In a strategic move, the Congress has nominated Prahlad Gunjal, a former BJP luminary and close confidant of ex-Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, to contest against the incumbent Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla from Kota, Rajasthan.
Gunjal's entry into the Congress fold, finalized just last week, was formally announced as part of the party's sixth candidate list for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The announcement encompassed four contenders for Rajasthan constituencies and one for Tamil Nadu.
Ramchandra Choudhary will represent Ajmer, Sudarshan Rawat in Rajsamand, Damodar Gurjar in Bhilwara, and C Robert Bruce in Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu).
Gunjal's switch to the Congress was marked by his induction in Jaipur, graced by the presence of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra.
A seasoned figure in Rajasthan politics, Gunjal, who previously served as MLA from Kota North twice, brings with him a reputation for vocal leadership. His return to the electoral arena is anticipated to bolster Congress prospects in the Hadoti region.
With this latest announcement, the Congress has now unveiled 190 candidates for the multi-phase Lok Sabha polls set to commence on April 19.
Simultaneously, the party revealed Tharahai Cuthbert as its candidate for the Vilavancode assembly constituency by-election in Tamil Nadu.
Moreover, the Congress opted for a candidate change in the Palin (ST) assembly constituency for the Arunachal Pradesh polls, nominating Tarh Johny in place of Takam Pario.
The rigorous seven-phase Lok Sabha electoral process will kick off on April 19, culminating in the results declaration on June 4.
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