Will BJP’s repeat theory work?

GANDHINAGAR: Following speculation that the BJP would drop many sitting ministers and MLAs to overcome high levels of local anti-incumbency and for other factors, like the Patidar reservation stir, in its first list of 70 candidates, the BJP dropped only two sitting MLAs (one woman MLAs’s husband was given the ticket) only and repeated all sitting MLAs. The party not only gave tickets to most of its sitting MLAs but also to its nominees who lost in the 2012 elections.

After the list was announced, ruckus broke out among BJP workers on several seats like Padra, Ankleshwar, Mahuva and others.

With this repeat-heavy first list, murmurs have begun in the party about the sitting minister and MLAs on the remaining 110 seats may also be repeated. Howeverm according to a party insider, the party has taken a gamble because it is confident of neutralising anti-incumbency and other other adverse factors.

A senior leader who has been with the BJP since 1980 said, “The party has opted to repeat most sitting MLAs and even those who lost in 2012, despite the risk of antiincumbency. Unlike 2012, no sitting minister has been allowed to change seats. However, the party has opted to not experiment, as it knows that the risk with a known candidates is less than with a new one. Sitting candidates still have better win-ability. On the remaining 110 seats too, it seems that most candidates will be repeated.”