SHILLONG: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated its sitting MLA from South Shillong, Sanbor Shullai, as its candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat in the April 11 election, but will give Tura a miss.
Talking to newsmen after the announcement of his candidature, Shullai said he was happy with the decision of the party’s central leadership and was hopeful people would elect him.
Asked if the fiasco over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, which the BJP had pushed hard to enact as law and continues to stand by it, will have any bearing on the party’s prospect, Shullai said that he was the first MLA to head to Delhi and submit a memorandum to the prime minister opposing the proposed legislation and that people were aware of it and he stood for them.
He further said that though time is short, party workers will go to the people and campaign.
On the other hand, when asked why the party has not fielded a candidate in Tura, state BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said it was the prerogative of the central leadership. He said the state unit had proposed a few names for the seat.
He pointed out that in the last Lok Sabha elections, he had managed to get almost a lakh vote, and now with the candidature of a tall leader like Shullai, the party has a very good chance of winning the Shillong seat.
He also said that BJP workers can vote for any candidate other than the Congress since they are not putting up a candidate in Tura seat
On the NGT ban on coal mining, Lyngdoh said that the BJP was not voted to power in Meghalaya or else the story would have been different.
Meanwhile, BJP leader AL Hek echoing Shullai, said though time is short they will leave no stone unturned to ensure the party’s victory. Earlier, there was talk of the party high command zeroing in on Hek as its candidate for the Shillong seat.
Pointing out the various developmental projects initiated by the centre, Hek said the state BJP will strengthen the bonds between the state and the Centre. He assured that together with the MDA they will bring about required changes.
Madhav directive
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav has asked Hek and Shullai to strengthen the party organisation in the state in view of the ensuing elections.
Madhav met the two leaders here on Friday.
Madhav will visit Shillong again next week to discuss poll preparedness in the state.
Earlier, Madhav visited the house of Hek to offer his condolences on the death of his mother recently.