SHILLONG: Former minister and BJP leader JA Lyngdoh has rubbished allegations that he had tried to defame a saffron party ticket aspirant from North Shillong constituency, Tony Marbaniang, during a meeting at Oakland here recently.
Marbaniang had filed an FIR against Lyngdoh on Monday accusing the latter of claiming that he (Marbaniang) could be bribed out of the poll fray.
Addressing media persons here on Tuesday, Lyngdoh, himself a BJP ticket aspirant from North Shillong, said anybody was free to contest elections.
Lyngdoh added that there were suggestions from certain quarters that he should sit with Marbaniang ‘to set the road free by asking him to withdraw from the race for the party ticket’.
The BJP leader added that he had learnt that Marbaniang held a meeting on Saturday to seek support for his election campaign following which, “I (Lyngdoh) was asked by others at the meeting as to whether the party ticket will be given to me”.
“Officially, the BJP has not announced my name, but till today I am the only one in the fray for the party ticket from North Shillong. The official declaration will come at a later stage as per the guidelines of the party,” Lyngdoh added.
When asked about the video clip which allegedly depicted Lyngdoh making “baseless allegations” against Marbaniang, the BJP leader said, “Throughout my political career I have never done anything like that.”
Alleging that the negotiation for money was a suggestion made by other people, Lyngdoh said that the BJP wants to form a corruption-free government.
The former cabinet minister said that it was up to the police to act on the complaint filed by Marbaniang even as he added that the party will screen the content of the FIR.
Lyngdoh further said that Marbaniang’s allegations hinted at the “usual political drama” used as a tool by opponents to disturb the party.
“The attack is not a personal one,” the BJP state vice president said adding that it has hurt the sentiments of the party.
Another BJP member, Joydeb Dutta, who was the convener of the meeting at Oakland, also refuted the allegations made by Marbaniang.
Meanwhile, stating that the BJP is a “large party”, Wallambok Thangkhiew, president of the 17- North Shillong BJP Mandal, said, “He (Marbaniang) says that he is a BJP member, but we are not aware of the same.”
He added that the BJP Mandal was formed on March 31, 2017 and maintained that any official candidate selected by the party should work hand in hand with the president.
“So far (in the various meetings) we have not met nor seen this person who says he is seeking a BJP ticket from 17-North Shillong,” he said.
