Lok Sabha Election 2024: In first phase, 8 union ministers, 2 former CMs, and 1 ex-governor contesting
PTC News Desk: The first phase of Lok Sabha elections witnesses a diverse array of candidates, including eight Union ministers, two former chief ministers, and one ex-governor, as voting commences for 102 seats across 21 states and Union territories.
Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari seeks a third consecutive victory from the Nagpur seat, aiming to replicate his past successes against formidable opponents.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju faces stiff competition in Arunachal West, where he contends with former chief minister Nabam Tuki, currently leading the Arunachal Pradesh Congress. In Assam's Dibrugarh, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbanada Sonowal seeks re-election to the Lok Sabha, transitioning from his prior role as a Rajya Sabha member.
The electoral battleground in Muzaffarnagar witnesses a three-cornered contest, with Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan vying against candidates from the Samajwadi Party and BSP, amidst intricate caste dynamics.
Elsewhere, Union Minister Jitendra Singh seeks a hat-trick victory in Udhampur, while Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal faces off against a former Congress minister in Bikaner, Rajasthan. In Tamil Nadu, the Nilgiris constituency observes a closely watched battle between incumbent DMK MP A Raja and BJP's L Murugan, Union Minister of State for Fisheries.
Similarly, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai enters the fray in Coimbatore, challenging opponents from the DMK and AIADMK. Former governor Tamilisai Soundararajan returns to active politics, contesting from Chennai South against incumbent DMK MP Kanimozhi and other contenders. In Madhya Pradesh, Nakul Nath, son of former chief minister Kamal Nath, aims for re-election in Chhindwara, maintaining the stronghold for the Congress.
Across other states like Tripura, Assam, and Manipur, prominent leaders and fresh faces engage in electoral battles, shaping the political landscape for the forthcoming Lok Sabha term. As polling begins for the 543 parliamentary seats across India, voters express their voices amidst a diverse array of candidates and competing ideologies. The electoral process spans seven phases, culminating in the counting of votes on June 4.
- With inputs from agencies
