The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has kicked off its preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by unveiling its first list of candidates, comprising 195 names across various constituencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to seek re-election from Varanasi, a seat he has represented since 2014.
BJP has announced candidates on 51 seats from Uttar Pradesh, 20 from West Bengal, 24 from Madhya Pradesh, 15 each from Gujarat and Rajasthan, 12 from Kerala, 9 seats from Telangana, 11 from Assam, 11 each from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, 5 from Delhi, 2 from J&K, 3 from Uttarakhand, 2 from Arunachal Pradesh and 1 each from Goa, Tripura, Andaman & Nicobar and Daman & Diu.
Click here to download the complete first list of candidates announced by BJP for 2024 Lok Sabha Elections
One of the biggest differences about the announcement of the list by the BJP as compared to 2019 is that in 2019, BJP’s 1st list of 180-odd candidates was released on March 21, which was about 11 days after the Model Code of Conduct announcement. This time it’s even before election dates are declared to allow candidates to campaign more vigorously. The list includes candidates for various constituencies, with special attention given to the national capital, Delhi. The announced candidates for the five Delhi seats are as follows:
- Praveen Khandelwal – Chandni Chowk
- Manoj Tiwari – North East Delhi
- Bansuri Swaraj – New Delhi
- Kamalkit Sehrawat – West Delhi
- Ramvir Bidhuri – South Delhi
Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Sarbananda Sonowal are also set to enter the electoral fray. Rijiju will contest from the Arunachal West seat, while Sonowal is fielded for Dibrugarh in Assam.
The BJP’s candidate list reflects a diverse mix, with 28 women and 47 young leaders making it to the roster for 16 states and Union Territories. This inclusivity aligns with the party’s strategy to present a varied and dynamic group of candidates.
A substantial focus is placed on Uttar Pradesh, with the announcement of candidates for 51 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Among the prominent names that have figured in the BJP’s list include Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow, Hema Malini from Mathura, Ravi Kishan from Gorakhpur
Additionally, 24 candidates for Madhya Pradesh’s 29 seats have been unveiled. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan is set to contest from Vidisha, showcasing the seasoned leader’s continued political prominence.
In another significant move, Jyotiraditya Scindia, a prominent political figure in Madhya Pradesh, is named as the candidate for the Guna constituency.
Home Minister Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar while Mansukh Mandaviya will contest from Porbandar.
“The names of 195 candidates have been finalised. The list includes 47 youth candidates, 28 women candidates, 27 Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates, 18 Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates and 57 OBC/Backward Class candidates.
The party has announced the list keeping all communities in focus,” said BJP leader Vinod Tawde while addressing the media here in Delhi.
Smriti Irani will again contest from Amethi. Ajay Mishra Teni,MOS Home will again contest from Khiri.
BJP leader Alok Sharma to contest from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
The announcement of the candidate list follows a marathon meeting of the central election committee (CEC) of the BJP in the early hours of Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP’s National President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Organisation General Secretary BL Santosh, Chief Ministers, State Presidents, In-charges, Co-Incharges, and Election In-charges of various states were present in this meeting. Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Assam, Uttarakhand, and Goa were present at the meeting.
Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi secured a victory in Varanasi with 6,74,664 against Congress’s Ajay Rai.The BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats.
The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year.
As the election landscape unfolds, the BJP’s candidate list signals a strategic balance between experienced leaders and new faces. The party aims to project a united front with a combination of seasoned political figures and fresh talent.
The release of the candidate list sets the stage for intense campaigning and political manoeuvring in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls. With key constituencies identified and candidates finalised, the political landscape is poised for heightened activity as various parties gear up for a fiercely contested electoral battle.
