BJP Intensifies Preparations For Upcoming Assembly Polls: Focus On 'Weak' Seats In MP, Chhattisgarh

In preparation for the upcoming Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) held a review meeting on Wednesday (16 August).

The meeting particularly focused on seats where the BJP is vulnerable or where the opposition Congress is stronger.

This early meeting of the crucial committee of the BJP also signalled the party leadership's intention to actively strategise for these polls.

The CEC meeting was attended by Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, and chaired by BJP president J P Nadda.

State in-charges, including Union Ministers Bhupendra Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Mansukh Mandaviya, as well as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Madhya Pradesh BJP chief V D Sharma, and former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh, were also present.

Usually, the CEC meets only after the poll dates are announced.

However, the decision to hold the meeting early highlights the significance the party has attached to the upcoming Assembly elections of the five states - Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram.

Similar meetings are scheduled for other States that have been left out of this round.

These elections are particularly important for the party as they are the last round of Assembly polls before the Lok Sabha elections next year.

During the meeting, the BJP reportedly graded seats based on past electoral record and the strength of the party organisation in each constituency.

“For example, an ‘A’ category seat is where the party [BJP] has been winning consistently, ‘B’ category seats are those that have been lost once or twice in the past, ‘C’ category seats are those where the party has lost more than twice and ‘D’ category seats are those never won by the BJP,” a senior party leader was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

For Chhattisgarh, the BJP has established a panel to assess candidates for 27 seats, with 22 falling under the 'C' category and 5 belonging to the 'D' category.