The tallying of ballots for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is currently underway, witnessing a series of high-stakes political confrontations. Both seasoned veterans and political neophytes, formidable contenders and unexpected challengers are embroiled in these electoral contests.
Noteworthy Contests to Observe:
NARENDRA MODI VS AJAY RAI IN VARANASI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi for the third time. Previously, he vanquished AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal in 2014 and triumphed over Samajwadi Party’s Shalini Yadav in 2019. The Congress has once again fielded Ajay Rai, its candidate from the same constituency in 2014 and 2019. Before PM Modi, the Varanasi seat was held by BJP luminary Murli Manohar Joshi.
RAHUL GANDHI VS DINESH PRATAP SINGH IN RAE BARELI
Rahul Gandhi is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Rae Bareli against BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh. Gandhi, a thrice-elected MP from Amethi, faced defeat in 2019 by the hands of BJP senior leader Smriti Irani. Rae Bareli, historically held by his mother and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has remained a Congress bastion since 1952 with few exceptions in 1977 (Janata Party), and 1996 and 1999 (BJP).
RAHUL GANDHI VS ANNIE RAJA IN WAYANAD
Rahul Gandhi is also vying for the Wayanad constituency, facing CPI leader and women’s rights advocate Annie Raja. Gandhi seeks a second term in Wayanad, a seat that drew significant public interest as both Congress and CPI are members of the INDIA bloc. In 2019, Gandhi secured victory from Wayanad by defeating CPI’s P P Suneer with a substantial margin of 4.31 lakh votes.
SMRITI IRANI VS KISHORI LAL SHARMA IN AMETHI
Amethi, a traditional stronghold of the Gandhi family, witnessed intense electoral battles in the past two Lok Sabha polls. Smriti Irani of BJP, who clinched the seat from Rahul Gandhi in 2019, is seeking re-election, with Congress fielding Kishori Lal Sharma, a close confidant of the Gandhi family. This marks the first time in 25 years that no member of the Gandhi family is contesting from Amethi.
SHASHI THAROOR VS RAJEEV CHANDRASHEKHAR IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
Incumbent MP and former Union minister Shashi Tharoor seeks re-election from Thiruvananthapuram for a fourth consecutive term. He faces BJP leader and Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who is making his Lok Sabha debut. Another notable contender is CPI’s Pannyan Raveendran, a former victor of the 2005 elections from the same constituency.
ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY VS YUSUF PATHAN IN BAHARAMPUR
Ex-India cricketer Yusuf Pathan, fielded by Trinamool Congress (TMC) from Baharampur in West Bengal, challenges Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury of Congress. Chowdhury, the Congress’s Lok Sabha leader and the West Bengal Congress unit president, has represented Baharampur five times since 1999 and is vying for a sixth term. The Congress has yet to declare its candidate from this seat.
BANSURI SWARAJ VS SOMNATH BHARTI IN NEW DELHI
BJP has substituted two-time MP and Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi with Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of the late Union minister Sushma Swaraj, for the New Delhi seat. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti. The Congress and AAP are contesting the Lok Sabha polls in alliance in the national capital, intensifying the contest in this high-profile constituency.
BHUPESH BAGHEL VS SANTOSH PANDEY IN RAJNANDGAON
Congress has fielded its ex-Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, a BJP stronghold for over three decades and the domain of former three-time CM Raman Singh. Baghel faces BJP’s incumbent MP Santosh Pandey. The BJP has maintained dominance over this seat since 2009, but the Congress is determined to break this trend with a strong contender.
RAHUL KASWAN VS DEVENDRA JHAJHARIA IN CHURU
Two-term MP from Churu, Rahul Kaswan, resigned from BJP and has been fielded by Congress from the same seat. He contests against paralympic champion Devendra Jhajharia, the BJP candidate. Jhajharia, a Padma Bhushan awardee and a celebrated javelin thrower, boasts two paralympic gold medals and one silver.
NAKUL NATH VS VIJAY KUMAR SAHU IN CHHINDWARA
Vivek ‘Bunty’ Sahu, who lost the 2023 Assembly election to former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, challenges the Congress veteran’s son and incumbent MP Nakul Nath in the Lok Sabha elections. Nakul Nath is seeking re-election from Chhindwara, a constituency that has been Kamal Nath’s stronghold for over four decades.
B Y RAGHAVENDRA VS KS ESHWARAPPA IN SHIVAMOGGA
The Shivamogga seat in Karnataka, regarded as the stronghold of former CM B S Yediyurappa’s family, is set for an intriguing contest. BJP senior leader and OBC representative K S Eshwarappa is contesting as an independent against B Y Raghavendra, Yediyurappa’s son, for the Shivamogga Lok Sabha seat.