2024 Lok Sabha Elections: 14 key battles to watch out for

2024 Lok Sabha Elections: The upcoming Lok Sabha elections are set to unfold in seven phases, commencing on April 19 and concluding with the vote counting scheduled for June 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be at the forefront of this monumental electoral exercise.
 
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar recently announced the election schedule in a press conference, outlining the phases: April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. This electoral season promises a plethora of captivating battles, featuring seasoned politicians, emerging contenders, and unexpected matchups. Here's a rundown of some of the contests:

Narendra Modi from Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting the upcoming election from the Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh, where he emerged victorious in both 2014 and 2019. In 2014, he defeated Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party, and in 2019, he secured victory over Shalini Yadav of the Samajwadi Party.

Amit Shah from Gandhinagar

India's Home Minister, Amit Shah, will be contesting from his traditional stronghold of Gandhinagar in Gujarat, where he currently serves as the sitting Member of Parliament.
 
Rajnath Singh from LucknowThe Defence Minister and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Rajnath Singh, is seeking re-election from the Lucknow constituency in Uttar Pradesh, where he presently holds the seat. He has previously represented the Ghaziabad constituency as well.

Nitin Gadkari from NagpurThe Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, will be contesting from his stronghold of Nagpur in Maharashtra, a seat he has successfully defended in both the 2014 and 2019 elections.

Rahul Gandhi vs Annie Raja in Wayanad:

Rahul Gandhi, the senior Congress leader, will contest with the CPI's Annie Raja in the picturesque constituency of Wayanad, Kerala. This duel gains significance within the INDIA alliance backdrop.

Smriti Irani vs ? in Amethi:

The battleground of Amethi is awaiting another intense showdown as the BJP's Smriti Irani seeks re-election, awaiting her opponent from the Congress camp.

Shashi Tharoor vs Rajeev Chandrashekhar in Thiruvananthapuram:

MP Shashi Tharoor of the Congress faces off against the BJP's Rajeev Chandrashekhar in a bid to retain his stronghold in Thiruvananthapuram.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury vs Yusuf Pathan in Baharampur:

Former cricketer Yusuf Pathan of the TMC challenges the Congress' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in the battle for Baharampur, West Bengal.

Bansuri Swaraj vs Somnath Bharti in New Delhi: 

Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of the late Sushma Swaraj, steps into the political arena, confronting the AAP's Somnath Bharti in New Delhi, adding an intriguing layer to the electoral dynamics.

Bhupesh Baghel vs Santosh Pandey in Rajnandgaon:

Congress heavyweight Bhupesh Baghel takes on the BJP's Santosh Pandey in a bid to break the longstanding BJP dominance in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.

Rahul Kaswan vs Devendra Jhajharia in Churu:

Congressman Rahul Kaswan's clash with paralympic champion Devendra Jhajharia of the BJP in Churu, Rajasthan, promises an electrifying contest.

Mahabal Mishra vs Kamaljeet Sehrawat in West Delhi:

The AAP's Mahabal Mishra faces the BJP's Kamaljeet Sehrawat in West Delhi, setting the stage for a fierce battle.

Nakul Nath vs Vivek 'Bunty' Sahu in Chhindwara:

Nakul Nath's re-election bid in Chhindwara sees a challenge from the BJP's Vivek 'Bunty' Sahu, adding a twist to the traditional Congress stronghold.

K Muralidharan vs Suresh Gopi in Thrissur:

K Muralidharan squares off against the BJP's Suresh Gopi in Thrissur, Kerala, amidst shifting political allegiances.

BY Raghavendra vs KS Eshwarappa in Shivamogga:

The political landscape in Shivamogga, Karnataka, witnesses a contest between BY Raghavendra and KS Eshwarappa.