The upcoming Lok Sabha elections may seem lackluster to some, but a closer look at individual constituencies reveals a vibrant and intriguing political landscape. Here are nine constituencies from the first two phases of voting that promise interesting and close contests:
1. **Churu, Rajasthan (April 19):** BJP's stronghold faces an interesting match-up between Devendra Jhajharia (BJP) and Rahul Kaswan (Congress), who switched parties just before the elections.
2. **Nagina, Uttar Pradesh (April 19):** With Chandra Shekhar Azad (ASP-KR) entering the fray, this SC-reserved seat becomes a four-cornered contest, adding a new dimension to the electoral battle.
3. **Jorhat, Assam (April 19):** Gaurav Gogoi (Congress) shifting to Jorhat makes this battle intriguing, as he aims to tap into his father Tarun Gogoi's legacy against Topon Kumar Gogoi (BJP).
4. **Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (April 19):** BJP's strategic push in the south focuses on this seat, where K Annamalai (BJP) challenges Ganapathi P. Rajkumar (DMK) in a bid to tap into the non-Tamil population.
5. **Wayanad, Kerala (April 26):** Rahul Gandhi faces tough competition from Annie Raja (CPI) and K Surendran (BJP) in this minority-dominated seat, turning it into a three-cornered contest.
6. **Purnia, Bihar (April 26):** With Pappu Yadav (Independent) making a grand entry, this otherwise quiet constituency sees a three-way battle between Yadav, Bima Bharti (RJD), and Santosh Kumar Kushwaha (JD(U)).
7. **Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala (April 26):** Shashi Tharoor (Congress) faces a tough challenge from Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BJP) and Pannyan Raveendran (CPI) in this urban seat with a Hindu majority.
8. **Barmer-Jaisalmer, Rajasthan (April 26):** Ravindra Singh Bhati (Independent) draws crowds, challenging Kailash Choudhary (BJP) and Umeda Ram Beniwal (Congress) in a three-cornered contest.
9. **Thrissur, Kerala (April 26):** BJP aims to break its losing streak in this seat by fielding Suresh Gopi against K Muraleedharan (Congress) and V S Sunil Kumar (CPI) in a highly competitive battle.
These constituencies showcase the diversity and complexity of Indian politics, making the Lok Sabha 2024 elections an interesting and closely contested affair.
