Election 2023: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Central Election Committee is set to convene in New Delhi on September 30th and October 1st for a crucial meeting. The focus of the meeting will be the selection of candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President JP Nadda, and Home Minister Amit Shah are among the key members who will participate in the deliberations.
In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP has already announced candidates for 79 constituencies, leaving the remaining 151 seats up for discussion. Sources suggest that the party may consider fielding additional MPs in Madhya Pradesh to strengthen their position. Similar discussions are expected to take place for Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, where several MPs may be fielded in the assembly elections.
It’s worth noting that the final candidate list will only be released after the Pitru Paksha period, a time of ancestral worship observed in Hindu culture. This tradition is being followed not only by the BJP but also by the Congress party.
Before this meeting, the BJP’s Central Election Committee had met on September 13th to discuss the elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also present at the meeting. The BJP had released its first list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh on August 17th, comprising 39 names. Subsequently, on September 25th, the party released a second list of 39 candidates for the state, including Cabinet Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Prahlad Patel as candidates for Damoh and Narsinghpur constituencies, respectively. Faggan Singh Kulaste was nominated for the Niwas assembly seat.
The decision on ticket distribution is crucial as reports suggest that the BJP’s central leadership is concerned about the performance of nearly 60 incumbent MLAs based on surveys. Consequently, the party may deny tickets to some of these MLAs. Additionally, the BJP is considering withholding tickets for three senior ministers and focusing on bringing new, young faces into the assembly elections.
The selection criteria for candidates will also take into account allegations of corruption against several ministers within the party. These allegations have tarnished the image of both the party and the government in the eyes of the public. The BJP is wary that if these ministers are fielded in the assembly elections, it could lead to significant losses for the party.
Notably, the supporters of Jyotiraditya Scindia, a senior leader in the party, are protesting against the performance and activities of around a dozen ministers close to him. This unrest has resulted in continuous complaints being lodged with the party’s high command, which is taking the matter seriously. The discontent among Scindia-backed ministers could be a significant factor in ticket distribution.
In light of these developments, the BJP is taking a cautious approach towards the upcoming elections. The party is making efforts to bring in new and younger candidates to rejuvenate its image and appeal to the youth demographic, which constitutes a substantial portion of India’s population.
As the election season approaches, it remains to be seen how the BJP’s candidate selection process will unfold and how it will impact the party’s prospects in the states heading to the polls.
Key Takeaways
- The BJP’s Central Election Committee is set to meet to decide on candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President JP Nadda, and Home Minister Amit Shah will be part of the deliberations.
- Ticket distribution will be finalized after the conclusion of the Pitru Paksha period.
- Reports suggest that nearly 60 incumbent MLAs face uncertain prospects due to their performance.
- The BJP is considering fielding new and younger candidates to appeal to the youth demographic.
- Dissatisfaction among supporters of Jyotiraditya Scindia could impact ticket distribution.