BJP in a huddle to strategise for Haryana polls

Ahead of the crucial Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting likely to be held on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday convened a core group meeting here with an eye on the Haryana Assemby polls schedudled for October 21.

Chaired by BJP President and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the meeting is being attended by the party's working President J.P. Nadda, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, BJP's Haryana in-charge Anil Jain and Haryana election in-charge Narendra Singh Tomar, among others.

The meeting is to discuss candidates and poll strategy ahead of the CEC meet on Sunday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be back after attending the UN General Assembly session in the US.

Nadda had met Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday to discuss alliance in Haryana.

The BJP is likely to announce its candidates' list for Haryana soon after Sunday's CEC meeting, during the Navaratri celebrations to drive home a point. The saffron party has little time left, as the Election Commission has fixed October 4 as the last date for filing nomination.

The 90-member Haryana Assembly will go to the polls on October 21, while the results will be declared on October 24. The BJP, which is in power in the state, has announced that it wishes to repeat it's incumbent Chief Minister should it return for a second term.IANS