Lok Sabha Election 2024: Some names that were left off of the BJP‘s initial list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections were more notable than those who were included. Among them are the fiery activist Pragya Thakur and the current Members of Parliament for Delhi, Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma and Ramesh Bidhuri.
Strategic Exclusion of Controversial Figures
The BJP’s decision to remove the three politicians sends a message that the party is taking no chances in front of an election in which it will confront a united opposition. The leaders have garnered attention for their divisive remarks both within and outside of Parliament.
Pragya Thakur’s Controversial Past
Alok Sharma has taken Pragya Thakur’s post in the BJP in Bhopal. The firebrand commander, who was charged in the 2008 Malegaon bombs case, caused a major controversy when he was nominated the previous time. She has been involved in a number of disputes during the past five years.
Thakur, who is free on bond due to health concerns, has been spotted going to garba evenings and playing kabaddi. However, the statement she made labelling Nathuram Godse, the guy who shot Mahatma Gandhi dead, a “patriot” may have caused her the most damage.
PM Modi’s Strong Response
Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the statement with a firm hand. “The remarks made about Gandhiji or Nathuram Godse are very bad and very wrong for society. She has sought an apology, but I would never be able to forgive her fully,” he said. After five years, Thakur is no longer seated.
Another controversy erupted around Thakur’s comments on the 2008 terror attacks victim Hemant Karkare, the former head of the Mumbai Police Department. She had claimed that her “curse” was the reason he was slain. According to party sources, the firebrand leader’s lack of activity in her district was a major factor in her dismissal.
Exclusion of Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma
Many were taken aback by the significant exclusion of West Delhi MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma from the BJP list. He is a well-liked member of parliament who has served twice and is the son of the late Sahib Singh Verma, the former chief minister. However, the 46-year-old leader’s provocative comments have made headlines.
Verma had made contentious comments during the Shaheen Bagh demonstration ahead of the 2020 Delhi elections, stating that if the BJP took authority in the nation’s capital, the protestors would be cleared in an hour.
Verma’s Controversial Call for Boycott
Verma made headlines once more in 2022 when she called for a public boycott that appeared to be directed at Muslims. “Wherever you see them, if you want to fix their head, if you want to set them straight, then the only cure is total boycott. Raise your hand if you agree,” the BJP MP had said.
BJP’s Election Strategy for 2024
The BJP is well-prepared for the 2024 elections. It wishes to maintain the emphasis on Prime Minister Modi’s pledge for a “Viksit Bharat @2047” and does not want its leaders to make remarks that embarrass the ruling party or provide ammunition for the opposition.
Another lawmaker who might have been removed due to his comments is Ramesh Bidhuri of South Delhi. Danish Ali, the MP for Amroha, was the target of insulting remarks made by Bidhuri during a September 2018 Lok Sabha debate. The disparaging comments were captured on camera and caused a major rift. The South Delhi MP later expressed regret, but the BJP’s initial list indicates that this was insufficient.
Exclusion of Delhi MPs from BJP’s 2024 Lineup
Two more well-known Delhi MPs, Meenakshi Lekhi and Harsh Vardhan, were also dismissed. This time around, the BJP, which in the 2019 elections had won every seat in the nation’s capital, is up against a united opposition. The Congress is battling for three seats, while the AAP is vying for four. Bansuri, a lawyer and daughter of late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, has been nominated from New Delhi.
BJP’s Candidate Selection Criteria
Several variables are taken into account when choosing candidates, according to BJP sources. “Winnability is very important. Many MPs, it was found, were unpopular in their constituencies,” a party leader said.
“But there is no doubt that leaders such as Pragya Thakur, Ramesh Bidhuri and Parvesh Verma embarrassed the party with their provocative statements. Denial of tickets to them also sends a message that in public life, decorum has to be maintained. In the past, the Prime Minister had warned the party leaders on several occasions that they should not make controversial statements,” the BJP leader added.
BJP’s Exclusion of 33 Incumbent MPs
The BJP’s first list of 195 candidates did not include 33 incumbent Members of Parliament. Former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan and minister of civil aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia are two prominent figures who have entered the polls.