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Due to alliance commitments, the Congress party will field the lowest number of candidates since independence for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024.
This comes at a time when the Lok Sabha numbers for the grand old party have seen a sharp decline in the last two general elections.
The party has so far announced 278 candidates from 27 states and eight union territories. The party is expected to announce the names of at least 20 candidates in the coming days. These include candidates from some seats of Haryana, Bihar, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, UP and West Bengal. According to a report, the total seats expected to be contested by this oldest party will be around 300. Hindustan Times,
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Congress contested 421 seats in 2019, 464 seats in 2014, and 440 seats in 2009. The party contested 417 seats in 2004, its lowest among the 543 Lok Sabha seats. The party won 52 seats in 2019, 44 in 2014, 206 in 2009 and 145 in 2004.
The reduction in the number of seats is probably due to the coalition commitments of the oldest party. The party is part of the India faction of the opposition in these elections. But between 1989 and 1999, known as the coalition era of Indian elections, the Congress Party fielded candidates on more than 450 seats.
The party has given seats to its allies in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. These four states send 201 members to the Lok Sabha. The party is contesting on 17 seats in UP including Amethi and Rae Bareli, nine seats in Bihar, nine seats in Tamil Nadu and has so far announced 13 names in West Bengal.
Also read: ‘There are problems in Congress that need to be solved’: Amartya Sen analyzes opposition’s defeat to BJP
In Maharashtra, out of 48 Lok Sabha seats, Congress is fielding its candidates on 17 seats, leaving 21 seats for Shiv Sena (UBT) and 10 seats for the National Congress Party (SP). In the last two elections, the party had contested 25 and 26 seats in the state.
Congress has given six seats to its alliance partner Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, Haryana and Gujarat.
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Published: April 15, 2024, 09:26 am IST
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