T’PURAM/JAIPUR/BENGALURU: Curtains were drawn Wednesday on a fervent campaign for phase two of the seven-stage LS polls slated for April 26 across 88 constituencies in 13 states, including all 20 seats in Kerala, 14 in Karnataka, 13 in Rajasthan, & eight each in Maharashtra and UP.
Among the notable contestants in this round are Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, BJP’s Tejasvi Surya, Hema Malini, Arun Govil, former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S), and Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh.
Other states where polling is scheduled include six seats in MP, five each in Assam and Bihar, three each in Chhattisgarh and Bengal, and one each in Manipur, Tripura, & J&K. Polling in MP’s Betul has been postponed to May 7 following the death of BSP candidate. Voting will conclude in Kerala, Rajasthan, and Tripura after Friday’s round of polling.
In Kerala, candidates participated in high-energy finales known as “Kottikalasam” across constituencies. Hundreds joined in, demonstrating their support with loud slogans and waving party flags. Political parties organised rallies and roadshows, with notable figures like home minister Amit Shah and Congress’s Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressing gatherings.
In Rajasthan, former CM Ashok Gehlot led public rallies and roadshows, while actress Kangana Ranaut bolstered support for BJP candidate and minister Kailash Chaudhary in Jaisalmer. There are 152 candidates in the fray, including two Union ministers, the LS speaker, BJP’s state president, and Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot in Jalore-Sirohi constituency.
Canvassing ended in Karnataka, with Congress & BJP conducting symbolic campaigns. Congress showcased the “chombu” (empty pot) to symbolise what it perceives as failures of Modi govt. For its part, BJP initiated “chippu” (empty coconut shell) campaign, representing what it views as empty promises of Siddaramaiah-led govt in the state. In MP, campaigning concluded for six seats, with BJP and Congress locking horns in several constituencies.
Among the notable contestants in this round are Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi and Shashi Tharoor, BJP’s Tejasvi Surya, Hema Malini, Arun Govil, former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S), and Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh.
Other states where polling is scheduled include six seats in MP, five each in Assam and Bihar, three each in Chhattisgarh and Bengal, and one each in Manipur, Tripura, & J&K. Polling in MP’s Betul has been postponed to May 7 following the death of BSP candidate. Voting will conclude in Kerala, Rajasthan, and Tripura after Friday’s round of polling.
In Kerala, candidates participated in high-energy finales known as “Kottikalasam” across constituencies. Hundreds joined in, demonstrating their support with loud slogans and waving party flags. Political parties organised rallies and roadshows, with notable figures like home minister Amit Shah and Congress’s Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra addressing gatherings.
In Rajasthan, former CM Ashok Gehlot led public rallies and roadshows, while actress Kangana Ranaut bolstered support for BJP candidate and minister Kailash Chaudhary in Jaisalmer. There are 152 candidates in the fray, including two Union ministers, the LS speaker, BJP’s state president, and Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot in Jalore-Sirohi constituency.
Canvassing ended in Karnataka, with Congress & BJP conducting symbolic campaigns. Congress showcased the “chombu” (empty pot) to symbolise what it perceives as failures of Modi govt. For its part, BJP initiated “chippu” (empty coconut shell) campaign, representing what it views as empty promises of Siddaramaiah-led govt in the state. In MP, campaigning concluded for six seats, with BJP and Congress locking horns in several constituencies.