The Madhya Pradesh unit of the BJP on Thursday finalised its candidates for three bypolls on August 21. The State Election Committee took no time in deciding the candidates for two seats, while the third constituency consumed maximum time.
Finally, State BJP president and Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar along with the list of candidates left for New Delhi to get it approved by the Central Election Committee. The official declaration about the party nominees in the three constituencies would be made from New Delhi.
Those who attended the State Election Committee meeting at the State BJP headquarters on Friday included Narendra Singh Tomar, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former Chief Minister Kailash Joshi and national BJP vice-president Prabhat Jha.
In the meeting, probable names for three constituencies- Vijayraghogarh, Boharibandh and Agar, were discussed. The committee members reached consensus on the names of Sanjay Pathak from Vijayraghogarh and Pranay Pande, son of late BJP MlA Prabhat Pande from Boharibandh.
From Agar constituency, a panel of three names was prepared that included former MlA Rekha Ratnakar, Gopal Parmar and local leader Rajaram Malviya. Party sources said that after long deliberations, priority was given to Malviya.
Sources also claimed that the BJP has decided to adopt 'wait and watch' policy regarding Agar constituency. The Congress is likely to field its parliamentarian Sajjan Singh Verma from this constituency.
BJP State president Narendra Singh Tomar, while addressing the media after the meeting did not reveal any name and stated that he was taking the panel of names to New Delhi for a final decision.
Regarding the issue of new State president of the party, Tomar told that he has already requested Union Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president Amit Shah about relieving him from the responsibility of State president.