BJP’s 155 Candidates List Today: Modi from Varanasi, Amit Shah from Gandhinagar; Scindia from Gwalior, Shivraj from Bhopal Ready

Today, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may announce the first list of candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to sources, discussions are underway regarding nearly 155 names, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

PM Modi may contest from Varanasi, Amit Shah from Gandhinagar, Rajnath Singh from Lucknow, Smriti Irani from Amethi, Dharmendra Pradhan from Sambalpur, Jyotiraditya Scindia from Gwalior or Guna-Shivpuri, Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Bhopal or Vidisha, and Sambit Patra from Puri, Odisha.

BJP Plans Candidate Nomination for Lok Sabha Elections

Bhuvaneshwar, Bhupendra Yadav from Ballabhgarh, Sarbananda Sonowal from Dibrugarh, Ravindra Raina from Rajouri-Anantnag, Om Birla from Kota, Manoj Tiwari from North-East Delhi, Parvesh Verma from West Delhi, and Pawan Singh, a Bhojpuri singer and actor from Asansol, might be fielded in the elections.

The first meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) was held in Delhi at the BJP headquarters on Thursday night. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, along with other top leaders, attended the meeting. Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states also participated.

According to sources, after this meeting, the party may announce candidates for 100 to 120 Lok Sabha seats. During the meeting, leaders discussed the losses the party incurred in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

BJP to Hold Meetings with Allies in UP and AJSU in Jharkhand

In a strategic move, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) plans to convene a meeting with coalition partners in Uttar Pradesh and with AJSU in Jharkhand. During the meeting of the Election Committee, discussions also centered on negotiations with the supporting parties of the NDA. 

Sources reveal that out of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 Lok Sabha seats, BJP is likely to allocate 6 seats to its allies like RLD and other parties. Additionally, among Jharkhand’s 14 Lok Sabha seats, AJSU is expected to contest only from the Giridih constituency.

In Assam’s 14 Lok Sabha Constituencies: BJP Contests 11, Allies Vie for 3

In Assam, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reached agreements with its coalition partners regarding the allocation of seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. BJP is set to contest in 11 constituencies across Assam, while its allies will contest in the remaining 3 seats. 

The Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) will field candidates in two constituencies, namely Barpeta and Dhubri, while the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) will field a candidate from Kokrajhar. This distribution signifies a coordinated effort among the alliance partners to maximize their representation in the Lok Sabha from the state of Assam.

Discussions on Alliances Ongoing in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu

In a recent development, discussions regarding alliances are still underway in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed party workers to collaborate with the BJP’s allies for 370 and NDA for more than 400 seats. Apart from these discussions, efforts have been made to assist former associates during meetings.

In Punjab, talks involve the former ally Akali Dal, while in Andhra Pradesh, discussions are being held with TDP and Jana Sena. In Tamil Nadu, AIADMK is being approached to bring them back to the NDA fold. The meetings in these states are currently on hold. Depending on the outcome of the alliance discussions, the party will either distribute seats accordingly or contest independently.

BJP Prepares to Field Over 33% Women Candidates in Lok Sabha Elections

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up to field a significantly higher number of women candidates in the Lok Sabha elections, building upon its commitment to gender diversity and representation. During a meeting of the party’s core group on Wednesday, consensus was reached regarding the readiness to field more women candidates. Central Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Smriti Irani were among the attendees where discussions also revolved around the constituencies where women candidates could be fielded.

A senior leader mentioned that this time, the number of women candidates is expected to exceed 33% compared to the previous elections. In the 2019 elections, BJP had fielded 53 women candidates in Lok Sabha elections, and with the increased target, around 70 women candidates might secure tickets this time.

In a prior meeting of the core group, a list of potential candidates from 23 states had been compiled, including discussions about introducing new faces to bolster representation.

BJP to Contest 11 Seats, Allies on 3 in Assam’s 14 Lok Sabha Seats

In the context of Assam’s political landscape, the BJP has strategically coordinated with its allied parties to contest in 14 Lok Sabha constituencies. The BJP will lead the charge in 11 constituencies across Assam, while its allies are set to contest in the remaining 3 seats. 

During the meetings held for Assam’s Lok Sabha constituencies, the Assam Gana Parishad (AGP) will field candidates from Barpeta and Dhubri, while the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL) will nominate candidates from Kokrajhar.

BJP Core Group Meeting Discusses Potential Candidates

On Wednesday evening (February 28th), a meeting of the BJP core group was held at the party headquarters in Delhi. Chaired by party president JP Nadda, the meeting focused on deliberating over the names of potential candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. According to party sources, the initial list includes the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

The inclusion of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah’s names in the initial list for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections highlights their significant roles within the party and the broader political landscape.

Potential Candidates from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Considered in BJP Core Group Meeting

During the BJP core group meeting, discussions revolved around the potential candidates for various states. Names from Tripura, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand were under consideration until late into the night. Sources suggest that the tenure of several central leaders in the Rajya Sabha, including Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupender Yadav, Purushottam Rupala, Mansukh Mandaviya, and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, is coming to an end.

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s terms are also due to conclude in the next two years. Talks are ongoing regarding their potential candidacies in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. While Nirmala and Rajeev may be fielded from Karnataka, Jaishankar might contest from Kerala or Tamil Nadu, Bhupender could represent Haryana or Rajasthan, and Dharmendra may stand from Odisha.

BJP Hosts Two-Day National Convention in New Delhi

Between February 17th and 18th, the BJP organized a two-day national convention at the Bharat Manda in Delhi, with the participation of over 11,000 party officials. Prime Minister Modi also attended the conference on the second day, February 18th. During his address, PM Modi emphasized that BJP workers dedicate 24 hours of service to the nation every day.

He further highlighted the need for renewed energy, enthusiasm, and confidence among BJP members in the coming 100 days. He noted that today, February 18th, marks a significant day as the country’s new youth, who have turned 18, will participate in the Lok Sabha elections. Over the next 100 days, BJP aims to reach out to every new voter, beneficiary, section, and society to garner their trust. The party endeavors to hold more meetings across the nation to serve every corner of the country diligently.