Fact-check: Viral claim of Congress not nominating candidates for Arunachal elections is false

Guwahati: Social media post with a claim suggesting that the Congress refrained from nominating any candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Arunachal Pradesh due to concerns about upsetting China (sources: here, here & here).

Additionally, it insinuates that Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra avoided entering Arunachal Pradesh for similar reasons.

Fearing China, Congress refrained from nominating any candidates in the forthcoming 2024 elections in Arunachal Pradesh, the posts claimed.

An archived version of a such post can be found here

Contrary to the viral claims, the Congress party has indeed nominated candidates for both assembly and parliamentary constituencies in the upcoming elections in Arunachal Pradesh. Furthermore, according to the Election Commission of India, the Congress has consistently fielded candidates in every parliamentary election since 2004. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.

Arunachal Pradesh is set for simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha elections on April 19, 2024, with 60 assembly and 2 Lok Sabha seats up for grabs. Despite widespread claims suggesting otherwise, the Congress party has indeed put forward its candidates for both assembly and parliamentary constituencies.

According to data available on the Election Commission website, the Congress has nominated candidates for both parliamentary constituencies, and their candidatures have been approved.

The Congress has also fielded candidates in several assembly constituencies. Initially, the party nominated candidates in 34 seats, but after scrutiny, only 19 candidates remained.

The election affidavits of all these contesting candidates are accessible on the Election Commission website. It is noteworthy that despite Arunachal having a 60-member assembly, BJP candidates in 10 seats won unopposed.

Moreover, historical data regarding parliamentary elections in Arunachal Pradesh can be accessed on the Election Commission portal. According to this data, starting from 2004, the Congress party has consistently participated in every election. The affidavits of the candidates nominated by the Congress party are available for viewing here.

Regarding the assertion concerning Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra did enter Arunachal Pradesh earlier this year in January 2024. Visuals related to Rahul’s Arunachal leg of the yatra can be viewed  here and here.

In conclusion, the Congress party has nominated candidates for both assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh for the 2024 elections.

This story is republished from Factly  as part of the Shakti Collective. Read the original story here.