With the Election Commision announcing dates of Lok Sabha elections on Saturday, questions are making rounds that when the Congress’ will declare full list of candidates from the State for Lok Sabha elections. It has become a crucial issue from commoners’ discussions to political aisles in the State. As ‘The Hitavada’ had reported earlier that the Congress may come up with the names of candidates for upcoming Lok Sabha polls on March 19. On Sunday, Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari said, “We will declare names of candidates for remaining MP seats in two days. Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is formally ending in Mumbai today. All Congress leaders will be free from this yatra. The party high command has given instructions to finalise a single name after discussing seats for which candidates are to be declared with the State team and screening committee. Notably, Lok Sabha polls in the State will be held in four phases on April 19, April 26, May 7 and May 13.

 

Counting of votes will be held on June 4. Last week, Congress announced its candidates for 10 LS seats in MP. The party has left Khajuraho LS seat in Madhya Pradesh for Samajwadi Party (SP) as a part of seat sharing arrangements between them. Congress veteran Kamal Nath’s son Nakul had won Chhindwara seat in the State in last LS polls. Congress has retained Nakul Nath in Chhindwara this time. The party’s first list for the State saw only two names retained. Eight new faces have been fielded. The Congress has fielded four Scheduled Tribe (ST) and three Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved seats so far. The party has fielded prominent Dalit leader and Bhander MLA Phool Singh Baraiya from Gwalior-Chambal belt’s Bhind (SC) Lok Sabha constituency. From Satna Lok Sabha seat the Congress has fielded MLA Siddharth Kushwaha.

 

Former State Government minister Kamleshwar Patel has been given ticket from Sidhi. Pankaj Ahirwar has been fielded from Tikamgarh (SC) against Union Minister Virendra Kumar Khatik. Other candidates include Rajendra Malviya from Dewas (SC), Porlal Kharte from Khargone (ST) and Radheshyam Muvel from Dhar (ST) seat. Former CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Congress is struggling to find candidates in Madhya Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will get a third term with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) getting the biggest mandate ever in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chouhan also claimed that the Congress will be reduced to its lowest-ever vote share and seats in upcoming elections.