BJP central election committee discusses candidates for Haryana polls

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 29

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) top brass from Haryana on Thursday evening arrived at the party headquarters here to attend the BJP's central election committee meeting to select candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections.

The meeting, being chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is being attended by CEC members — BJP chief JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP women's wing chief Vanathi Srinivasan, among others.

BJP election in charges for Haryana, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, co in-charge Biplab Deb, BJP Haryana in charge Satish Poonia, Chief Minister Nayab Saini, former CM Manoha Lal Khattar, Union Minister and Gurugram MP Rao Inderjit are also present in the meeting.

Earlier in the day, party top brass from the state assembled at the residence of BJP president JP Nadda for a preparatory discussion. The meeting was taken by Nadda and BJP general secretary organisation BL Santosh.

The meeting, which began around 10.30 am, was held to shortlist candidates for final approval of the party's central election panel headed by PM Modi.

The BJP meeting is learnt to have discussed the fallout of actor Kangana Ranaut's anti-farmer rant and whether it will impact poll prospects of the BJP.

The BJP is also strategising to woo dominant Jats and Dalits who are appearing to veer towards the Congress in Haryana.

Two recent alliances -- INDL-BSP and JJP-Azad Samaj Party are likely to dent part of the Jat Dalit vote bloc and that, sections say, could benefit BJP.