The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: In a crucial development ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the BJP held its core group meeting on Friday evening at Hotel Peterhoff in Himachal Pradesh capital Shimla. The meeting, presided over by BJP national president JP Nadda, focused on strategising for the elections and setting the groundwork for the party’s campaign.
During the meeting, Nadda urged the core group to compile a panel of potential candidates for the Lok Sabha elections before January 31. To ensure a comprehensive selection process, the party plans to conduct a separate survey before finalising the names of the candidates. Eighteen out of the 21 core group members attended the meeting, with notable absentees being former Chief Ministers Shanta Kumar and Prem Kumar Dhumal, along with Union Minister Anurag Thakur.
The meeting delved into the performance evaluations of the three sitting MPs from the state, with Nadda presenting a survey report from Delhi on their functioning. Emphasising the Modi factor, it was collectively agreed that the party would base its strategy on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity to secure victory in the elections.
Having achieved a clean sweep in the last two Lok Sabha elections, the BJP aims for a hat-trick this time. The core group decided to launch a comprehensive campaign to take the government’s schemes and achievements from the last decade to every household.
Prominent figures in the meeting included BJP state president Dr Rajeev Bindal, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, national vice president Saudan Singh, state in-charge Avinash Rai Khanna and co-in-charge Sanjay Tandon, along with several senior officials.
Following the meeting, Nadda took a stroll along Mall Road at 5.15 pm, accompanied by former Chief Minister Jai Ram. The atmosphere was informal as they visited the Indian Coffee House, engaging in discussions about the upcoming elections and speculations around Nadda’s potential candidacy. However, Nadda dismissed the topic, attributing decisions on contesting seats to the central election committee. The evening concluded with a nostalgic moment as Nadda indulged in a paan while reminiscing about old memories on Mall Road.
