Lok Sabha Results: High Stake Battle In Thiruvananthapuram As BJP's Rajeev Chandrashekhar Takes On Tharoor

Lok Sabha Results: Thiruvananthapuram will witness a high stake battle as BJP's Rajeev Chandrashekhar is in fray against incumbent MP and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor.

Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha Results: Thiruvananthapuram, formerly known as Trivandrum is a major political battleground in the southern state of Kerala. Once a Communist Party camp, this seat has been a Congress bastion since the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, voting was held in Thiruvananthapuram in the second phase on April 26.

The total electorate of Thiruvananthapuram stands at 14,03,281, including 7,27,469 women, 6,75,771 men and 41 transgenders.

Thiruvananthapuram is the most populous city in Kerala and has seen representation from various parties over the decades, showcasing the shifting political landscape of the state.

Traditionally, the political battle in Kerala has been majorly between the INC and the CPI(M). But, recently, there have been increased efforts from the saffron party to gain prominence in the state.

This time the BJP, seeking to make a breakthrough, has pitted Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar against incumbent MP Shashi Tharoor.

According to the Election Commission, a total voter percentage of 66.47 percent was recorded in the polling at the seat, as compared to last election’s 73.45 percent turnout.

The poll body’s voter list for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls stated that 13,34,665 voters cast ballots from the seat in the previous election.

In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Tharoor retained the Thiruvananthapuram seat, defeating the saffron party’s Kummanam Rajasekharan. While Tharoor secured 4,16,131 votes, the BJP candidate secured 3,16,142 votes. With the 2019 victory, Tharoor managed to retain the seat for the third consecutive term.

In the 2014 general elections, Congress’s Shashi Tharoor defeated BJP candidate O Rajagopal and CPI’s Bennet Abraham. 

Thiruvananthapuram is a critical seat as the three-time MP Shashi Tharoor seeks to retain his stronghold for the Congress, whereas the BJP is looking forward to creating inroads in the southern state. 

Interestingly, the exit poll results project a potential shift in the political dynamics in the constituency, with BJP’s Chandrasekhar gaining momentum against MP Tharoor.  

The ABP Cvoter Exit Poll survey indicated that the opposition alliance's I.N.D.I.A bloc will likely secure between 17 to 19 seats, with the NDA projected to attain 1 to 3 seats. The LDF, on the other hand, is not forecasted to win any seats, securing a 33.3 percent voteshare.