SHILLONG/TURA: Ending all speculations, the Central leadership of BJP has decided not to contest the upcoming Tura by-poll, slated for May 16, instead decided extend support to NPP candidate Conrad K Sangma.
The decision of BJP president Amit Shah and the rest of the party leaders in Delhi to support the son of late P A Sangma has come as a major boost to the NPP as campaigning gets underway in the five districts of Garo Hills.
Informing this in Shillong on Tuesday, the state BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said that the party’s central leadership took this decision since the NPP is a part of NDA.
“The BJP had in 2012 supported P A Sangma when he contested the Presidential elections and the party will support his son this time,” Lyngdoh said.
He also revealed that the State BJP had recommended three names to the BJP’s central leadership to contest the Tura seat.
When asked about the party’s Garo Hills unit’s willingness to contest election without any consultation with state leadership, he said that BJP workers have right to express their views and their stand was not official.
“If they (leaders of Garo Hills unit) go beyond control line, then they will have to face disciplinary action,” he said, while asking all party workers to remain united and work together.
With this, hopes of the Garo Hills unit of the BJP to contest the Tura by-election came to an abrupt end
Meanwhile, BJP national council member Edmund K Sangma who was camping in Delhi with a delegation of party leaders from Garo Hills has returned to the state. He was said to be the contender for the party ticket.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, he said that he was asked to return to the state by Meghalaya in-charge Nalin Kohli after he had met him and submitted a paper.
Edmund had led a delegation to Delhi which included former Tura MLA Billykid A Sangma and Kisan Morcha leader Rocky Marak.
“We met our leader and submitted our papers on the pros and cons of contesting the Tura by-election. He asked us to return to Meghalaya while the party leadership would study the paper and inform us,” said Edmund Sangma.
The by-poll for Tura MP constituency was necessitated following the death of former Lok Sabha Speaker and founding President of the NPP, Purno A Sangma. Lyngdoh said the party is supporting the NPP candidate Conrad K Sangma, the youngest son of P A Sangma.
