Shillong, Tura not on BJP first list

SHILLONG: The BJP has not named anyone for the two Lok Sabha seats of Shillong and Tura in its first list released on Thursday in New Delhi.
The BJP released names of 184 candidates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Varanasi) and the party’s national president, Amit Shah (Gandhinagar), besides some other senior leaders (See Page 5).
The state unit of the BJP had earlier proposed five names for Shillong and three for Tura to the party high command.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, BJP state president Shibun Lyngdoh said the party at the state level has done everything and now the party’s central election committee should take a call on the matter.
He also said apart from the parliamentary seats, three names have also been sent to the high command for the by-poll to the Selsella Assembly seat.
Meanwhile, sources in the party said the Central Election Committee is likely to meet again on Friday and could announce names for the two seats.
The sources said the party would like to at least contest in Shillong and would like Cabinet minister AL Hek to be the candidate but the final call will be taken only by the party’s central election committee.
Meanwhile, time is running out for the BJP in the state to nominate its candidates since the last day for filling of nominations is March 25 for the April 11 elections.