Lok Sabha polls 2024: BJP candidate from Asansol Pawan Singh withdraws
Lok Sabha polls 2024: BJP candidate Pawan Singh has decided not to contest the elections from Asansol constituency.
Lok Sabha polls 2024: Top singer and BJP leader Pawan Singh from Bhojpuri has decided to withdraw from his candidature for the Asansol Lok Sabha elections. The decision comes after the BJP announced him as its candidate for the ‘celebrity’ seat yesterday. Bhojpuri singer and actor Pawan Singh was earlier posted from Asansol in West Bengal, currently represented by TMC leader and actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha.
I think I did a good job. I think I did a good job
I think I did well I think I did well I think it…@JNPadda— Pawan Singh (@PawanSingh909) March 3, 2024
Notably, the list for UP is packed with sitting MPs, with party leaders hinting that the next list may include some new names. The BJP won 62 seats last time and is expected to contest nearly 75 of the 80 seats in the coming polls, a portion of which will be left to its allies.
Hema Malini and Ravi Kishan get another chance
In UP, the party has fielded former BSP MP Ritesh Pandey from Ambedkar Nagar, while Hema Malini, Ravi Kishan, Ajay Mishra Teni, Mahesh Sharma, SPS Baghel and Sakshi Maharaj are among those fielded from their seats.
In Jharkhand, former Congress MP Geeta Kora has been drafted from Singhbhum (ST reserved). Prime Minister Modi has set a target for the BJP to win at least 370 seats on its own in these Lok Sabha elections and more than 400 for the NDA.
BJP is looking south
The BJP wants to strengthen its presence in southern states such as Kerala, where it currently has none of the 20 seats, and Telangana, where it had won four of the 17 seats in 2019. She has actor Suresh Gopi from Thrissur in Kerala and is banking on some former BRS leaders to increase their numbers in Telangana.
The Election Commission is expected to announce the election manifesto later this month and the elections are likely to take place in April and May. The BJP had won 303 seats in the 2019 polls but currently has 290 members in the Lok Sabha. This number is declining for several reasons, including some MPs who recently resigned after winning parliamentary elections.
The BJP’s Central Election Committee (CEC) met for over five hours on Thursday evening and deliberated on the names for their first list. The next CEC meeting is expected to take place next week to discuss further names.
(With input from agencies)