1. BJP reveals fifth candidate list for Lok Sabha polls, showcasing prominent figures.
2. Kangana Ranaut, Naveen Jindal, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, Arun Govil.
3. List reflects diversity with candidates from Bollywood, politics, judiciary, and entertainment.
New Delhi, March 25: In a significant move ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the BJP unveiled its fifth list of candidates, featuring prominent personalities from various fields.
Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut, former Congress MP Naveen Jindal, retired judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, and actor Arun Govil were among the notable names included in the list.
Kangana Ranaut, known for her versatile performances, was nominated to contest the Mandi seat in Himachal Pradesh, her birthplace. Meanwhile, Naveen Jindal, who recently defected from the Congress to join the BJP, secured a ticket for the Kurukshetra constituency in Haryana.
Notable adjustments were made within the party, with Varun Gandhi being replaced by former Congress leader Jitin Prasada in the Pilibhit seat of Uttar Pradesh. However, Varun’s mother and former Union Minister, Maneka Gandhi, retained her candidacy for the Sultanpur seat.
Also Read: Dibrugarh Lok Sabha Constituency: Candidates, Demographics, Voter Turnout, and Previous Election Results
Arun Govil, celebrated for his portrayal of Lord Ram in the iconic TV series Ramayan, emerged as the candidate for the Meerut Lok Sabha constituency. The BJP also fielded former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay from the Tamluk seat in West Bengal.
Further reinforcing its presence in West Bengal, the BJP nominated Arjun Singh and Tapas Roy, recent defectors from the Trinamool Congress, for the Barrackpore and Kolkata North seats, respectively.
A notable inclusion in the list was Rekha Patra, a woman from Sandeshkhali known for her participation in protests against former Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan. She was nominated for the Bashirhat Lok Sabha constituency.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan secured the BJP ticket for the Sambalpur constituency in Odisha, while the party’s national spokesperson, Sambit Patra, was nominated for the Puri seat.
Rajmata Amrita Roy, a recent BJP entrant from the Krishnanagar Royal family, will contest against Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra from the Krishnanagar constituency.
In Kerala, BJP president K Surendran was named as the party’s candidate to challenge Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the Wayanad constituency.
Additionally, former Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLA Sita Soren, sister-in-law of former Chief Minister Hemant Soren, secured the BJP ticket for the Dumka constituency.
The BJP’s fifth list, comprising 111 candidates across 17 states, underscores the party’s strategic approach and diversification of talent as it prepares for the upcoming electoral battle.
