Lok Sabha Polls: BJP's first list a diverse mix, tries to balance various social groups

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The BJP has tried to give representation to various social groups in its first list of 195 candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, and defence minister Rajnath Singh were among the candidates named in the list released on March 2.

The list has 28 women, 27 of the candidates are from scheduled castes, 18 from scheduled tribes and 57 belong to other backward classes (OBCs). Several of the women candidates are from SC, ST or OBC groups. This move displays the party's commitment to not only address performance concerns but also maintain a balance in caste dynamics, say experts. The selection of candidates is also mindful of the opposition alliance, particularly in Uttar Pradesh.

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Of the 195 candidates, 47 are aged below 50, indicating the party's efforts to rope in more youth representatives, giving a further spin to a vastly diversified list.

Among the Scheduled Caste candidates are Kripa Nath Mallah, Kamalesh Jangde, Vinodbhai Lakhmashi Chavda, Dineshbhai Kodarbhai Makwana, Ajay Tamta, Bhola Singh, Om Kumar, Satyapal Singh Baghel, Soumitra, and Priya Saha.

This move comes as opposition parties, especially the Congress, is trying t o make a country0wide caste census a key electoral issue to counter the BJP's Hindutva politics.

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In a bid to secure the support of scheduled tribes, the BJP has granted tickets to candidates like Mahesh Kashyap, Amar Singh Tisso, Radheshyam Rathia, Chintamani Maharaj, Bholaraaj Naag, Jaswant Singh Bhambhor, Prabhubhai Nagarbhai Vasava, Manoj Tigga, Tala Marandi, Sunil Soren, Geeta Koda, Samir Uranv, Himadri Singh, Faggan Singh Kulaste, Anita Nagar Singh Chauhan, Mahendra Malviya, and Mannalal Rawat.

Among the OBC candidates are Rajesh Varma, Ghanshyam Lodhi, Parmeshwar Lal Saini, Rajveer Singh, Rekha Varma, Sakshi Maharaj, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, and Rahul Lodhi, reflecting a conscious effort to address the interests of OBCs by allocating 57 tickets.

Among the 28 women candidates are Bansuri Swaraj, Shobha Surendran, Sandhya Ray, Lata Wankhede, Jyoti Mirdha, Smriti Irani, Kamaljeet Sahrawat, Annapurna Devi, Hema Malini, Rekha Varma, and Priya Saha, among others.