BJP on March 30, 2024, announced its candidates for 6 constituencies who will be fighting the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in Punjab. BJP's Punjab candidates list for Lok Sabha Elections included Sushil Rinku, Hans Raj Hans, Preneet Kaur, etc. It is expected that BJP may release its remaining 7 candidates in the next list. Punjab has a total of 13 Lok Sabha seats. However, what was surprising is that the BJP did not reveal the name of the candidate from Hoshiarpur who will fight the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. For the unversed, veteran leader Som Prakash is an MP from Hoshairpur and is also the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India. The non-inclusion of Som Prakash's name in BJP's list of candidates for the Punjab Lok Sabha Elections 2024 hints that the saffron party is still mulling over the name of the candidate.
As per sources in the known development, the BJP may not choose Som Prakash to fight from the Hoshairpur Constituency. Sources informed that the BJP is mulling over two new names. One of them is an Ex-DGP and another one is a former Congress leader. Another factor that the BJP is looking into is Som Prakash's age. The Union Minister is almost 75 years old and the BJP may hand over the party ticket to either of the two candidates who are younger than him.
The former Congress leader is from Delhi and is said to have a close relationship with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. It is said that AAP was also mulling to field him from their party, however, he is more likely to fight the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 on BJP's ticket. The leader from Delhi is quite frequent in Punjab politics and the issues of the state.
The other reason why the BJP is mulling to change the candidate is because the saffron party is thinking about the long term. Out of 9 Vidhan Sabha constituencies, BJP has a strong footprint in 5. However, the saffron party wants to field a candidate who has influence in more than 5 constituencies of Punjab.