The Congress party announced 39 candidates in the first list and as expected most are from 'comfortable zone' vis-a-vis the state of Kerala. Rahul Gandhi himself will be contesting from Wayanad. But the party's list also brings into light 'weak-links and fault-lines'.
Reports say several key leaders have decided to stay away from contest. In Chhattisgarh former Deputy CM, T S Singhdeo says his wife his unwell. He was offered Sarguja seat.
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| Digvijaya and Kamal Nath: Madhya Pradesh veterans |
In Madhya Pradesh, veteran Digvijaya Singh, who contested from Bhopal unsuccessfully against Sadhvi Pragya in 2019, also understandably has opted outs saying he is already a member of the Rajya Sabha. The party claimed 60 names were cleared on the first day of CEC sitting on March 7; but only 39 names were announced.
Among them was also seat like Nagaland -- where the grand old party is putting up a candidate in a reluctant manner. While former Chief Minister K L Chishi put up a stiff fight in 2019 polls, this year the senior leader has decided to stay away from contest. The AICC finally agreed to field state unit president Supongmeren Jamir, a former legislator, but considered a lightweight nominee against NDPP-BJP combine's nominee.
Essentially, in Nagaland, the fight will be symbolic.
In 2018 and 2023 assembly polls, the Congress could not field (total) 60 candidates and when the results came in -- the grand old party had zero score in two state assembly polls in the state where it once dominated the scene. It's already Congress-mukt Nagaland !!
In Madhya Pradesh yet again, reportedly former CM Kamal Nath was asked to contest from his pocket-borrow, Chindwara, but he said, "my son Nakul is already an MP".
Even Congress president Mallkarjun Kharge reportedly decided to stay away from the contest from his home state in Karnataka where the grand old party is in power. He is said to have argued that as the party's national chief, he has to focus more on organisational matters.
Kharge was Congress floor leader in Lok Sabha between 2014 and 2019 but had lost the general election five years back. Now he is also Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha.
From Rajasthan, two top leaders Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot also understood to have declined any offer to contest for Lok Sabha polls and both maintained they are both in the assembly and would like to focus on state politics. Sachin Pilot declined to take Dausa seat -- a parliamentary segment he has represented in the past.
In fact, Congress leaders in Rajasthan could not be blamed as BJP swept the desert state in 2019 along with Gujarat; and moreover in the just concluded assembly polls too, the Congress party was handed over a convincing defeat.
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| 400 volt -- blogger |
By fielding Bhupesh Baghel and Tamradhwaj Sahu, the party shows an intention to field senior leaders in Chhattisgarh and other Hindi heartland states, where it was wiped out in 2019.
PM Modi to address and attend 150 rallies and road shows ...in the run up to 2024 Battle and Mission 370 plus target
BJP sources say PM Narendra Modi will be seen leading in at least 150 Road Shows and Rallies after Holi festival, that is March 25 across India in the run to the general elections 2024 wherein he will seek a mandate for record third consecutive term. Among them, there will be at least 40 poll rallies/election related meetings and gatherings in southern states -- where the saffron party is more than keen to ensure deeper penetration in states such as Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
BJP's mega plan includes several meetings including with intellectuals and influencing pressure groups in states such as West Bengal, Odisha and northeastern states. In other words, Modi will not only be one of the star campaigners for the party and the NDA block; but essentially entire campaign workload will be shouldered by him.
Of course, there will be roadshow at Varanasi on the day or a day before PM will file his nomination papers from the temple city. The BJP's first list of candidates has already announced Modi's name as the party nominee from Varanasi. Sources further said the party leaders and union ministers will be given broad guidelines to highlight his government's achievements including infra developments, doing away with Triple Talaq and also construction of the grand Ram temple and abrogation of Article 370.
The move on Art 370 and Ram temple fulfill two longstanding Hindu-nationalist pledges and were widely welcomed across India.
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