As counting begins today for the Lok Sabha elections, which have recorded the highest voter turnout, the political future of numerous leaders will be determined. Among the prominent BJP figures in the race are Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Key opposition figures, including former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, NCP’s Supriya Sule, and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, are also vying for seats.
Here is a look at some key contests featuring notable leaders:
1. Narendra Modi: Prime Minister Modi seeks a third term from Varanasi, the constituency that first brought him to the Lok Sabha following his tenure as Chief Minister. He faces Congress leader and INDIA bloc candidate Ajay Rai. PM Modi previously won the seat by significant margins in both 2014 and 2019.
2. Amit Shah: The Union Home Minister, who entered the Lok Sabha in 2019 from Gandhinagar, is aiming for his second consecutive term from this seat, historically held by BJP stalwarts. Shah, the former BJP President, is up against Congress candidate Sonal Patel.
3. Rahul Gandhi: Rahul Gandhi is contesting from two constituencies — Wayanad and Raebareli. After losing the family stronghold of Amethi in 2019 and winning Wayanad, he aims to preserve the party’s last stronghold in the state. He is contesting against BJP’s Dinesh Pratap Singh in Raebareli and BJP’s K. Surendran and CPI-M’s Annie Raja in Wayanad.
4. Supriya Sule and Sunetra Pawar: The Baramati constituency is set for a significant contest that will affect the ‘Pawar’ legacy. NCP leader Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule faces her cousin Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar. Exit polls suggest a close race.
5. Shashi Tharoor: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, a three-term MP from Thiruvananthapuram, is in a three-way contest against BJP’s Rajeev Chandrasekhar and CPI-M’s Panniyan Ravindran. Exit polls indicate a tight contest.
6. K. Annamalai: BJP Tamil Nadu chief K. Annamalai, a rising political figure in the south, is contesting from Coimbatore. The former police officer is competing against DMK’s Ganapathy P Rajkumar and AIADMK’s Singai Ramachandran.
7. Rajnath Singh: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is seeking a third term from Lucknow. The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, who served as Home Minister in the BJP’s first term and Defence Minister in the second term, is up against SP’s Ravidas Mehrotra and BSP’s Sarwar Malik.
8. Abhishek Banerjee: As the BJP strives to expand its influence in West Bengal and the TMC aims to defend its territory, TMC general secretary and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, is contesting for a second term from Diamond Harbour. He faces CPI(M)’s Pratikur Rahaman and BJP’s Abhijit Das.
9. Akhilesh Yadav: Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav made an unexpected entry into the Lok Sabha race, contesting from Kannauj. Yadav, currently an MLA from the Karhal assembly constituency, is competing against incumbent MP and BJP leader Subrat Pathak.
10. Asaduddin Owaisi: The Hyderabad constituency anticipates a significant showdown with four-term MP and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi facing BJP candidate and actor-turned-politician Madhavi Latha.
The Lok Sabha elections, covering 543 seats in the lower house, were conducted across seven phases. The vote counting will take place on Tuesday, June 4. The Bharatiya Janata Party aims for a third consecutive term, while the Opposition, under the INDIA bloc, seeks to unseat the ruling party.
Meanwhile, exit polls forecast a decisive BJP victory, predicting a strong majority and increased gains in Odisha, West Bengal, and southern states.
