First BJP List for Lok Sabha Polls: Modi Set to Contest Varanasi, Shah in Gandhinagar
Stay informed on the Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate lineup for the Lok Sabha elections. Get updates on key contenders, strategic moves, and Prime Minister Modi's ambitious goals. Plus, learn about notable requests from sitting MPs Jayant Sinha and Gautam Gambhir.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unveiled its initial list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, retaining key figures in significant constituencies while introducing several strategic changes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will once again contest from Varanasi, while Home Minister Amit Shah retains Gandhinagar, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stands for Lucknow.
In a notable shift, the BJP has decided to field only Manoj Tiwari in Delhi, replacing Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi with Basuri Swaraj, daughter of late BJP stalwart Sushma Swaraj, in New Delhi. Additionally, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will contest from Vidisha, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from Kota.
The list reflects a diverse representation, with 28 women, 47 youth, 27 Scheduled Castes, 18 Scheduled Tribes, and 57 Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Notable mentions include Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav, Mansukh Mandaviya, and Parshottam Rupala, who will contest from Alwar, Porbandar, and Rajkot respectively. Furthermore, Rajya Sabha member Saroj Pande will vie for the Korba constituency in Chhattisgarh.
Key incumbents maintaining their seats include Gajendra Shekhawat, Smriti Irani, and Arjun Ram Meghwal. Additionally, new entrants like Ritesh Pande from Ambedkar Nagar and Geeta Koda from Singhbhum signal strategic moves to strengthen the party's position.
Despite speculations, Hema Malini retains her candidacy in Mathura, while the BJP aims to capitalize on Telangana's potential by fielding prominent leaders like G Kishan Reddy and Arvind Dharmapuri.
The party's confident stride into the elections stems from Prime Minister Modi's ambitious goal of securing 370 seats independently and 400 plus with the NDA coalition. With renewed alliances and a focus on winnability, the BJP gears up for a dynamic electoral campaign.
Ahead of the announcement, sitting MPs Jayant Sinha and Gautam Gambhir have expressed their intent to step down from electoral duties, citing commitments to global climate change efforts and upcoming cricket engagements respectively. Their replacements in their constituencies are anticipated following these requests.
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