BJP adopts secret ballots to select nominee

The party observers appointed by the Chhattisgarh BJP adopted a novel method to understand the sentiments of ground-level party workers and office bearers in the 90 constituencies in the state on Sunday.

The party in the state had appointed two or three such observers for each Assembly constituency.

The observers were asked to get to know members' feelings about the candidates in the list prepared by the party.

They were also briefed on how to take suggestions from party workers and office bearers.

The observers have been asked to submit their reports in this regard on Monday. The first phase of filing of nominations will commence on October 16 after the notification for 18 Assembly constituencies.

According to one of the observers, Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation chairman Chagan Mundra, during meetings the names of three candidates were sought.

But most party leaders did not come forward with names. So, the secret ballot paper mode was adopted in all 90 Assembly constituencies to avoid any uproar or dissatisfaction that workers' voice was not heard.

The workers were therefore asked to name three candidates in secret, in their order of preference. After the observers signed these papers, they were put in ballot boxes.

Mundra said the model was adopted so that no hype was created and the meetings of the observers and the party workers also ended early.

All the observers had submitted their respective boxes to state party headquarters. The votes are being counted, he said. The list would be finalised based on the voting, he said.

Meanwhile, party sources said a team would leave for New Delhi with the list. The election committee meeting of the BJP is scheduled for October 18 at New Delhi.

The committee will declare the names and it is expected that BJP will release its first-phase list by October 20 or 21.