With few months left for the year-end Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, the BJP is contemplating a constituency-wise “evaluation” exercise before finalizing the candidate. To prevent any possible anti-incumbency wave, the party is planning to try out a large number of fresh faces for the elections.
Himachal Pradesh BJP core committee may meet to finalize the process of shortlisting candidates for 68 assembly seats. Insiders say the party will evaluate the candidates on the basis of their winning potential before finalizing the list.
“It will not be given that a sitting MLA will get a ticket. After all, we are fighting elections to remain in power and anti-incumbency wave can be seen in some areas. So, to offset this, many may face the ax and fresh faces may get a chance,” said a senior party leader.
Reliable sources said BJP National President JP Nadda and Home Minister Amit Shah during their meeting with Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur insisted on fielding new faces.
Party sources said that several new candidates may be selected for the 17 assembly seats in Shimla parliamentary constituency.
The Congress’ victory in the Jubbal and Kotkhai assembly seats and the by-elections to the Mandi parliamentary constituency last year has taken the party by surprise. In the 2017 assembly elections, the BJP had won three out of seven seats in Shimla district, three out of five in Sirmour and two out of five in Solan.
Despite the party giving an advantage in initial surveys, the BJP leadership said it would not take any risk. Sources said the central leadership is seeking a report from the state unit on the preparations for the elections and more importantly, the evaluation process for candidate selection.
“The hill state elections are being viewed very seriously by the central leadership. Every step, every decision is being monitored. More importantly, the selection of candidates,” remarked a senior leader.
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