As the political drumbeats for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections grow louder, the BJP has revealed its initial list of 195 candidates. Among them are 34 ministers from both the central and state governments, with significant representation from women and marginalized communities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek re-election from his Varanasi constituency for the third consecutive time, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Other prominent candidates include Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow and Smriti Irani from Amethi, where she previously defeated Rahul Gandhi. Surprises abound in the list, with former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan contesting from Vidisha, and notable figures like Anil Antony, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Sukanta Majumdar entering the fray from various constituencies across states like Kerala, Assam, and West Bengal. In a strategic move, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has joined the NDA fold after discussions with HM Shah and BJP president JP Nadda, strengthening the alliance's position in Western Uttar Pradesh. However, the BJP faced a setback in West Bengal as Bhojpuri star singer Pawan Singh withdrew from the Asansol constituency, citing personal reasons amid social media attacks from TMC members. As the political landscape heats up, all eyes are on the remaining seats where the BJP is expected to form alliances with regional parties in states like Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and possibly Odisha.