After taking into account various factors, the party leadership had come to the conclusion that as much as 40 per cent of the sitting MLAs had to be axed if the BJP were to retain the seats represented by them. These included at least 15 ministers.

But in the list released by the party, not only have all the ministers been renominated, but, owing to pressure exerted by local leaders, a large majority of the sitting MLAs too have been given party tickets. All the efforts put in by BJP general secretary K N Govindacharya, who is also the election incharge for Rajasthan, seems to have gone in vain.

A senior party leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Indian Express, as a result of this, the party stands to lose in as many as 15 seats. ``There was a lot of resentment among these MLAs and Ministers intheir respective constituencies,'' he said, adding, ``Not only were their performance dismal, but they were also found to be lacking in the three criteria prepared by the party in order to be eligible for getting the party ticket. These include loyalty to the party, the candidate's image and his winnability.'' But, as the final list shows, the eligibility criteria has been completely thrown to the wind. ``Local stalwarts such as Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, state BJP president Raghuveer Singh Kaushal and senior ministers Hari Shankar Bhabhra and Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi seen to have had their way in getting these ministers renominated.''

The BJP leader admitted that could hamper the party's prospects in the state, where it is already fighting with its back to the wall.

Shekhawat's Johri nomination rejected