Chennai: The BJP leadership has taken up the exercise of weighing the plus and minus of going alone in the Assembly polls while interviewing party’s MLA aspirants who sought ticket to contest the May 16 election.
Many who turned up at the ‘interview’ were surprised when they were asked about the prospects of the BJP contesting alone and also what the strength of the party would be if it forged electoral ties. Among the numerous criteria for selecting the candidates was money — were they financially sound enough to bear the entire poll expenses.
Many among those who attended the two-day interview which began all over the state on Sunday were said to have expressed they could individually spend a hefty sum — probably running to several lakhs.
Over 108 candidates in the city were interviewed till late on Sunday night by Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping Pon Radhakrishnan, state vice president M. Chakravarthy and Central Chennai district president Dhananjaya at Kamalalayam. There were also few women who competed with their male counterparts in contesting from Chepauk and Anna Nagar. Those seeking to contest from T. Nagar, Harbour and Velachery Assembly constituencies were also interviewed.
“What is the BJP’s strength in the constituency, will the party win with or without alliance and what was our personal influence in the constituency were among the prominent questions that were asked during the interview,” a candidate said.
The interview session will be completed on Monday and thereafter the party will shortlist the candidates to be approved by the party high command.
