Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: Candidate lists, new faces, major alliances, and more

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- Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, in an interaction with media this evening, hailed PM Modi, saying " In Vidarbha, the BJP is reporting encouraging results from the first round of the Lok Sabha elections. People are becoming more positive as a result of PM Modi's efforts. A political heavyweight like Nitin Gadkari is running for office in Nagpur. We have attempted to reach the final section and have prepared at the booth level over the past four years. Based on that, we'll sweep the board and secure every seat in the first round of the Vidarbha Lok Sabha elections."

- DMK candidate Thamizhachi Thangapandian, running for the South Chennai seat, submitted her candidature earlier today in Chennai for the forthcoming Lok Sabha election.
- "The future looks so bright for us, and we have already won since we are taking on the people with the accomplishments of the DMK model administration. We therefore anticipate winning handily," she said while interacting with reporters.

- Party leader Rahul Shewale announced today that the Shiv Sena's list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections will be announced in a day or two.
- He stated that the Mahayuti alliance has held conversations and that a decision would be made shortly.
- The Nationalist Congress Party, led by Ajit Pawar, the BJP, and the Shiv Sena, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, make up the ruling coalition.

- The Twenty20 Association, associated with the Twenty20 political party headed by Kitex, the corporate group, was ordered by the District Election Officer (DEO) to close a newly opened medical shop that was giving significant discounts, on the grounds that it had violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), stated a PTI report.
- The returning officer and district collector drew attention to the fact that the political party, registered association, and commercial corporation all used the same executive team and logo, states the report.

- The "credibility" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who is running for reelection to the Lok Sabha from the Begusarai seat, is the reason why the NDA is expected to win all 40 seats in Bihar.
- According to him, the electorate is aware that the prime minister's primary goal is development.

- On her candidature from Aska Lok Sabha constituency, BJP leader Anita Subhadarshini says, "I express my gratitude to the central leadership. They've once again demonstrated their faith in me. The public has decided that this time, it will just be PM Modi. People are prepared to affix their signatures to PM Modi's assurances".

- On his candidature from the Dhenkanal Lok Sabha constituency, former Rajya Sabha MP Rudra Narayan Pani says, "I am appreciative that PM Narendra Modi and the party leadership have nominated me to serve as the Odisha representative for the Dhenkanal Lok Sabha constituency. CM Naveen Patnaik's BJD government used devious tactics to win the polls in 2019. The Odisha administration is operating a defunct government in the state while making false promises. In Odisha, the BJP will construct a two-engine administration".

- Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said today that when it comes to the acceptance and popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha is the "number one state."
- According to Pradhan, Modi is dedicated to the advancement of Odisha, as seen by the central government's allocation of Rs 18 lakh crore to the state over the previous ten years.
- “We believe that Odisha is the number one state in the country when it comes to the popularity and acceptability of PM Narendra Modi. Different surveys and assessments show that the PM's acceptability in Odisha is between 85 and 90 per cent,” he told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

- Speaking to the media following his declaration of candidature, BJP Kerala chief K Surendran, who has been nominated from Kerala's Wyanad, announced in a bombastic manner that Rahul Gandhi will suffer the same fate in Wayanad as he had in Amethi the previous time.
- "The Wayanad constituency is facing a development crisis. Nothing has been done for the constituency by Rahul Gandhi", he said.
- Gandhi had previously won the seat by a margin of more than 4.31 lakh votes, defeating PP Suneer of the CPI.

- Speaking to the media following his declaration of candidature, BJP Kerala chief K Surendran, who has been nominated from Kerala's Wayanad, announced in a bombastic manner that Rahul Gandhi will suffer the same fate in Wayanad as he had in Amethi the previous time.
- "The Wayanad constituency is facing a development crisis. Nothing has been done for the constituency by Rahul Gandhi", he said.
- Gandhi had previously won the seat by a margin of more than 4.31 lakh votes, defeating PP Suneer of the CPI. Learn more.

- Congress released its sixth list of candidates for the upcoming Parliamentary elections today.
- The party has named 5 candidates from Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.
- In the sixth list, the party has named Ramchandra Choudhary from Ajmer, Sudarshan Rawat from Rajsamand, Dr Damodar Gurjar from Bhilwara and Prahlad Gunjal from Kota in Rajasthan; and C Robert Bruce from Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.

- Actor and BJP's candidate from Himachal Pradesh' Mandi, Kangana Ranaut, in an interaction with the media, said, "My acting profession once chose me, but these days politics has chosen me. I shall only belong here if the people of Mandi pick me. I'm fortunate to have the chance to go back to my roots. My focus will be on interacting with people, understanding their needs, and serving them".

- During the election campaign today in Koppal, Karnataka Minister and Congress leader Shivaraj S Tangadagi, taking a dig at PM Modi, said, "President Modi pledged two crore employment. Was it given by him? They ought to feel embarrassed. He can slap his young supporters who yell "Modi Modi." For the last ten years, they have conducted everything on the basis of lies. It seems they will be able to fool for a further five years. 100 smart cities in India were promised by PM Modi. In what location are they? Give one example. He delivers witty presentations, wears nice clothes, and is intelligent. He's always changing clothes. The PM then does a stunt where he performs puja while submerged in the ocean. Is this the appropriate thing for a prime minister to undertake?"

- Union Minister Giriraj Singh said today, "I'm not sure how credible I am, but among the people, the poor, and the farmers, Narendra Modi has such a high level of trust that it is very likely that he will win all 40 of Bihar's seats, including Begusarai. PM Modi deserves all of this hope. The development agenda is PM Modi's only one".

- The Congress today released its sixth list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

- Congress Lok Sabha candidate from Sivaganga constituency Karti Chidambaram said today, "I express my gratitude to the Congress party for their continued support and for giving me the opportunity to run for office a third time. I owe my party leadership a great deal. The alliance as a whole has united. I was accompanied by the three DMK ministers, the DMK MLA, and the Congress MLA. Just as it will win every seat in Tamil Nadu, the INDIA coalition will resoundingly win the Sivaganga seat. We will be holding worker meetings for the next six days beginning tomorrow, and on March 1st, we will launch a formal public outreach effort".

- Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh, commenting on Kangana Ranaut's nomination by BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha Polls, said today, Regarding the BJP candidates, it is an internal problem within their party. I don't want to make any comments. We'll give the elections everything we've got.We have respect for Kangana Ranaut in this regard. She's a well-known actress who has won accolades for Himachal Pradesh in the film industry.However, this is a political forum.The most important query is: would an actor whose career has revolved around filmmaking be able to dedicate enough time to covering one-third of Himachal Pradesh? She has been selected as the candidate only based on her celebrity. Bollywood will always remain her top priority. The people of Mandi must choose between voting for celebrity or a full-time politician".

- Samajwadi Party candidate from Moradabad, ST Hasan, interacting with the media today, expressed his gratitude for being nominated, "I appreciate Akhilesh Yadav, our national president, having faith in me. I'm sure the people of Moradabad will support me throughout this competition."

- Congress candidate from Jaipur, Pratap Khachariyawas, in an interaction with the press today, said, "I received the Lok Sabha ticket yesterday without having to ask for it. It is our duty to fight together during these trying times... We are all Sanatani, and the leaders of the Congress are also Sanatani. The BJP has just halted all of our government's initiatives and plans".

- Commenting on BJP fielding Kangana Ranaut from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh's Congress chief Pratibha Singh said today, "We are pleased that she has been given a chance as well. She is a celebrity, though. It remains to be seen what kind of effect her abrupt entry into politics will play. In my case, I've already made my request known to the High Command. I shall abide with the decision made by the High Command in light of the current circumstances. I'm glad to report that I never disregarded any orders I received from the High Command."

- After filing his nomination from Tiruchirappalli constituency for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, MDMK leader Durai Vaiko said, "With the blessings of our alliance leader and CM MK Stalin and our leader I have filed my nomination today..."

- "About the symbol, we are waiting for the reply of the election commission. We are expecting 40 out of 40 seats, including Puducherry and across the country, INDIA alliance will thrive," he added.

- BJP leader MA Kharabela Swain on Monday announced that he will fight the Lok Sabha elections from the Balasore seat in Odisha as an Independent candidate.

- He made the announcement a day after the BJP re-nominated its incumbent MP in the seat Pratap Sarangi, a former union minister.

- "I will contest from the Balasore Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming election as an Independent candidate. I will campaign in the name of PM Narendra Modi. Let the people decide who is the real BJP," Swain told a press conference.

- On his candidature from Wayanad, Kerala BJP president K Surendran said, " I want to thank PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party chief JP Nadda and party National General Secretary B L Santhosh...I will be contesting against Rahul Gandhi's negative politics."

- "In the past 5 years, Rahul Gandhi worked to stop the development. People need PM Modi's guarantee...Rahul Gandhi has done nothing for the people of Wayanad, he is an irresponsible MP...We will fight with our full strength. Last time what people of Amethi did, this time people of Wayanad will do the same," he added.

- After filing her nomination for the Lok Sabha elections, former Telangana and Puducherry Governor and BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan said, "The people want PM Modi to be Prime Minister again. South Chennai is a constituency with very responsible people and they're longing for a good parliamentarian."

- "The present MP is not very approachable. I will be very approachable, when I was in constitutional post also, I used to interact with people...I resigned from Governor's post because I want to work directly for the people," she said

- BJP MP Hema Malini said, "Our party has given this slogan (400 paar), we will fulfill this. We will see to it that happens - not only 400 but beyond that."

- "Because of the work that our party has done, BJP team has done under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi, what all has happened in our country, we are very proud of it," she added.

- She added, "Instead of criticising, I wish even the Opposition join hands and play Holi happily and be a part of nation-building."

- Dr J Jayavardhan, AIADMK candidate from South Chennai said, "Ground is very favourable for us because people are angry at the present DMK govt and the DMK MP who has done nothing for this constituency...even during 2022 floods, she did not come out of her home so people are angry..."

- "People will vote for us and with God's grace, we will win," he added.

- Vijay Vasanth, Congress candidate from Kanniyakumari said, " We're here for the people of Kanniyakumari...Rahul Gandhi had started his Bharat Jodo yatra from here...so I want us to win from Kanniyakumari to Kashmir so that INDIA alliance can form the govt...we will bring back the people's govt..."

- Congress candidate from Cuddalore MK Vishnu Prasad said, "With the blessings of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin and all the likeminded leaders, I have been announced as a candidate from Cuddalore."

- "Democracy is under threat, Modi govt has done enough to demoralise the 4 pillars of democracy...the people of India have suffered enough," he said.

- In BSP's first list, the Mayawati-led party has fielded Muslim candidates in seven of the 16 seats, potentially creating a problem for the SP-Congress alliance, both of which are a part of the INDIA bloc and are hopeful of consolidating votes of the community against the BJP.

- Unlike the 2019 elections, when BSP was in alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), the party is contesting the elections alone this time.

- More here.

- Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Monday said that people are fed up with the BJP, which made ”false and hollow” promises and have decided to vote for the SP.

- Talking to reporters in Saifai on the occasion of Holi, Yadav said, ”Everyone is fed up with the BJP. Inflation, taxes, unemployment and corruption are at its peak. The promises BJP made were false and hollow. This time people will ensure victory for the SP candidates.”

- Details here.

- Discontentment seems to be increasing by the day in sections of the BJP and the TMC in West Bengal with several leaders of both camps expressing displeasure over the selection of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

- Several TMC leaders aspiring for tickets have openly voiced their unhappiness over not being nominated for the seats they eyed. The BJP has witnessed similar dissatisfaction among some influential leaders over candidate selection.

- 'Metroman' E Sreedharan said that the BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi would definitely come back to power at the Centre and that the saffron party would win at least four-five seats in Kerala in the Lok Sabha polls.

- He asserted that BJP candidate Suresh Gopi would surely win from Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency in the state and Union Ministers Rajeev Chandrasekhar and V Muraleedharan would win in Thiruvananthapuram and Attingal segments, respectively.

- Senior CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami on Sunday requested the secular parties in Jammu and Kashmir to come together for a "bold and united" struggle against the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

- Tarigami, a former legislator, claimed that attempts are being made to politicise the armed forces and said “such a thing is not good for the country”.

- The last chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh, one YSRCP turncoat and the state BJP chief are among the six candidates from the saffron party who will contest the May 13 Lok Sabha election from the state.

- N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who succeeded K Rosaiah, was the last chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh. He will contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Rajampet constituency.

- Naveen Jindal, Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL), on March 25 said joining BJP marks "second innings" of his political career.

- "I extend my greetings to everyone on the occasion of Holi. This is second innings (of my political career). The BJP has shown trust in me, and fielded me from Kurukshetra. I thank PM Modi for this," said Jindal on March 25 after meeting Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini.

- Full report here.

- The states where polling would be held in the first phase are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep and Puducherry.

- Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha leader G Janardhana Reddy merges his party with BJP and his wife and politician Aruna Lakshmi also joins the party, in the presence of party leader BS Yediyurappa and state BJP President BY Vijayendra.

- He said, "Today I joined BJP by merging my party with BJP. I will work as a BJP worker to make PM Modi, Prime Minister for the 3rd time. I have joined the party without any conditions, I don't need any positions"

- Bharat Chandra Narah, the MLA of Nowboicha in Assam's Lakhimpur district, resigned from the Congress on Monday.

- The resignation comes two days after Congress announced Uday Shankar Hazarika as its candidate for the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat. Narah was hopeful that his party would nominate his wife Ranee Narah, a former Union Minister, for the seat.

- Announcing candidates for the remaining four seats in Kerala, the BJP has fielded its state chief K Surendran in the high-profile Wayanad constituency against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

- Scholar and former vice-chancellor of Sree Sankara Sanskrit University, K S Radhakrishnan, and actor-turned-politician G Krishnakumar will contest from the Ernakulam and Kollam constituencies respectively, the party said.

- The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has formed a manifesto committee for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, naming Maharashtra minister Dilip Walse Patil as its chairman.

- NCP treasurer and general secretary Shivajirao Garje will be the convenor of the 18-member committee, the party said here in a media release.

- The BJP candidates from Vadodara and Sabarkantha Lok Sabha constituencies in Gujarat on Saturday expressed their unwillingness to contest the upcoming general elections citing "personal" reasons.

- Sitting MP Ranjan Bhatt, who was fielded by the saffron party from the Vadodara seat, announced that she was not keen on fighting the elections.

- Congress leaders from Goa have been summoned to Delhi by the party's central leadership to decide on candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats in the state, a functionary said on Monday.

- Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Patkar and South Goa election coordinator Altone D'Costa have been called, the functionary told PTI.

- NDA ally Chirag Paswan said his Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will declare its candidates for the Lok Sabha polls immediately after Holi.

- Paswan, whose party has got five of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, also asserted he was "ready for any challenge" that came from his estranged uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras.

- More than 40 per cent of the total 9.2 crore persons eligible to vote in Maharashtra are in the age group of 30 to 49, as per the state electoral office data.

- Activist Manoj Jarange appealed to the Maratha community to choose candidates for contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as independents before March 30.

- The Maratha community holds sway over 17-18 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra, he claimed. The Maratha community holds sway over 17-18 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra, he claimed.

- The Bahujan Samaj Party declared the candidates for 25 of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in two separate lists.

- Party in-charges in some districts had earlier declared candidates at the district level.

- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Kanpur Lok Sabha seat Satyadev Pachauri on Sunday expressed unwillingness in fighting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and conveyed the same to party's national president JP Nadda.

- "It is a humble request to you that at present I am not willing to contest on the Kanpur seat in 2024-Lok Sabha elections," Pachauri said in a letter addressed to Nadda.

- NDA constituent AMMK on Sunday named candidates for the two seats it will be contesting in the April 19 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu.

- Party chief TTV Dhinakaran said in a release that he will contest from Theni, while P Senthilnathan has been nominated from Tiruchirappalli segment.

- The BJP on March 24 declared seven more candidates from Rajasthan for the Lok Sabha elections.

- The party has retained two sitting MPs -- Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria of Tonk-Sawai Madhopur and Bhagirath Chaudhary from Ajmer.

- Announcing candidates for the remaining four seats in Kerala, the BJP on Sunday fielded its state chief, K Surendran, in the high-profile Wayanad constituency against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

- Scholar and former vice-chancellor of Sree Sankara Sanskrit University, K S Radhakrishnan, and actor-turned-politician G Krishnakumar will contest from the Ernakulam and Kollam constituencies, respectively.

- The Election Commission (EC) has announced a comprehensive scheme for Kashmiri migrants to exercise their franchise in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, continuing with the past practice of voting through postal ballots and special polling stations in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi.

- The scheme is meant for all the voters of the Baramulla, Srinagar and Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituencies in Kashmir who had migrated because of compelling circumstances and are temporarily residing in various places outside their places of ordinary residence, an official spokesperson said.

- Days after rejoining the Congress, former MP Choudhary Lal Singh was given the party's mandate on Saturday to take on Union minister Jitendra Singh from the Udhampur constituency of Jammu and Kashmir in the upcoming parliamentary polls.

- The Congress has also fielded the working president of its Jammu and Kashmir unit and former minister Raman Bhalla from Jammu.

- Union minister and two-time Rajya Sabha MP Dharmendra Pradhan will seek a return to the Lower House of Parliament with the BJP fielding him from Sambalpur in his home state Odisha for the Lok Sabha polls.

- "I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to represent Sambalkar in Lok Sabha. Modiji's guarantee, track record of 10 years and due to the hard work of activist Mankar, we have won the vote and trust of the citizens of Sambalpur and all over the country," Pradhan wrote in a post on X in Odia.

- The Congress has nominated JNU professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam and former MLA Alfred Kanngam Arthur for the Inner and Outer Manipur Lok Sabha seats respectively in the upcoming polls, an official statement said.

- The statement, issued by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K Venugopal, said that the decision was taken by the Central Election Committee of the grand old party.

- The Samajwadi Party on Sunday renominated its Lok Sabha MP from Moradabad S T Hasan from the same seat and changed its Bijnor candidate by fielding Deepak Saini, the son of a party MLA.

- The party announced the names in a post on X.

- The Samajwadi Party had earlier named Yashveer Singh as its candidate from Bijnor.

- The ruling BJP on Sunday announced the names of six candidates for Lok Sabha polls from Gujarat, including faces for Vadodara and Sabarkantha where the party nominees earlier withdrew from the fray.

- With this, the party has announced the names of candidates for all 26 constituencies where elections are scheduled to be held on May 7.

- The Congress's list of candidates for seven out of nine seats in Tamil Nadu on Saturday saw the national party renominate key MPs, including Karti P Chidambaram and S Jothimani, from Sivaganga and Karur, respectively.

- The BJP on March 24 named 111 more Lok Sabha poll candidates, dropping Union ministers Ashwini Kumar Choubey and V K Singh, and MP Varun Gandhi, while fielding actors Kangana Ranaut and Arun Govil.