Hyderabad: Telangana BJP ’s selection process for MLC candidates has returned to square one, with party national general secretary and state affairs in-charge Sunil Bansal asking state leaders to exclude party office-bearers from lists of aspirants and shortlist four candidates for each seat.
Bansal reportedly asked leaders to prune lists for Hyderabad, Mahabubnagar, Warangal, Khammam and Karimnagar seats by dropping those holding organisational posts, according to sources. He also advised office-bearers against contesting elections.
When leaders sought clarity on his prospects, given that he is part of the party’s office-bearers team, Bansal reportedly said BJP national president Nitin Nabin would take a call on his candidature. Bansal asked state leaders to revise the lists and submit four names for each seat. The party is expected to conduct a survey to assess the popularity of shortlisted candidates before deciding on nominations. The candidature of Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao for the Hyderabad seat also came up during the meeting.
Rao had represented this seat earlier.
A few teacher union leaders are also touted to be in the race for the Khammam seat. Their prospects, along with those of other aspirants, are expected to be assessed as part of the party’s next round of consultations and survey.