Lok Sabha Election: BJP names 111 more candidates; Kangana Ranaut, Sita Soren among bold choices in 5th candidate list

 Lok Sabha Election: BJP names 111 more candidates; Kangana Ranaut, Sita Soren among bold choices in 5th candidate list

Lok Sabha election 2024: BJP announces 111 new candidates for Lok Sabha elections, including actors Kangana Ranaut and Arun Govil. Varun Gandhi was omitted from the list. Several sitting MPs denied tickets. Notable nominations include Sita Soren, Naveen Jindal, and Varaprasad Rao.

Lok Sabha Election 2024: A worker sorts Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) flags at a BJP election office in Chennai on March 16, 2024, during preparations ahead of the Election Commission India (ECI) schedule announcement India's upcoming general election

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday released an additional 111 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections..

According to the list, union ministers Ashwini Kumar Choubey and V K Singh, along with MP Varun Gandhi, were omitted from the list. Instead, the party nominated actors Kangana Ranaut and Arun Govil.

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will vie for the Sambalpur seat, while the party's spokesperson, Sambit Patra, will make another attempt from Puri after narrowly missing out in 2019.

However, the BJP has decided not to field former Union minister Anantkumar Hegde, who has served six terms as a Lok Sabha member from Uttara Kannada, in the upcoming elections. Known for his staunch Hindutva stance, Hegde has frequently sparked controversies with his statements, including a recent remark advocating for a significant BJP mandate to amend the Constitution.

In the latest list of candidates, the BJP has refrained from granting tickets to approximately 37 sitting Members of Parliament, with nine being from Uttar Pradesh, five from Gujarat, four from Odisha, and three each from Bihar, Karnataka, and Jharkhand.

The tally of incumbent MPs not receiving tickets does not encompass individuals who have recently won assembly elections, such as Diya Kumari and Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore in Rajasthan, or those like Nayab Singh Saini, who assumed office as Haryana chief minister, and Brijendra Singh, who has already resigned from the party.

Several leaders who switched from other parties to join the BJP have been nominated, including industrialist Naveen Jindal and Varaprasad Rao, who were formally inducted mere hours before the candidate list was unveiled. Additionally, figures like Sita Soren, Tapas Roy, and N Kiran Kumar Reddy have also been rewarded with tickets.

Also Read: BJP 5th candidate list 2024: Will Varun Gandhi contest as independent after BJP drops him from Pilibhit?

Kerala BJP president K Surendra has been selected as the candidate for the Wayanad constituency, where incumbent MP and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi is also contesting.

In West Bengal's Basirhat constituency, the BJP has nominated Rekha Patra, reportedly one of the victims of the Sadeshkhali incident, as part of its strategy to challenge the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state.

For the 17 seats it is contesting in Bihar, the BJP has announced its candidates, including the re-nomination of Union minister Giriraj Singh from Begusarai and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from Patna Sahib.

Union ministers R K Singh and Nityanand Rai have been nominated to contest from their respective current seats. Additionally, in Uttar Pradesh, the ruling party has announced the names of 13 more candidates.

Varun Gandhi, a three-term Lok Sabha MP known for expressing views critical of his party's governments at the Centre and in the state, has been denied a ticket from Pilibhit. However, his mother, Maneka Gandhi, has been renominated from Sultanpur.

Also Read: BJP 5th candidate list: Netizens cheer 'Sherni' Kangana Ranaut's candidature, say 'where are Thackerays, Sanjay Raut'

Jitin Prasada, a minister in the state government, has been chosen as the party's candidate from Pilibhit, while Atul Garg will replace two-term MP V K Singh in Ghaziabad. Singh announced his decision to opt out of the polls in a post on X hours before the party released the list.

The latest list includes three leaders who joined the BJP on Sunday: Naveen Jindal from Kurukshetra, Haryana government minister Ranjit Chautala from Hisar (both in Haryana), and Varaprasad Rao from Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

With the addition of these 111 candidates, the ruling party has now named a total of 398 nominees for the elections to the 543-member Lok Sabha, excluding the four candidates who withdrew their names following controversies.

Actress Kangana Ranaut, a vocal supporter of the BJP, will be contesting from Mandi in her home state of Himachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, veteran actor Arun Govil, renowned for his portrayal of Lord Ram in the popular TV serial "Ramayan", has been chosen over seasoned parliamentarian Rajendra Agrawal for the Meerut constituency by the ruling party.

Also Read: BJP 5th candidate list 2024: Ex-Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay gets Lok Sabha poll ticket from Bengal's Tamluk

Sita Soren, who is the sister-in-law of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, has been nominated as the BJP's candidate from Dumka. She recently resigned from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

Former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who had briefly joined the Congress last year before returning to the BJP, will now contest from Belgaum.

In West Bengal, the BJP has announced 19 more candidates, including former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay for Tamluk constituency.

Dilip Ghosh, the sitting MP from Medinipur, has been moved to Bardhaman–Durgapur constituency, while the incumbent S S Ahluwalia has been dropped.

The BJP has announced the names of seven candidates from Rajasthan, four each from Haryana, Karnataka, and Kerala, and 18 from Odisha, along with three each from Maharashtra and Jharkhand, among candidates from various states.

In Andhra Pradesh, D Purandeswari, the state president of the BJP, will be contesting from Rajahmundry, while former chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will be contesting from Rajampet. The party has finalized its candidates for all six Lok Sabha seats in the state, where it is contesting in alliance with the TDP and the Jana Sena.

BJP vice president Baijayant Panda will be contesting from Kendrapara, a constituency he has previously represented in the Lok Sabha twice as a BJD member.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Kerala BJP president K Surendra has been selected as the candidate for the Wayanad constituency, where incumbent MP and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi is also contesting.

In West Bengal's Basirhat constituency, the BJP has nominated Rekha Patra, reportedly one of the victims of the Sadeshkhali incident, as part of its strategy to challenge the ruling Trinamool Congress in the state.

For the 17 seats it is contesting in Bihar, the BJP has announced its candidates, including the re-nomination of Union minister Giriraj Singh from Begusarai and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from Patna Sahib.

Union ministers R K Singh and Nityanand Rai have been nominated to contest from their respective current seats. Additionally, in Uttar Pradesh, the ruling party has announced the names of 13 more candidates.

Varun Gandhi, a three-term Lok Sabha MP known for expressing views critical of his party's governments at the Centre and in the state, has been denied a ticket from Pilibhit. However, his mother, Maneka Gandhi, has been renominated from Sultanpur.

Also Read: BJP 5th candidate list: Netizens cheer 'Sherni' Kangana Ranaut's candidature, say 'where are Thackerays, Sanjay Raut'

Jitin Prasada, a minister in the state government, has been chosen as the party's candidate from Pilibhit, while Atul Garg will replace two-term MP V K Singh in Ghaziabad. Singh announced his decision to opt out of the polls in a post on X hours before the party released the list.

The latest list includes three leaders who joined the BJP on Sunday: Naveen Jindal from Kurukshetra, Haryana government minister Ranjit Chautala from Hisar (both in Haryana), and Varaprasad Rao from Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

With the addition of these 111 candidates, the ruling party has now named a total of 398 nominees for the elections to the 543-member Lok Sabha, excluding the four candidates who withdrew their names following controversies.

Actress Kangana Ranaut, a vocal supporter of the BJP, will be contesting from Mandi in her home state of Himachal Pradesh. Meanwhile, veteran actor Arun Govil, renowned for his portrayal of Lord Ram in the popular TV serial "Ramayan", has been chosen over seasoned parliamentarian Rajendra Agrawal for the Meerut constituency by the ruling party.

Also Read: BJP 5th candidate list 2024: Ex-Calcutta HC judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay gets Lok Sabha poll ticket from Bengal's Tamluk

Sita Soren, who is the sister-in-law of former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, has been nominated as the BJP's candidate from Dumka. She recently resigned from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

Former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who had briefly joined the Congress last year before returning to the BJP, will now contest from Belgaum.

In West Bengal, the BJP has announced 19 more candidates, including former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay for Tamluk constituency.

Dilip Ghosh, the sitting MP from Medinipur, has been moved to Bardhaman–Durgapur constituency, while the incumbent S S Ahluwalia has been dropped.

The BJP has announced the names of seven candidates from Rajasthan, four each from Haryana, Karnataka, and Kerala, and 18 from Odisha, along with three each from Maharashtra and Jharkhand, among candidates from various states.

In Andhra Pradesh, D Purandeswari, the state president of the BJP, will be contesting from Rajahmundry, while former chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will be contesting from Rajampet. The party has finalized its candidates for all six Lok Sabha seats in the state, where it is contesting in alliance with the TDP and the Jana Sena.

BJP vice president Baijayant Panda will be contesting from Kendrapara, a constituency he has previously represented in the Lok Sabha twice as a BJD member.

(

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: INDIA bloc leaders, along with AAP, to address press conference on Delhi CM's arrest

 Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: INDIA bloc leaders, along with AAP, to address press conference on Delhi CM's arrest

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: Before the demonstration by AAP leaders and supporters, authorities have increased security measures, as per officials.

Arvind Kejriwal News LIVE: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has declared plans to organise a candlelight march and effigy-burning event throughout Delhi on Sunday to protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal in Rouse Avenue Court after his Enforcement Directorate

AAP said in a statement, “There will be a candle march and effigy burning across Delhi tomorrow in protest against the dictatorship of the BJP and the fake arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. Now the people of Delhi have come out on the streets in protest against the arrest of CM Arvind Kejriwal. We all have to stand together as the shield of Arvind Kejriwal. The arrest of Arvind Kejriwal will prove to be the last nail to oust the Modi government from power.”

Before the demonstration by AAP leaders and supporters, authorities have increased security measures, as per officials.

A senior official told PTI, “We got information that workers and leaders of AAP will hold protest. To ensure law and order situation, we have stepped up security in the national capital. We will ensure deployment of paramilitary forces along with Delhi Police personnel. Senior officers will continue to monitor the entire situation in their districts. Directions have been issued to the SHOs to keep a strict vigil in their area and to inform their senior officers immediately, if they get to know about any protest.”

On March 21, Kejriwal was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the defunct excise policy case. Subsequently, CM Arvind Kejriwal filed a petition with the Delhi High Court on Saturday, contesting both his arrest and the remand order issued by the trial court on March 22.

Follow all the updates here:

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 12:55 PM

AAP leaders, MLAs, councillors to meet to decide strategy after Delhi CM Kejriwal's arrest: Sources

The AAP will hold a meeting of its leaders, MLAs and councillors on Sunday to decide its future strategy following the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, party sources said.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak will preside over the meeting.

"This is the first big meeting after the arrest of the party supremo. There is likely to be discussions on the party's future strategy," a source said.

PTI

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 12:15 PM

‘People of Delhi lost trust in you’: BJP's Manoj Tiwari to Kejriwal

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari hits out at Kejriwal, saying,""A script was made today in reference to a criminal in the custody of ED. It was done after no one showed support (to Arvind Kejriwal). If you want to see the condition of delhi, go and watch the lanes of Delhi. The drains are full of dirty water, coming into the streets, entering the houses and dirty drinking water in the houses... Now, Delhi will not listen to your script. The people of Delhi have lost trust in you."

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 11:57 AM

AAP leader Priyanka Kakka in a press conference in Delhi

AAP leader Priyanka Kakka said during a press conference in Delhi, “If BJP won’t answer the questions that have been raised (on Sharat Chandra Reddy's donation to the party), then it would be obvious that it has been caught red-handed for being involved in corruption.”

Moscow concert attack: ISIS releases bodycam footage; netizens say ‘extremely graphic’

 Moscow concert attack: ISIS releases bodycam footage; netizens say ‘extremely graphic’

Islamic State claims responsibility for the deadly concert hall attack in Moscow, killing 133. US cites evidence of jihadists' involvement, leading to mutual accusations between Moscow and Kyiv amid the Ukraine conflict.

TOPSHOT - This video grab taken from a handout footage released by the Russian Investigative Committee on March 23, 2024 shows a view of the Crocus City Hall, a day after a gun attack in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow. Camouflaged assailants opened fire at the packed Crocus City Hall in Moscow's northern suburb of Krasnogorsk on March 22, 2024, evening ahead of a concert by Soviet-era rock band Piknik in the deadliest attack in Russia for at least a decade. Russia on March 23, 2024, said it had arrested 11 people - including four gunmen - over the attack on a Moscow concert hall claimed by Islamic State, as the death toll rose to over 100 people. (Photo by Handout / RUSSIAN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE / AFP)

The Islamic State group has taken responsibility for a devastating assault on a concert hall in suburban Moscow, resulting in the deaths of at least 133 individuals, marking one of the deadliest incidents in Russia in recent years

Despite assertions from the US regarding evidence supporting the jihadists' involvement, both Moscow and Kyiv engaged in mutual accusations on Saturday amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The video surfaced on a Telegram account believed to be associated with Amaq, the news outlet linked to IS, as per the SITE monitoring group.

As reported by The Spectator Index, ISIS released bodycam footage of the Moscow terrorist attack.

In the comment section, few replied with the videos.

As reported by AP, in their Saturday statement they said the attack had come in the “the natural framework" of the ongoing war between the extremist group and countries they accuse of fighting Islam.

Islamic State (IS), a branch stemming from al-Qaida, gained significant control over parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. During this time, it initiated a brutal campaign targeting the Yazidis, a religious minority residing in northern Iraq, along with other communities.

While a U.S.-led coalition largely defeated IS on the battlefield by 2018, remnants of the group persist in remote desert hideouts within both nations. Additionally, IS affiliates maintain a presence in regions such as Afghanistan, West Africa, and the Far East.

Also Read: Moscow concert attack: From India to Ukraine, here's how world reacted to deadly shooting in Russia

The US Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert to U.S. citizens on March 7 saying it was monitoring reports that extremists had “imminent plans to target large gatherings" in Moscow, including concerts, AP reported.

Putin denounced the US warning as an attempt to scare Russians.

CNN reported citing Russian state media TASS that according to Russia's Investigative Committee, all four individuals believed to have perpetrated the terrorist attack have been apprehended and are currently undergoing interrogation in Moscow.

Approximately five armed individuals unleashed gunfire and explosives within the packed Crocus City Hall, which was nearing its maximum capacity of 7,500 attendees. The indiscriminate attack occurred just before a music band was set to perform, sparking widespread panic among the crowd.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared March 24 a day of 'national mourning' and has vowed to punish the terrorists behind the attack, TASS reported.

A police officer - the only person to have access to the fence - lays flowers outside the Russian embassy in Berlin on March 23, 2024, a day after a gun attack in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow. Camouflaged assailants opened fire at the packed Crocus City Hall in Moscow's northern suburb of Krasnogorsk on March 22, 2024, ahead of a concert by Soviet-era rock band Piknik in the deadliest attack in Russia for at least a decade. Russia on March 23, 2024, said it had arrested 11 people - including four gunmen - over the attack on a Moscow concert hall claimed by Islamic State, as the death toll rose to 115 people. (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP)

A police officer - the only person to have access to the fence - lays flowers outside the Russian embassy in Berlin on March 23, 2024, a day after a gun attack in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow. Camouflaged assailants opened fire at the packed Crocus City Hall in Moscow's northern suburb of Krasnogorsk on March 22, 2024, ahead of a concert by Soviet-era rock band Piknik in the deadliest attack in Russia for at least a decade. Russia on March 23, 2024, said it had arrested 11 people - including four gunmen - over the attack on a Moscow concert hall claimed by Islamic State, as the death toll rose to 115 people. (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP)

In a televised address to the people of Russia, he said, "I declare March 24 a day of national mourning," the head of state said in a televised address to Russians."

“Our people, our children, just like the Nazis that once killed our people during the war. They do the same. All the orchestrators, all those who are responsible for this crime will inevitably be found responsible, they will pay. We will identify everyone who stands behind these terrorists and they will pay. This is a strike against Russia," Putin said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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