BJP poll panel meet on November 3

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) election campaign in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan is expected to get momentum after the three-day meeting of the party's central election commttee, beginning here on November 3.

The election commttee will finalise the list of candidates. The party leadership is not enthusiastic about the political prospects in Mizoram because of the BJP's lack of support base in the northeastern states. However, a substantial number of candidates for Mizoram has already been cleared.

But those managing party affairs in the four states admit that the battlelines will be drawn only after selection of candidates.

In Chhattisgarh, the BJP is also facing serious infighting even though Congress Chief Minister Ajit Jogi stand discredited in a large section of political spectrum within his own party.

Senior BJP leaders admit that the party will be making a determined attempt to win over viters by making the situation difficult for Jogi who has been projecting his tribal identity to turn the tide in his favour in this tribal-dominated state.

BJP insiders, however, point out that the task of Jogi will not be easy as well-entrneched RSS-sponsored organisations will drive a wedge on the basis of religion. Jogi being a Christian may face the onslaught of the hindutva forces on communal lines.

Similarly, BJP's chef ministerial candidate in Rajasthan Vasundhra Raje Scindi has not clicked with veterans in the BJP's state unit.

This section is learnt to have expressed its displeasure over the manner in which the party's affairs are being conducted.

"Once the tickets are distributed, the party will face a full-blown dissidence within the Hindutva fold, said a former BJP general secretary.

Signficantly, BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan is in-charge of the election affairs in the state.