60.09 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls held on Monday. General elections are being held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1 with votes for the 543 Lok Sabha seats to be counted on June 4. In the fifth phase, polls were held across 49 parliamentary constituencies spread over six states and two Union Territories (UTs) on Monday.
08:47:50 AM IST, 21 May 2024
India General Elections 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi to interact with 25,000 women in Varanasi today
Election 2024 Live News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will today interact with over 25,000 women in Varanasi. Modi is eyeing a hat-trick from the constituency, having secured victories in 2014 and 2019. He is up against the Congress’ Ajay Rai. Varanasi goes to the polls on June 1.
