Shillong, May 19: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Meghalaya has shortlisted four aspirants for the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha byelection, with the party expected to finalise its candidate after a meeting scheduled on May 20.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, senior BJP leader and Pynthorumkhrah MLA AL Hek said discussions on the potential candidates have already taken place within the party. “Four names have already been discussed for the Shillong Lok Sabha byelection. We are having a meeting on May 20. After the meeting we can decide or zero down to any potential candidate of the party,” Hek said.
However, he declined to reveal the identities of the aspirants, stating that the matter remains an internal party issue until an official announcement is made. “Until we announce it, we have got four names but we will not mention their names,” he said, adding that four party members are aspiring to contest the Shillong Lok Sabha seat.
When asked whether Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai and former IPS officer M Kharkrang were among the contenders, Hek refused to confirm any names. “I will not mention any names but there are already four names there. Until and unless officially we discuss, I will not be able to tell you because this is an internal matter of the party for the time being. Once we officially zero down to a candidate we will announce accordingly,” he said.
Hek also confirmed that the BJP would field its own candidate in the byelection. “All political parties are fielding their own candidates and BJP too is fielding its own candidate,” he stated.
On the decision of the National People’s Party (NPP) and Voice of the People Party (VPP) to contest the seat, Hek said every political party has its own agenda and strategy. “They have their own agenda. Every political party has their own agenda. BJP also has a very strong one, and you will know when the time has come once we announce the candidate,” he added.
Expressing confidence over the BJP’s chances in the election, Hek claimed the party has strong public support across Meghalaya. “Yes, we have a hundred percent chance to win the Shillong seat,” he said. The BJP leader further claimed that several leaders from across the state, including sitting and former MLAs, have expressed interest in joining the party. “People are coming from all over the state to join the BJP. Even sitting MLAs and ex-MLAs have met me personally and expressed that they want to join the BJP,” Hek said. “Therefore, the acceptability of the BJP in Meghalaya is very high,” he added.
However, he declined to disclose the names of those leaders, citing the anti-defection law. “Until and unless they join, it is not good to mention anybody’s name,” he said. When asked whether former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma was among those interested in joining the BJP, Hek again refused to name anyone but claimed leaders from both Khasi-Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills have approached him. “I will not mention any names but I am telling you many of them. Not only from Khasi-Jaintia Hills but even from Garo Hills also they have approached me personally as they want to join the BJP. We welcome them but at the right time they join us,” he said.
The Election Commission of India is yet to announce the date for the Shillong Lok Sabha byelection.
