Lok Sabha polls 2024: BJP fields Ujjwal Nikam, 26/11 prosecutor, from Mumbai North Central

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded former special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam from the Mumbai North Central constituency in the Lok Sabha Election 2024. Nikam was the public prosecutor in the Mumbai 26/11 terror attacks. He will fight the Indian National Congress (INC) party's candidate Varsha Gaikwad.

With the announcement of Nikam's name, the BJP has replaced Poonam Mahajan, who is the current MP from this seat, as the party's candidate. Two-time MP Mahajan won the seat in 2014 and 2019 defeating Congress's Priya Dutt, who was the MP from 2009 to 2014.

Notably, Nikam, whowas awarded the Padma Shri in 2016,is one of the most popular government lawyers in India. He represented the government side in high-profile cases such as terrorist Ajmal Kasab, 1993 bomb blasts, Gulshan Kumar murder case and also Pramod Mahajan murder case, andthe2013 Mumbai gang rape case.

Voting in the Indian city of Mumbai is scheduled for May 20 in the fifth phase of the elections.

#LokSabhaElections2024 | BJP fields Special Public Prosecutor during 26/11 Mumbai Terror attack case, Ujjwal Nikam as its candidate from Mumbai North Central.

BJP's Poonam Mahajan is the sitting MP from the constituency. pic.twitter.com/0FbzDxDpQ6 — ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2024

The BJP also named eight more candidates for the Odisha assembly polls, which will be held alongside the general elections.

(With inputs from agencies)