Gandhinagar: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat has begun preparations for the upcoming local elections. The party has prepared a detailed ‘introduction sheet’ for individuals wishing to contest elections for district panchayats, taluka panchayats, and municipalities, seeking comprehensive information ranging from personal details to social media activity.

Special emphasis on digital presence

The BJP has placed special emphasis on candidates’ proficiency in technology and social media. In the introduction sheet, candidates are required to mandatorily provide their Facebook, Twitter (X), and Instagram IDs, along with the number of followers on each platform. Additionally, candidates are required to indicate whether they use the ‘NaMo App’. All aspirants must also fill in their details on the party’s ‘SARAL App’.

Complete profile and history of the candidate

The form seeks basic details such as educational qualifications, profession, caste (General/SC/ST/OBC), sub-caste, and hobbies (such as oratory, reading, writing, and sports). It also focuses on the candidate’s political background, including:

• Current and past responsibilities within the party
• Details of previous elections contested
• Information on any roles held in other political parties
• Disclosure of any police cases related to criminal offences

Social and ideological affiliation

The BJP is also emphasising social engagement. Candidates are required to provide details of their work with institutions, trusts, NGOs, or cooperatives.

The completed form must be submitted to the Pravesh Nirikshak appointed by the party. The process indicates that the BJP has already initiated a structured and detailed mechanism to select candidates for the upcoming local body elections. DeshGujarat