Lok Sabha Elections 2024: More Names Pending After Screening Meeting, Says Congress' DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader DK Shivakumar announced that more names would be finalized for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections after the screening committee meeting on March 11, on Friday.

Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, it was stated by Shivakumar that, "More names were to be announced in today's list. But those names will be finalized during the next Screening Committee meeting on March 11."

More Names Pending After Screening Meeting: Congress' DK Shivakumar

He further mentioned, "The candidates have been selected based on the feedback from local leaders and our survey inputs." When asked about the number of candidates announced, he responded, "It isn't important how many names I had taken to Delhi. The High Command decides it. We only propose the names. The Congress Election Committee gathers its own intelligence. Decisions are taken based on all these aspects," as reported by Hindustan Times.

Earlier in the day, the first list of candidates for 39 Lok Sabha constituencies was released by Congress. The names have been announced for Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshwadeep, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Telangana, and Tripura.

Additionally, it was noted that Shivakumar's brother and Congress leader, DK Suresh, has also been named in the first list of candidates. Suresh will be contesting from Bangalore Rural. Of the total 39 candidates announced, 16 are from Kerala, seven from Karnataka, and six from Chhattisgarh, four from Telangana. Two from Meghalaya and one each from Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim, and Lakshwadeep.

In Karnataka, it was revealed that Anandaswamy Gaddadevara Mat will contest from Haveri, Geetha Shivarajkumar has been fielded from Shimoga, Shreyal Patel from Hassan, SP Muddahanumegowda from Tumkur, and Vekanataramegowda (Star Chandru) from Mandya.

The list was released after the party held its Central Election Committee meeting on Thursday. A total of 16 candidates have been announced from Kerala, including Shashi Tharoor from Thiruvananthapuram and Rahul Gandhi from Wayanad, a seat he won in 2019, as reported by Hindustan Times.

It was further announced that Congress party's second Election Committee meeting will be held on March 11 in Delhi to discuss the candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The BJP has already released its first list of 195 candidates. The Lok Sabha polls are likely to be held in April-May this year.