Expressing gratitude for the bestowed candidacy in the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, a former contender for the Rajasthan Chief Minister’s post, now finds himself designated as the nominee for the Jodhpur constituency. This strategic move by the saffron party appears geared toward appeasing him.
Following the announcement of his candidacy, Shekhawat promptly reciprocated with appreciations directed towards the state Chief Minister and party leadership. He articulated his renewed opportunity to serve the denizens of Jodhpur. Born in Jaisalmeer, the 56-year-old Shekhawat opted out of contesting the Rajasthan Assembly elections, triggering speculations regarding his potential ascension to the Chief Ministerial role. Rumors circulated about the party’s potential maneuver to secure his Assembly seat within the ensuing six months post-assembly results.
As the high-stakes Lok Sabha polls loom, the BJP’s decision is perceived as a strategic move to maintain amicable relations with the seasoned politician leading up to the general elections.
Expressing gratitude, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated, “I extend my thanks to Rajasthan BJP President CP Joshi, Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma, and the senior leadership of the party. I am once again presented with the opportunity to serve the people of Jodhpur.” The BJP unveiled its initial roster of 15 candidates from Rajasthan for the impending general elections, featuring Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, four Union ministers, and a Paralympian.
Noteworthy inclusions comprise Mahendrajit Malviya and Jyoti Mirdha, erstwhile Congress members who have now aligned with the BJP. Additionally, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s son, Dushyant Singh, retains his candidacy for the Jhalawar Baran seat. Meanwhile, BJP leader Saroj Pandey expressed gratitude for her candidacy in Korba, Chhattisgarh, affirming, “I appreciate the party’s trust and pledge to uphold it.” The Bharatiya Janata Party unveiled its initial list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to contest from Varanasi once more.
Among the 195 candidates, 34 hail from the ranks of ministers at both the central and state levels. While disclosing the initial list, BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde declared, “PM Modi will contest Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi, Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiran Rijiju will contest from Arunachal West, BJP MP Bishnu Pada Ray will contest from Andaman & Nicobar, BJP MP Tapir Gao will contest from Arunachal East, and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will contest from Dibrugarh.”
Home Minister Amit Shah is slated to contest from Gandhinagar, with Mansukh Mandaviya vying for the Porbandar seat. Vinod Tawde emphasized, “The list, comprising 47 youth candidates, 28 women candidates, 27 Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates, 18 Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates, and 57 OBC/Backward Class candidates, is crafted with an inclusive approach.” Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar is set to contest from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, while Sarbananda Sonowal will seek election from Dibrugarh, and Kiren Rijiju from Arunachal Pradesh. In a nod to continuity, Sushma Swaraj’s daughter, Bansuri Swaraj, emerges as the candidate for New Delhi.
Lucknow will witness Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s electoral pursuit, and Smriti Irani is once again poised to contest from Amethi. Ajay Mishra Teni, MOS Home, retains his candidacy for Khiri. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP leader Alok Sharma takes up the mantle in Bhopal, while former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan seeks re-election from Vidisha.
Jyotiraditya Scindia, a convert from the Congress in 2020, enters the fray from Guna in Madhya Pradesh. The BJP also unveils its candidates for the 5 Delhi seats, with Manoj Tiwari contesting from North-East Delhi. Bansuri Swara, daughter of the late Sushma Swaraj, enters the electoral arena from New Delhi.
Kamaljeet Sehrawat and Ramvir Singh Bidhuri will vie for West Delhi and South Delhi, respectively. Praveen Khandelwal, Chief of the Confederation of All India Traders, steps into the political arena from Delhi’s Chandni Chowk. Notably, Pragya Singh Thakur finds herself excluded. The candidate list announcement follows an extensive session of the central election committee (CEC) of the BJP, attended by key figures such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National President JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other eminent party members.
Chief Ministers from various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Assam, Uttarakhand, and Goa, lent their presence to the pivotal meeting. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) clinched a formidable 303 seats, relegating the venerable opposition to a mere 52 seats. The impending Lok Sabha polls are scheduled for April-May this year.