The BJP list of candidates for 13 Lok Sabha constituencies will be finalised by next week and the party high command will release the list for first phase candidates by March 20.
As the nominations for the first phase of elections in State is to start on April 2, the BJP high command is likely to release the list of first and second phase of candidates by March 20. In the first phase three Lok Sabha constituencies Palamu, Chatra and Lohardaga are to go for poll on April 29, while in second phase the polling will be held for Koderma, Ranchi, Khunti and Hazaribagh on May 6.
State BJP in-charge Mangal Pandey is to hold election committee meeting on March 15 and 16 where the probable contenders’ names will be discussed. Sources said that the BJP State unit is likely to submit the list of two to three probable contenders for each Lok Sabha constituencies. State BJP in-charge Mangal Pandey said, “The election committee meet is scheduled on March 15, 16 where the names of the candidates for Lok Sabha elections will be discussed.”
Sources said that once the name is discussed at State unit, Chief Minister Raghubar Das is likely to fly to Delhi for consultation of probable names with BJP Central High Command. In Delhi it is Parliamentary Board which will give its final nod to candidate names.
The BJP Parliamentary Board headed by president Amit Shah is highest decision making body of party deciding important decisions and even candidates name for Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.
Sources said that as there is some resentment with some sitting MPs, the State unit is likely to have discussion on two to three contenders for each Lok Sabha constituency.
Sources said that BJP State unit has also started initiative to curb resentment within senior party leaders, and in this connection State BJP in-charge Mangal Pandey on Wednesday held a closed-door meeting with former chief minister and senior BJP leader Arjun Munda. Pandey met Munda at the latter’s residence in Ranchi and discussed with him about Jharkhand’s poll scenario and political developments.
The three-time former chief minister, Munda, is one of the top leaders in Jharkhand’s BJP and he is the party’s most popular tribal face. Apart from meeting Munda, the disgruntled food, public distribution and consumer affairs minister Saryu Rai also met Mangal Pandey on Wednesday to apprise him about the problems he was facing with the incumbent government led by chief minister Raghubar Das.
