PATNA: The BJP will kick-start preparations for the upcoming panchayat elections from Tuesday. For the first time, the saffron party has decided to extend its support to the zila parishad candidates.
BJP state president Dr Sanjay Jaiswal said on Monday, “Preparations for the three-tier panchayat polls at the division level will begin on Tuesday. The district in-charge and the workers will chalk out a strategy at the meeting.”
He added, “Since the party aims at promoting leadership at the grassroots level, women, dalits and candidates belonging to the minority community will be given priority in the elections.”
Jaiswal revealed that several party workers, who had missed the opportunity to contest the recently held state assembly polls, would have an option to make it to the zila parishad.
Zila parishad members are elected by the representatives of panchayats, as a result of which they have an influence on the latter.
According to the decision, the division level committee will select five names for the district board members. After screening, it will recommend three names and the state committee will take a final call before announcing the names of the candidates. The party workers will subsequently be asked to ensure the victory of the candidates.
“The BJP will render its support to one deserving and fair candidate contesting for the post of zila parishad in every area of the district board,” the BJP state president said. He, however, clarified that the candidates would be selected on the basis of their fair background by the members of the party’s core committee in every district.
There are 1,161 posts of zila parishad members in the state. The panchayat polls will be conducted in April-May through electronic voting machines for which the state government has already sanctioned Rs 122 crore.
On the other hand, the RJD has also announced to lend its support to the contestants of the three-tier panchayat polls.