BJP joint panel to pick 3 names from each ward

ALLAHABAD: Flooded with a large number of applications for the upcoming urban bodies elections, a joint team of Mahanagar screening committee and Kashi Prant committee would scrutinise all applications received by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and then finalise three names from each of the wards. These three names would later be sent to the state party headquarters in Lucknow, where the name of the candidate would be finalised.

BJP Mahanagar vice president Ashish Gupta said, "A joint panel of Mahanagar screening committee and Kashi prant leaders would finalise three names from each ward and these three names would be sent to the state party headquarters for final list of candidates. From each ward, at least seven to eight applicants have applied for a party ticket and there are at least 19 wards where the strength of applicants have gone up to over 30-35."

BJP leaders, however, said that all the applications have been sent to the Kashi prant leadership for scrutiny and once the exercise is over, the joint committee of Mahanagar and Kashi prant would pick three names from each ward.

BJP had organised a two-day special screening sessions on Monday and Tuesday for aspirants seeking party tickets to contest for the post of corporator and mayor in the upcoming municipal polls.

"The party would give preference to committed workers, who had worked for strengthening BJP's organisational structure in the city. We would also take into account advice from our local MPs and MLAs before announcing the names of candidates," said a senior BJP leader preferring anonymity.

In the upcoming municipal elections, BJP has witnessed a rise in the number of women candidates seeking tickets for the posts of corporator as well as mayor. Even the number of applications received for the post of corporators have witnessed an improvement as compared to the 2012 municipal elections.

The party has received a total of 1,425 applications from aspirants willing to contest municipal elections for the post of corporator on party ticket. Of the 1,425 aspirants, 350 aspirants are from Allahabad West constituency, 500 aspirants are from Allahabad South constituency and 575 aspirants are from Allahabad North assembly constituency.

Allahabad has a total of 80 wards and a total of 240 names would be picked up during the scrutinizing session.