The BJP on Wednesday released its second list of candidates for the coming Lok Sabha polls, featuring Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari contesting from Nagpur, Anurag Thakur from Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh, Pralhad Joshi from Dharwad and Piyush Goyal, who is also the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, from Mumbai North.
The list of 72 candidates covered 10 States and one union territory, with all seats now declared for Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Tripura and Uttarakhand. The list appeared a mixed bag with some expected faces making it, with significant drops as well.
A critical issue has arisen about BJP candidate Kalaben Delkar in the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, while about 29 MPs have been removed. Ms. Kelkar is the current Member of Parliament for the seat. She was fielded by the Shiv Sena in the bypoll held in 2021, which was forced by her husband Mohan Delkar’s death in a Mumbai hotel. The Mumbai Police was investigating the killing of Mohan Delkar based on a note he left behind, and they had filed a complaint against Praful Patel, the district leader of the BJP (later the Lieutenant Governor of Lakshadweep).
The BJP announced candidates for 20 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. They also ousted nine incumbents, including Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, who was succeeded by Yaduveera Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wodeyar, a member of the Mysuru royal family. Former Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda has also been replaced; Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who formerly served in Udupi-Chikmagalur, will take over Gowda’s Bangalore North constituency. However, B.S. Bommai, another former chief minister, gained support and was nominated for the Haveri seat. Tejaswi Surya, the president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), has been re-elected from Bangalore South; however, Brijesh Chowta, a former member of the defence, has replaced former State BJP chairman Nalin Kateel.
The party has refused to give a ticket to Kanthest, the son of its veteran leader, and OBC candidate K.S. Eshwarappa, who was eager to make his election debut from Haveri. As a result, the announcement of the candidates’ list has also raised the possibility of rebellion. From this location, the party has fielded Mr. Bommai. To determine the next steps, Mr. Eshwarappa’s supporters have organized a meeting for this Friday.
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