The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is seeking a hat-trick in the upcoming general elections, is expected to announce the names of candidates for 150-160 seats by January-end in a bid to consolidate votes. The party’s Central Election Committee, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, could meet later this month to clear the first list for the Lok Sabha polls, reports The Indian Express, citing sources.
The party will convene a meeting of its National Council, one of the highest bodies in the BJP’s organisational structure, in mid-February to lay out final guidelines for its leaders from across the country. The party’s central leadership has also decided to lessen the number of the current batch of Lok Sabha MPs, although it seeks to eye the maximum number of seats in Lok Sabha elections 2024.
The National Council meet which is scheduled to be held in Delhi is likely to see the participation of 7,000 invitees, including those at the Zilla Parishad level. The central leadership is likely to start sending out invites by the last week of January.
The party is unlikely to give tickets to candidates who are above the age of 70 unless they are “unavoidable”, sources told IE.
Over 50 sitting BJP Lok Sabha MPs are either 70 or above 70 years of age, which includes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, among others. Other senior leaders include PP Chaudhary, SS Ahluwalia, and others.
However, the source added that age won’t be the only criterion for the selection of candidate, but party leaders who uniquely contribute to the party can still make the cut.
The party also needs senior experienced leaders, the source added.
The saffron party has eyes to better its 2019 tally of 303. In the last general elections, the BJP had fielded 437 candidates, and is looking to contest on maximim number of seats.