Regional leaders gain influence in candidate selection

The upcoming state assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan have sparked considerable interest in India’s political arena. Both major political parties have unveiled their lists of candidates, marking a noteworthy change in the nation’s political landscape.

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A closer look at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate list uncovers several noteworthy developments. Until just three to four months ago, all preparations for the state assembly elections were firmly centralized in Delhi. This meant that election strategies, candidates’ selection, and criteria were determined by the central leadership. Initial candidate lists for Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which encompassed 39 and 21 candidates respectively, were predominantly influenced by Delhi’s centralised assessments, largely disregarding local leaders’ perspectives.