In a significant development ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has unveiled the names of over three-quarters of its candidates, mirroring the successful formula adopted for state assembly elections in three states. The first list, comprising 195 candidates, includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be contesting for the third time from his former constituency Varanasi. Alongside him, Rajnath Singh will be vying for victory from Lucknow, while Amit Shah will be in the fray from Gandhinagar once again.

The trust in leaders like Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Biplab Deb is evident as former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb have also been allocated tickets. Additionally, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has been granted a ticket from Kota.

BJP usually introduces significant changes in the faces of its candidates in their lists. However, this time, changes are noticeable only in states where new political alliances have emerged or where there’s a significant anti-incumbency wave against certain candidates.

An example of this strategic shift is evident in Delhi, where an alliance has been formed between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Out of the five names announced in the list so far, four are fresh candidates. Minister Meenakshi Lekhi has been replaced in New Delhi by newcomer Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of late Sushma Swaraj.

The list also sees changes in states like Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, where several Members of Parliament contested in the state assembly elections.

The BJP has released the names of candidates for 16 states in the first list, including Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana, Assam, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Daman-Diu, and Andaman-Nicobar.

Moreover, special attention has been paid to include candidates from all sections, societies, and castes. The list comprises 34 women, 27 from Scheduled Castes, 18 from Scheduled Tribes, and 57 from Other Backward Classes (OBC). Additionally, 47 youths under the age of 50 have been fielded, recognizing the importance of youth representation.

With a target set at over 400 seats, the BJP has chosen candidates with meticulous consideration, keeping in mind the feedback from local surveys and discussions within the party. The selection process, guided by Prime Minister Modi and Party President JP Nadda, has been finalized based on reports from state election committees after thorough deliberations