BJP fields Geeta Koda from Singhbhum, no ticket for Jayant Sinha in Jharkhand

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released the first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The list included names of 11 candidates who would contest from Jharkhand, which has 14 Lok Sabha constituencies.
For the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the party has fielded Union minister for Tribal affairs Arjun Munda from Kunti, which is considered a BJP bastion.
MP Nishikant Dubey, who has been fiercely vocal against the Congress party and TMC in Parliament, will be contesting from his stronghold Godda.
BJP has dropped MP Jayant Sinha, son of Ex-BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, from Hazaribagh and has decided to field Manish Jaiswal.
Earlier in the day, Jayant Sinha said he had requested BJP chief JP Nadda to relieve him of direct electoral duties.
"I have requested Hon’ble party president Shri JP Nadda ji to relieve me of my direct electoral duties so that I can focus my efforts on combating global climate change in Bharat and around the world. Of course, I will continue to work with the party on economic and governance issues," Sinha wrote on X (formally Twitter).

BJP has also given a Lok Sabha ticket to new entrant and ex-Congress leader Geeta Koda from Singhbhum. Geeta Koda is the wife of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda.
Tala Marandi, Sunil Soren, and Annapurna Devi will be fighting from Rajmahal, Dumka and Kodarma respectively. Sanjay Seth from Ranchi and Vidhyut Baran Mahato from Jamshedpur have retained their tickets.
Samir Oraon, Vishnu Dayal Ram and Manish Jaiswal will be contesting from Lohardaga, Palamau and Hazaribagh.

The BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) met on Thursday night as its members, including PM Modi, held deliberations to finalise the first list for the Lok Sabha polls, which are expected to be held in April-May.