Ticket allotment toughest challenge for BJP
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: December 04, 2021 -

OF all the political parties in the picture for the upcoming assembly elections, BJP unarguably is the party to beat and it seems to be gaining both strength and momentum as the polling date draws nearer.

With exception of imminent frustration among the many intending candidates and their ardent supporters in case of missing out in the ticket race, the BJP is likely to emerge as the single largest party after the polls.

The only problem that might impede BJP's objective to form the government on its own is the possibility of division of the party's vote count if the ticket seekers do not unite and back those candidates whom its central leaders are confident to have the brightest chance to emerge victorious.

However, there is remote chance of all the BJP candidate aspirants accepting decision of party's leaders related to allotment of ticket for history of electoral politics in Manipur has been centred on intending candidates swiftly shifting allegiance on being denied the opportunity to contest the polls under the flag arid symbol of the ruling entity.

Having invested substantially with the expectation of getting the BJP ticket it is but natural to feel let down by the party if the leaders favour others who were perceived as opponents in their respective campaigns to impress the ultimate decision-makers.

With many other political parties too firmly resolved to give the government a good run for its money in the election, it is obvious that those who miss the BJP ticket will be keen to seek the public's mandate under different flags and symbols.

As allotting ticket to all the intending candidates in a single constituency is out of the context, the BJP would be worried that the final choice of candidate does not create fissures among the rank and file of the organisation.

That the party is Well aware of possible dissent oyer allotment of ticket could also be comprehended from the fervent appeal made by chief minister N Biren during Thursday's pojitical conference in Wangkhem assembly constituency to the people to support the candidate who gets BJP ticket in the ensuing election.

Notably, N Biren's disclosure that a survey relating to issuance of BJP ticket is being carried out at present and national leaders assessing the survey are utilising service of intelligence agents to study the ground reality indicates that BJP is leaving no stone unturned to select the most prospective candidates.

Prior to the CM's revelation, another BJP leader was quoted by a news agency as saying that the party will begin the process of selecting its candidates from December for the upcoming Assembly polls in five states.

The senior BJP leader, reportedly associated with the party's election management, had stated that while selecting the party candidates, BJP will take into account the strength of the opposition parties in a particular assembly seat and all caste equations.

It is learnt that on the basis of holistic analysis of the ground situations, the BJP will choose its candidates and decide whether to give tickets to the sitting MLAs again or not.

As such, dissent over allotment of ticket would be the only impediment that the saffron party would face in its objective of forming a BJP-only government.