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Congress Unveils First List of Candidates for 2024 Lok Sabha Polls in Kerala

Kalyani Jha
08 Mar, 2024

In a significant political development, the Indian National Congress has released its initial list of candidates for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, focusing particularly on the crucial battleground state of Kerala. The party has announced contenders for 16 seats in Kerala, as part of its alliance with the United Democratic Front (UDF). Among the notable names featured in the list is former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, who is set to contest from the Wayanad constituency once again, amidst speculation about a potential bid to reclaim the Amethi seat in Uttar Pradesh.

The decision to field Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad assumes significance, given the constituency's historical significance as a Congress bastion akin to Raebareli and Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi secured victory in Wayanad, thereby ensuring his presence in Parliament after losing the traditional Congress stronghold of Amethi to BJP leader Smriti Irani. Notably, Rahul Gandhi garnered an impressive 64.8% of the total vote share in Wayanad, reflecting the constituency's steadfast support for the Congress party.

Moreover, the Congress party's stronghold in Wayanad was further underscored during the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections, where the party emerged victorious in seven segments constituting the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. Despite the Left Democratic Front's (LDF) historic triumph in the state Assembly elections, Congress maintained its dominance in Wayanad, securing a combined vote share of 34.5% and outperforming the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], which garnered 25.6% of the total votes.

The selection of candidates for the Kerala Lok Sabha seats reflects the Congress party's strategic approach to navigate the intricate political landscape of the state. Sitting MPs such as KC Venugopal, Shashi Tharoor, and Anto Antony have been nominated to contest from Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, and Pathanamthitta constituencies, respectively, reaffirming the party's confidence in its incumbent representatives.

In sum, the announcement of the Congress candidate list for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Kerala underscores the party's commitment to consolidating its electoral base and reclaiming pivotal constituencies. With Rahul Gandhi leading the charge in Wayanad and a formidable lineup of candidates across the state, the Congress party aims to harness the support of the electorate and emerge as a formidable force in the upcoming electoral battle.