CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Candidate selection discussions have intensified within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress ahead of the Bhilai Municipal Corporation elections. The process gained momentum after the reservation of all 70 wards changed the electoral calculations for several sitting councillors and aspiring candidates.
Both parties are conducting surveys to assess potential candidates on factors including their local influence, public outreach, organisational involvement and acceptability among voters. Party-level discussions are expected to follow the survey findings before the candidate lists are finalised.
The ward reservation has created new opportunities as well as challenges for ticket aspirants. Of Bhilai’s 70 wards, 23 are reserved for Other Backward Classes, nine for Scheduled Castes, three for Scheduled Tribes and 24 are unreserved. Of the unreserved wards, 11 are reserved for women. Several sitting councillors may now have to explore other wards because of the changed reservation structure.
Another challenge for both parties is managing dissatisfaction among those who do not receive tickets. Reports indicate that the possibility of independent candidates or rebels contesting after being denied party nominations is also being discussed.
The current 70-member council has 37 Congress councillors, 24 BJP councillors and nine independents. The final candidate selection will follow further surveys and internal deliberations.
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