Madhya Pradesh: BJP to announce first list of Lok Sabha candidates after Holi

BHOPAL: The state BJP on Tuesday forwarded the panel of names for 29 Lok Sabha seats to the central election committee , which is likely to discuss and finalise the candidates during a meeting on March 22. Party leaders said that the committee will first clear seats with single name, while the entire list the candidates is likely to be declared after Holi.

"The election management committee discussed some names in the meeting today. The committee has formed panels of names which will be forwarded to the CEC in New Delhi for further discussion and decision", said state BJP president Rakesh Singh.

Earlier in the morning, the state BJP held an important election committee meeting to discuss the list of probable candidates for Lok Sabha elections . The meet was attended by Rakesh Singh, national general secretary Anil Jain, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Lok Sabha coordinator Swatantra Dev Singh, co-coordinator Satish Upadhyay, state in-charge Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Union ministers Thawar Chand Gahlot, Narendra Singh Tomar and Rajya Sabha member Prabhat Jha among others.

The committee has prepared a tentative list of probable names to be discussed at the CEC. Former CM Chouhan said that the CEC meeting likely to be held on March 22 will finalise the names. "We are hopeful that CEC would declare the first list of names after March 22. A meeting of the committee is being held in New Delhi on March 22", said Chouhan.

According to reports, the state committee has urged the national leadership to declare single names to mobilise the party workers and speed up the poll campaign. During the meeting, ticket-seekers from several Lok Sabha seats had approached the party leadership to stake their claim.

Sources in BJP disclosed that the state committee has included names of daughter and son of some leaders on winnability grounds. However, no decision to confirm a party ticket to them has been taken. "I have staked my claim from Balaghat. My name had also appeared in the panel during previous Lok Sabha election. I am hopeful to get a ticket this time", said Mausam Bisen, daughter of former minister Gaurishankar Bisen.

"I am seeking ticket from Damoh. The party leaders have encouraged young candidates and I am working for the party for the last 14 years. I would withdraw if the party says no to the sons and daughters of senior leaders", said Abhishek Bhargava, son of leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava who met the election committee members on Tuesday.

After a three-hour discussion, party leaders revealed that all BJP workers have the right to stake their claim for a ticket. The party national leadership will take a final decision. "We are hopeful to win all 29 seats in this election on the basis of welfare work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The final decision on tickets to senior leaders will be taken by the CEC. After the ticket distribution, the campaign plan of Modi and BJP president Amit Shah will be chalked out", said committee convener Narendra Singh Tomar.

Sources disclosed that the meeting also discussed names to be fielded from tough seats like Chhindwara, Guna and Jhabua where Congress leaders emerged victorious during previous elections. Party state president along with senior leaders have reached New Delhi with the list.