BJP discusses strategy for ‘tough seats’ in MP, Chhattisgarh; ‘special focus’ to turn things around

The BJP leadership on Wednesday discussed its strategy for the constituencies in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh where it expects a tough contest in the Assembly elections later this year, sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP president J P Nadda were among the top BJP leaders who assessed the party’s position based on the feedback provided by the state units, sources said. Most members of the BJP’s Central Election Committee, central leaders in charge of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh also participated in the deliberations.

BJP insiders said that along with the “panna pramukh” strategy in which party workers are given the responsibility of pages voters’ list, the BJP has also been categorising constituencies in terms of winnability. Sources said the BJP would give “special focus” to almost a third of the seats in Chhattisgarh as they are categorised as tough constituencies. The party has also readied a panel of candidates for each of these seats, according to insiders.