BJP likely to announce first list of candidates today; may replace Shatrughan Sinha with RS Prasad

The BJP is set to drop sitting MP from Patna Sahib Shatrughan Sinha and he is likely to be replaced by Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.

PM Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah at CEC Meeting/ Image: ANI

The party is likely to come up with a concrete list of Lok Sabha candidates by the evening

Sambit Patra may contest from Puri, in Odisha

Union Minster Nitin Gadkari is likely to be fielded from Nagpur

Shatrughan Sinha is likely to be replaced by Ravi Shankar Prasad at Patna Sahib seat

New Delhi: Despite eight hours of deliberations over the names of candidates for the Lok Saha elections, the BJP could not come out with a final list on Saturday. The deliberations will continue on Sunday and the party is likely to come up with a concrete list by the evening. On Saturday, the party’s central election committee deliberated for hours on finalising the names of candidates, particularly for constituencies where polling will be held in the first phase.  The names were discussed at the committee meeting which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah. Sources said the discussion was held on seats in Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttarakhand and the seven northeastern states. It is being said that BJP is likely to strip some of its present MPs of ticket this year and can announce the names of candidates for Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. Sources have revealed to ABP News the tentative list of the prospective candidates who are going to get ticket this year. The ticket to the significant Patna Sahib seat in Bihar, which is held by Shatrughan Sinha, will be given to Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. The party is likely to field RK Singh from Arrah and Radha Mohan Singh from East Champaran.  Further, Rajeev Pratap Rudy and Ashwanee Choubey are likely to contest from Saran and Buxar seats, respectively. Union Minster Nitin Gadkari is likely to be fielded from Nagpur. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra will contest elections from Puri in Odisha. Former Uttarakhand CM Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will contest from Haridwar, while Ajay Tamta is likely to fight the polls from Almora, his current turf. In Arunachal West, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju is likely to fight the polls. The party is being cautious while deciding on Uttar Pradesh candidates.  It is said that a separate meeting will be held at 10 am on Sunday to deliberate on the names of candidate for the state with maximum seats. The Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and continue for over a month till May 19 across seven phases, followed by counting of votes on May 23.

Published at : 17 Mar 2019 09:01 AM (IST)

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