Kolkata: Bengal’s voters did not elect a BJP govt just so Trinamool netas could change shirts and join the party, state president Samik Bhattacharya said on Friday, after the first day of BJP’s two-day meeting to decide on its strategy for the upcoming civic polls in Kolkata and Howrah.The meeting, which took place at BJP’s Salt Lake office and was attended by BJP central observer Sunil Bansal, dwelled on the party’s election and selection process for candidates for the civic body elections. It was decided at the meeting that BJP would contest all 209 KMC and 68 HMC seats.Asked by reporters if Trinamool ex-councillors would feature on BJP’s list of candidates, Bhattacharya said, “I have no such information and if I have no information, the party also has no information. No such application has been submitted to BJP.”Junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar, however, refused to rule out the possibility. “There is no fixed rule in politics. It’s always a permutation and combination of things. We are not in a position to say anything now. You will see once the candidate list is announced,” he told reporters.He added that BJP would select candidates based on their winnability, public image and experience, adding that the party hadn’t discussed any alliance yet.Speculation is rife within political circles that BJP may announce its candidates list within a fortnight. “We won’t disclose the candidate selection criteria,” said Bhattacharya. He added: “I don’t know whether the (next) mayor will be good-looking, but you will get a good mayor who will work.”Earlier, CM Suvendu Adhikari had urged voters to back BJP in elections to civic bodies for a “triple-engine govt”. Earlier this month, the CM travelled to Delhi for a meeting on organisational preparedness, candidate selection and strategy for the two cities.
