High-Voltage Campaigning Ends for Phase 2 of Lok Sabha Elections 2024

The high-decibel campaigning for the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024 came to a close on April 25, a day before polling in 89 constituencies across 13 states. Prominent leaders from various political parties made a last-ditch effort to woo voters, with the BJP and Congress trading barbs over contentious issues like wealth redistribution and social justice. The fate of several high-profile candidates, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, will be sealed in this phase.

Intense Campaigning Ahead of Crucial Phase

The campaign trail in the run-up to the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections witnessed a flurry of rallies, roadshows, and public meetings by key political parties and their leaders. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress-led INDIA alliance engaged in a bitter war of words, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing the Congress of harboring “dangerous intentions” and planning to redistribute wealth.

BJP Targets Congress Over Wealth Redistribution

PM Modi doubled down on his attacks against the Congress‘ promises on social justice and alleged wealth redistribution, claiming that the party’s “dangerous intentions” were coming to the fore one by one. He reiterated his assertion that the Congress’ plan for social welfare and reducing inequality amounted to a “dangerous game” of wealth redistribution and “snatching people’s rights and properties.”

Congress Dismisses BJP’s Allegations

Congress leader P. Chidambaram dismissed the BJP’s allegations, stating that the party’s election manifesto did not contain any mention of “redistribution of wealth” or “inheritance tax.” He accused the BJP of resorting to “distortion, falsehoods, and abuse” as ‘Modi ki Guarantee’ had vanished without a trace.

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High-Profile Candidates in the Fray

Several high-profile candidates are in the fray in the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will contest from the Kannauj constituency in Uttar Pradesh, while the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra and J&K Apni Party’s Muhammad Ashraf Mir filed their nomination papers for the Srinagar seat.

Regional Dynamics and Key Battlegrounds

The elections in the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal have emerged as one of the most interesting contests, marked by fresh political alignments. In Madhya Pradesh’s Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions, the Congress-led INDIA alliance hopes to benefit from caste equations, anti-incumbency against sitting MPs, and local issues.

BJP Faces Discontent in Ladakh

The BJP is facing discontent within its ranks in Ladakh, as sitting MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, whom the party has not nominated for the upcoming polls, rallied supporters and expressed his unhappiness over the choice of Tashi Gyalson as the party candidate for the seat.