Earlier, the BJP called BS Yediyurappa’s arrest warrant as a revenge against Rahul Gandhi’s defamation case.

Congress legislator Birajit Sinha alleged that the BJP-backed goons were behind the vandalisation of the three-foot statue of Rajiv Gandhi.

By 12.13 pm, of the 3,77,905 votes counted, Gandhi received 2,25,691 while his nearest rival CPI's Annie Raja got 96,677 votes and BJP's K Surendran was at a distant third with 50,713 votes.

"We are very hopeful that our results are completely opposite to what the exit polls are showing," added the Congress parliamentary party chief. Sonia Gandhi made these comments following an event at the DMK office, where she paid tribute to DMK stalwart M. Karunanidhi on his 100th birth anniversary.

"It is unfortunate that critics question PM Modi meditating at Vivekananda Rock Memorial. They believe the West is best, while Swami Vivekananda declared India is the best. Those who vacation in nightclubs and pubs and consider Italy the best will not appreciate India’s culture or Vivekananda's contributions. We are proud of PM Modi for meditating there", Chugh said.

BJP terms the Silicon City as "Udta Bengaluru", after a rave party, which was recently busted by the police.

Addressing two back to back rallies in Gooda and Ranchi constituencies in Jharkhand on Wednesday, Priyanka Gandhi targeted the BJP for its policies.

"It is the public that is fighting for us and it is not just us. People are supporting the ideology that we follow and are fighting for us. The BJP will lag and we will move forward," he said. 

Both the Congress and the BJP held rallies after the filing of nominations in Kangra and Hamirpur constituencies.

The BJP has formally petitioned the Election Commission of India to take action against Wadettiwar, a prominent campaigner for the Congress, and the Congress party itself for propagating falsehoods.

The BJP's complaint contends that the Congress and its associates are propagating unfounded claims that the BJP seeks to secure over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections to alter the Constitution, thereby terminating quotas for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

‘Akshintalu’ is put on the heads of bride and groom at weddings to bless them. Therefore, it was supposed to be given after the celestial wedding of Lord Ram and Sita.