BJP CEC meeting: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) conducted a meeting of its Central Election Committee (CEC) at the party headquarters in the national capital today (August 16) as part of preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections to five states later this year.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with all the 15 CEC members.
According to sources, the CEC discussed preparations in poll-bound Chhattisgarh and discussed some seats. Of 90 seats, the CEC discussed the panel of candidates on 27 seats, the sources said, adding that the party has categorised seats into four categories - A, B, C, D – for better planning in its electoral effort.
BJP is gearing up its preparations for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram polls. Sources said that there will be deliberations on strengthening the party in the weak seats. The meeting is also likely to discuss the selection of candidates and campaign strategy. The party has prepared a list of seats that it perceives need more focus.
While ‘A’ category seats are those which BJP has won every time in the past polls, ‘B’ category has seats the party has had mixed results in terms of win and loss, the sources said. The ‘C’ category has seats where BJP is weak while the ‘D’ category comprises those constituencies which BJP has never won, they said. The discussion on Tuesday was held on 22 seats in the ‘B’ and ‘C’ categories and five in the ‘D’, sources added.
Sources added the state leadership also gave feedback on the work being done at the grassroots including on reaching out to people about the welfare schemes of BJP-led central government.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and state BJP chief VD Sharma, along with Chhattisgarh BJP chief Arun Sao and other party leaders from these two states associated with election campaigns also attended the CEC meeting.
Five states – Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram - will go to the polls by the end of this year. BJP is in power in Madhya Pradesh. Sources said that discussions were mainly focused on weak seats and the meeting also discussed campaign strategy.
They said the state leadership gave feedback on the work being done at the grassroots including on reaching out to people about the welfare schemes of BJP-led central government.However, sources said that during the CEC meeting, there was a brainstorm over the seats on which the party is in a weaker position in these two states. Sources added that the party wants to finalise the names of candidates for these vulnerable seats in advance.
(With agencies inputs)
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