BJP gearing up for likely mid-term LS poll

RAIPUR: Amidst talks of mid-term polls in the wake of continuing stalemate over the Indo-US nuclear deal, the BJP in Chhattisgarh will meet later this week to decide its election strategy in the state.
   
In the party's Core Committee meeting on Saturday, which will be attended by senior leader Venkaiah Naidu, the BJP will draft its strategy for the possible mid-term polls, a top party leader said on Tuesday.
   
Since the fight between the Congress and Left has reached a new height on the nuclear deal issue, the BJP believes that mid-term election is inevitable and the party is ready for it, party sources said.
   
The meeting will deliberate upon the names of prospective candidates for the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state, besides discussing ways to counter the anti-incumbency factor against the Raman Singh government, the sources said.
   
Naidu will visit Durg district to attend a function of state BJP General Secretary and Durg Mayor, Saro Pandey.
   
After arriving in Raipur, the former BJP president would visit the party state headquarters and hold discussions with leaders there, they said.
   
Later, he would preside over the Core Committee meeting, the decision making body of the state unit, they said.