BJP sets parameters for prospective candidates in MP, Chhattisgarh assembly polls
According to the BJP sources in Delhi, the central leadership of the party has indicated that it will prefer candidates under 45 and those whose loyalty has not been in question.
Hoping to return to power in Madhya Pradesh and wrest Chhattisgarh from arch rival Congress, BJP has decided to give preference to young and loyal party leaders in distribution of tickets in the forthcoming assembly polls in these two states, which are scheduled to be held in November/December this year.
According to the BJP sources in Delhi, the central leadership of the party has indicated that it will prefer candidates under 45 and those whose loyalty has not been in question.
The party has also decided not to field candidates who had lost in the previous assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh by more than ten thousand votes, sources privy to the central leadership’s decision said.
Party sources said that the first list of the candidates for Chhattisgarh and the second list of the candidates for MP polls could be declared after September 25.
Sources cited the upcoming G 20 meeting and the special session of the Parliament beginning from 18 September which would continue till September 22 as the reasons behind the delay in the declaration of the candidates for Chhattisgarh and MP assembly polls.
Sources said that the survey reports from several assembly constituencies were yet to be received and some last minute changes could not be ruled out.
Sources said that the new parameters fixed for the distribution of the tickets included preference to young candidates, denying re-nominations to the sitting MLAs who had been legislators for more than four or five terms and fielding new faces from seats from where the party was certain of winning.
BJP has already been facing dissension in the MP unit after declaration of the first list of nominees and several senior leaders had switched loyalty after being denied tickets.
