SHILLONG, Nov 11: The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party is exuberant over the possibility of three sitting MLAs joining their ranks ahead of the Assembly polls in 2023.
BJP Meghalaya president Ernest Mawrie on Friday confirmed that three sitting MLAs – one from East Khasi Hills and two from Garo Hills – will join the party in December while discussions were under way with two more MLAs and there is ever likelihood that they too will join the BJP in the coming days
While Mawrie did not disclose the names of the MLAs, BJP sources said that Trinamool Congress MLAs Himalaya M Shangpliang (Mawsynram), and NPP legislators Ferlin CA Sangma (Selsella) and Benedict R Marak (Raksamgre) are likely to join the saffron party in December.
Talking about the party’s prospects, Mawrie was confident that the BJP will perform better in 2023 by emerging victorious in a good number of seats to form the government.
He reiterated that the BJP will fight the poll battle alone and put up candidates in all the 60 seats.
On the announcement of the list of candidate, Mawrie said the party will invite applications only after the announcement of the poll schedule by the Election Commission. He added that the first list of candidates would be announced in January.
Meanwhile, party sources said that the BJP central leadership has tasked a three-member panel to oversee the election process in detail while the state president has been asked to focus on organisational works. BJP leaders from Assam are expected to oversee the party’s organisational and election-related affairs in Meghalaya.