RSS wants BJP to drop 16 out of 26 sitting MPs

Fresh faces to be fielded?

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ( RSS) has recommended to the BJP leadership that 16 out of the party’s 26 sitting Lok Sabha MPs in Madhya Pradesh not be given a ticket for the forthcoming general elections, Sangh sources said on Monday.

A recent survey by the RSS reportedly found that at least 16 sitting BJP MPs in Madhya Pradesh have been battling anti- incumbency in their respective constituencies, raising doubts about their reelection in the upcoming LS elections, sources said. The RSS has asked the BJP to drop the 16 “unpopular” MPs and replace them with fresh faces to ensure that party retains these seats.

The RSS had suggested to the BJP to drop 82 out of the total 168 sitting BJP MLAs in MP in last year’s Assembly elections.

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership ignored the recommendation and replaced only 52 sitting MLAs, leading to its defeat in the November elections.

The RSS has reminded the BJP leadership of last year’s mistake and exhorted it not to repeat it in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The BJP had won 26 out of the total 29 Lok Sabha seats in MP in the 2014 polls.