BJP puts winnability above background while choosing Lok Sabha candidates
BJP has given priority to winnability over background while choosing its candidates in the first list of 195 to meet its ambitious target of 370 seats in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The saffron party has fielded Rajya Sabha MPs, dynasts, defectors from other parties, even MPs — barring two — who had courted controversies in the past, and controversial celebrities to score a decisive mandate. The list also underlines that, along with Narendra Modi’s popularity, the candidates and cadre too play an important role.
Around 20 percent of the sitting MPs have been dropped in the first list and the reason is their lacklustre performance of low chances of winning.
In Delhi, BJP has dropped four of the five sitting MPs in the first list. Cricketer-politician Gautam Gambhir was seen as a non-serious MP from the East Delhi seat and has opted out while singer Hans Raj Hans (North-West reserved seat) is also set to be replaced. Though Meenakshi Lekhi being denied a ticket surprised some, her replacement in the New Delhi seat — Bansuri Swaraj — is a dynast.
Prime Minister Modi has been vocal against family-oriented politics.
Parvesh Singh (West Delhi) won two terms as MP on the basis of his father Sahib Singh Verma’s legacy and the Modi wave but failed to make a mark. He resorted to some controversial remarks which clearly did not impress the party high command and the public. Harsh Vardhan (Chandni Chowk) was also fading after his removal from the Health ministry and two terms in the Lok Sabha.
