As the Lok Sabha elections in 2024 are approaching, the screening of MPs has begun, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda himself monitoring it.
Campaign data was sought from all the MPs on the Saral app. Apart from this, they also had to fill a form and submit it in the BJP office and Delhi. After this, when the investigation was done, the reports of many MPs came out pathetic. Now, BJP is considering to deprive these MPs of their tickets.
Besides, the tickets of MPs who are old and involved in controversies can also be cut. About 15 to 20 MPs are coming under this ambit. The team sent to BJP’s cluster has started screening for tickets.
MPs found lax in the campaign
The reports of most of the MPs have not been good in the public relations campaign that ran from May 30 to June 30.
Not a single MP met 1,000 distinguished people in the campaign. Some were able to meet only 200 people. The MPs had to hold social media influencers’ meet in their Lok Sabha constituencies. During these meetings, influencers with ideology from outside the BJP were also to be called. Only 50 percent of the MPs could organise this meet. Out of these, only 5 percent were able to invite ideologues from outside the BJP.
Most of them, called social media influencers, had already been working for the BJP. Not only this, the MPs had to gather a crowd of 10,000 and hold a meeting in their area. But in districts like Noida, Kannauj, Jaunpur, Hathras, Bahraich, the crowd gathered less. Their reports have also been prepared and sent by the ministers and senior leaders to 21 clusters.
Crisis on aged MPs
The BJP has not announced yet any formula regarding the ticket, but it is believed that doubts are hovering over the tickets of many aging MPs.
This crisis has increased due to the report of the campaign. Some of them will not meet the criteria of the party’s 75-pass formula due to age, while some are doubtful about their claim due to approaching old age.
There are some who are likely to be cut off due to being embroiled in controversies. Sources say that Kanpur MP Satyadev Pachauri, Bareilly MP Santosh Gangwar, Prayagraj MP Dr. Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Dumariaganj MP Jagdambika Pal, Firozabad MP Chandrasen Jadaun, Chandauli MP Dr. Mahendra are among those who are at high risk. Nath Pandey, Meerut MP Rajendra Agarwal are also included. Pilibhit’s MP Varun Gandhi did not take part in the public relations campaign for a single day. He also keeps giving controversial statements, due to which his ticket is being considered as fixed.
Fresh candidates to come on seats of alliance
BJP sources say that after finalising the lost seats and alliance with Apna Dal, Nishad Party, with possible alliance partners RLD and Rajbhar’s party Subhaspa, their tickets will also be changed. It has almost been decided that new candidates will be fielded on all the 14 seats that were lost. Some ministers in the state cabinet and BJP MLAs from UP can also be fielded in the Lok Sabha elections.