Lok Sabha Polls 2019: From Giriraj Singh to Urmila Matondkar, key contests in Round 4

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Voters in 71 constituencies will use their franchise on April 29 in the fourth phase of the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. Nine states and Union Territories will go for polls in the fourth phase. The states which are going for polls are Maharashtra (17/48 seats), Rajasthan (13/25 seats), Uttar Pradesh (13/80 seats), West Bengal (8/42 seats), Madhya Pradesh (6/29 seats), Odisha (6/21 seats), Bihar (5/40 seats), Jharkhand (3/14 seats) and also the second phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag will take place. Some of the key constituencies in the fourth phase of elections are Mumbai North, Mumbai South and Mumbai North Central in Maharashtra, Jhalawar-Baran, Jodhpur and Barmer in Rajasthan, Kanpur, Unnao and Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh, Kendrapara in Odisha, Begusarai and Samastipur in Bihar, Asansol and Bardhaman-Durgapur in West Bengal, Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh. Several prominent candidates are in the fray in the fourth phase of elections – Priya Dutt, Milind Deora, Urmila Matondkar, Sanjay Nirupam, Poonam Mahajan, Parth Pawar, Gajanan Kirtikar, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Dushyant Singh, Manvendra Singh, Salman Khurshid, Ram Shankar Katheria, Nakul Nath, Baijayant Panda, Giriraj Singh, Moon Moon Sen, Sakshi Maharaj, Upendra Kushwaha, Kanhaiya Kumar, Babul Supriyo, Dimple Yadav, SS Ahluwalia and Sriprakash Jaiswal. Let's see the state-wise key constituencies and prominent candidates in detail. 

Phase 4: April 29 (71 Lok Sabha seats)  

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: List of key contests in fourth phase of voting

Key contests of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 in Maharashtra

1. Nashik (2014 Result: Shiv Sena, Winner: Hemant Godse, Margin: 1,87,336)
2019 candidates: Hemant Godse (Shiv Sena) Vs Sameer Bhujbal (NCP)

In 2014, Shiv Sena's Hemant Godse defeated NCP heavyweight Chhagan Bhujbal by over 1,87,000 votes. The NCP has given its ticket to Bhujbal's nephew Sameer this time to take on Godse. In 2009, Godse lost the battle against Sameer by over 20,000 votes. He was contesting on an MNS ticket at that time. In the last seven elections, the Shiv Sena won the seat in 1996, 1999 and 2014 whereas the Congress represented the seat twice in 1991 and 1998. 

2. Mumbai North (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Gopal Shetty, Margin: 4,46,582)
2019 candidates: Gopal Shetty (BJP) Vs Urmila Matondkar (Congress)

In 2014, BJP's Gopal Shetty defeated senior Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam by a huge margin of over 4,46,000 votes. The Mumbai North seat was considered to be BJP's bastion before Ram Naik's shocking defeat in 2004 at the hands of actor-turned-politician Govinda. Naik represented the seat five times in 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 1999. Nirupam won the seat once in 2009.   

3. Mumbai South (2014 Result: Shiv Sena, Winner: Arvind Sawant, Margin: 1,28,564)
2019 candidates: Milind Deora (Congress) Vs Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena)

Congress leader Milind Deora represented the seat twice in 2004 and 2009 before he lost to Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant in 2014 by over 1,28,000 votes. Milind's father Murli Deora won the seat four times in 1984, 1989, 1991 and 1998. BJP's Jayawantiben Mehta also represented the constituency in 1996 and 1999. Milind is facing Sawant again this time.

4. Mumbai North West (2014 Result: Shiv Sena, Winner: Gajanan Kirtikar, Margin: 1,83,028)
2019 candidates: Sanjay Nirupam (Congress) Vs Gajanan Kirtikar (Shiv Sena)

Shiv Sena's sitting MP Gajanan Kirtikar will be facing Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam in Mumbai North West this time. In 2014, Kirtikar defeated Congress candidate Gurudas Kamat by over 1,83,000 votes. Congress leader Sunil Dutt represented the seat five times in 1984, 1989, 1991, 1999 and 2004. Kamat won it for the Grand Old Party in 2009.

5. Mumbai North Central (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Poonam Mahajan, Margin: 1,86,771)
2019 candidates: Poonam Mahajan (BJP) Vs Priya Dutt (Congress)

BJP's Poonam Mahajan defeated Congress candidate Priya Dutt in 2014 by a big margin of over 1,86,000 votes and won the constituency for the first time. Dutt won the seat in 2009. The Shiv Sena represented the seat thrice in 1989, 1996 and 1999.  

6. Maval (2014 Result: Shiv Sena, Winner: Shrirang Barne, Margin: 1,57,397)
2019 candidates: Shrirang Barne (Shiv Sena) Vs Parth Pawar (NCP)

The Shiv Sena has been winning the seat since 2009 after the delimitation process. In 2014, Sena leader Shrirang Barne defeated PWP candidate Laxman Jagtap by a good margin of over 1,57,000 votes. Barne is facing Ajit Pawar's son Parth this time. In 2009, Gajanan Babar won the seat for Shiv Sena.

Key contests of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 in Rajasthan

1. Jhalawar-Baran (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Dushyant Singh, Margin: 2,81,546)
2019 candidates: Dushyant Singh (BJP) Vs Pramod Sharma (Congress)

In 2014, BJP leader Vasundhara Raje's son Dushyant Singh defeated his rival Pramod Bhaya of Congress by a margin of over 2,80,000 votes. In 2009 also, Dushyant won the seat. Vasundhara represented the Jhalawar seat (before delimitation) five times in a row in 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 1999. The Congress last time won the seat in 1984.  

2. Jodhpur (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Margin: 4,10,051)
2019 candidates: Vaibhav Gehlot (Congress) Vs Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (BJP)

Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav is in the fray from Jodhpur this time against BJP's sitting MP and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Ashok Gehlot won the seat in 1980, 1984, 1991, 1996 and 1998. The BJP also won the seat four times in 1989, 1999, 2004 and 2014. BJP's senior leader Jaswant Singh represented the seat in 1989. In 2014, Shekhawat won the seat with a huge margin of over 4 lakh votes. 

3. Tonk-Sawai Madhopur (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Sukhbir Singh Jaunpuria, Margin: 1,35,506)
2019 candidates: Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria (BJP) Vs Namo Narain Meena (Congress)

Tonk-Sawai Madhopur seat was formed in 2009 after the delimitation process after meging Tonk and Sawai Madhopur seats. In 2014, BJP's Sukhbir Singh Jaunapuria defeated Congress candidate Mohammed Azharuddin by a margin of over 1,35,000 votes. In 2009, the seat was won by Congress leader Namo Narain Meena. The BJP represented the Tonk Lok Sabha seat five times in 1991, 1996, 1999, 2001 (bypoll) and 2004. The Congress won it in 1998.   

4. Barmer (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Col. Sona Ram, Margin: 87,461)
2019 candidates: Manvendra Singh (Congress) Vs Kailash Choudhary (BJP)

In 2014, Congress leader Sona Ram left the party and joined the BJP. He defeated veteran Jaswant Singh, who was denied ticket by the BJP, by over 87,000 votes. Sona Ram represented the seat as a Congress candidate in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Jaswant Singh's son represented the seat once in 2004 as a BJP nominee but now contesting the elections against BJP's Kailash Choudhary. 

5. Udaipur (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Arjunlal Meena, Margin: 2,36,762)
2019 candidates: Arjunlal Meena (BJP) Vs Raghuveer Meena (Congress)

In the last eight elections, the BJP and the Congress won the Udaipur Lok Sabha seats four times each. The BJP won it in 1989, 1998, 2004 and 2014 whereas the Congress represented it in 1991, 1996, 1999 and 2009. Congress leader Girija Vyas won the seat thrice. In 2014, BJP's Arjunlal Meena won the seat with a good margin of over 2,35,000 votes by defeating Congress candidate Raghuvir Singh.

Key contests of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 in Uttar Pradesh

1. Kanpur (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Murli Manohar Joshi, Margin: 2,22,946)
2019 candidates: Satyadev Pachauri (BJP) Vs Sriprakash Jaiswal (Congress) Vs Ram Kumar (SP)

In the last seven elections, the BJP won the seat four times in 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2014 whereas the Congress represented the constituency three times in 1999, 2004 and 2009. Congress leader and former Union minister Sriprakash Jaiswal won it thrice before he lost it at the hands of BJP's Murli Manohar Joshi in 2014. BJP's Jagat Vir Singh Drona also represented the seat thrice. The BJP has denied Joshi a ticket this time and chose Satyadev Pachauri as its nominee.

2. Kannauj (2014 Result: SP, Winner: Dimple Yadav, Margin: 19,907)
2019 candidates: Subrat Pathak (BJP) Vs Dimple Yadav (SP)

Dimple Yadav won the seat for the first time in a 2012 bypoll after her husband and then sitting MP Akhilesh Yadav became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh represented the seat thrice in 2000 (bypoll), 2004 and 2009. His father Mulayam won the seat in 1999. In 2014, Dimple was able to win the seat with a low margin of over 19,000 votes. BJP's Subrat Pathak, who gave her the close fight in 2014, is contesting against her. 

3. Unnao (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Sakshi Maharaj, Margin: 3,10,173)
2019 candidates: Sakshi Maharaj (BJP) Vs Annu Tandon (Congress) Vs Arun Shankar Shukla (SP)

BJP's Sakshi Maharaj will be up against Congress candidate Annu Tandon again this time. In 2014, Sakshi Maharaj defeated SP candidate Arun Shankar Shukla by over 3 lakh votes and Annu Tandon came at the fourth spot. In 2009, Tandon represented the seat. BJP's Devi Bux Singh won the seat thrice in 1991, 1996 and 1998. 

4. Etawah (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Ashok Kumar Doharey, Margin: 1,72,946)
2019 candidates: Ram Shankar Katheria (BJP) Vs Ashok Kumar Doharey (Congress) Vs Kamlesh Katheria (SP)

In 2014, BJP's Ashok Kumar Doharey won the seat by over 1,70,000 votes but the party has denied him a ticket this time and he is now a Congress nominee. He will be taking on BJP's Ram Shankar Katheria, who has been shifted to Etawah from Agra. In the last seven elections, the SP won the seat four times in 1996, 1999, 2004 and 2009 whereas the BJP represented the constituency twice in 1998 and 2014. BSP leader Kanshi Ram won the seat once in 1991.

5. Farrukhabad (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Mukesh Rajput, Margin: 1,50,502)
2019 candidates: Mukesh Rajput (BJP) Vs Salman Khurshid (Congress) Vs Manoj Agarwal (BSP)

BJP's Mukesh Rajput won the seat in 2014 by over 1,50,000 votes. Congress leader and former Union minister Salman Khurshid lost his deposit and came at the fourth spot. Rajput is again contesting on a BJP ticket this time and is facing Khurshid and BSP's Manoj Agarwal. Khurshid represented the seat twice in 1991 and 2009 whereas BJP's Sakshi Maharaj also won the seat twice in 1996 and 1998.

Key contests of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 in West Bengal

1. Asansol (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Babul Supriyo, Margin: 70,480)
2019 candidates: Babul Supriyo (BJP) Vs Biswarup Mondal (Congress) Vs Moon Moon Sen (Trinamool) Vs Gouranga Chatterjee (CPM)

The BJP breached the Left bastion of Asansol in 2014 for the first time. Singer-turned-politician Babul Supriyo defeated Trinamool candidate Dola Sen by over 70,000 votes in 2014. Supriyo is taking on Trinamool's Moon Moon Sen and CPM's Gouranga Chatterjee this time. Before 2014. the CPM won the seat eight times in a row in 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005 (bypoll) and 2009.

2. Bardhaman-Durgapur (2014 Result: Trinamool, Winner: Mamtaz Sanghamita, Margin: 1,07,331)
2019 candidates: SS Ahluwalia (BJP) Vs Abhas Roy Chowdhury (CPM) Vs Mamtaz Sanghamita (Trinamool) Vs Ranajit Mukherjee (Congress)

BJP leader and Union Minister SS Ahluwalia was shifted from his Darjeeling seat to Bardhaman-Durgapur this time. He is contesting against Trinamool's sitting MP Mamtaz Sanghamita and CPM's Abhas Roy Chowdhury. In 2009, CPM's Saidul Haque represented the constituency.

3. Baharampur (2014 Result: Congress, Winner: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Margin: 3,56,567)
2019 candidates: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury (Congress) Vs Krishna Juardar Arya (BJP) Vs Apurba Sarkar (Trinamool) Vs Id Mohammad (RSP)

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury won the seat four times in a row in 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. In 2014, he won the seat with a massive margin of over 3,50,000 votes. Earlier, the RSP represented the constituency five times in 1989, 1991, 1994 (bypoll), 1996 and 1998. Chowdhury is facing BJP's Krishna Juardar Arya and Trinamool's Apurba Sarkar this time.

Key contests of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 in Madhya Pradesh

1. Chhindwara (2014 Result: Congress, Winner: Kamal Nath, Margin: 1,16,537)
2019 candidates: Nakul Nath (Congress) Vs Natthan Shah (BJP)

Chhindwara has been a Kamal Nath bastion than the Congress. Kamal Nath represented the seat nine times in 1980, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. His wife Alka Nath won the seat in 1996 but later left it for Nath to contest. In a 1997 bypoll, BJP's Sunder Lal Patwa defeated Nath by over 37,000 votes. Nath's son Nakul Nath is in the fray this time from the constituency.

2. Jabalpur (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Rakesh Singh, Margin: 2,08,639)
2019 candidates: Vivek Tankha (Congress) Vs Rakesh Singh (BJP)

The BJP has been winning the Jabalpur seat since 1996. In 2014, party's Rakesh Singh won the seat for the third consecutive time with an impressive margin of over 2 lakh votes when he defeated Congress candidate Vivek Tankha. Both Singh and Tankha are again in the fray. The Congress last time won the seat in 1991. Baburao Paranjpe represented the seat four times in 1980, 1989, 1996 and 1998.

Key contests of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 in Odisha

1. Kendrapara (2014 Result: BJD, Winner: Baijayant Panda, Margin: 2,09,300)
2019 candidates: Baijayant Panda (BJP) Vs Dharanidhar Nayak (Congress) Vs Anubhav Mohanty (BJD)

Former BJD leader Baijayant Panda has joined BJP and is locked in a close contest with BJD's Anubhav Mohanty and Congress candidate Dharanidhar Nayak. In 2014, Panda won the Kendrapara seat by a good margin of over 2 lakh votes on a BJD ticket. He won the seat in 2009 also. The BJD won the seat five times in 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014. The Congress won the seat only once in 1952 whereas the BJP never represented the constituency.

Key contests of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections Phase 4 in Bihar

1. Begusarai (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Bhola Singh, Margin: 58,335)
2019 candidates: Giriraj Singh (BJP) Vs Tanveer Hassan (RJD) Vs Kanhaiya Kumar (CPI)

BJP's Giriraj Singh has been pitted against RJD's Tanveer Hassan and CPI's Kanhaiya Kumar this time. Singh was shifted from his Nawada constituency to try his luck in the new territory. In 2014, BJP's Bhola Singh won the seat by over 58,000 votes. The Janata Dal United represented the seat twice in 2004 and 2009.

2. Ujiarpur (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Nityanand Rai, Margin: 60,469)
2019 candidates: Nityanand Rai (BJP) Vs Upendra Kushwaha (RLSP)

BJP's state chief Nityanand Rai is taking on RLSP's Upendra Kushwaha in Ujiarpur. In 2014, Rai won the seat by defeating RJD's Alok Kumar Mehta. In 2009, the seat was represented by a JDU candidate. Kushwaha was with the NDA in 2014 and is contesting from Karakat also apart from Ujiarpur.

3. Darbhanga (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: Kirti Azad, Margin: 35,043)
2019 candidates: Gopal Ji Thakur (BJP) Vs Abdul Bari Siddiqui (RJD)

Darbhanga will see an interesting contest between BJP's Gopal Ji Thakur and RJD's Abdul Bari Siddiqui this time. Kirti Azad, who won the seat as BJP candidate in 2014, left the saffron camp and joined the Congress. However, he was denied ticket and forced to contest elections from Jharkhand's Dhanbad. Azad won the seat in 1999 and 2009 also. MAA Fatmi represented the constituency four times in 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2004.