BJP candidate list Lok Sabha 2024 highlights: BJP’s Bansuri Swaraj, AAP’s Atishi trade barbs over ‘anti-national’ remark

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: Multiple political leaders have reacted after BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from West Bengal’s Asansol, Pawan Singh withdrew his name from elections for personal reasons. TMC MP Shantanu Sen called his withdrawal as an impact of the protest by TMC.

Senior BJP leader and Union minister Amit Shah on 3 January donated ₹2000 to BJP as party fund. He wrote on X, "Every person's support is crucial to building a Viksit Bharat. Under the leadership of Modi Ji, the BJP has been working towards making Bharat a developed nation."

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: Hours after the announcement of Pawan Singh’s withdrawal from Lok Sabha elections from West Bengal’s Asansol seat, TMC leader Babul Supriyo said, “ I have nothing against the artist Pawan Singh, but how can the BJP nominate someone as a representative whose songs and movies contain derogatory remarks against Bengali women? It seems they believe they can garner votes due to the popularity of his songs. Also, it's noteworthy that he tweeted within three hours, but the crucial point to notice is that he mentioned he wouldn't contest from Asansol, not that he wouldn't contest at all.”

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: Expressing confidence upon the powerful performance of the BJP in Telangana, BJP leader Konda Vishweshwar Reddy and candidate from Telangana's Chevella said, “ Each and every candidate that the party has chosen is suitable and perfect. I see that BJP definitely has a chance of getting more than 10 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the state. We are not leaving any stone unturned, and people should not be surprised if we win Hyderabad’s old city seat in the election, which is considered the bastion of Owaisi.”

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: Expressing confidence upon the powerful performance of the BJP in Telangana, BJP leader Konda Vishweshwar Reddy and candidate from Telangana's Chevella said, “ Each and every candidate that the party has chosen is suitable and perfect. I see that BJP definitely has a chance of getting more than 10 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the state. We are not leaving any stone unturned, and people should not be surprised if we win Hyderabad’s old city seat in the election, which is considered the bastion of Owaisi.”

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: After the announcement of the first list of the BJP, Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel has dropped a hint about the first list of candidates by the grand old party. Responding to the media on Congress’ candidate list for Lok Sabha elections, Baghel said... (Read full story)

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday released the first list of candidates set to contest the Lok Sabha elections. In the first list of 195 candidates, the saffron party dropped names of many senior politicians, most of them with a track record of hate speech. (Read full story)

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: After being named in the first BJP list of candidates, BJP MP Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi thanked the party leadership and said, “I am a small BJP worker, and the party has shown faith in me for the second time. I will try and live up to the expectations of the party. The people of Rampur supported me last time and I am sure they will support me this time as well.”

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: Attacking the BJP for fielding Bhojpuri singer Pawan Singh from West Bengal’s Asansol, TMC Leader Babul Supriyo said, “I have nothing against him or as an artist. But in the videos & movies particularly of a person, Bengali women are targeted, how can the BJP field such a person from Asansol...It is clear that this tweet has been asked to tweet this deliberately. It is impossible for the BJP to release its first list without talking to the candidates..."

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: Hitting back at the Aam Aadmi Party's Atishi for her ‘anti-national’ remark, BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj questioned the AAP on its choice of candidate, who was allegedly beaten up by his own cadre in Rajendra Nagar on Saturday.

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: After the selection of Bansuri Swaraj from Delhi, AAP leader Atishi targeted the saffron party giving a party ticket to Swaraj. Calling her a supporter of ‘anti-nationals and ‘robbers’, Atishi said that Bansuri Swaraj stood in favour of Lalit Modi, defended central government in court in the case of sexual assault of two women in Manipur, and with BJP in Chandigarh Mayor Election case.

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: Expressing confidence in the top leadership, BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi says, "We have full confidence in our leaders. Everything has been seen during the finalisation of the candidates...We are very proud that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be fighting Lok Sabha polls from Varanasi again...".

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: After being named as BJP candidate from  Pathanamthitta constituency in Kerala, BJP leader Anil Antony expressed his confidence that the party will perform well in Kerala.

"I am very thankful to the BJP leadership. We are very sure our party will do very well in Kerala. In this national election, the BJP will put on a historic performance. We will get more than 370 seats across India. Our alliance will get more than 400 seats across India. This is a state where in history we have never won a seat before. So this is going to be one of those defining elections,” he told ANI.

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: The selection of Bhojpuri actor Pawan Singh for West Bengal’s Asansol seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls has received sharp reactions from the opposition.

His announcement to withdraw his name from the list has come at a time when the opposition is targeting the saffron party for fielding Singh, who is known for his musical recordings with objectionable references to Bengali women. (Read full story)

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: BJP leader Ajay Tamta on Sunday thanked the party leadership after he was announced as the party candidate from Uttarakhand’s Almora in the party's first list of 195 candidates. 

“I feel blessed that the party has given me its love and support for years, and for giving me the opportunity to come here in Lok Sabha (as BJP MP),” said Ajay Tamta.

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: Commenting on Pawan Singh's withdrawal from West Bengal's Asansol constituency, TMC MP Shatrughan Sinha said that Pawan Singh is a great artist and singer and refrained from giving opinion on his announcement.

“I don’t know him personally but have heard that he is a great artist and singer. Some people of our people know him very well. It's their (the party's) internal affair,” Shatrughan Sinha told PTI.

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE:  A day after being named as BJP’s Mathura contestant on the first list of BJP’s contestants, Hema Malini thanked PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other top ranks of the party for the opportunity. In her video message she also said that she had done a lot for Mathura in last ten years, and the plan for the next five years is also ready.

BJP's first list of candidates for Lok Sabha polls left the Malegaon blast accused, and Sitting MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal and chose Alok Sharma. Over last five years, Pragya Singh Thakur, has remained in controversy for her statements on Godse and Covid 19. (Read full story here)

BJP candidate list 2024 LIVE: BJP's Lok Sabha candidate for Delhi, Bansuri Swaraj on Sunday retaliated against the Aam Aadmi Party and said that the candidates fielded by Arvind Kejriwal's party are not liked by other members.

Madhya Pradesh Deputy CM Rajendra Shukla says, “People are happy with the way BJP plans and go into elections, they are happy about the candidates announced for the Lok Sabha elections... Congress has been in the govt for a maximum period and they haven't made the country's infrastructure as strong as PM Modi has made in these 10 years. If Rahul Gandhi is worried about unemployment, he should be thankful towards the work that has been done by the PM to redress unemployment.” (ANI)

After the Bharatiya Janata Party announced its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, All India Congress Committee Delhi in-charge Deepak Babaria has said that all the names were already assumed and they have done nothing new.

Babaria alleged that there is doubt among the people that the BJP would be getting the majority through the EVM.

"All the names were already assumed. They have done nothing new. The question is how much is the public going to accept the BJP. They keep talking about 400, they are not telling from where they are getting it. There is doubt among the people that they are getting the majority through the EVM and they are doing nothing to remove that doubt," he told ANI. 

Soon after the BJP announced her candidature from the Guwahati constituency in Assam for the Lok Sabha polls, BJP leader Bijuli Kalita Medhi expressed her gratitude to the top party leadership.

"I thank the party leadership including respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief JP Nadda, Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for giving me this opportunity, ..." Kalita told ANI on Sunday.

BJP's Asansol candidate Pawan Singh opts out

After the Bharatiya Janata Party announced the defector from Congress Chinatmani Maharaj from the Surguja constituency in Chhattisgarh, he assured that he would remain in the party and said that he would win the Lok Sabha elections.

The Chhattisgarh BJP MLA told ANI that 'Modi ki guarantee' is the biggest issue that they will take to the people across the state.

"Party has trusted me. The way people are showering love and affection it seems I'll get the success. Due to certain situations at that time, I have gone there (in Congress) but now I am back home (BJP) Now we have to live here and work as well. Lok Sabha elections are held at the entire country level and Legislative Assembly elections are held at the state level. Whatever issue the Centre's narrative decides, we will go among the people on the same basis. Modi Ji's guarantee is the biggest issue. All the workers together will make it successful. Our workers do the work of taking our schemes to the masses," Chinatamani said.

“They (BJP MPs) have never worked for the public. Whenever the public needed any help from the central government, whether it was about issues related to demolition, dampness in shops, or law and order, they (BJP MPs) were not there. For five years, you (BJP) imposed someone on the public. Now, you are removing them because they turned out to be useless and imposing new people on the public. BJP will have to explain this to them,” said Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on BJP’s candidates from Delhi. (PTI)

Some BJP candidates in West Bengal launched their Lok Sabha poll campaign on Sunday, seeking to take advantage of being ahead of opposition parties that are yet to come out with their nominee lists.

The BJP on Saturday released its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls which included the names of aspirants for 20 seats in the Trinamool Congress-ruled state that has 42 constituencies.

BJP candidate for Howrah constituency, Rathin Chakraborty, offered prayers at Siddheswari Kali Temple in Howrah city in the morning before starting his campaign along with party supporters. (PTI)

BJP Candidate List 2024: With just months away from the Lok Sabha elections 2024, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday announced the first list of 195 candidates. Amid this, the BJP replaced over 33 sitting MPs with new faces for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. See here

The BJP announced its initial list of 24 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, showcasing prominent names such as former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Noteworthy changes saw Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur being replaced by Alok Sharma, a former mayor. The party's announcement, released on Saturday, introduced a total of 195 candidates. (PTI)

UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak says, "The candidates that the BJP has declared in its first list, all candidates will win with a huge margin. BJP will win all 80 seats of UP in Lok Sabha elections and the opposition will be wiped out from the state..."

A senior tribal leader and six-time MP Mansukhbhai Dhanjibhai Vasava will contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Bharuch constituency.

Once a stronghold of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's political advisor Ahmed Patel, Mansukh Vasava, a senior leader of the Bhartiya Janata party emerged as the winner from the Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency by defeating Congress' Sherkhan Abdulsakur Pathan in the 2019 General Assembly elections.

Expressing gratitude towards central leadership for nominating him once again, Mansukh Vasava said, "I am thankful to the central and the state leadership for proposing my name for the 7th term. I will work within the party lines and try that all the schemes launched by the state and the central government reach people."

"We have done a lot of work for our constituency, for the welfare of the public, and will continue to do so," said BJP leader Mansukhbhai Vasava.

After the BJP announced BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's candidature from Jodhpur constituency in Rajasthan for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat thanked the state Chief Minister and party leadership.

He said that he has once again received the opportunity to serve the people of Jodhpur

"I would like to thank Rajasthan BJP President CP Joshi, Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma and the senior leadership of the party. I have once again received the opportunity to serve the people of Jodhpur," Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said. (ANI)

The Election Commission has devised a plan to encourage voters in Uttar Pradesh, which recorded a tepid turnout of 59.11 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, to exercise their franchise in the upcoming general elections.

As part of its 'Turnout Implementation Plan' (TIP), the poll body has shortlisted 10 of the state's 80 Lok Sabha constituencies where the voter turnout was lower than the state's polling percentage.

These parliamentary constituencies are Phulpur (48.57 per cent), Kanpur (51.39 per cent), Allahabad (51.75 per cent), Shravasti (52.05 per cent), Gonda (52.11 per cent), Domariyaganj (52.26 per cent), Pratapgarh (53.36 per cent), Bhadohi (53.45 per cent), Amethi (54.05 per cent) and Sant Kabir Nagar (54.15 per cent). (PTI)

Expressing his confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Minister and founder of Nishad Party, Sanjay Nishad has said that BJP is like a big brother and everyone will work together for the alliance.

"BJP like a big brother we are not different from them. We work together for NDA. NDA's first list is our list. We will all work together," he said.

Nishad Party is an ally of the NDA. (PTI)

As the BJP announced its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Overseas Friends of BJP in the US has kicked off its 2024 election campaign pledging to volunteer and contribute towards the goal of winning 400 seats in the elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released its first list of 195 candidates out of which 51 are from Uttar Pradesh, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi.

“The Indian Diaspora is going to support the BJP in India,” Adapa Prasad, president of Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) USA told PTI after the conclusion of the kick-off event on Saturday in a Maryland suburb of Washington DC. (PTI)

Expressing his confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Minister and founder of Nishad Party, Sanjay Nishad has said that BJP is like a big brother and everyone will work together for the alliance.

"BJP like a big brother we are not different from them. We work together for NDA. NDA's first list is our list. We will all work together," he said.

Nishad Party is an ally of the NDA.

Notably, the BJP has fielded party leader Praveen Kumar Nishad (son of Sanjay Nishad) from the Sant Kabir Nagar seat in Uttar Pradesh. Currently, he is also an MP from this seat. (ANI)

Mumbai, Maharashtra: On her candidature from the Mathura constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, BJP leader Hema Malini says, "I wanted to do a lot of things here. I have done many things in the first five years and even better during my second term. This is the third time and I have to do much bigger work now... I would like to thank PM Modi, National President JP Nadda, HM Amit Shah and UP CM Yogi Adityanath..."

After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dropped 42 MPs in its first candidate list for Lok Sabha polls, Congress leader Pawan Khera asked if they were "good for nothing" and said that the party should give an account of the work done by their MPs, who are nowhere seen on the list.

"We did not understand what it meant when one after another BJP MPs were leaving their positions... But when the list came out, we saw that a lot of names were missing. The BJP leadership is not happy with the work done by them," Khera told ANI.

"Those MPs who did not get the ticket, who will answer about their five years?... Did PM Modi think that they would not win even in his name? Were they good for nothing? The party should give an account of the work done by their sitting MPs, who are not appearing on the list," he added. (ANI)

Bhojpuri filmstar Ravi Kishan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) once again reposed posed in him and fielded him from Gorakhpur for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, a seat he has held since 2019 elections.

BJP on Saturday announced its first list of 195 candidates, which included PM Modi from Varanasi again.

This is the third time PM Modi will be contesting from the Varanasi seat. In 2014, he defeated AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and in 2019, won against Samajwadi Party's Shalini Yadav.

"I want to thank the top leadership wholeheartedly... The organization gave me a second chance from the hottest seat after Kashi. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire organization and Prime Minister Modi. I will maintain this trust...BJP will win 400 seats and Gorakhpur seat will create history." BJP MP Ravi Kishan said. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers on Sunday that is likely to be the last such exercise during the second term of his government as the Lok Sabha elections are expected to be held in April-May this year.

The Council of Ministers meeting will be held on Sunday at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in the national capital at 9:30 am.

The meeting holds significance, as the BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance has expressed confidence in retaining power at the Centre for a third term.

The Election Commission is likely to announce the poll schedule in a couple of weeks. (ANI)

The BJP replaced as many as 33 sitting MPs with new faces as it released its first list with names of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Saturday.

In the list, the BJP announced its candidates for 11 Lok Sabha seats in Assam. Of them, six candidates are sitting MPs while the other five are new faces.

The party has fielded Parimal Suklabaidhya from Silchar Lok Sabha constituency, won by Rajdeep Roy in the 2019 general elections.

From the Autonomous District (ST) seat, currently held by BBJP MP Horen Singh Bey, party nominee Amar Singh Tisso will contest.

Bijuli Kalita Medhi will contest from Gauhati Lok Sabha seat which is held by Queen Oja. Ranjit Dutta will contest from Tezpur Lok Sabh seat which was won by Pallab Lochan Das in 2019. (PTI)

"The Congress is dealing with its own problems. They are not aware about the lives of people. They want to keep the country entangled in issues like casteism. That's why I feel Congress is not a challenge. The real challenge is bring the poor in the mainstream," said BJP leader Sudhir Gupta after the announcement of his candidature from Madhya Pradesh's Mandsaur.

BJP Candidate List 2024: Stepping into the Lok Sabha elections 2024 with a target to win 370 seats, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released the first list of its candidates on Saturday. BJP announced its candidates on 195 seats across 16 states. While most of the candidates were along the expected lines, there were some notable exclusions from the first list.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to contest from the Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh for the third consecutive time. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will fight from Gandhinagar, and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will hope to enter Lok Sabha from the Vidisha constituency. Read here.

BJP leader Nirmal Kumar Saha said that he would go to every house with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message of Viksit Bharat after his candidature was announced from Baharampur constituency for the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday.

BJP leader Nirmal Kumar Saha said, "I am feeling very good about it. I am neither sad nor very happy, as this is a battlefield and I have to fight like a soldier. I will go to each and every house with PM Modi's message of Viksit Bharat."

He further said that he would tell people what has to be done to create a digital India.

"I will try my best to win, but the final decision will be taken by the voters," he added. (ANI)

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) released the names of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections here in the national capital on March 2.

The first list of 195 candidates features high-profile names such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will again contest from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah who will contest from Gandhinagar in Gujarat.

While at least 42 of the candidates who were elected to Parliament in 2019, have been replaced with new names, the party has also fielded at least seven ministers, who are currently Rajya Sabha members. Read here.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said the BJP's first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls shows that the party has accepted defeat as it has retained several sitting MPs fearing rebellion.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released its first list of 195 candidates out of which 51 are from Uttar Pradesh, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi.

The list did not have many surprise omissions, as there were in the party's lists during previous polls, except in Delhi where four sitting MPs including Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi, former Union minister Harsh Vardhan and Ramesh Bidhuri have been dropped.

In a post in Hindi on X, the SP chief said, “The first BJP list has the candidates for those 195 seats where the party thinks it has a slight possibility of winning. It is clear that on the remaining seats, they have no chance.”

“I have been announced as candidate against Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary from Baharampur seat; I am confident that I will perform well in the Lok Sabha elections. I am glad that the party showed faith in me,” BJP leader Nirmal Saha said after the announcement of his candidature from West Bengal’s Baharampur in BJP's first list of 195 candidates.

After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced his candidature from the Jaunpur constituency, Uttar Pradesh, in the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Kripashankar Singh expressed his confidence in winning the seat.

"It is my belief that Jaunpur will be included in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 400-paar slogan" Singh said, referring to PM Modi's clarion call to the BJP cadre to work for the NDA and get 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

Taking a swipe at Congress, he said that while leadership is with the BJP, "dealership" is with Congress.

"When I was in Congress, I used to try to carry the goal of the Congress party. Congress used to lead for a time. Today, the BJP is leading. Leadership is with BJP, dealership is with them (Congress)," Singh said. (ANI)

Bansuri Swaraj, the daughter of former Union minister Sushma Swaraj, is all set to enter the poll fray for the first time ever. Bansuri Swaraj has been declared a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat. The BJP announced its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday.

Here's all you need to know about Bansuri Swaraj:

Bansuri Swaraj is the daughter of former Union minister Sushma Swaraj. For the first time, she will contest as a BJP candidate from the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat.

She is an advocate with the Supreme Court of India and has over 15 years of experience in the legal profession. According to W20 (Women 20, official G20 engagement group focused on gender equity) India website, Bansuri Swaraj was enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi in the year 2007.

Bansuri Swaraj holds a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Warwick. She later pursued a law degree at the BPP Law School in London. She qualified as a Barrister at Law, and was called to the bar from the Hon’ble Inn of Inner Temple, London. She also holds a Master of Studies degree from St. Catherine's College at the University of Oxford.

Swaraj has represented several high-profile clients in contentious litigation across various judicial fora, the W20 website says. "Her professional portfolio has an eclectic mix of dealing with disputes involving contracts, real estate, tax, international commercial arbitrations, as well as several criminal trials. Ms. Swaraj has been appointed as the Additional Advocate General for the State of Haryana, in conjunction with running of her private practice," it adds.  Read here.

The BJP announced its initial list of 24 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, showcasing prominent names such as former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Noteworthy changes saw Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur being replaced by Alok Sharma, a former mayor. The party's announcement, released on Saturday, introduced a total of 195 candidates. (PTI)

Sitting MLA of Jayadev Assembly seat in Odisha, Arabinda Dhali resigned from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday, ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha.

Former state minister Dhali tendered his resignation to BJD Supremo and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

"I tender my resignation on the dated 01.03.2024 from the primary membership of Biju Janata Dal.You're requested to kindly accept my resignation. This is for your information and necessary action," he wrote in his resignation letter. (ANI)