LS Election results 2019: 10 first-time Lok Sabha candidates to watch out

While who will form the government will be only clear later, these 10 faces will draw attention throughout the polling day

Counting of votes for 542 Lok Sabha constituencies began Thursday morning. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party and Congress fielded several first-time candidates in the elections. While who will form the government will be only clear later in the day, here are 10 famous faces that will draw attention throughout the polling day.
 

1) Atishi Marlena

Atishi

Atishi Marlena is the Aam Aadmi Party candidate from the East Delhi constituency. She is credited with making big changes in Delhi's government schools. Atishi has been in the eye of controversies over the past one year. She faces the Bharatiya Janata Party's Gautam Gambhir in what is being billed as a key battle in the national capital.

2) Pragya Thakur

Sadhvi Pragya

Pragya Thakur, also known as Sadhvi Pragya, is the BJP candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency. She was earlier an accused in the Malegaon blasts. After being acquitted recently, she was given a ticket by the BJP. During the campaign trail, Thakur made a slew of controversial comments  -- the most infamous of which were her remarks on 26/11 martyr Hemant Karkare and Mahatma Gandhi's killer Nathuram Godse.

3) Gautam Gambhir

Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir is the BJP candidate from the East Delhi constituency. His slant towards the ruling party was visible over the last few years. Recently, he was involved in a controversy after AAP candidate Atishi accused him of soiling her name through his henchmen.

4) Kanhaiya Kumar

JNU Students Union former president Kanhaiya Kumar addresses a press conference ahead of Lok Sabha Election 2019, in Patna, Sunday, March 24, 2019 | Photo: PTI

The former Jawaharlal Nehru University candidate is contesting from the Begusarai Lok Sabha constituency against BJP heavyweight Giriraj Singh. Kanhaiya was allegedly involved in the infamous February 2016 protests in JNU premises. Several big names from Bollywood and political activists like Hardik Patel campaigned in his support. 

5) Sunny Deol

Bollywood actor Sunny Deol | Photo: ANI

Sunny Deol is the BJP candidate from the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab. Deol was a Bollywood heartthrob in the 80s and the 90s. He is the elder son of Dharmendra. The Bollywood actor is up against incumbent Member of Parliament Sunil Jakhar. 

6) Nusrat Jahan

Nusrat Jahan, TMC

Nusrat Jahan is one of the most familiar faces of Tollywood -- the Bengali film industry. She is the Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate for the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency. 

7) Mimi Chakraborty 

Mimi chakraborty. Photo: Twitter @mimichakraborty

Mimi Chakraborty is a Bengali film industry actress. She is the All India Trinamool Congress candidate for general elections from Jadavpur Loksabha Constituency. The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) candidatefor the constituency is Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, while the Bharatiya Janata Party ticket was given to Anupam Hazra.

8) Krishna Poonia

Krishna Poonia (right) with Rahul Gandhi. Poonia, a two-time Asiad bronze medal winner, faces Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Photo: Twitter

Krishna Poonia is a former Olympic athlete. The discus thrower has been a Member of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly but this is her first Lok Sabha election. Poonia is fighting Cabinet Minister Rajyavardhan SIngh Rathore for the Jaipur Rural Lok Sabha seat. She is a Padma Shri awardee.

9) Dinesh Lal Yadav (Nirahua)

Niruha, bjp, Dinesh Lal Yadav

Dinesh Lal Yadav, popularly known as Nirahua, is a Bhojpuri actor, singer and film producer. He is contesting against former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav in the Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat on a Bhartiya Janata Party ticket. 

10) Urmila Matondkar

Congress North Mumbai candidate and Bollywood actor Urmila Matondkar waves at party supporters during her election campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, at Kandivali in Mumbai, April 20, 2019. Photo: PTI

Urmila Matondkar is a Bollywood star of the 1990s. She recently joined the Congress and is the party's candidate for the Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency. Veteran BJP leader Gopal Shetty is contesting against her in the seat.