The West Bengal unit of the BJP, which has set a target of winning over 23 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the State, is carrying out a survey to assess the winnability of its candidates.
With more than 60-70 aspirants for one seat, especially in the northern and southern part of the State, the party is facing dissent over ticket distribution.
Several factions, including the ones led by leaders who switched to the BJP from the TMC, are staking claims to the same seat, forcing the State unit to seek an assessment of its candidates to meet its 23-seat target, set by party national president Amit Shah.
“It is unprecedented that we have been receiving such a huge number of applications for some seats. Ten years ago, we used to have a tough time convincing people to contest on our ticket,” a BJP State unit leader said.
He added that a section of leaders has appealed to the central leadership to ensure that old timers don’t feel sidelined.
The State unit, in consultation with the central leaders, has roped in an external agency to assess its prospects in the Lok Sabha constituencies, he said.
BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said that a list will be prepared based on inputs by the external agency and party’s senior leaders.
