BJP central team analysing prospects in 124 seats where Congress has announced candidates

BENGALURU: A central team of BJP leaders, which arrived in the state on Tuesday, is conducting a confidential survey of the party’s prospects in the 124 Assembly segments where the Congress has already announced its candidates.

The team test the pitch and rate the prospects of the party’s probables in those constituencies, gauge the response towards the Congress candidate and wherever the Congress seems to be in a better position, the team will suggest changes in strategy.

The central team will complete the assessment of the 124 Congress candidates by Friday and send a report to the BJP high command following which a screening of the probables will take place on April 1, 2 and 3 at the state level. After this, a vetted list will be sent to the BJP central election committee for the final list to be cleared.

On Friday, the party will also conduct an internal poll on the probable candidates at the district level to gauge the mood after which a state core committee will be held with the its 34 organisational district committees over two days. The names of shortlisted candidates will be forwarded to Delhi for final clearance and the final list is expected on April 7.

Meanwhile, the state leaders seem to be wary of fielding fresh faces in some of the constituencies, as suggested by the central leadership, as they may not have enough time ahead to tour the constituency and campaign. The state leaders are also unsure if a newcomer will be acceptable to the voters.