Raipur, October 04
To counter anti-incumbency factor in upcoming assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, the ruling BJP has reportedly made its mindset to drop non-performing ministers/legislators and stake new faces. On the basis of appraisal of performance, surveys and internal assessment done individually by the BJP organization and government, two ministers and 20 MLAs were found incompetent in contesting elections.
The state unit also wants to drop another minister, who is said to have brought ignominy to the party due to his alleged indulgence in several graft cases and misconduct, but might not dare to do so, for the latter’s proximity with CM Raman Singh. With growing dissent against this minister in his constituency, the party hints of changing his seat.
The ruling BJP has 50 MLAs in 90-member Vidhan Sabha while principal opposition Congress has 39 and Bahujan Samaj Party has one. Knowing that the Congress is desperate to regain power in Chhattisgarh this time, the BJP cannot afford to field its vulnerable ministers and sitting MLAs. Hence, it has decided to distribute tickets on three parameters – opinions of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and religious/cultural organizations and vox populi. According to information, the new candidate-selection formula has been framed to deter discontentment in the party.
Sources say the BJP high command has entrusted the decision to finalize tickets to the CM who, instead of cashing in on the popularity of party’s national leaders in the hustings, rather banked on his brand image of ‘rice baba’ to post second consecutive victory in 2008 assembly polls.
Having worked closely with the CM and being au fait with his political acumen, the party’s national joint general secretary (organization) Saudan Singh too has shifted his focus towards another poll-bound state Rajasthan after making necessary election-oriented arrangements from top to bottom in the Chhattisgarh BJP cadre.
The party’s national general secretary and Chhattisgarh incharge Jagat Prakash Nadda has also mentioned in his report to high command that the BJP is strong in state, but some faces needed replacement with newer ones in polls. Nadda submitted this report after holding comprehensive talks with Saudan Singh and the CM. The BJP’s national leadership is said to have given green signal to this proposal. The state unit is likely to announce its poll candidates in the first fortnight of November 2013.
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