After a Central Election Committee meeting where around 160 seats were looked at, the Bharatiya Janata Party – the BJP – moved forward with planning for the West Bengal Assembly elections. Leaders in the party state they’ve almost finished choosing people to run for close to 145 of the 294 seats in the assembly; they’re inclined to pick most of the current MLAs again, going on what the party organisation said and what people in the state told them.
What the Central Election Committee Talked About, and Who They Picked
The senior leaders of the BJP, and members of the CEC, paid attention to how likely candidates were to win, to making sure all parts of West Bengal were represented, and to the strength of the party organisation throughout the state. People who know what’s going on say the people in charge favoured those already in office in many seats, but also confirmed new people in areas where they wanted to get more support and improve how well they connected with people at the local level.
The committee went through what the state and district leaders had said before settling on names for about 145 seats. People at the party expect another CEC meeting to finish off the rest of the seats after more talks with the heads of the organisation and people involved locally.
When the First List of Candidates Will Come Out, and the PM Modi Rally in Kolkata
The party is going to put out its first list of candidates after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gives a big speech at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on March 14. When this is timed like this shows how important the rally is as a place to start the campaign, and a chance to build support before the official announcements.
Party people who plan strategy think the event in Kolkata will be very important, and will make the messages and getting supporters going, and that announcements being timed will get the most from the media and people on the ground being ready. The first list is likely to show both what the party thinks is best politically, and the energy from the rally.
What the Election Commission Plans, and How the Voting Will Be Done
The Election Commission is likely to say when the voting will be on or around March 16, and West Bengal will probably vote in two parts. People at the Commission say doing it in two parts could help control violence linked to the election by limiting how people who cause trouble can move between areas when people are voting.
The first part may be in the middle or end of April. The dates for the voting could also include voting in a number of other states on the same day the announcement is made, to make sure planning of supplies is the same across the commissions and areas under their control.
Lists of Voters, Cases Not Yet Judged, and What the Law Says
A big problem for those running the election is what is happening with over 6 million voters who are still being looked at after a special check of the lists of people who can vote. About 1 million of these cases have been decided by judges, and roughly 3.5 to 4 million names have been taken off the lists so far.
People at the Commission warn that sorting out the remaining 5 million cases in a short time will put a lot of pressure on resources, and could make it harder to put out an extra list of voters. The Supreme Court has asked for a way for voters who were taken off the list after the check to appeal, and has told the Calcutta High Court to set up a court of retired judges to hear the appeals.
Law and Order, What’s at Stake in Politics, and What Might Happen
Keeping law and order during the election is the most important thing for the Commission, and for the political people in the state. A number of parties have asked for the election to be in one part, or just a few parts, to cut down on the risk of planned trouble and the pressure on supplies.
People who watch what’s going on note the bigger political issues, including the time in the constitution for a new government to be in place by May 7. Some people who analyse things suggest the central government might use Article 356 if a government for the state is not in place – something which would cause a lot of legal and political argument.
Conclusion
The BJP having almost all its candidates ready shows it is pushing hard in West Bengal as the dates for the election get closer. With the first list of candidates expected after the Kolkata rally, and the Election Commission about to set dates, parties and those running the election now have a short time to sort out problems with the list of voters, and make sure security and supplies are ready before people vote.
