Mamata Questions Modi on Poll Campaign; TMC Mulls Skipping June 1 INDIA Bloc Meeting

The TMC might skip the INDIA bloc meeting on June 1. Mamata Banerjee questions Modi about his poll campaign.

A top-ranking Congress leader told HT that many within the alliance now want to change the date after the TMC, the second-largest party in the bloc, announced it won't be able to attend.

The meeting of opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc leaders, scheduled for June 1, has not been officially confirmed yet due to doubts about the attendance of all allies. According to sources, the meeting might be held online to ensure participation from all its allies.

A top-ranking Congress leader told HT on Tuesday that many within the alliance now want to change the date after the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the second-largest party in the bloc, announced it won't be able to attend.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC), the second-largest member of the INDIA bloc, will skip the upcoming alliance meeting in Delhi on June 1. This is due to the final phase of Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal and ongoing relief work after Cyclone Remal, according to sources.

Two senior leaders of the INDIA bloc, which includes 26 parties, stated that the meeting aims to form a strategy regarding the exit polls, which will be released after the final round of polling on Saturday.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee objected on Monday to Narendra Modi being referred to as the Prime Minister rather than a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader during the party’s campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.

"Modiji has every right to campaign. He has every right to come here and participate in election programs. But I am surprised to see him being referred to as the PM in his party’s campaign advertisements," Banerjee was quoted as saying by PTI during a campaign in the Kolkata Uttar constituency.

"Can he do this? I am being referred to as the TMC chairperson by my campaign managers and my party here, even though these are not assembly polls. Still, I am adhering to the model code of conduct," said Banerjee.

TMC chief Mamata Banerjee added this a day before Modi’s scheduled roadshow in the state capital.

Allegations Against Me Are False: Prajwal Revanna

Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, accused in several cases of sexual harassment, rape, and assault, resurfaced on Monday in a pre-recorded video message. He claimed he will appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the charges against him on May 31.

Revanna clarified that his trip abroad was pre-arranged and that he was unaware of the allegations until after his departure.

"After being abroad for three or four days, I learned about the case. The election was held on April 26, and no case was registered then. Even the SIT was not formed at that time. I received information about the SIT notice later. However, all the allegations against me are false," Revanna said in the video.

Bhavani Revanna, mother of Janata Dal (Secular) MP Prajwal Revanna, filed an anticipatory bail application in the Karnataka High Court on Monday after receiving multiple notices from the Special Investigation Team (SIT) regarding a kidnapping case in which her husband is one of the accused.

The SIT, which is also investigating Prajwal’s case, is probing the kidnapping of a woman in KR Pete in Mysuru district, allegedly by MLA HD Revanna. The SIT issued a notice to Bhavani on May 2 to appear for investigation, but she did not comply. The SIT sent a second notice, which Bhavani also did not respond to.