BJP 1st list for UP likely today
The central election committee (CEC) of the BJP is expected to meet on December 13 to finalise names of candidates for the poll-bound states, including Uttar Pradesh. The party is also likely to release the first list of candidates for the UP polls on Tuesday.
The CEC, headed by party chief Nitin Gadkari, is expected to finalise around 200 names of candidates for the UP polls. The names of candidates for other poll-bound states are also expected to be finalised on Tuesday. The party is also trying to resolve the seat-sharing formula with its ally Janata Dal (United), which is demanding 53 seats. However, the BJP is reluctant to give more than 22.
While the BJP has 48 members in the current state Assembly, the JD(U) has none. Polls for the 403-strong UP Assembly are scheduled early next month.
Sources disclosed the BJP has asked its senior leaders, including Ms Uma Bharti, Rajya Sabha member Kalraj Mishra and state unit chief Surya Pratap Shahi, to contest the polls. Ms Bharti is expected to contest from the Bundelkhand region. Sources disclosed that the first list is unlikely to have names of prominent leaders. Even though the BJP had finalised the panel some time back, it had to delay the first list of names to adjust the caste combination of its candidates to that of rival parties.
The party’s internal surveys have shown significant increase in its numbers as compared to the last Assembly polls.
The party is also expected to officially launch its election campaign in the state from December 25, the birthday of party patriarch and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
Corruption and the deteriorating law and order situation in the state are the main poll planks of the BJP.
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