NEW DELHI: Kerala braces for a crucial showdown as the BJP nominates Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar to contest from Thiruvananthapuram, a seat held by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for three consecutive terms. Both leaders, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, express openness to a debate on local concerns.
In a recent press interaction, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “I am prepared to engage in a debate [with Shashi Tharoor] regarding ideas, development, and whose track record stands stronger.This stance of mine has been consistent from the outset.”
Tharoor swiftly accepted the challenge, asserting that voters in the constituency are well aware of who has been avoiding a debate.
Shashi Tharoor accepting the challenge, wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) “Yes, I welcome a debate. But the people of Thiruvananthapuram are aware of who has been evading a debate till now. Let us debate politics and development.”
“Let us debate price hike, unemployment, corruption, communalism, and the BJP’s 10 years of propagating politics of hatred. Let us also discuss about the development of Thiruvananthapuram and the visible progress we have made in last 15 years,” he further added.
The Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, has been witnessing an intense electoral campaign as both parties view it as a matter of prestige. This marks Chandrasekhar’s debut in a Lok Sabha contest, as he currently serves as the minister of state for information technology and skill development and is a sitting member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha.
The selection of the Union minister for the Thiruvananthapuram seat underscores the BJP’s heightened attention toward the southern states, where its electoral success was limited in 2019, securing only 29 out of 129 seats (130 including Puducherry). The majority of these wins, 25 to be precise, were in Karnataka, with the remainder from Telangana. It’s noteworthy that both Karnataka and Telangana are currently governed by the Congress.
Kerala is scheduled to vote for the upcoming Lok Sabha to elect its 20 MPs on April 26, with the results set to be declared on June 4.
In a recent press interaction, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “I am prepared to engage in a debate [with Shashi Tharoor] regarding ideas, development, and whose track record stands stronger.This stance of mine has been consistent from the outset.”
Tharoor swiftly accepted the challenge, asserting that voters in the constituency are well aware of who has been avoiding a debate.
Shashi Tharoor accepting the challenge, wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) “Yes, I welcome a debate. But the people of Thiruvananthapuram are aware of who has been evading a debate till now. Let us debate politics and development.”
“Let us debate price hike, unemployment, corruption, communalism, and the BJP’s 10 years of propagating politics of hatred. Let us also discuss about the development of Thiruvananthapuram and the visible progress we have made in last 15 years,” he further added.
The Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala, has been witnessing an intense electoral campaign as both parties view it as a matter of prestige. This marks Chandrasekhar’s debut in a Lok Sabha contest, as he currently serves as the minister of state for information technology and skill development and is a sitting member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha.
The selection of the Union minister for the Thiruvananthapuram seat underscores the BJP’s heightened attention toward the southern states, where its electoral success was limited in 2019, securing only 29 out of 129 seats (130 including Puducherry). The majority of these wins, 25 to be precise, were in Karnataka, with the remainder from Telangana. It’s noteworthy that both Karnataka and Telangana are currently governed by the Congress.
Kerala is scheduled to vote for the upcoming Lok Sabha to elect its 20 MPs on April 26, with the results set to be declared on June 4.