With campaigning for the Maharashtra and Haryana assembly elections ending on Monday evening, the BJP leadership, confident that the risk it has taken in contesting the polls alone in both states will pay off, has begun discussions on possible chief ministerial candidates. In Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, president of the party’s state unit, is believed to be on top of the list of possible chief ministerial candidates, while his counterpart in Haryana, Ram Bilas Sharma, is among the frontrunners for the top post in his state. The other names shortlisted for Maharashtra include Eknath Khadse and Vinod Tawde. However, sources said Fadnavis, being the prominent “clean” face in Maharashtra politics, could be the first choice if the BJP gets a clear majority on its own. For Haryana, the list also includes Captain Abhimanyu and Anil Vij, the party’s leader in the outgoing state assembly. Pre-poll surveys conducted by private agencies as well as the BJP’s own polls have given the party a clear edge in the five-cornered contest in Maharashtra. The BJP, which won 46 seats and a 14 per cent vote share in the 2009 Maharashtra elections, decided to go it alone after seat-sharing discussions with its 25-year-old alliance partner the Shiv Sena failed. “It was a gamble, but the party president and the Prime Minister have put in a lot of effort,” said a party leader. While Modi addressed 27 rallies in Maharashtra and 10 in Haryana, BJP president Amit Shah addressed 20 rallies in each state. “Our internal surveys in Maharashtra have given us the impression that our positive campaign will pay dividends. Modi, as the brand ambassador of good governance and development, still enjoys the trust of the people,” said the party leader. In Haryana, the selection of a chief ministerial candidate will not be very easy, admitted a party leader. “The hand of history can touch anyone,” said the senior leader. Although some surveys have forecast a hung assembly in Haryana, the BJP calculates that it will be the largest party and the INLD will be its main opponent. “The party has to take a decision on whether we should have a non-Jat chief minister or a Jat chief minister, because if we come to power, we do not want to antagonise any community,” said a source. But he added that the chances are stronger for a non-Jat leader as the BJP is relying more on a non-Jat community support base. “The BJP has a range of leaders in both states for the chief minister’s post. The elected MLAs will choose their leader after October 19 (the day of counting),” BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.
