Elections 2019: BJP drops all sitting MPs in Chhattisgarh after state polls rout, to field new faces with 'fresh energy'

In the wake of the massive loss in the recent assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, the BJP on Tuesday decided to drop all its 10 sitting lawmakers from the state. Party general secretary in charge of the State Anil Jain said this on record after a meeting of the Central Election Committee (CEC) of the BJP deliberating on Chattisgarh on Tuesday.

BJP General Secretary Anil Jain confirmed that the saffron party has decided to face the Lok Sabha elections with 'new candidates with fresh energy' to make it victorious under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“BJP will change all sitting MPs in the state in this election, CEC has approved it. We will bring 11 new candidates,” he said after the meeting.

The state BJP General Secretary further added that the senior party leadership in the state made the proposal to drop the sitting Members of Parliament to the central election committee of the party, which gave its nod.

Former Chief Minister Raman Singh is likely to be the party's candidate from Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon, sources said. 

The state sends 11 members of parliament to the Lok Sabha. 

READ: National Approval Ratings: In Chhattisgarh, A Rough Patch For UPA As NDA Is Projected To Fly High With 6 Seats

Republic TV and CVoter published the National Approval Ratings earlier in March which present a complete picture of what would happen if elections are held today.

Out of the 11 Chhattisgarh seats which are up for grabs in the Lok Sabha polls, BJP-led NDA is projected to sweep the state with 6 seats. Congress, which won the assembly elections in November-December 2018, is projected to win 5 seats in the polls, leaving none for Ajit Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh.

Meanwhile, the nation is all set to go into polls in all 543 Lok Sabha seats from April 11. Chhattisgarh will be voting in three phases, the result of which will be announced on May 23, the Election Commission announced on March 10. 

READ: Lok Sabha 2019 Election Dates: Counting To Be Held On 23 May - Here's The Full Schedule For The 2019 Parliamentary Polls For All Phases As Announced By The Election Commission

(With agency inputs)