Congress Announces First List of Candidates for 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

The Congress party has unveiled its initial list of candidates for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The announcement was made following the first meeting of the central election committee, chaired by President Mallikarjun Kharge. Notable names featured in the list include Rahul Gandhi, who will contest from Wayanad, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, fielded from Rajnandgaon, and Shashi Tharoor, who will vie for the Thiruvananthapuram seat.

The list comprises a total of 39 candidates, carefully selected to represent various constituencies across the country. Among them, DK Suresh will contest from Bangalore Rural, K Sudhakaran from Kannur, and Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal from Alappuzha.

The party has strived for a balanced representation, with 15 candidates from the general caste and 24 from SC/ST/minority communities. This strategic selection underscores the Congress leadership's thoughtful approach to ensure inclusivity and diversity within its candidate pool.

The meeting, held on Thursday, saw the active participation of Rahul Gandhi, who joined remotely via Zoom. Despite speculation surrounding Rahul Gandhi's potential candidacy from a second seat, such as Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, clarity on this matter remains pending.

Addressing the media, KC Venugopal emphasized the party's proactive stance in gearing up for the election campaign. He highlighted Rahul Gandhi's ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which has garnered momentum as it travels through various states, with a grand culmination planned in Mumbai on March 17. Additionally, Venugopal outlined the party's key promises, including legislation for Minimum Support Price (MSP), caste census, and social security for gig workers, aimed at addressing pertinent issues affecting the youth and marginalized sections of society.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to contest, Shashi Tharoor affirmed his commitment to a fair and constructive electoral campaign. He emphasized his track record of refraining from negative campaigning throughout his political career.

While the finalization of candidates for Delhi constituencies is pending, KC Venugopal assured that the party's selection process prioritizes candidates' electability and merit, with no internal conflicts over ticket distribution.

The comprehensive list of candidates announced by the Congress party encompasses a diverse range of constituencies across states, reflecting its concerted efforts to present a formidable and inclusive electoral front.

Here is the full list of candidates:

Chhattisgarh

• Jangrir-Champa (SC): Shivkumar Dahariya
• Korba: Jyotsana Mahant
• Rajnandgaon: Bhupesh Baghel
• Durg: Rajendra Sahu
• Raipur: Vikas Upadhayay
• Mahasamund: Tamrdhwaj Sahu

Karnataka

• Bijapur (SC): HR Algur
• Haveri: Anandaswamy Gaddadevara Math
• Shivamogga: Geetha Shivarajkumar
• Hassan: Shreyas Patel
• Tumkur: SP Muddahanumegowda
• Mandya: Venkataramegowda (Star Chandru)
• Bangalore Rural: DK Suresh

Kerala

• Kasaragod: Rajmohan Unnithan
• Kannur: K Sudhakaran
• Vadakara: Shafi Parambil
• Wayanad: Rahul Gandhi
• Kozhikode: MK Raghavan
• Palakkad: VK Sreekandan
• Alathur (SC): Ramya Haridas
• Thrissur: K Muraleedharan
• Chalakudy: Benny Behanan
• Ernakulam: Hibi Eden
• Idukki: Dean Kuriakose
• Alappuzha: KC Venugopal
• Mavelikkara (SC): K Suresh
• Pathanamthitta: Anto Antony
• Attingal: Adoor Prakash
• Thiruvananthapuram: Shashi Tharoor

Lakshadweep

• Lakshadweep (ST): Mohd Hamdullaha Sayeed

Meghalaya

• Shillong (ST): Vincent H Pala
• Tura (ST): Saleng A Sangma

Nagaland

• Nagaland: S Supongmeren Jamir

Sikkim

• Sikkim: Gopal Chettri

Telangana

• Zahirabad: Suresh Kumar Shetkar
• Nalgonda: Raghuveer Kunduru
• Mahbubnagar: Challa Vamshi Chand Reddy
• Mahabubabad (ST): Balram Naik Porika

Tripura

• Tripura West: Ashish Kumar Saha