Modi, Shah meet to firm up J'khand candidates, strategy

HOURS after the Election Commission announced poll dates for the 81-member Jharkhand assembly, the BJP's Central Election Committee (CEC) met at the party headquarters on Tuesday to select candidates and firm up strategy.

- RAJESH KUMAR THAKUR

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh were among the CEC members who deliberated on the probable list of nominees. Jharkhand election in-charge Shivraj Singh Chouhan, co-in-charge Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union ministers Annapurna Devi and Sanjay Seth were also present, besides the party's Jharkhand unit chief Babulal Marandi and former Union minister Arjun Munda.

"Modi expressed confidence about outcomes in both Jharkhand and Maharashtra, and asked the committee to consider candidates with clean and non-controversial backgrounds," said a party leader aware of the developments.