After tasting success in the recently concluded Rajya Sabha elections, the BJP core committee in Gujarat will meet in Gandhinagar on Monday to discuss the strategy for the up-coming by-elections.
The meeting, to be presided over by state party president Jitu Vaghani, will be attended by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and the party's organisational secretary.
According to state BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya, a few senior ministers will also be present. The meeting will be held around noon at the party's state headquarters Kamalam in Gandhinagar.
By-elections to eight seats have to be completed by the end of September.
Eight Congress MLAs had resigned, which benefited the BJP, ever since the Rajya Sabha elections were announced earlier this year. Of the eight MLAs who resigned, five joined the BJP in the presence of Vaghani on Saturday.
With its strength depleted, Congress could win only one seat while its other candidate lost. The BJP had put up three candidates, all of who won.
When the Rajya Sabha elections were announced, the BJP had the strength to ensure victory of only two of its candidates, like the Congress. However, Congress MLAs resigned and two MLAs of Bharatiya Tribal Party abstained from voting. This worked in favour of the saffron party.
Pandya said that there will possibly be a discussion on the roles and responsibilities for the rank and file of the party for the elections.
The possibility of discussing names of probable candidates is also not ruled out, sources said.
The core committee might also discuss the elections to municipal corporations in the state, which are due by the year end.
Even as the core committee of the BJP meets, there have been speculations about possible reshuffle in the Rupani cabinet.
Vaghani's term as state party president is already over and it is expected that he might be made a minister.
