* Direct Energie shares jump to level of offer (Adds analyst comment, background on peers): PARIS (Reuters) - Oil company Total (TOTF.PA) said it will buy a majority stake in French electricity retailer Direct Energie (DIREN.PA) in a 1.4 billion euro ($1.73 billion) deal that beefs up its challenge to state-owned market leader EDF (EDF.PA). The deal is part of Total’s strategy to grow its low-carbon energy assets to 20 percent of total assets by 2035 from 5 percent today and comes as other global oil and gas majors also shift to more renewable energy and electricity.