For BJP, lesson learned from Lok Sabha poll

The state Bharatiya Janata Party BJP rank doesnrsquot want seat sharing for the Assembly elections to be delayed like the Lok Sabha polls The party leaders want the party to contest a maximum number of seatsmdashnot less than its 2019 numbersThese are some takeaways from the partyrsquos twoday deliberations in which the state election incharge Bhupender Yadav and deputy incharge Ashwini Vaishnaw took part along with 30 officebearers and core committee membersAccording to the information the reasons for the loss in the Lok Sabha elections were also discussed and it was suggested that the deficiencies identified be avoided in the forthcoming state polls The leaders felt that the powers to decide electionrelated matters not all of it but that can be best solved here without wasting time and advantage be vested with the state leaders who are supposed to take Delhirsquos approval every timeBJPrsquos state election incharge Bhupender Yadav right Ashwini Vaishnaw BJPrsquos state election deputy inchargeState BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule told reporters on Friday that the party will strengthen about 97000 booths ldquoAlong with the Assembly elections we will prepare for the local selfgovernment polls in the urban and rural areas We have planned it in the meeting and the responsibility will be given to the local leaders We will take special budgetary provisions and welfare schemes to the peoplerdquo he saidWhile it was said that some state leaders had submitted at the Thursday night meeting details of the alliance partnersrsquo noncooperation in certain Lok Sabha segments Bawankule said no such discussion had happened or comments made about the alliesAccording to Bawankule the partyrsquos state convention will be held in Pune on July 21 ldquoSenior leaders Nitinji Gadkari and Amit Shah will guide the workersrdquo he addedChandrashekhar Bawankule state BJP president File PicSatej ShindeSeatsharing dilemmaIn 2019 the BJP the thenlargest single party contested about 150 out of 288 seats and 126 seats were given to the undivided Shiv Sena The smaller allies got the rest of the seats However with the inclusion of NCP AP as the third partner sharing has become a task in itself The Shinde Sena and NCP have been preparing to ask for a bigger share And if one were to sum up the three partnersrsquo respective demands the Assembly needs to have about 350400 members Similar is the case with the Opposition MVA because every constituent wants more and moreldquoSince the Lok Sabha results stand testimony to the ill effects of delayed and erroneous seat sharing the BJP is treading very cautiously and selectively this timerdquo said a senior leader requesting anonymity The state core committee was expected to meet again Friday evening he saidJuly 21Day BJP state convention will be held97000Approx no of booths party aims to strengthen