(This story originally appeared in on Nov 08, 2014)

NEW DELHI: With BJP gearing up for fresh polls in the capital, speculation is rife that the party will give preference to young faces this time around. While the selection process is yet to start, sources say , the party might consider young functionaries as candidates, especially from assembly constituencies where BJP lost last time.There is also a buzz that the party is likely to repeat most of its MLAs in last assembly, especially those who won by a huge margin, in the coming polls. Sources, however, say candidates who lost by more than 8,000-10,000 votes may not get tickets.The decision to promote young workers is seen as an indicator of a generational shift in the party. “Both Modiji and Amit Shah are promoting young functionaries. Generational shift has already begun in the party .Now, it is time that the party gives young ones a chance to contest elections in Delhi,“ said a senior BJP member.A section in the state BJP has been pushing for a decision of not fielding people who are 70 or above in these elections. Instead the senior functionaries should be involved in chalking out election strategies, they say. “We need the experience of our seniors in fighting elections. But youngsters should be given more responsibility. Like Lok Sabha polls, the party should give an opportunity to young workers to contest elections in Delhi,“ said another BJP member. BJP members said that. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), e which came into existence two years ago, is a party of young workers. Similarly , “ Congress opted for a genera tional shift after the party's rout in the city . It appointed Arvinder Singh, a young face, as Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee chief. BJP's decision to appoint Satish Upadhyay as state chief, sources say , was a step in the same direction.When asked about whether party will give tickets to young functionaries, Satish Upadhyay said, “The decision has to be taken by the party brass. Young and experienced people should be given a chance. But we haven't started the candidate selection process. It will be a collective decision of the party .“According to senior party functionaries, BJP is not ready to take any chances.“Winnability is going to be one of the main criteria. We can't afford to lose any constituency . There are several MLAs who have won twice or thrice. The party can't sideline them just because of age. To counter AAP and Congress, we will need experienced people.The party will consider the veteran MLAs. It will even consider those who lost the last election by a small margin,'' said a senior BJP worker, who was a member of the last assembly .