BJP to Unveil First List of Jharkhand Assembly Candidates

56 nominees approved, 22 sitting MLAs retain tickets, 9 likely to be dropped

Key Points:

• BJP to release first candidate list for Jharkhand Assembly polls on Oct 16

• Party to contest 67 of 81 seats, allocating 2 to JDU and 10 to AJSU

• Central Election Committee met to finalize candidates and strategy

JAMSHEDPUR – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to announce its initial roster of candidates for the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

The Election Commission revealed the poll schedule on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. This announcement prompted political parties to finalize their candidates.

Moreover, the BJP Central Election Committee convened in Delhi on Tuesday to approve 56 candidates. Sources indicate that 22 sitting MLAs will retain their tickets.

However, nine incumbent MLAs are expected to be dropped from the list.

In addition, former MP Sudarshan Bhagat is reportedly poised to enter the electoral fray. The BJP has compiled a list of potential candidates for various constituencies.

Furthermore, the party is likely to contest 67 out of the 81 seats in Jharkhand. Two seats have been allocated to the Janata Dal United (JDU).

Meanwhile, the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) will vie for 10 seats in the assembly elections.

On the other hand, the BJP’s Central Election Committee (CEC) gathered at the party headquarters on Tuesday. Their agenda included selecting candidates and solidifying campaign strategies.

"The party has carefully considered each candidate’s potential," remarked a senior BJP leader. "We aim to present a strong and diverse lineup for the upcoming elections."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were among the key attendees at the CEC meeting. BJP president JP Nadda and national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh also participated in the deliberations.

Additionally, Jharkhand election in-charge Shivraj Singh Chouhan and co-in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma were present at the meeting. Union ministers Annapurna Devi and Sanjay Seth also joined the discussions.

Furthermore, the party’s Jharkhand unit chief Babulal Marandi and former Union minister Arjun Munda contributed to the candidate selection process.

In contrast to previous elections, the BJP appears to be adopting a more strategic approach to candidate selection. This method aims to strengthen the party’s position in the state.