Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha Elections 2024
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is witnessing an intense electoral battle between Shashi Tharoor of the Indian National Congress and Rajeev Chandrasekhar of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Tharoor vs. Chandrasekhar
Shashi Tharoor, a three-term MP, is known for his popularity in and beyond Thiruvananthapuram. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Polls, he defeated the BJP’s Kummanam Rajasekharan by over 100,000 votes, securing over 41% of the total votes.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, has challenged Tharoor to a debate on the development of Thiruvananthapuram, a constituency that encompasses most of the Kerala capital.
Tharoor has accepted the challenge, emphasizing the importance of discussing key issues such as price hike, unemployment, corruption, communalism, and the BJP’s political strategies over the past decade.
Electoral Dynamics
The upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Thiruvananthapuram are marked by high-voltage campaigning. Chandrasekhar, a newcomer to the Lok Sabha elections, aims to unseat Tharoor in this crucial constituency.
While Tharoor has demonstrated his electoral strength in the past, notably in the 2019 polls, the 2014 elections revealed a close contest with the BJP’s O. Rajagopal. Tharoor’s victory margin in 2014 was slim, highlighting the competitive nature of Thiruvananthapuram.
Final Thoughts
The electoral landscape in Thiruvananthapuram remains dynamic, with both candidates vying for victory in the upcoming polls. Kerala is gearing up to elect its 20 Lok Sabha MPs on April 26, with results expected on June 4.