by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
At least 20% sitting MLAs may lose tickets
BJP's internal surveys wants purging of non-performers
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Sep 27
At least 20 to 30 per cent of the sitting MLAs in Maharashtra and Haryana may be shown the door by the ruling BJP in both the states. Of the sitting 122 MLAs who won on the BJP ticket in 2014, at least 22-25 may not be renominated. It transpires that the BJP's three internal surveys conducted during the past one year has concluded that new faces need to be to be brought to the fore. The party leadership at the Central level feels that in 2014 the situation was different as there was no alliance with the Shiv Sena and it had to make a lot of compromises and give tickets to certain leaders whom the party was disinclined to field. But it buckled under the pressure of various senior leaders. But times have changed and cleansing of the BJP itself is required. Secondly, the BJP's state incharge and party general secretary Bhupendra Yadav is a tough and thorough person. He would like the BJP to win almost every seat it contests. BJP president Amit Shah has also firmly told the state leaders that party should be in a position to win 150 out of 162 seats it is likely to contest. Though BJP is likely to contest 144 seats, it wants smaller parties to contest on its symbol. “Otherwise, they are free to take a walk,” said a senior BJP functionary.
Secondly, three surveys were done by different agencies and one was conducted internally directly under the watch of Bhupendra Yadav. It is felt that some outstanding personalities who have done well in fields other than politics be fielded. Its time that the BJP should draw talent from outside the political arena. Thirdly; the BJP has admitted a large number of leaders from other parties and some of them have to be accommodated and fielded during the Assembly polls to send the signal to those who are waiting in the wings. If sources are to be believed, at least 20 sitting MLAs may lose the tickets.
The situation in Haryana is no different where the party is going it alone for the 90-member Assembly. It has 47 MLAs who won on its symbol in October 2014. Now the Opposition is completely divided and fragmented unlike Maharashtra. Therefore, the BJP wants to deny ticket to at least 15 sitting MLAs based on the internal assessment and surveys.
The list will be declared after the BJP's Parliamentary board meeting on September 29 when the Prime Minister returns from his week long foreign tour.
Ends
