By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With less than a year to go for the upcoming Assembly elections, various political parties in the State have started gearing up for the showdown. However, the State unit of the BJP has maintained a low profile in the run-up to the event.
The lack in momentum in the BJP could be attributed to the decline in the number of legislators in the party since 1998.
It may be mentioned that in the 1998 Assembly elections, the BJP had three legislators viz., TH Rangad (Laban), AL Hek (Pynthorumkhrah) and NN Simchang (Dalu, West Garo Hills)
In 2003 elections, Simchang could not retain the Dalu seat and in July 4, 2003 after the death of BJP legislator Rangad, his wife Jopsimon Phanbuh contested and won the Laban seat for the party. Hek also retained Pynthorumkhrah seat. In 2008, the BJP could get only one seat after Hek won again from Pynthomrukharh.
Hek had served as a minister for short periods in the previous NCP-UDP led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government till March 2009 and also earlier under the combination of UDP-NCP government in 2000. However, with the lone legislator, Hek joining the Congress in 2009, the BJP, which had formed its State unit in 1991, received a major setback.
The Congress subsequently accommodated Hek in the ministry in an attempt to get many BJP supporters into the Congress fold.
BJP general secretary, Dipayan Chakraborty admitted that there have been many ups and downs in the party over the years.
He, however, pointed out that many potential candidates are coming forward to seek party tickets from Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills and Garo Hills. “Though we do not have any legislators currently, we are getting good response from the people and in the due course of time, we will finalise the candidates”, he added.
The BJP leader made it clear the party would field its candidate from Pynthorumkhrah constituency from where Hek was elected on a BJP ticket in 2008.