Lok Sabha Elections 2019 live updates: Campaigning ends for last phase of polls

Around 200 party workers who were part of the core poll committee, will be present

Three cars damaged, police had to lathicharge to protect the BJP leaders, 26 people detained

Shah has issued notices to the three leaders and their matter has been referred to the disciplinary committee of the party, asking for a report in 10 days.

The violence in Kolkata on Tuesday and the Election Commission’s ban on campaigning for the last 20 hours saw a surge of political support for West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and turned into a display of solidarity by anti-BJP parties. Banerjee thanked the opposition for their support and said, “Thanks and gratitude for expressing support to us and the people of Bengal. EC’s biased actions under the directions of BJP are a direct attack on democracy."

Signs of an accommodative approach towards regional parties emerged on Thursday when senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad issued a public message that “Congress has no issues if it does not get the PM post.” Sonia Gandhi too is seen to have launched an outreach with non-NDA leaders suggesting there should be detailed discussions ahead of the May 23 results.

After the statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was vandalised during Amit Shah’s rally on Tuesday, PM Modi at a rally in UP had announced to dedicate a panchdhatu (five metals) statue at the very spot contributing to Vidyasagar's vision. Hitting back, Bengal CM Mamata said the state didn't need “BJP’s money” and the state had enough in its coffers to rebuild the statue.

The sadhvi was responding to the media seeking her reaction to actor-politician Kamal Haasan’s comment that Godse was free India’s first Hindu terrorist. Sadhvi's comment led to the Election Commission seeking a report from the Madhya Pradesh chief electoral officer. The furore over her remarks saw BJP condemning the statement and asking her to apologise.