BJP sets new candidate rules for local polls, social media presence becomes key criteria

With the announcement of local body elections, BJP has begun scouting for candidates, introducing stricter selection criteria with a clear focus on youth and fresh faces.

State president Jagdish Vishwakarma is said to be emphasising new parameters in the selection process, giving priority to candidates who are active on social media.

The party has reportedly decided that aspirants with a strong presence on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram will be preferred, with follower count emerging as a key factor in ticket allocation.

The party has already been following internal norms such as denying tickets to leaders above 60 years of age and those who have served three consecutive terms as corporators or members of district and taluka panchayats. Now, additional conditions are being introduced to align with changing voter dynamics.

Sources indicate that aspirants will be required to disclose details of their social media activity, including follower base and frequency of posts related to party work. They may also be asked to download and use party-linked digital applications as part of their engagement strategy.

Alongside this, candidates will have to mandatorily declare any criminal cases or police records before observers, with no scope for concealment. In a move aimed at curbing dynastic politics, the party is also expected to allow only one member from a family to contest.

The revised guidelines are likely to impact several senior leaders and sitting representatives, many of whom may be denied tickets under the new rules. The changes have increased anxiety among aspirants and added to the political buzz ahead of the elections.