BJP's 100 Lok Sabha candidates confirmed after PM's late-night meeting: Sources

PTC News Desk: After a late-night gathering chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reached a decision on 100 Lok Sabha candidates. Sources indicate that the list will be officially disclosed within the next few days.

The BJP has consolidated its initial roster of 100 Lok Sabha candidates following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's midnight session with the Central Election Committee (CEC). This highly anticipated list is poised for unveiling shortly, according to informed sources cited by India Today.

The selection process is anticipated to spotlight prominent contenders, including PM Modi himself from Varanasi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah from Gandhinagar in Gujarat, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow. Additionally, emphasis will be placed on reclaiming previously 'weak' constituencies lost in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by marginal margins.

During the late-night assembly, specific attention was directed towards states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam, Kerala, and Telangana, among others, by the top echelons of the BJP.

Insider reports also suggest that several Union Ministers, who concurrently serve as Rajya Sabha MPs, might contest in the impending Lok Sabha elections slated for April-May. Notable figures in this category include Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister Sarbanand Sonowal, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, and Union Minister of State (MoS) V Muraleedharan.

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Furthermore, the BJP's lineup is anticipated to introduce fresh faces, including a significant representation of women. Notably, speculation surrounds the potential candidacy of Bhojpuri star Pawan Singh to challenge Trinamool Congress MP and Bollywood luminary Shatrughan Sinha in West Bengal's Asansol constituency.

The marathon CEC meeting, presided over by PM Modi and stretching over four hours, commenced at 10:30 pm on Thursday. Key attendees included BJP Chief JP Nadda, Amit Shah, and Rajnath Singh. Notable state leaders present encompassed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

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(Inputs from agencies)