Lok Sabha polls 2024: Congress releases first list; 4 from Telangana

Hyderabad: Four candidates from Telangana have been nominated for the Lok Sabha 2024 elections from the Indian National Congress party in the party’s first list. Congress general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal, who addressed the media, mentioned that the first list contained 39 names.

The four candidates are Suresh Kumar Shetkar (Zahirabad), Raghuveer Kunduru (Nalgonda), Balaram Naik (Mahabubabad) and Vamshi Chand Reddy (Mahabubnagar).

Profile of candidates from Telangana

Balaram Naik for Mahabubabad constituency: A senior vice-president of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) and also said to have played a major role in the arrangements in districts during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, headed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Naik is a former member of Parliament and also the Union Minister of State from 2009 to 2013 in the then prime minister Manmohan Singh’s government.

Raghuveer Kunduru for Nalgonda constituency: The general secretary of Telangana Congress and youth Congress leader from 2009. His nomination points to youth Congress leaders being given the opportunity by the party in the Lok Sabha elections.

Suresh Kumar Shetkar for Zaheerabad constituency: Suresh Kumar is a former Member of Parliament from Zaheerabad from 2009 to 2014, former Narayankhed MLA from 2004 to 2009 and also donned the role of youth Congress president.

Vamsi Chand Reddy from Mahabubnagar constituency: Vamsi Chand was a special invitee for the Congress working committee and had electoral experience as a member of the Legislative Assembly from 2014 to 2019. He contested Lok Sabha from Mahabubnagar in 2019.

Rahul Gandhi’s name on list

As per the present list, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be contesting from his present Parliament constituency of Wayanad in Kerala. Earlier, there was speculation that Gandhi would not contest from Kerala and move back to Uttar Pradesh. However, Friday’s list has his name from Wayanad only.

The other candidates in the list are categorised as follows:

- 15 candidates are from the General Category

- 24 candidates are from SC, ST, OBC and minority groups

- 12 candidates are below 50 years of age

- 8 candidates are in the age group 50-60 years

- 12 are in the age group 61-70 years

- 7 candidates are in the age group 71-76 years

The Congress party has already been releasing their guarantees in the nationwide Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra for farmers and youth.

The election campaign has already begun and as the BJNY completes its final leg in Mumbai, and the members of the INDIA alliance are also expected to participate on the last day.