6 first-time Lok Sabha candidates to watch out for

Lok Sabha 2019 parliament elections counting is already underway and going by the recent trend, Bharatiya Janata Party and allies -- National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are set to make a come back with same or better than 2014 results.

DH lists some of the high-profile first-time candidates contesting in Lok Sabha Election 2019:

Gautam Gambir: Cricketer Gautam Gambhir, known for his major contribution to India's T20 world cup and 50-overs one-day international world cup finals, has taken a plunge in Lok Sabha 2019 representing as BJP candidate in East Delhi. Prior to the voting, Gambhir and main opposition Aam Aadmi Party member Atishi Marlena were involved in a spat in the media, wherein a vile pamphlet was circulated about the latter. Gambhir dismissed the accusation as false and put the fingers on AAP for making negative publicity.

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur: Hard-core Hindutva leader, Thakur is the most controversial candidate in the Lok Sabha 2019 elections. She is one of the accused in the 2008 Malegaon bombings and currently on bail. She recently made crass remarks on Hemant Karkare, a martyr of 26/11 Mumbai attack and also praised Mahatma Gandhi killer Nathuram Godse as a patriot, which invited nation-wide condemnation including from prime minister Narendra Modi. Thakur is taking on former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh in Bhopal.

Prakash Raj: A vocal critic of Narendra Modi, popular south Indian actor Prakash Raj is contesting in Bengaluru Central seat. Initially, Raj was under the impression of getting support from Congress to take on incumbent PC Mohan (BJP), but it wasn't. The latter has given Rizwan Arshad making it a three-way fight.

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Kanhaiya Kumar: The former president of Jawaharlal Nehru University Student's Union, Kanhaiya Kumar is contesting from Communist Party of India ticket in Begusarai, Bihar. Though a popular figure in media, it's opposite with nationalists over the fiasco in JNU after the Mohammad Afzal Guru (Parliament terrorist convict) hanging.

Sumalatha Ambareesh/ Nikhil Kumaraswamy: Just when Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy was laying the ground for his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy in Mandya, Sumalatha wife of late Kannada actor and veteran Congress Leader Ambaressh surprised everyone by throwing her hat into the fray. Despite the bonhomie between the top leader, there is still animosity between Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) cadres in the ground level. Many are of opinion that Mandya seat may decide the continuation of the coalition JDS-Congress. government.

ALSO READ | Karnataka Lok Sabha Election Results LIVE

Tejasvi Surya: Firebrand youth leader was as surprised, as were the public after BJP picked him over the Tejaswini Ananth Kumar for Bengaluru South ticket. Known for strong nationalistic views and hard-core Modi follower, 28-year old Surya is a Lawyer and the youngest candidate in the Lok Sabha election 2019. He is going head-on with Congress veteran BK Hariprasad.