The Congress unveiled its second roster of 43 candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday, notably spotlighting individuals with familial ties to senior party figures. Among these is Nakul Nath, son of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who has been nominated to contest from Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, a constituency he currently represents as an incumbent MP.
Similarly, Vaibhav Gehlot, son of former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, has been nominated to run from Jalore in Rajasthan. Notably, Gaurav Gogoi, the son of former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, has been named as a candidate for the Jorhat constituency, holding his current seat in Kaliabor.
The Congress's latest candidate list encompasses 12 nominations from Assam, 7 from Gujarat, 10 from Madhya Pradesh, 10 from Rajasthan, and 1 from Daman and Diu. According to Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, a significant majority, accounting for 76.7 percent of the candidates, hail from minority, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, and Other Backward Castes backgrounds.
Vaibhav Gehlot's decision to contest from Jalore marks a strategic shift, given his earlier electoral bid from Jodhpur in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This move aligns with his familial connections to the constituency, representing his father's political stronghold.
Ashok Gehlot's absence from the Congress's Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting on Monday raised questions, particularly regarding his decision not to contest in the polls. Sources suggest concerns were voiced during the meeting, prompting inquiries into his electoral plans, especially considering the candidacy of another former Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel.
Citing health concerns, a senior Congress leader attributed Gehlot's decision to refrain from contesting in Jodhpur.
