Aiming to be in a position to form the next government at the Centre by fairing better in Uttar Pradesh in the next Lok Sabha polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party has started shortlisting the prospective candidates in the state.
Senior state leaders had been on extensive tours of the state from November 18 to 26 to expose the wrongdoings of the Mayawati government. They had also deliberated in detail the local equations, social factors and the aspirations of various sections of society, which would help them in shortlisting candidates who can find acceptability among the people.
The party is moving ahead with the aim of 'Har gaon, har booth, har varg mein BJP' (BJP in every village, booth and section of society), for which the party leaders have been asked to tour the state to sense the pulse of the people.
The party, which fared badly in the last Lok Sabha elections, bagging just 11 seats from UP, has set a target of winning 35 to 40 seats from the state in the next general election, which it feels would hold it in good stead in formation of the next government at the Centre.
Meanwhile, the projection of senior leader Lal Kishenchand Advani as the prime ministerial candidate has led to speculation among the party on the likelihood of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajapyee staying away from electoral politics.
The majority, however, thinks that the veteran leader should be persuaded to contest elections as his very presence makes a lot of difference and means a lot for the party.