Hek bats for new BJP state prez

SHILLONG, April 30: Senior BJP leader and Cabinet Minister, Alexander Laloo Hek on Sunday pushed for the election of a new Meghalaya BJP president, saying the election for the same was due. At the same time he also disclosed that he was ready to take over the party’s reign in the state if the central leadership considered him for the post.
“The tenure of the state president is two years as per the party constitution. It is time we have a new president of the BJP in Meghalaya,” the Pynthorumkhrah MLA said.
He made it clear that decision on the election of a new president will be taken by the party’s central leadership in Delhi.
He also said that as a loyal party leader he is ready to accept any offer from the central leadership to take over as the new president.
“It does not matter whether I want to become president or not. It is the leaders from Delhi who will decide,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hek informed that the party will contest from both Shillong and Tura Parliamentary seats in next year’s Lok Sabha polls.
Asked if the party leadership in the state has projected former MLA Himalaya M. Shangpliang and former IPS officer Mariahom Kharkrang as the probable candidates for the Shillong seat, Hek said the party is yet to project any name.
“So far the only thing confirmed is that we will be contesting both the seats,” Hek said.
Asked about prospect of BJP candidate for Sohiong seat, Eric Kharbuki, he said that he had gone to campaign for the party candidate on Friday.
“I saw a good crowd when I had gone to campaign. But it will difficult for me to say if our candidate will win since I am not very familiar with the politics in Sohiong,” the BJP leader said, adding that the party will not send any star campaigner from Delhi to campaign in Sohiong.
Meanwhile, BJP state general secretary, Dipayan Chakraborty said that the party has decided to strengthen the party organisation ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Admitting that Shillong seat has traditionally been a Congress bastion, he said that the grand old party has lost its ground here and people are confident that Narendra Modi will return as the Prime Minister in 2024.