BJP may drop several sitting MLAs in MP assembly polls

In an apparent bid to counter the anti-incumbency factor in the forthcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, the ruling BJP is reportedly mulling to deny re-nomination to several sitting legislators.

An indication to this effect was dropped at a meeting of the BJP legislators which was presided over by MP chief minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan at Bhopal on Wednesday night.

Sources said that the BJP had conducted an internal survey in the assembly constituencies of the sitting MLAs to ascertain their chances of re-election in the forthcoming polls. The survey report was also discussed at the meeting.

Chauhan reportedly said in the meeting that the party would re-nominate the sitting MLAs only if their reports were positive. ‘’We will give tickets only to those who have a realistic chance of winning the elections,’’ Chauhan said.

He also asked the MLAs and other senior leaders to reach out to the electorate in their respective areas and apprise them about the various welfare schemes being conducted by the centre and the state government.

Incidentally union home minister Amit Shah had also met the state election in-charge Bhupendra Yadav and co-incharge Ashwini Vaishnav as well as senior state leaders in Bhopal to discuss the election strategy.

Sources said that the BJP planned to kick off its election campaign well in advance and the party also wanted to complete the task of distribution of tickets.

BJP had lost the 2018 assembly polls to Congress but the former returned to power after Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia left the party along with several MLAs and joined the BJP.