BJP CEC meeting today to finalise candidates for Karnataka polls

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will convene its Central Election Committee meeting on Sunday, according to reports, with Karnataka Assembly elections set for next month.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Federal Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP chairman JP Nadda, party general secretary B L Santhosh, and members of the party’s Central Election Committee are expected to attend the meeting, according to reports. Earlier on Saturday, Shah met with BJP President Jitendra Singh Nadda at his residence in the national capital to discuss and finalise the list of candidates for the May 10 elections.

Nalinkumar Kateel, Karnataka BJP president, BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, and other leaders were also present at Nadda’s residence.

According to reports, the BJP’s core committee in Karnataka has picked three candidates for each Assembly seat, which would be presented to the Central Election Committee. Before finalising the nominees, the party’s central leadership will brainstorm these names.

On April 4, the BJP’s core group in Karnataka met with the party’s national general secretary Arun Singh, state election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, co-in-charge Mansukh Mandaviya, Central Election Committee member Annamalai, former chief minister Yediyurappa, and his successor and incumbent Basavaraj Bommai to draw up a shortlist of candidates.

In the recent Assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the largest single party, obtaining 104 seats, while the Congress won 80 and the JD(S) 37.

On March 29, this year, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar released the poll timetable for the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly election. The Assembly election results will be announced on May 13.
The present Karnataka Legislative Assembly’s tenure is slated to expire on May 24, this year.