BJP develops UP game plan for 2024 but first, trial run in civic polls

According to a party leader, the chief minister had called a meeting of BJP leaders to discuss the party’s preparations for the local urban body polls a day after the State Election Commission announced the poll dates. At the meeting, suggestions from the ministers and party leaders were considered.

“At the meeting, it was suggested that if there is a chance of winning unreserved seats or general category seats by fielding OBC candidates, then it should be done. This would be separate from the 27 per cent seats reserved for the Other Backward Class (OBCs),” said a party leader on the condition of anonymity, adding the idea is to win the trust of the OBCs before next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

“The winnability of the OBC candidate on such seats will be assessed according to their popularity in the area and the social equations in the constituency,” the leader added.

According to the party leader, it was also decided to field Muslim candidates in minority-dominated seats. “The party may prefer Pasmanda or any other Muslim on seats that have a significant presence of the minority community. BJP’s core Hindu voters can also vote for him,” said the leader.

“The BJP had fielded Muslim candidates in a few seats in the previous urban local body polls, but the was results were not satisfactory,” the leader added.

Meanwhile, from Tuesday, ministers who have been assigned particular districts for the BJP’s poll preparations will begin a tour of the constituencies going to polls in the first phase – May 4.

“Preparations will be done in a phased manner… The ministers during the field visit will hold meetings of district core committees and meet local party office bearers. They will maintain dialogue with workers and the public, address their grievances and hold discussions also on names of possible candidates for mayor, chairpersons and ward members. They will also highlight the development and welfare works that the government has done in the area,” a BJP leader said.

“The minister in charge of the district will have a role in screening local candidates. They will also collect suggestions for drafting a manifesto,” the leader added.

The Uttar Pradesh State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday had announced a two-phase Urban Local Body elections on May 4 and 11 to elect representatives for 14,864 posts across 760 local bodies in the state. The counting be held on May 13.

Before the announcement of poll dates by the SEC, the Uttar Pradesh Urban Development Department had issued the final reservation notification, according to which out of 17 mayoral seats, nine would be reserved — one for the Scheduled Caste category in Jhansi, one for Scheduled Caste woman — Agra, two for OBC woman — Shahjahanpur and Firozabad, two for OBC category — Saharanpur and Meerut, and three for women — Lucknow, Kanpur and Ghaziabad.

Notably, 760 local bodies — comprising 17 Municipal Corporations, 199 Nagar Palika Parishad and 544 Nagar Panchayats — will have 17 posts of mayors, 199 posts of Nagar Palika Parishad chairpersons and 544 Nagar Panchayat chairpersons.