Vying for a third straight term amid major losses in recent Lok Sabha polls and the possibility of anti-incumbency, BJP’s central election committee (CEC) meeting took place on Thursday to finalise candidates for the single-phase Haryana assembly polls.

Sources said there is a possibility of sitting MLAs, including ministers, being culled based on several rounds of feedback surveys conducted by the party.

The list is likely to be announced soon, most probably in next 24 hours. PM Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda were among those who deliberated on the likely choices.

Dharmendra Pradhan, party in-charge for Haryana elections, and Manohar Lal Khattar, besides CM Nayab Singh Saini were present.

Earlier in the day, senior BJP members, including Shah, Pradhan and Khattar, met at Nadda’s residence & held discussions on names of probable candidates sent from the state.
Haryana BJP chief Mohan Lal Badoli was present at the party’s core group meeting at Nadda’s residence. Before this, Pradhan held a meeting with Haryana BJP members at his residence.

After the core group meeting, former Haryana home minister Anil Vij said the party’s state team apprised the central team of the political scenario in the state.

“Our party is a democratic party. Now, the central election committee will take a final decision (on the candidates),” he told reporters. The 90-member Haryana assembly will go to polls on Oct 1. Counting of votes will take place on Oct 4.