Thiruvananthapuram: Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar filed his nomination for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, accompanied by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Chandrasekhar, amidst fervent support from BJP loyalists, held a vibrant roadshow in Thiruvananthapuram before formally submitting his nomination papers for the impending electoral battle.
#WATCH | Kerala: Union Minister and BJP candidate for Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat @Rajeev_GoI arrives to file his nomination for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections with EAM Dr S. Jaishankar. pic.twitter.com/kfYzkzfKQI
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) April 4, 2024
Seated atop an open-roofed vehicle, the Union Minister warmly greeted the enthusiastic crowds that thronged both sides of the route during the roadshow.
Expressing optimism about his prospects, Chandrasekhar affirmed his commitment to serving Thiruvananthapuram. “It’s a significant stride towards serving my city, Thiruvananthapuram, and I eagerly anticipate the support and best wishes of the people. The electorate of Thiruvananthapuram will make their decision, and I am confident that they yearn for change and effective representation,” remarked Chandrasekhar.
The parliamentary seat of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is poised for a competitive “three-cornered fight” with candidates from the BJP, Congress, and left parties vying for victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. While the BJP has nominated Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Communist Party of India (CPI)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has put forward CPI leader Pannyan Raveendran, and the Congress has fielded its incumbent MP Shashi Tharoor from the constituency.
Kerala, known for its entrenched Congress stronghold, is set to elect 20 parliamentarians to the Lok Sabha. Shashi Tharoor, a prominent Congress figure and former Union minister, has been representing the Thiruvananthapuram seat since 2009 and filed his nomination on Wednesday.
The BJP, historically unable to secure a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala, has significantly intensified its efforts with Chandrasekhar’s candidacy, making the Thiruvananthapuram contest a closely watched three-way battle in the upcoming polls.
Polling for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections across all 20 constituencies in Kerala is slated for April 26, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4.
In the 2019 polls, the BJP garnered its highest vote share of 31.3% in Kerala, with Kummanam Rajasekharan emerging victorious in Thiruvananthapuram. However, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) secured a dominant victory, clinching 19 out of 20 seats. The Congress itself secured 15 seats, with allies including the Indian Union Muslim League, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, and the Kerala Congress (M) winning the remaining seats.
