With the West Bengal Assembly Elections drawing near, the Bharatiya Janata Party has accelerated its candidate selection process. Following a marathon meeting at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, names for over 150 constituencies have been finalised. The party is focusing on retaining a significant majority of its incumbent MLAs while prioritising long-time ‘original’ party workers over recent entrants.

Key Highlights of the Strategy:

• Candidate Selection: Sources indicate that 85-90% of sitting MLAs are likely to get tickets.
• Kharagpur Seat: Dilip Ghosh is strongly tipped to return to his former constituency of Kharagpur, replacing the current MLA, Hiran Chatterjee.
• Timeline: The BJP is expected to release its first list of candidates shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s massive rally at the Brigade Parade Ground on March 14.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari emphasised that the party’s primary goal is to provide a decisive alternative to the current administration. The upcoming Brigade rally is seen as the platform to set the tone for the BJP’s campaign across the state.