BJP to drop half of 26 state MPs?

Bhopal: Half of 26 sitting BJP MPs in Madhya Pradesh may be replaced with fresh faces in the upcoming 4-phase Lok Sabha elections in the state, scheduled to commence from April 29.

A senior BJP leader told this newspaper here on Friday that the party was most likely to deny ticket to 13-14 sitting MPs in the forthcoming LS elections in view of their growing disconnect with their respective constituencies.

In the 2014 parliamentary elections, the party had replaced as many as 18 out of 27 sitting MPs.

BJP has secured 27 out of total 29 LS seats in the last polls while Congress won the rest two seats.

The core committee of BJP’s state unit met here to review winning prospects of ticket aspirants in each of 29 LS constituencies in MP.

Election in-charge of the party in MP and Uttar Pradesh minister Swatantra Singh Dev chaired the meeting.

“We are taking views of party workers in each LS constituency to ascertain winning prospects of ticket aspirants in their respective seats. This is a part of procure for selection of candidates for LS elections”, Mr Dev said.

Sources said the party has decided to give priority to different surveys done in recent times besides recommendations from workers while selecting candidates for each parliamentary constituency.

“We had lost power in the state for overlooking the survey reports which recommended change of 80 sitting BJP MLAs in the outgoing assembly elections in the state. Only 35 sitting MLAs were replaced then”, a senior BJP leader said, adding, “It has been decided to strictly follow the survey outcome in selection of candidates in the upcoming LS polls”.

Sources said the party was considering a proposal to change constituency of Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar from Gwalior to Bhopal, following requests by his loyalists.

However, former chief minister Babulal Gaur who was denied ticket in the outgoing assembly elections has staked his claim for party ticket from Bhopal. Besides, former minister Uma Shankar Gupta who lost elections in the November assembly elections has also joined the race for ticket from Bhopal.