Opinion poll results Highlights: BJP likely to sweep 25 seats in West Bengal; TMC expected to face setback in 2024 LS election

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According to the News18 mega opinion poll, 26% of respondents are very pleased with the Maharashtra government's performance, while 4% are severely dissatisfied. Furthermore, 128% of respondents are neither satisfied nor unsatisfied with the Jharkhand government's performance.

According to News18's Mega Opinion Poll, the National Democratic Alliance, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is expected to win 41 of Maharashtra's 48 Lok Sabha seats, while the opposition INDI alliance may win seven. According to the survey, the NDA will win with a 48 per cent vote share, while the INDIA alliance may receive 34 per cent. Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats, making it the second greatest contributor to the lower house of Parliament after Uttar Pradesh (80).

The state, known as the saffron party's heartland and the home of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sends 26 MPs to the lower house. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP improved its vote share in the state by 3% to 63.1 per cent, while Congress received 32.6 per cent. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP received 60.1% of the votes, while the Congress received 33.5%. The state has typically seen a straight struggle between the Congress and the BJP.

According to the News18 mega opinion poll, 43% of respondents are very satisfied with the Gujarat government's performance, while 4% are extremely dissatisfied. The study also said that 19% of respondents are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the Jharkhand government's performance.

According to a News18 poll, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to win the Gujarat Lok Sabha elections for the third time in a row. The News18 Mega Opinion Poll predicts that the BJP would win 26 seats in the state, leaving no space for other parties. It also indicated that the party will take 56% of the vote, while the INDIA bloc was expected to receive 36%.

According to the News18 mega opinion poll, 38% of respondents are very satisfied with the Jharkhand government's performance, while 9% are extremely dissatisfied. Besides, 11% of respondents are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the Jharkhand government's performance.

The BJP-led NDA will win 25 of West Bengal's 42 seats in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election, while TMC is expected to get only 17 seats, according to News18's Mega Opinion Poll. According to the survey, the NDA will win with 42% of the vote, while the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress would gain 17 seats.
The state sends the most representatives to the 543-member Lok Sabha, trailing only Uttar Pradesh (80) and Maharashtra (48).

According to a News18 poll, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is expected to win 12 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand out of 14 seats, with the opposition INDIA alliance expected to win two seats. According to the News18 Mega Opinion Poll, the NDA will receive 58% of the vote, the INDIA bloc 32%, and the other parties 10%.

According to the News18 mega opinion poll, 60% of respondents are very satisfied with the Uttarakhand government's performance, while 24% are somewhat satisfied. While 5% of respondents are somewhat dissatisfied with the state government's performance, only 1% are extremely dissatisfied.

News18's Mega Opinion Poll predicts 18 seats for the BJP-led NDA in Andhra Pradesh in the forthcoming general election, which may be a significant gain. Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) is expected to win only seven seats in the election. Recently, the TDP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Jana Sena Party (JSP) reached a deal to split seats in Andhra Pradesh's 2018 elections.

The study predicts that the NDA will win 58% of the vote, while the INDIA alliance will get three seats with 35%. The Congress won one seat in 2019 and nine in 2014. The state contains 28 Lok Sabha seats, making it a critical battleground for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's objective of gaining more than 400 seats for the NDA in the next elections. The BJP will compete for 25 of the 28 seats, while its coalition partner, the JD(S), will run in three Old Mysore constituencies.

According to the News18 mega opinion poll, 46% of respondents are very much satisfied with the Odisha government's performance, while 19% are somewhat satisfied. While 15% of respondents are somewhat dissatisfied with the state government's performance, only 7% are extremely dissatisfied.

According to News18's Mega Opinion Poll, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to win 10 of Chhattisgarh's 11 Lok Sabha seats, while the Congress may win only one. According to the survey, the NDA is predicted to receive 57% of the votes, while Congress may receive 37%. Chhattisgarh has eleven Lok Sabha seats, representing Bastar, Bilaspur, Durg, Janjgir-Champa, Kanker, Korba, Mahasamund, Raigarh, Raipur, Rajnandgaon, and Sarguja.

BJD to win 8 seats

The BJP will win 13 of Odisha's 21 seats in the next Lok Sabha elections, according to News18's Mega Opinion Poll. According to the study, Biju Patnaik's BJD will win eight seats. The BJP and BJD are expected to ally soon. If that happens, the NDA will take all 21 seats. The BJD left the NDA following the 2008 violence in Kandhamal area, during which claimed Hindutva supporters attacked Christians.

As per News18 mega opinion poll, 27% of respondents are very satisfied with the Telangana government's performance, while 42% are moderately satisfied. Whereas 9% of respondents are somewhat dissatisfied with the state government's performance, while only 2% are very dissatisfied.

The poll also showed that 34% of respondents are very much satisfied with the Telangana Chief Minister's performance and 46% are somewhat satisfied with his work.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA is expected to sweep Uttarakhand, winning all five Lok Sabha seats with a vote share of 62%, as per News18's Mega Opinion Poll. The BJP-led NDA government won all Lok Sabha seats in the 2014 and 2019 general elections.

News18 Mega Opinion Poll also predicted that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is expected to win two seats, while Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen is expected to win one Lok Sabha seat in Telangana. The NDA is forecast to receive 28% of the vote, followed by the INDIA bloc with 34% and the BRS with 27%.

According to the News18 poll, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is expected to win eight Lok Sabha seats in the southern state of Telangana, which the Congress party now runs, while the INDIA alliance is expected to win six Lok Sabha seats. BRS is expected to win only 2 seats.

On March 2, the BJP announced candidates for 15 Rajasthan seats in the 2019 general election. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will run again from Kota, Arjun Ram Meghwal from Bikaner, Devendra Jhajharia from Churu, Swami Sumedhanand Saraswati from Sikar, and Bhupendra Yadav from Alwar. Ramswaroop Koli will run for Bharatpur, Jyoti Mirdha for Nagaur, P P Chaudhary for Pali, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for Jodhpur, Kailash Choudhary for Barmer, Lumbaram Choudhary for Jalore, Mannalal Rawat for Udaipur, Mahendra Malviya for Banswara, CP Joshi for Chittorgarh, and Dushyant Singh for Jhalawar-Baran.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is expected to win all 25 seats in Rajasthan with a 61% vote share in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, according to News18's Mega Opinion Poll. The state sends 25 MPs to the Lok Sabha, which has alternated between the BJP and the Congress for many years.

In Assam, BJP is contesting in 11 seats while its ally party Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) will contest in Barpeta and Dhubri seats and UPPL in Kokrajhar seat. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies will win 13 out of 14 parliamentary seats in the state in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

According to News18's mega poll, 53% of respondents are extremely satisfied with the Assam government's performance, while 31% are somewhat satisfied. 2% of respondents are somewhat dissatisfied with the state govt's performance and 1% are very dissatisfied. Other than that 11% of respondents are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with the Assam government's performance.

The BJP-led NDA is expected to win 12 out of 14 in Assam, whereas other parties are likely to win the remaining 2 seats with no hope for the INDIA bloc in the Northeastern state.

News18's Mega Opinion Poll has revealed that the BJP-led NDA will win 25 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, while Congress is expected to win 3 seats.

Opinion Poll 2024: 210 interviews of eligible voters taken ahead of Lok Sabha elections
The survey's fieldwork was conducted between February 12 and March 1. A total of 210 interviews with eligible voters were performed in 518 Lok Sabha seats across India. Notably, the study received a gigantic sample size of over 1.18 lakh respondents from all demographic backgrounds, making it India's largest opinion poll.

The opinion poll will be conducted in 16 languages on all 20 News18 network channels, including News18 India, CNN-News18, and News18 regional networks. The results will also be available on News18's 16 websites and Moneycontrol.com.

All 11 candidates for the Bihar Legislative Council election including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar declared elected unopposed to the state Legislative Council.

On Lok Sabha elections 2024, Rajasthan Deputy CM and BJP leader Diya Kumari says, "We will win all 25 seats (in the state), with a margin greater than what we had earlier."

"Those who were propagating things like the elections won't be fair should end their doubts after the appointments that are made."

On the farmers' issue, he says, "Govt and farmers should talk. Provisions should be made for the fair prices of the farmers' produce. Both parties should avoid any kind of violence."

All of us are people who do politics but we do not politics for forming government but for the formation of the country & the society. This is the difference between other political parties & ours. We don't form a government for someone's personal benefit...Earlier when India spoke at international forums no one took it seriously. But today when India speaks at the international forum the entire world listens.

CAA is all about giving citizenships to those who are persecuted on religious grounds in Pakistan, Afghanistan & Bangladesh. We shouldn't forget that these three nations are Islamic Republics. Those who left their countries and are here in India to save their life, it's our culture and duty to protect them. People like Mamata Banerjee provide shelter to Rohingyas and want refugee status for them and not for those who have been here for years. This isn't good, it's a vote bank politics.

A three-member committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi selected Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Sandhu as election commissioners. This decision was reported by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to the media after the panel meeting. The appointments come in light of the recent resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel, just before the Lok Sabha elections.

These appointments are the first made by the selection panel under the new law governing the appointment of election commissioners. The panel now includes the Prime Minister, the leader of the Opposition, and a designated Union Cabinet minister. The Chief Justice of India is no longer part of the panel.

Aam Aadmi Party releases list of 8 candidates for Lok Sabha elections in Punjab.

Among the Punjab ministers who have been declared as parliamentary election candidates by AAP are Gurmeet Singh GP from Bathinda, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from Amritsar, Laljit Singh Bhullar from Khandoor Sahib, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Sangrur and Dr. Balbir Singh from Patiala.

"People will be brought back from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and will be settled here. It will create riots. Crime rates will increase due to all of this... Are all our problems over? Is inflation or poverty over? Or unemployment has ended! Approximately 11 lakh capitalists have left the country, the PM Narendra Modi should bring them back..."

Author and philanthropist Sudha Murty, nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu, took oath as a member of the Upper House of Parliament, in Delhi, today

"CAA only provides citizenship to religious minorities, those who have faced atrocities in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Today, Congress is doing politics and lying. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has explained CAA...In countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, are Muslims in the minority? Do they face atrocities?"

"It is a big shock to Uddhav Thackeray as he wanted to do politics in the name of Nitin Gadkari. Nitin Gadkari is not only a leader but also an efficient minister... He has got offers from the Maharashtra opposition to join them. The level of politics has stooped low."

Disgruntled TMC leader Arjun Singh says will return to BJP after being denied Lok Sabha ticket. "TMC did not keep its promise of nominating me from Barrackpore Lok Sabha seat in Bengal," Arjun Singh. He also adds that another 'top TMC leader' will join BJP along with him.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, "I got to know from somewhere that Babun Banerjee is contesting upcoming polls as an independent candidate Howrah Parliamentary seat...Everyone felt very bad by the step taken by Babun and one thing I want to mention is that greed increases when you grow up. I do not think he is our family member, from today I have finished all blood relations with him. I have totally disassociated him from my family"

"In his statement, the Home Minister did not answer any questions raised by me but he said Kejriwal is corrupt. I am not important. I ask him - when we are not capable of giving employment to our own people, then how will we give employment and housing to refugees from Pakistan? The migration that will happen due to CAA will be bigger than what happened during the partition."

Kovind panel says simultaneous polls to significantly enhance transparency, inclusivity, ease and confidence of voters. Simultaneous polls to spur development process and social cohesion, deepen foundations of democratic rubric. It can help realise aspirations of 'India, that is Bharat': Kovind panel on 'one nation, one election.'

Simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha, assemblies can be held in 1st step, followed by local body polls within 100 days in 2nd step

In case of hung House, no-confidence motion, fresh polls can be held for remainder of five-year term.

Kovind panel recommends advance planning for equipments, manpower and security forces for holding simultaneous polls. For first simultaneous polls, tenure of all state assemblies can be for period ending up to subsequent Lok Sabha elections.

The opposition must study (CAA) first. It is clearly written that people who came to India from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and have been staying here for a long time are demanding Indian citizenship from a long time. This law is passed for those people... The opposition is only doing politics to get votes.

Supreme Court questions Ajit Pawar faction of NCP why it is using Sharad Pawar's photo for campaigning.

Supreme Court tells Ajit Pawar faction, “You are a different political party now. You have chosen not to be with him. So why to use his (Sharad Pawar) picture… Go with your own identity now…”

Supreme Court asks Ajit Pawar faction to file its response by Saturday on an application of Sharad Pawar group alleging misuse of his name, pictures to appeal voters.

The entire country would like to remind Amit Shah that in March 2020 he had said in Lok Sabha- 'Chronology samajhiye, pehle hum log CAA laenge aur uske baad hum NRC laenge'. When people in Assam & northeast oppose it, Amit Shah said that there is no link between CAA & NRC.

A meeting will be held at 7, LKM for the appointment of the Election Commissioner today. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary will participate in the meeting to be held at noon: Sources to ANI

Previously, different parliamentary standing committees such as the Niti Aayog and the Law Commission have expressed concern over the increasing expenses of holding multiple elections while also flagging possible constitutional and legal problems. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been pitching for simultaneous elections across the country since 2014 and 2019. However, for this to come into effect, at least five articles in the Constitution and the Representation of the People Act would need to be amended.

The committee was tasked with examining the potential impact of synchronized elections on various aspects such as governance, administration, political stability, expenditure, and voter participation. Additionally, the committee is responsible for formulating recommendations and presenting a comprehensive report outlining the pros and cons of the idea.

In September 2023, news agency ANI reported that the law commission aims to synchronize and implement the provision of One Nation One Election for India's election process by the 2029 Lok Sabha Elections. The committee that was set up in September last year was tasked with examining and recommending simultaneous elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats, keeping in view the existing constitutional framework.

The high-level committee, headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind, presented its report on 'One Nation, one election' to President Droupadi Murmu today. The panel has recommended amending at least five articles of the Constitution to allow for simultaneous polls across the country. The proposed report also focuses on creating a single electoral roll for Lok Sabha, state assembly, and local body polls.

"Before covid, the CAA bill was passed in Parliament & they took 4.5 years to frame the rules. They had no idea, they wanted to divide and win elections in West Bengal & Assam. Again they are using the same tool to win West Bengal & Assam. Amit Shah's experiment of cheating the people won't work."

“There is no need for much preparation because I represented these districts- both Haveri and Gadag which come under this Lok Sabha, as an MLC from local bodies for 12 years.”

BJP released its second list of 72 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday.

"There are two-three issues in the country. The biggest issue is unemployment, second is inflation, third is 'bhagidaari', and fourth is farmers' issue. However, if you watch TV-media, you will not find any discussion over these issues," says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaking during the farmers meeting at Krushi Utpanna Bazar Samiti in Nashik, Maharashtra.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh says, "I am saddened at the thinking of the opposition parties...Arvind Kejriwal is abusing the Hindus, but he never speaks when Hindu daughters are abducted during their marriage ceremony in Pakistan. Where will the persecuted Hindus go? He never speaks about Rohingyas and Bangladeshis as they are his vote bank..."

TMC leader Sagarika Ghose says, "Home Minister Amit Shah, you are accusing the Bengal govt of not being able to differentiate between infiltrators and refugees and accusing Mamata Banerjee of compromising national security...For how long will you continue with this 'ghuspetiya' politics?"

TMC leader Sagarika Ghose says, "Home Minister Amit Shah, you are accusing the Bengal govt of not being able to differentiate between infiltrators and refugees and accusing Mamata Banerjee of compromising national security...For how long will you continue with this 'ghuspetiya' politics?"

India is a secular state so it will be good if Muslims also get included in this but it did not happen and the bill was passed so our stand is...the act that was passed must be implemented, those who are left, regarding that discussions can be held in the future. Because those people for whom the law has been made, they must get the benefit.

As per the Constitution, only the Parliament has the authority to make laws related to citizenship. It does not fall on the State List. States have no role to play in this entire process.

BJP has brought the CAA. We will bring awareness concerning its provision so that people can not be misled.

INDI Alliance is not going to repeal this law. They are just creating mayhem because elections are approaching.

Refugees who entered India between 15 August 1947 to 31st December 2014 will be provided citizenship after auditing their documents.

Arvind Kejriwal is spreading misinformation. He does not know that new people are not entering the borders of India, rather the people already residing as refugees are to be given citizenship.

He does not talk about Rohingyas and the intruders from Bangladesh because of his vote bank politics. He is only rebelling against the rights of Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain refugees amongst others.

In a decisive break from conventional political norms, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), traditionally a supporting entity to Nitish Kumar in Bihar politics, has assumed a commanding role for the first time. This strategic shift puts the BJP into a leading position within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state, marking a notable departure from its prior subordinate role. Under a newly forged agreement, the BJP is slated to contest 17 out of Bihar's 40 seats, indicating its heightened importance within the alliance. Here's more

"I thank PM Modi & other senior leaders of the party for showing faith in me & choosing me for the 5th fifth time (to contest elections) from Hamirpur constituency. I have full faith that PM Modi's work & my efforts will help us script history..."

On opposition leaders saying they will repeal CAA if INDIA alliance comes to power in 2024, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "They also know that INDI alliance will not come to power. CAA has been brought by BJP govt led by PM Modi. It is impossible to repeal CAA…It is a fully constitutionally valid law… Supreme Court has not stayed this law…I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray to make it clear whether CAA should be implemented or not. He wants minority votes and is doing appeasement politics."

On AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi calling CAA "anti-Muslim", Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "What is his logic? There cannot be religious oppression of Muslims because Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh are declared Islamic state. There is no provision for NRC in this law. There is no provision in this law to take anyone’s citizenship."

On whether those who get citizenship through CAA will have a separate identity, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "They will be added to the citizenship list like every common citizen of India. They will have as many rights as you or I have. They can contest elections and become MP, MLA, CM and Minister."

On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's statement on CAA, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Rahul Gandhi should explain to the public why is CAA against the country just as we are explaining why it is in favour of the country."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reaffirmed the government's firm stance on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), emphasising its integral role in preserving the nation's sovereignty. He declared unequivocally that there will be no compromises on this matter, underscoring the government's steadfast commitment to safeguarding citizenship rights. "The CAA will remain intact," he asserted, leaving no room for doubt regarding the administration's position on the issue. Key takeaways from an Amit Shah interview

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in an interview with ANI, speaks on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's statement that giving citizenship to refugees will increase thefts and rapes; says, "The Delhi CM has lost his calm (aapa kho baithe hai) after his corruption was exposed...."

"The Delhi CM has lost his calm (aapa kho baithe hai) after his corruption was exposed. He does not know that all these people have already come and are living in India. If he is so concerned, then why doesn't he talk about Bangladeshi infiltrators or oppose the Rohingyas? He is doing vote bank politics... He has forgotten the background of partition and should meet the refugee families...'

Union HM Amit Shah to ANI: "All opposition parties including Owaisi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee are doing politics of lies..."

"All opposition parties including Owaisi, Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee are doing politics of lies. There is no question of timing. BJP said in its manifesto in 2019 that it would bring CAA and give citizenship to refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan...In 2019, it was passed by Parliament but got delayed due to Covid...The opposition wants to do appeasement politics and wants to consolidate their vote bank. They have been exposed and the people of the country know that CAA is the law of this country. I have said 41 times in the last 4 years that it would be implemented before the elections…"

"There is no need for minorities or any other person to fear because there is no provision in CAA to take away anyone's citizenship. CAA is only to give rights and citizenship to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs, Christians and Parsi refugees from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "You cannot see this law in isolation. In 1947, partition was done based on religion... Congress leaders at the time had said that people who migrated could come back anytime. But due to appeasement politics, Congress never fulfilled its promise."

Former Karnataka deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa says, "BS Yediyurappa had promised that he would give the ticket to KE Kantesh from Haveri. So I sent my son Kantesh there to campaign...But today my son KE Kantesh didn't get the ticket, and BS Yediyurappa's son got the ticket again."

"The opposition has no other work, they even said that there was a political benefit in surgical strikes and air strikes, so should we not take action against terrorism? They also said that the abrogation of Article 370 was also for our political benefit. We have been saying since 1950 that we will remove Article 370. 'Unki history hai jo bolte hai karte nahi hai, Modi ji ki history hai jo BJP ya PM Modi ne kaha woh patthar ki lakeer hai. Modi ki har guarantee poori hoti hai," Shah to ANI.

Union Minister Amit Shah, while speaking to ANI, said that the Citizenship Amendment Act will never be compromised. "This is our sovereign right to ensure citizenship in our country, we will never compromise on it. CAA will never be taken back," he said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah in an interview to ANI, speaks on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee's remark on CAA notification; says "The day is not far, when BJP will come to power there (West Bengal) and will stop infiltration. If you do this kind of politics and with such an important national security issue, you allow infiltration by doing appeasement politics and oppose the refugees from getting citizenship, then people will not be with you. Mamata Banerjee does not know the difference between a person taking refuge and an infiltrator..."

The BJP on Wednesday announced candidates for 20 out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, which includes Mysuru royal scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from Mysuru and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai from Haveri.

The party has replaced nine sitting MPs including former Chief Minister D V Sadanada Gowda from Bangalore North, Prathap Simha from Mysuru and former state BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel from Dakshina Kannada. Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje, who was facing some resistance for re-nomination within the party from Udupi-Chikmagalur, has been shifted to Bangalore North, which is currently represented by Sadananda Gowda. Read more, here

The ruling party has made some changes to the list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Several sitting MPs, including former Union ministers Sadananda Gowda and Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', were dropped from their respective constituencies. The Haveri MP and BJP leader Shivkumar Udasi was also dropped from his seat, which he had held since 2009. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has replaced him.

Ramesh Pokhriyal was not given a ticket from his constituency Haridwar, and former Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has replaced him. BJP chief spokesperson Anil Baluni will also be contesting his first Lok Sabha poll as the BJP has fielded him from Garhwal, replacing former Uttarakhand chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat.

Furthermore, a three-member committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet on Thursday to select candidates for the two vacant posts of Election Commissioners.

The committee is composed of a Union Minister, who the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition or the leader of the single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha will nominate. In this case, the Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury is the designated representative for the opposition. The committee will discuss and evaluate potential replacements for former Election Commissioners Arun Goel and Anup Chandra Pandey. Pandey retired on February 15, while Goel unexpectedly resigned on March 9, leaving the three-member commission with only Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its second list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Wednesday. The list comprises 72 names, including Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Pralhad Joshi, and Piyush Goyal. Anurag Singh Thakur will contest from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamipur seat, Gadkari from Nagpur, Pralhad Joshi from Dharwad, Piyush Goyal from Mumbai North, MoS Shobha Karandlaje from Bangalore North, Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South, and Trivendra Singh Rawat from Hardwar.

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