For the first time in last 10 years, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is appearing to be unsure of its victory in the coming Assembly polls. The BJP, instead of naming its candidates, is waiting for rival Congress to open its cards.
In both 2003 and 2008 Assembly elections, the BJP had taken a lead in initiating the ticket distribution process. As per convention, after the ruling party, the Opposition decides the tickets. Even in the by-polls, this convention is followed, but in the run-up for the November elections, the Congress seems to have
taken a lead.
The Opposition Congress has already finalised its 155 candidates and sent them to screening committee. The party had also formed the election committee around 25 days ago and continuously moving ahead in deciding candidates for the ensuing Assembly elections.
On the contrary, the ruling BJP is still far away from forming the State Election Committee that would look into the probable candidates. The State party headquarters has so far received feedback in all the Assembly constituencies and collected the candidatures from the leaders. However, for the past 20 days, the party leaders are waiting for the election committee to consider their candidatures.
A senior party leader confided that there was already delay in the formation of State election committee. By the time, the BJP finalises, it is for certain that the Congress might decide its candidates and this would help the ruling party in finalizing the tickets.
Party sources feel that after having completed two terms, the BJP in Madhya Pradesh is facing several problems. After 10-year of rules, anti-incumbency factors works strongly against the government. The BJP is under immense pressure for denying tickets to several sitting MlAs and some of the ministers who are facing problems in their constituencies.
Taking these factors into consideration, the BJP is waiting for the Congress to lead in the ticket distribution process.
State BJP Spokesman Vijendra Singh Sisodia told The Pioneer that there is a difference in both BJP and Congress in deciding the tickets.
In BJP, there is no committee for screening, but it is in the process. later, the State election committee would finalise the tickets and sent the panels to Central election committee. However, in Congress, first election committee decides the tickets and then sends to screening committee.
Sisodia informed that the election committee of the BJP would be formed in the first week of October and tickets would be finalided after Diwali.