BJP candidate and actor-politician Suresh Gopi is ahead by nearly 16,000 votes as per early trends at 10 am

Actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Kangana Ranaut is leading in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi constituency in her debut election. She is facing off against Congress heavyweight and Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh. Ranaut, known for her outspoken nature and controversial statements, is currently leading by 36,199 votes. She has so far received 2,60,289 votes.

Mandi, one of four Lok Sabha seats in Himachal Pradesh, comprises 17 Assembly segments. Traditionally a Congress stronghold, the seat was won by the BJP’s Ram Swaroop Sharma in the 2019 election with 68.75% of the votes.

In Haryana, Congress leader and actor Raj Babbar is leading in the Gurgaon (General) Lok Sabha constituency. There are 23 candidates contesting from this seat in the 2024 Parliamentary polls.

In Kerala’s Thrissur constituency, BJP candidate and actor-politician Suresh Gopi is ahead by nearly 16,000 votes as per early trends at 10 am, indicating the saffron party’s growing voter base. This result is a setback for the CPI’s VS Sunil Kumar, as initial EVM counts were from Left strongholds.

Thrissur, a Congress bastion, is dominated by the Hindu community with about 45% vote share and a sizeable Christian voter base estimated at around 30-35%. Gopi finished third in 2019, but received an impressive 2.93 lakh votes. Now, the BJP is betting on his popularity, Hindu votes, and efforts to woo the Christian community, which forms around 21% of the electorate. The BJP has never won a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala.

In Uttar Pradesh, BJP candidate and “Laapataa Ladies” actor Ravi Kishan has improved his lead in the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency, leading by 8,090 votes against Samajwadi Party candidate Kajal Nishad.

Arun Govil, renowned for his portrayal of Lord Ram in the popular TV serial Ramayan, is leading from Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut constituency. Govil, 72, joined the BJP on March 18, 2021, and this election marks his debut in electoral politics.

In Mathura, Bollywood star and sitting BJP MP Hema Malini is leading by 20,706 votes, having polled 32,818 votes so far, according to ECI data.

Malayalam actor and CPIM candidate Mukesh is also leading in the Kollam Lok Sabha constituency, as per Asianet News.

In Andhra Pradesh, Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief and Telugu star Pawan Kalyan, popularly known as “Power Star,” is leading in the Pithapuram Assembly constituency by a margin of 13,494 votes.

While most celebrities contesting in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 are maintaining leads, All India Trinamool Congress’ (TMC) Shatrughan Sinha is trailing in Asansol, West Bengal. BJP candidate Surinderjeet Singh Ahluwalia is leading here by 4,887 votes. Sitting MP Sinha has so far polled 47,310 votes in Asansol.

Bhojpuri stars Pawan Singh (Karakat) and Nirahua (Azamgarh) are also trailing in their constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. Reports suggest that Pawan Singh is behind 3,280 votes and Nirahua is trailing by 6,294 votes.