NEW DELHI: The Central Election Committee of the BJP went into a huddle on Thursday to finalise the candidates for the Madhya Pradesh elections, even as the party is learnt to have given more time to Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje to submit multiple names for as many as 150 Assembly seats. The BJP is likely to release the first list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh on Friday.
The party is seeking a fourth straight mandate in the state, where it had won the Assembly elections in 2013 with more than two-thirds majority.
Sources said that the BJP Central Election Committee has cleared about names of about 150 candidates for the central state, which would be announced in a phased manner, beginning Friday. PM Narendra Modi, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other office bearers went into a huddle on Thursday in the meeting presided over by BJP chief Amit Shah. There are indications that the BJP would be denying a significantly large number of sitting MLAs opportunities to contest elections.
The Central Election Committee was slated to consider the list of candidates for both Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. However, the BJP president is said to have given more time to the Rajasthan unit to submit multiple names against at least 150 Assembly seats.
Raje camped in the National Capital on Wednesday to defend the sitting BJP legislators, who are likely to be axed by the Central Election Committee in favour of fresh faces.The BJP Central Election Committee may again meet on November 9 to consider the list of candidates for Rajasthan.
Shah, who has seemingly taken control of the Rajasthan campaign, besides entrusting his trusted lieutenants in Madhya Pradesh, is apparently not solely banking on the two chief ministers for the crucial elections.
BJP slams Naidu for meeting opposition leaders
The BJP took a dig at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over his meetings with several opposition leaders here, saying he was indulging in “political tourism”.
Naidu is diverting attention from Andhra Pradesh where he is facing imminent defeat in state and parliamentary elections, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.
“He comes to Delhi for political tourism and photo session.” Hussain said.