Five key strategies of BJP to pick candidates for Lok Sabha elections

BJP aims to improve its standing in seats it lost in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to release its first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections soon.

In a late-night meeting on February 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with senior BJP leaders such as Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda, held extensive discussions to select candidates for the 543 Lok Sabha seats scheduled to go to polls in April-May.

Reports suggest that the initial list of candidates is expected to feature prominent figures, including PM Modi contesting from Varanasi, Amit Shah from Gandhinagar in Gujarat, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow.

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As it bids for a third term, here is a look at five likely strategies followed by BJP in picking its candidates for the poll fray.

Using technology for public feedback

The party adopted a unique approach by directly soliciting feedback from grassroots levels. Citizens were given the chance to express their opinions on the performance of incumbent Members of Parliament (MPs) through the Namo App. Last year, the PM launched the "Jan Man Survey" on the NaMo app, which included comprehensive questions about both the government's performance and that of local representatives. With reportedly more than 2 crore subscribers, this initiative aimed to ensure that candidates resonated with the sentiments and aspirations of the local populace.

Continuous interaction with MPs

In the last two years, the BJP has consistently sought feedback from its MPs. Ministers were tasked with visiting Lok Sabha seats, compiling reports, and gathering the views of incumbent MPs. Additionally, frequent state-level election committee meetings were held to initiate the final selection process. The reports from ministers were reviewed by the state election committee, which prepared a list of names for each parliamentary seat during these meetings.

Regular core meetings

The party organised core meetings with a focus on each state, including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. These meetings emphasised the BJP's strategic planning and organisational strength as it prepares for the Lok Sabha polls. The core BJP groups of each state held discussions at regular intervals with senior BJP leaders such as Nadda, Shah, and the party’s general secretary BL Santosh.

New faces in old seats

The party aims to strengthen its position in seats it lost during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. There is a possibility of Union Ministers, who are also Rajya Sabha MPs, being fielded in such states. These legislators may include Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister Sarbanand Sonowal, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Union Minister of State (MoS) V Muraleedharan. The BJP plans to introduce fresh faces and replace incumbents who have won from a particular constituency twice.

Reaching out to allies

The BJP may also consider fielding candidates from its allies. According to reports, the BJP leadership may revoke the tickets of MPs with poor performance. Around 60-70 incumbent MPs might not receive tickets to make room for newer faces from allied parties. Many BJP MPs from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community are expected to contest again. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 85 out of its 303 OBC MPs emerged victorious.