AAP's Atishi breaks down in press briefing; re-poll in 13 stations of TN

Here are the latest election updates from various states across the country:

West Bengal

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee in Bankura: “I challenge you (PM Modi), if you can prove your allegations that one of us is part of coal mafia, I will withdraw all my 42 candidates. If you are lying, you have to hold your ears and do a hundred sit ups before public.”

Uttar Pradesh

PM Modi in Azamgarh: “How were bomb blasts brought under control in all cities after 2014? How have terror activities been restricted only to J&K now? It is because our government prioritised national interest. We entered Pakistan and attacked terrorists.”

Supreme Court dismissed plea of former BSF constable & SP candidate Tej Bahadur Yadav against rejection of his nomination from Varanasi LS constituency. A Bench headed by CJI Gogoi dismissing the plea said, “We don’t find any merit to entertain this petition.”

Delhi

Supreme Court dismissed the petition seeking to direct the Election Commission of India to debar Congress president Rahul Gandhi from contesting the Lok Sabha polls after he had “voluntarily acquired British nationality.”

AAP East Delhi LS seat candidate Atishi broke down during a press conference alleging BJP’s Gautam Gambhir of distributing pamphlets with derogatory remarks against her. She said, “They’ve shown how low they can stoop. The pamphlet states that ‘she is very good example of a mixed breed’.”

Congress leader Sheila Dikshit on senior advocate HS Phoolka’s claims that PMO ordered to ‘kill’ during 1984 anti-Sikh riots: “Why would Rajiv Gandhi do that? His mother had been killed, he was deeply hurt. Does the BJP act like this? I am really disappointed.”

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo: “Re-poll to be held in 13 polling stations in the state, where Lok Sabha elections were held on April 18. Re-poll will be conducted on May 19 in eight polling stations in Dharmapuri, two in Theni and one each in Cuddalore, Tiruvallur and Erode.”

Harayana

Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Sirsa: “I want to tell the youth and farmers in Sirsa, Narendra Modi made false promises to you, lied to you about ₹15 lakh, but we promise you will get ₹3,60,000 in your bank account (in five years).”

Rajasthan

BJP delegation, led by Union Minister Rajyavardhan S Rathore, held a protest at Collector’s office over Alwar gang-rape incident. Rathore said, “There has been police inaction in the case. After prior appointment, we came to meet Collector but he is not present at the office.”

Madhya Pradesh

Former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj S Chouhan: “Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi said that even my brother’s farm loan has been waived off. In application forms that were presented before Panchayat in Jait, it’s written that my brother Rohit hasn’t even filled application for farm loan waiver.”

Congress candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, Digvijaya Singh, offered prayers at Gayatri Temple.