Madhya Pradesh BJP likely to drop 40% sitting MPs, veterans vie for safe seats

BHOPAL: While the BJP is contemplating on winning ability of candidates for LS tickets, it is plagued by an internal tussle of fielding locals versus outsiders. After its initial deliberations, BJP has already hinted at changing about 40% of its sitting MPs to beat anti-incumbency and poor performance.

The saffron party also doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to release the name of its candidates.

“BJP will decide on the candidates for LS election only a day ahead of filing the nomination papers to avoid conflicts within the party. The first phase of polling will be on April 29. This time winnability would be the main criteria and the party is in a mood to drop names of more than 40% sitting MPs including those who have not performed well during the last five years,” a senior state BJP functionary told TOI.

BJP veteran Babulal Gaur, joined by a few other local leaders, has also demanded to field local candidates from Bhopal including other prominent constituencies in the Lok Sabha election to check defection and sabotage in the party.

“I had been personally offered a ticket by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Bhopal visit last year when he said, ‘Gaur Saab Ek Baar Aur’ (One more time, Mr Gaur). I am expecting that party would field me from Bhopal seat,” reiterated Gaur. The BJP veteran was joined by former minister Umashankar Gupta who lost the assembly poll from Bhopal South Central seat.

“Gaur ji and I favour of local candidates, but would leave the decision to the party. If offered the seat, I would contest from Bhopal,” Gupta told reporters after a short meeting with Gaur at the latter's official residence, on Tuesday.

Other leaders who have staked a claim from Bhopal include sitting MP Alok Sanjar, Bhopal mayor Alok Sharma and state BJP vice-president Vijesh Lunawat. Two state spokespersons, Deepak Vijayavargiya and Rajneesh Agrawal were also demanding tickets from Vidisha and Sagar respectively.

Former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is eying Vidisha seat from where Union minister Sushma Swaraj has declined to contest.

Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar is finding its difficult in Gwalior and is seeking a ticket from Khajuraho, Vidisha or Bhopal while BJP state president Rakesh Singh will contest from his home constituency in Jabalpur.

Party sources said Rajya Sabha member Prabhat Jha, Union minister Thawar Chand Gehlot and former Union minister Faggan Singh Kulaste and former state BJP chief Nandkumar Singh Chouhan may also be fielded by the party.

Apart from Bharti, all are members of state election committee.

“The national leadership is holding a series of meeting to decide the criteria for ticket.”, BJP national vice-president, Prabhat Jha told TOI.

State BJP office-bearers and senior leaders who are claiming for the tickets include state general secretary, Vishnu Dutt Sharma, former union ministers Satyanarayan Jatia and Vikram Verma, former Rajya Sabha member Raghunandan Sharma, senior leaders Maya Singh, Krishna Murari Moghe, Kailash Vijayavargiya, Jayant Malaiya, state vice-president Vinod Gotia, former MLA Chaudhary Rakesh Singh, state Mahila Morcha president Lata Elkar, Archana Chitnis, sitting MP from Morena Anup Mishra, former MLA from Badnwar, Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, and MLA from Mandsaur , Yashpal Singh Sisodia.

A few dissent notes have already arrived from within the saffron party. "I have not demanded Lok Sabha ticket from the party. The party should come to me with an offer. Senior leaders like Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is already an MLA from Budhni, should not contest or decide on the name of the candidates", said Raghunandan Sharma, on Tuesday.