BJP has mixed formula for year-end polls, may field MPs in Telangana

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

BJP has adopted a mixed formula for the year-end assembly polls. It has repeated 28 candidates in its first list for Madhya Pradesh, while only one in Chhattisgarh, given preference to new faces. In Telangana, it is exploring the possibility of fielding several MPs for the assembly polls.

In an unprecedented move, BJP had on Thursday announced its first list of candidates for MP and Chhattisgarh, months before the announcement of assembly polls to both states, taking a lesson from Karnataka, where it was trounced. An analysis of candidates announced for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh reveals that the party is betting heavily on caste equations and has fielded several OBCs. Out of the 39 candidates for Madhya Pradesh, 13 belong to OBCs, besides 13 SCs and eight STs.

In Chhattisgarh out of 21 candidates, barring one, all are from non-general castes. There are 12 tribals including two fielded from general seats, one SC, seven OBCs and one general. BJP has fielded only 11 new faces in the list announced for MP.

Among those dropped are Jyotiraditya Scindia loyalist Ranvir Jatav. National SC Morcha president Lal Singh Arya has been fielded in his seat. BJP has a deep-rooted organisational structure in MP and it may have prompted the party to avoid too much experimentation, at least in the first list.

Nevertheless, the party has overlooked the constituency choice of some candidates. Its nominee from Bhopal north Alok Sharma is one example. Omprakash Dhurve, similarly, wanted to fight from Dindori seat but has been given Shahpura.

In Chhattisgarh, BJP has replaced all candidates, barring one, whose seat has been changed. Several new candidates are zila panchayat members. There are a few candidates who are seen as former chief