India General Elections 2024: For the first time, the Congress party is contesting the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 with 328 candidates, marking a departure from its tradition of fielding candidates on more than 400 seats.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress fielded candidates on 421 seats, whereas in 2014, it contested 464 seats. Back in 2009, the party had a presence on 440 seats, and in 2004, it vied for 417 seats. Despite variations in its participation, the party secured 52 seats in 2019, 44 in 2014, 206 in 2009, and 145 seats in 2004.
The reduction in the number of seats contested by the grand old party primarily stems from its commitments to various alliances. In the current elections, the party is aligned with the Opposition’s INDIA bloc. Notably, at least 101 seats that the party contested in 2019 have been allocated to partners within the INDIA bloc for the 2024 general elections.
During the coalition era of Indian elections, spanning from 1989 to 1999, the Congress party consistently fielded candidates in over 450 seats. However, in the current scenario, the party has relinquished seats to its allies in key states like Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu. Together, these states contribute 201 members to the Lok Sabha.
Largest effect in UP
The most significant decrease in the seats contested by the Congress is observed in Uttar Pradesh, a state where the grand old party has faced political obscurity for many decades. In the 2019 elections, the party contested 67 out of the state’s 80 seats. However, it managed to secure victory in only one seat – Raebareli. Notably, during that election, Congress allied with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
In 2024, the party is contesting 17 seats in Uttar Pradesh, which includes prominent constituencies like Amethi and Raebareli, as part of a seat-sharing agreement with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party. Notably, the Congress has nominated Rahul Gandhi to contest from the Raebareli seat, previously held by his mother Sonia Gandhi in 2019.
Delhi, Maharashtra, and West Bengal
In West Bengal, the party has nominated candidates for only 14 out of the 42 seats. This marks a significant reduction from 2019 when the Congress contested 40 seats and managed to secure victory in just two. Meanwhile, in Maharashtra, out of the 48 Lok Sabha seats, the Congress is vying for 17 seats. The remaining seats are divided between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the National Congress Party (SP), with 21 and 10 seats respectively. This represents a decrease from the previous two elections, where the Congress contested 25 and 26 seats in the state. The Congress has conceded six seats to its alliance partner, the Aam Aadmi Party, in Delhi, Haryana and Gujarat.
50% of Lok Sabha seats are determined
The fate of more than 283 Lok Sabha seats was sealed following the completion of the third phase of Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday, May 7. This signifies that elections for over half of the 543 Lok Sabha seats have concluded within the initial three phases. The preceding two phases of elections took place on April 19 and 26.
In total, voting for all 543 Lok Sabha seats is scheduled across seven phases. The upcoming phases are set for May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. Subsequently, the counting of votes for all seven phases of the Lok Sabha Elections will occur on June 4.
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The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), aiming for an unprecedented third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, has set an ambitious target of securing 400 seats in this election. However, the ruling alliance faces stiff competition from opposition parties, chiefly led by the Congress, rallying under the banner of the INDIA bloc.