BHUBANESWAR: The State BJP on Tuesday started the process of consultation with the district functionaries of the party for selection of candidates for the ensuing panchayat elections commencing from February 13, 2017.
Presidents and pravaris (organisation in-charge) of the district units have been advised to send a list of candidates for Zilla Parishad seats of respective organisational districts to State president Basanta Panda within a week.
Winnability will be the primary criterion during selection of candidates, BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said.
A meeting, chaired by Panda, held discussions with presidents and pravaris of over 10 organisational districts here. The organisational districts have been asked to send names of at least four senior party members for consultation during selection of candidates.
District presidents of the party have been given complete autonomy for selection of candidates for panchayats and panchayat samitis. They have been advised to devise mechanism for selection of candidates in a transparent manner.
The meeting, attended by national general secretary Arun Singh and national joint general secretary (organisation) Soudan Singh, Leader of BJP Legislature Party KV Singhdeo, organisational secretary Sarada Satpathy and State functionaries also discussed poll strategies to be adopted by the party.
The meeting decided to highlight the failures of the State Government in providing basic amenities to people to counter the BJD.