Congress changes LS candidate from Godda seat, Pradeep Yadav replaces Deepika Pandey

• Congress announces Lok Sabha candidates for Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand
• Pradeep Yadav replaces Deepika Pandey as Congress candidate for Godda seat in Jharkhand
• Yashashwani Sahay to contest from Ranchi, setting up a showdown with BJP's Sanjay Seth

Congress has revealed the names of nine Lok Sabha candidates from Andhra Pradesh and two from Jharkhand. In a significant move, Congress has replaced its candidate for the Godda seat in Jharkhand, opting for Pradeep Yadav over Deepika Pandey.

Previously, the Godda seat saw a contest between BJP's Nishikant Dubey and Mahagama MLA Deepika Pandey Singh. However, with Congress changing its candidate, the contest now pits Nishikant Dubey against Pradeep Yadav.

Pradeep Yadav, who contested from Godda on a JVM ticket in the last Lok Sabha elections, later merged with BJP before joining Congress. With a background as a student leader, Yadav began his political career with the Bharatiya Janata Party before joining the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik). Currently, Yadav serves as the MLA from Poraiyahat.

Yadav boasts previous ministerial experience, having served twice in the state cabinet, notably as the Rural Development Minister under then Chief Minister Babulal Marandi. He also represented the Godda seat as a BJP member in the 13th Lok Sabha.

In addition to the change in Godda, Congress has fielded Yashashwani Sahay from the Ranchi seat, setting up a direct contest with Sanjay Seth of the BJP. The upcoming voting phases in Jharkhand, spanning the fourth to seventh phases, will determine the fate of 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state.