BJP likely to release candidates’ list on Feb 2

SHILLONG, Jan 27: The BJP, which grapples with the ‘problem of plenty’, will release its list of candidates on or before February 2 soon after receiving the seal of approval from the party high command.
Talking to reporters after the State Election Committee meeting held at the party office, BJP state president Ernest Mawrie on Friday said that they have already prepared the list and it will be immediately sent to Delhi.
He said that they have decided to send all the names including constituencies where there are many ticket aspirants.
According to him, there are few constituencies where there are four to five ticket aspirants adding that the party will be contesting from all the 60 seats. “We would like the party central leadership to decide whom to award the party ticket,” BJP state president said.
Meanwhile, he said that the Central Parliamentary Committee (CPC) will meet on January 31 to take a final call of the party candidates for upcoming Assembly polls.
He further said that the CPC will not sit only for Meghalaya as it will discuss candidates for Tripura and Nagaland on the same day.
Mawrie further informed that he will have to go to Delhi on January 30 as soon as the meeting of the CPC is fixed since state party president are expected to be invited.
The BJP state president said that they are going to request the party central leadership to release the names of the party candidates at the earliest.
Meanwhile, he said that there is not going to be any problem even if the party is the last to announce the party candidates since they prepared the ground work long time back.
Mawrie further said that the party organisation is also very strong since they have the mandal committees in all the 60 constituencies who are already in the field to ensure the party’s victory.
He also informed that the party has more than 10 women candidates including Shella, Jirang, Nongpoh, Selsella, Dalu and Mawkyrwat.
Mawrie also informed that party manifesto will also be released as soon as the party candidates are announced.
When asked if there are any candidates with criminal records, he said that they are yet to identify candidate with criminal background.
“We will follow the guidelines of the ECI if we came across any candidates with a criminal background,” he said.