BJP Unveils Second Lok Sabha Candidate List: Khattar Contesting Karnal, Gadkari Holds Nagpur Seat

On Wednesday, the BJP unveiled its second list of 72 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, featuring prominent figures such as Manohar Lal Khattar, Nitin Gadkari, Anurag Thakur, Piyush Goyal (Mumbai North), and Tejasvi Surya, among others. Notably, Khattar’s candidacy from Karnal wasn’t unexpected, given his resignation as Haryana’s chief minister, signaling his foray into national politics. Gadkari’s retention of the Nagpur seat follows initial uncertainty, as his name was absent from the first candidate list.

The roster showcases significant names like Ashok Tanwar (Sirsa), Chaudhary Dharambir Singh (Bhiwani-Mahendragarh), Rao Inderjit Singh Yadav (Gurgaon), Anurag Singh Thakur (Hamirpur), BY Raghavendra (Shimoga), Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri), Shobha Karandlaje (Bangalore North), Tejasvi Surya (Bangalore South), Bharati Pravin Pawar (Dindori), Pankaja Munde (Beed), DK Aruna (Mahbubnagar), Trivendra Singh Rawat (Haridwar), Anil Baluni (Garhwal), and Nitin Gadkari (Nagpur), along with Piyush Goyal (Mumbai North).

The absence of Gadkari’s name from the initial list prompted speculation about his standing within the BJP. Uddhav Thackeray even extended an invitation to Gadkari to join his camp, deeming BJP’s treatment as disrespectful. Gadkari dismissed the offer as immature, emphasizing the BJP’s thorough candidate selection process.

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The BJP coordinated with its Maharashtra allies, including Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar’s NCP, before finalizing the second list, which notably includes several candidates from the state.

In Karnataka, Pratap Simha, who faced criticism for his involvement in a Parliament security breach, has been replaced by Yaduveer Krishnadatta Wadiyar of the erstwhile Mysore royal family for the Mysore seat.

Pankaja Munde, following her sister Pritam Munde’s footsteps, will contest from Beed.