Candidates on almost half of the Lok Sabha seats are likely to be replaced.
The BJP is aggressively progressing to capture all the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh by replicating the model it implemented in the November Assembly elections during which it announced names of candidates early, gave opportunity to fresh candidates and focused on the Hindutva plank in tribal areas.
According to party sources, candidates on almost half of the LS seats are likely to be replaced and free pilgrimage to Ayodhya for state residents is likely to be launched by next month to send across a message to voters, especially in the tribal areas, that the promises made by the party during the Assembly campaign are a step closer to becoming a reality.
A state leader said the focus is on making state voters believe the “Modi sarkar ki guarantee” shall also be fulfilled just as BJP’s Assembly election promises are being delivered.
“The Vishnu Deo Sai government has started in the right direction to fulfil the BJP’s election promises by making provisions in it supplementary budget for building 18 lakh houses and procure 21 quintal per acre paddy,” said a government functionary, adding that the BJP will not only retain its 9 Lok Sabha seats in the state but looks to capture all 11 seats in the general elections.
Senior party leader Amit Chimnani told The Sunday Guardian that a budgetary provision of Rs 1,200 crore has been made by the Sai government in the supplementary budget for offering financial support to women under the Mahtari Vandana Yojana, which promises to give Rs 1,000 monthly support to poor women in the state.
He said corruption during the five-year rule of the Congress-led government will also be highlighted in the Lok Sabha election campaign by informing people about the ED FIRs in the liquor and coal scams against senior Congress functionaries of the previous Bhupesh Baghel government.
In a recent media interaction, Chief Minister Deo Sai had also shared his plan to implement “Modi ki Guarantee” to build goodwill for the party ahead of the LS elections. Specifically, the CM is focused on providing the poor a gas cylinder at Rs 500 under the Ujjwala Yojna, giving an annual financial support of Rs 10,000 to rural landless workers and purchasing each sack of tendu patta at Rs 5,500 from collectors.
In the process of selection of candidates for parliamentary elections, the BJP is likely to give a second chance to some candidates only if they have a high chance of winnability, said a leader.
Party strategists have divided the 11 Lok Sabha seats into clusters of three seats each and discussions are ongoing on names of candidates in each cluster. Internal surveys have also been launched on all LS seats to evaluate the winnability of ticket seekers.
A party leader said the party plans to use the Ram Temple’s consecration ceremony to connect with voters and publicise Lord Ram’s association with the state during his exile. The Hindutva pitch of the party is likely to get stronger with focus on restricting conversions in tribal areas. During the campaign for the Assembly elections, the BJP had proposed to enact tough anti-conversion laws to check use of allurements and pressure for change in religion.