Cong's 4th list of Lok Sabha election candidates out: Ajay Rai against PM Modi from Varanasi

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi defeated his nearest rival Shalini Yadav of Samajwadi Party, by 4.80 lakh votes.

Updated on: Mar 24, 2024, 04:46:00 IST

By HT News Desk

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Congress on Saturday released its fourth list of 46 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai will contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi. It is his third Lok Sabha election contest against the BJP stalwart. The BJP had announced PM Modi's name in its first list of 194 candidates on March 2.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi had defeated his nearest rival Shalini Yadav of Samajwadi Party by 4.80 lakh votes. Rai had bagged 1,52,548 votes and secured the third spot.

He had got a vote share of 14.38 per cent against PM Modi's vote share of a staggering 63.62 per cent.

Congress leader Ajay Rai will contest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third time in Lok Sabha elections.

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In the 2014 elections, Rai had also secured the third spot when PM Modi had defeated Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal from the holy city.

The other candidates announced by Congress from Uttar Pradesh included Imran Masood (Saharanpur), Danish Ali (Amroha), Akhilesh Pratap Singh (Deoria) and Tanuj Punia (Barabanki). In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the grand old party had won just one seat, that of Sonia Gandhi from Raebareli.

The Congress also announced the candidates from Madhya Pradesh. Former chief minister Digvijaya Singh has been fielded from Rajgarh. Singh had contested the 2019 elections from Bhopal, wherein he had lost to Pragya Thakur of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Besides Singh, the party fielded former Union minister Kantilal Bhuria from Ratlam constituency.

In Tamil Nadu, the Congress has fielded Karti Chidambaram from Sivaganga once again. The constituency was once represented by his father P Chidambaram. The party also fielded Manickam Tagore from Virudhnagar. Tamil Nadu, with 39 seats in the Lok Sabha, will vote in the first phase on April 19.

The seven phased Lok Sabha elections begin on April 19. The other phases will be held on April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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