SHILLONG/ TURA: Making a U-turn, the BJP on Sunday named businessman Rikman G Momin as its candidate for the Tura Lok Sabha seat while in another development, the Garo National Council (GNC), the oldest political party of the Garos, announced its support to NPP candidate for the seat, Agatha K Sangma.
The BJP’s announcement of its candidate for Tura comes a day after its state leadership on Saturday said party workers in Garo Hills could vote for any candidate barring the Congress’s since it is not putting up anyone for the seat.
The BJP on Saturday had declared the name of only Sanbor Shullai for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat.
However, after the central leadership of the party took the decision on Sunday, the state unit president, Shibun Lyngdoh, said it would abide by the decision.
When contacted, BJP leader and party in-charge for Meghalaya, Nalin Kohli said the party found Rikman a fit candidate to contest the Tura seat and hence decided to field him.
The state unit had earlier proposed the names of former minister KC Boro, Digros D Shira and Thomas Marak besides Rikman for the Tura seat to the central leadership.
Rikman had unsuccessfully contested the Rongjeng seat in the 2018 Assembly polls.
GNC support for Agatha
The GNC on Sunday said it would have no truck with the Congress and would instead support Agatha K Sangma.
The announcement comes a day after one of its leaders heading the agitation for a separate Garoland state decided to back the Congress.
“We are a part of the ruling coalition led by the NPP in the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council and also an alliance partner of UDP at the state level where their candidate Jemino Mawthoh is our common candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat. So it is very obvious on whose side we are and will be supporting Agatha,” said GNC president Kalpana D Sangma, widow of former GNC legislator and president Clifford Marak.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Sunday morning, Kalpana Sangma denied media reports of her party deciding to back Congress candidate Mukul Sangma.
“There is no truth about reports of GNC extending support to the Congress,” she clarified.
When it was brought to her notice that one of their own leaders, Nikman Ch Marak, had openly endorsed Mukul Sangma’s candidature, the GNC supremo downplayed the report.
“Nikman is leading the Garoland State Movement Committee, which is an NGO. He or anyone else from the GSMC is free to support anyone in their individual capacity. But as a party we are with the NPP,” she said.
“Nikman had himself refused to contest the MP election citing financial constraints. Then they (Nikman) wanted to bring a candidate from outside our party to contest which we rejected,” revealed the GNC president.
Nikman, on Saturday, reiterated his stand that the GSMC would back the Congress for opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. He also accused the NPP of distancing itself from the Garoland issue after the demise of late PA Sangma.
