PM Modi arrives at BJP headquarters for Central Election Committee meeting

BJP President JP Nadda welcomed Prime Minister Modi at the party headquarters.

Seeking to stay a step ahead of its rivals ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the BJP's Central Election Committee is meeting at its headquarters in the national capital on Monday evening.

Candidates for some more Lok Sabha seats are likely to be finalised at the meeting, according to party sources.

Earlier, the sources confirmed the meeting will also be attended by the BJP's partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, and Bihar, adding that the allies are likely to discuss seat-sharing with the party's top leadership.

On March 2, the BJP released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, topped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will seek his third straight term in Lower House from Varanasi.

Of the 195 candidates, 34 are ministers from the Centre and States, while two are former chief ministers who are on the list.

In 2019, the BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats.

Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is also chairing the party's CEC meeting in Delhi. The Congress had earlier declared the names of 39 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held sometime between April and May this year. (ANI)