SHILLONG, Feb 2: Putting all speculations over candidate selection for North Shillong constituency to rest, the BJP has reposed faith in former IPS officer Mariahom Kharkrang, who is preferred over Michael Kharsyntiew for the seat.
Two ticket aspirants vied for the party ticket from North Shillong and BJP spokesperson Kharkrang had the last laugh.
Meanwhile, BJP sources from New Delhi said the party did not consider Kharsyntiew’s name for the ticket as he had made a ‘baseless allegation’ of cash-for-vote scam against senior party leaders.
Besides this, BJP leaders are also not convinced about Kharsyntiew’s popularity within the party. These two factors worked against him, party insiders said.
Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, Kharkrang, who thanked the central leadership for keeping faith on him, vowed to fight till the end to justify his selection as the party candidate from North Shillong seat.
Aligning himself with his party agenda of development, Kharkrang said development is evident in all the BJP-ruled states. He along with other leaders of the party are determined to fight keeping in mind the party’s poll plank of development.
Kharkrang pointed out no state can develop without adequate law and order situation. “Our focus is on education, healthcare, employment and security. This is applicable to not only in my constituency but across all the constituencies,” he said.
Refusing to comment on who is the toughest candidate in his constituency, Kharkrang said that he takes every candidate in the constituency seriously.
When asked about BJP being termed as troublemaker by the AICC, Kharkrang said that the Congress have got their statistics wrong and it is under the BJP’s initiative that peace talks with different militant groups are taking place in the region. According to him, militancy is under control now.
Kharkrang refused to admit that BJP is a communal party saying that people have understood that BJP is all about development and nothing else.
“There are fringe elements in every community. Our party does not encourage such elements and always keep a distance from them,” Kharkrang said.
When asked about the delay in announcement of tickets by the BJP, Kharkrang nonchalantly said it is a party matter and he is engaged in ground work for his party during last several months soon after taking voluntary retirement from police service.
