In a strategic move for the upcoming Haryana state assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has implemented a voting system among its functionaries to select candidates for the 90 constituencies. This approach mirrors the US presidential primary and caucus system, previously employed during the 2022 Himachal Pradesh assembly elections.
On Sunday, local party leaders and workers participated in this process, voting for their top three preferred candidates for each assembly segment. This method aims to integrate grassroots feedback into candidate selection, addressing internal discord and dissatisfaction noted in past elections.
The selection involved a broad range of party members, including district and mandal office-bearers, former MLAs and MPs, and representatives from various local bodies. They cast their votes based on slips provided by the party, which were then collected and analyzed.
According to BJP state spokesperson Sanjay Sharma, this internal poll is just one of several criteria for selecting candidates. Other factors include party surveys, private agency reports, RSS feedback, and social dynamics of the constituencies. Candidates are ranked based on a points system: 10 points for first preference, 7 for second, and 5 for third.
Political analyst Jyoti Mishra noted that this approach demonstrates the BJP’s commitment to refining its electoral strategy by involving grassroots insights. The party hopes this method will align candidate selection with local sentiments and improve its appeal across Haryana.
