The Bharatiya Janata Party has announced its second list of 72 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with prominent names including former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, Piyush Goyal, Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Singh Thakur, and Shobha Karandlaje. The party has also settled seat-sharing differences in Maharashtra with the announcement of 20 candidates from the state. However, no candidates have been announced yet from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. This second list comes after the party's initial release of 195 candidates in March.
Bharatiya Janata Party Announces Second List of Lok Sabha Candidates for 2023 Elections
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), India's ruling political party, has released its second list of 72 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This list includes several prominent figures from the party and the government, including former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, Piyush Goyal, Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Singh Thakur, and Shobha Karandlaje.
The party has also announced 20 candidates from Maharashtra, resolving seat-sharing differences with the Shiv Sena. However, no candidates have been declared from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP is still in talks with its alliance partners, the Janata Dal (United) and Apna Dal (Sonelal).
The second list comes after the party's initial announcement of 195 candidates in March. The BJP aims to win a majority in the Lok Sabha, India's lower house of parliament, and form a government for a third consecutive term.
Background:
The Lok Sabha elections are held every five years to elect members to India's parliament. The BJP has been in power since 2014, when it won a landslide victory under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers:
1. When are the Lok Sabha elections being held?
The Lok Sabha elections will be held in multiple phases from April 11 to May 19, 2023. The results will be announced on May 23, 2023.
2. Which states are represented in the BJP's second list of candidates?
The second list of candidates includes candidates from 14 states, including Maharashtra, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
3. Who are some of the prominent names in the BJP's second list?
The second list includes several prominent figures, including former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, Piyush Goyal, Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Singh Thakur, and Shobha Karandlaje.
4. Has the BJP announced candidates from all states?
No, the BJP has not yet announced candidates from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Negotiations with alliance partners are still ongoing in these states.
5. What are the key issues expected in the upcoming elections?
Key issues expected to dominate the upcoming elections include economic growth, unemployment, inflation, national security, and social welfare programs.
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, currently serving a life sentence for rape and murder, has been granted parole for the fifth time before an election. With his followers claiming to have received instructions to vote en bloc, the dera chief's influence on voters in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan cannot be ignored. This move comes after the dera dissolved its political wing last year and the Election Commission has banned the dera chief from indulging in any political activity. However, allegations of his influence on voters have been raised in the past as well, making this parole decision a contentious one.
In an inaugural address at the Hindu Spiritual and Seva Mela in Jaipur, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar spoke out against the dangerous rise of religious conversions in India. He criticized a "sugar-coated philosophy" used to target vulnerable sections of society, and pointed to a larger conspiracy behind the organized conversions. Without naming anyone, Dhankhar expressed concern over certain individuals aligning with forces detrimental to the nation's interests. He urged for vigilance and swift action against those attempting to fragment India.
Former Haryana Chief Minister and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar expresses confidence in the BJP's prospects in the Haryana Assembly elections, citing the significant voter turnout as a strong indicator of public support. He urges voters to exercise their right to vote and dismisses claims of opposition parties, emphasizing the importance of trusting the democratic process. Khattar also clarifies that Nayab Singh Saini would take over as Chief Minister if the BJP wins, continuing the party's leadership transition.
A traditional garba event in Indore, organized for the past 35 years, has been cancelled due to objections from right-wing groups who accused the organizer of promoting "love jihad". The controversy arose when a poster of one of the organizers, Firoz Khan, was put up in the city ahead of Navratri celebrations. The organizer has offered to leave the city for 10 days, while requesting permission for the Devi Pujan ceremonies to continue for nine days. This incident highlights the growing tensions and issues surrounding the concept of "love jihad" in India.
Royce White, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota, is facing backlash after a resurfaced 2022 post on social media in which he referred to the Allied forces as "bad guys" in World War II. He has been criticized for his remarks and is currently trailing behind Democratic incumbent Sen. Amy Klobuchar in polls. White defended his statement, claiming that he was referring to post-war reconstruction and globalist interests benefiting from the democratic order established after the war.
The highly anticipated assembly elections in Haryana are underway, with voters heading to the polls to determine the fate of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and other key candidates including Vinesh Phogat. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is seeking a third consecutive term, while the Congress is hoping to make a comeback after a decade. The state is also seeing intense competition from other parties such as AAP, INLD, BSP, JJP and Azad Samaj Party. Stay tuned to NDTV for live updates on the election results and follow the latest news from India and across the world.
In a bold move, Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal and three legislators, belonging to the Ajit Pawar faction of NCP, jumped off the third floor of the state secretariat building in Mumbai to oppose the demand for the Dhangar community's inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category. Fortunately, they landed safely on a net installed in the building to prevent suicide attempts. Officials confirmed that none of them sustained any injuries. The incident was a part of a larger protest by tribal MLAs in the Mantralaya complex during a cabinet meeting, where Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis were present.
Amidst ongoing protests against the ST reservation demanded by the Dhangar community, Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal reportedly attempted to jump from the third floor of the state secretariat building. The NCP MLA landed safely on a safety net, along with two other tribal legislators who also jumped in protest. The Ajit Pawar faction leader and other tribal MLAs were demanding that Dhangars not be given ST reservation and instead be given services under the PESA Act. The situation remains tense as discussions on the issue continue.
A division bench of the Telangana High Court has formed a committee to review disqualification petitions filed against three Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders who defected to the Congress. The High Court has also declined to stay a single-judge order warning the State assembly speaker of further court proceedings if he does not decide on the petitions. The case raises the question of whether the High Court can order a speaker to decide on disqualification petitions within a fixed time frame.
With the Haryana state legislative assembly elections around the corner, the Chief Electoral Officer urges voters to ensure their names are included in the voter list. While a voter ID card is the most commonly used identity document, the ECI has prescribed 12 alternative options, including Aadhaar card and Indian passport, for those without one. The voter list is available online and through a helpline number, with registration being mandatory in order to cast a vote. The upcoming elections will see a competition between the BJP, who secured 40 seats in the 2019 elections, and Congress, who won 30 seats.