NEW DELHI: BJP National President J P Nadda announced the leaders in charge and co-in-charge for the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Jammu and Kashmir.
This strategic move comes shortly after the recent Lok Sabha elections, signaling the BJP’s readiness to focus on state-level contests.
In Maharashtra, Union Ministers Bhupender Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw have been appointed as state election in-charge and co-in-charge, respectively. The state, a significant battleground due to its political complexity and economic importance, is now under a new coalition. The BJP, allied with the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, faces the Congress-Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)-NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) coalition.
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For Haryana, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will lead the election campaign, assisted by former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb. The BJP is working to regain momentum in the state after its seat count was halved in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Jharkhand’s election preparations will be overseen by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The BJP aims to challenge the incumbent Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led government, leveraging Sarma’s reputation as a political troubleshooter.
In Jammu and Kashmir, where the Supreme Court has directed elections to be held before September, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has been tasked with handling the election campaign. This region presents unique challenges and opportunities for the BJP as it seeks to strengthen its position.
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Nadda’s announcement highlights the party’s immediate pivot to state elections. “We have appointed experienced leaders to lead our efforts in these key states,” Nadda stated. “Our focus is on robust election strategies and ensuring that we are well-prepared for the challenges ahead.”
This strategic allocation of responsibilities comes on the heels of significant changes in political alliances and leadership within the BJP. The party’s performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, where it lost significant ground in Maharashtra and Haryana, underscores the urgency of these appointments.
In Maharashtra, the BJP saw its seat count drop from 41 (in alliance with the undivided Shiv Sena) to 17, while Congress emerged as the largest party with 13 seats. In Haryana, the BJP won only five out of ten seats, a sharp decline from its previous clean sweep.