This story is from February 23, 2019

BJP to unleash heavyweights at hustings, rejig machinery

The BJP is not only looking to purge the party of MPs in UP who’s winnability maybe on the decline, it is also planning to field as many heavyweights as possible in the Lok Sabha election.
BJP to unleash heavyweights at hustings, rejig machinery
Sakshi Maharaj (File Photo)
LUCKNOW: The BJP is not only looking to purge the party of MPs in UP who’s winnability maybe on the decline, it is also planning to field as many heavyweights as possible in the Lok Sabha election. Sources in the party say even the chief minister, the two deputy chief ministers and Speaker of the Assembly may also contest.
“Undoubtedly, our top priority is to form government at the Centre once again.
For this, UP has an important role to play. And the way the top leadership has been aggressive, anything is possible,” said a senior party leader.
To weigh the performance and image of party MPs, a three-layered appraisal through the Modi App, feedback from RSS cadre and the party’s organisational machinery is already on before finalizing the list of candidates for the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies.
Unlike the previous elections, the emergence of the SP-BSP alliance and the entry of Priyanka Gandhi would also be counted before choosing party candidates.
Sources say that barring very few, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, none is very sure of a repeat this time.
There are many who have made direct attacks on their own government or criticised it in public, including Behraich’s Savitribai Phule – who quit the party recently -- Sachchidanand Sakshi Maharaj from Unnao, Shyama Prasad Gupta, Yashwant Singh of Nagina, Chhote Lal of Sonbhadra, Bharat Singh of Ballia, Hari Kishore Rajbhar in Ghoshi.
Since the party is a mood for a major overhaul, a large number of MPs maybe denied tickets this time or shifted to new places.
Considering many MPs won the 2014 election just because there was a Modi wave, a number of heavyweight names are being considered this time.
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