BJP resorts to surveys to home in on right candidates
MUMBAI: After deciding to go it alone for the coming civic polls for the richest civic body in the country BMC -the BJP has gone on a survey spree to find out who has the best chance of winning from each of the 227 wards in Mumbai.
From CM Fadnavis to the local MLA, everyone is busy with surveys, trying to gauge the mood. BJP leaders said that Fadnavis himself is conducting a survey , so is city BJP chief Ashish Shelar, while the local MLA is also involved in a survey . Besides, 'intelligence inputs' from the police are also being used to zero in on a candidates.
"We had demanded 115 seats, but Sena said that we are fit for just 60, so we are do ing whatever we can to ensure that we get close to 100," said a city BJP leader who didn't want to be named.
BJP leaders also admitted that the surveys sometimes did not agree on a particular candidate. "Obviously , the local MLA would have his or her reasons to select a candidate. So, if their choices didn't match, the CM decides on the candidate," said a state BJP leader.
Fadnavis had already held four meetings with party leaders after the Sena and BJP parted ways. The party initially was to have just two surveys, but Fadnavis isn't taking any chances, given the high stakes involved.
The surveys are also being cited as a reason why the party has poached and given tickets to so many candidates from other parties. "If the surveys show that a certain candidate has the best chance of winning, and if he is from some other party but wants to join us, then there's no harm in giving him a ticket," said another leader.
From CM Fadnavis to the local MLA, everyone is busy with surveys, trying to gauge the mood. BJP leaders said that Fadnavis himself is conducting a survey , so is city BJP chief Ashish Shelar, while the local MLA is also involved in a survey . Besides, 'intelligence inputs' from the police are also being used to zero in on a candidates.
"We had demanded 115 seats, but Sena said that we are fit for just 60, so we are do ing whatever we can to ensure that we get close to 100," said a city BJP leader who didn't want to be named.
BJP leaders also admitted that the surveys sometimes did not agree on a particular candidate. "Obviously , the local MLA would have his or her reasons to select a candidate. So, if their choices didn't match, the CM decides on the candidate," said a state BJP leader.
Fadnavis had already held four meetings with party leaders after the Sena and BJP parted ways. The party initially was to have just two surveys, but Fadnavis isn't taking any chances, given the high stakes involved.
The surveys are also being cited as a reason why the party has poached and given tickets to so many candidates from other parties. "If the surveys show that a certain candidate has the best chance of winning, and if he is from some other party but wants to join us, then there's no harm in giving him a ticket," said another leader.
