Political activist Kanhaiya Kumar is set to enter the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, challenging BJP MP Manoj Tiwari for the North East Delhi constituency.
The Congress unveiled a fresh roster of candidates on Sunday, disclosing 10 candidates from Punjab, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. Among these, JP Agarwal was nominated for the Chandni Chowk seat, while former MP Udit Raj was designated for the North West Delhi-SC constituency.
Kumar, a former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union, gained prominence during the 2016 protests. He faced arrest (later released) for allegedly raising “anti-national” slogans on campus. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he contested from Begusarai on a CPI ticket but was defeated by BJP’s Giriraj Singh. Kumar joined the Congress in September 2021.
Both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, constituents of the INDIA bloc, are participating in the elections under a seat-sharing agreement. AAP has put forth candidates for four seats, while the Congress is contesting in three Lok Sabha constituencies. Delhi’s voting is scheduled for May 25, with the vote count slated for June 4.