More than one third of the sitting BJP MlAs in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh could face the axe if the party’s top leadership accepts separate proposal by the Chief Ministers of these two States.
At least 20 BJP MlAs in Chhattisgah and 60 odd legislators in Madhya Pradesh are on a sticky wicket with even the State unit receiving negative feedback about them from party cadre and private surveys.
In 2008, the BJP bagged 50 out of 90 seats in Chhattisgarh and 143 out of 230 seats in Madhya Pradesh.
“Both the Chief Ministers, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh, are extremely popular. But the anti-incumbency by individual legislators may do the party in. Both the CMs have an idea of the problem this aspect could cause. They want a major change in the list of candidates,” a senior BJP leader said.
The BJP is comfortably ahead of the Congress in Madhya Pradesh. But, the difference between the vote shares of the two parties in Chhattisgarh is less than two per cent.
The BJP is also worried about the prospect of sitting MlAs turning “rebel” in case they are denied ticket. “last time we successfully managed to quell rebellion by those who were denied a ticket. But, every election is a new challenge,” the BJP leader said.
Chhattisgarh goes to poll in two phases — November 11 and November 19 — while poll in Madhya Pradesh would take place on November 25. October 25 is the last date for nomination for the first phase poll in Chhattisgarh and the BJP is expected to hold a meeting of its Central Election Committee around October 20 to announce candidate for Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The delay in holding a meeting is part of the BJP’s strategy to deny sufficient time to sitting MlAs to file nomination as ‘rebels’.