By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 2: Lok Sabha elections are getting closer and closer, which is apparent from the fact that parties have begun to sound the poll bugle one after another. But some are yet to announce their contestants for the two Parliamentary seats in the state.
In view of the prevailing situation concerning the would-be candidates, BJP leader Sanbor Shullai, on Saturday, said it is important to declare or decide the party candidate(s) six months prior in so far as the for the Lok Sabha elections are concerned as it involves many constituencies which need to be covered.
“For MP elections, a minimum of six months before the elections, they should declare or decide the candidate(s) so that there is ample time to cover the areas, especially the voters in rural areas. Shillong Parliamentary seat comprises of 36 constituencies,” said Shullai.
“Yes, we need time to work for one constituency. Every day for five years you have to work for us, it is very difficult in 13 days to convince people to work for 36 constituencies. It is not a matter of joke,” he added.
Making it clear that he has no intention to contest the MP elections, Shullai recalled, “Last elections in 2019 as well, I did not have any intention because in three weeks before the voting day at 12 am midnight, I got a mail that the party has nominated my name. The next day was the last day of filing the nomination. We are disciplined members of the party and so I contested”.
He, however, said, “But only in three weeks I did not get the time to tour the entire constituency. As an MLA, I work every day for one constituency that has 40,000 plus voters. It is not easy to work for 36 constituencies in three weeks”.
“I filed my nominations and covered as much (ground) as I could in the rural areas. In the city, I did not canvas, the appeal vehicle did the rounds. But in urban constituency, the BJP won. If I am not mistaken, in the last 2019 elections in urban constituency, I won with more than 20,000 votes without canvassing,” he added.
Asked whether he will contest if the party high command asks him at this time, he said that he said he will have to comply with the decision of the leadership.
Nonetheless, he reiterated that he has no intentions to contest the MP elections.
Talking about senior BJP leader and Cabinet Minister AL Hek, Shullai, who is the MLA of South Shillong, said that he has seen media reports about Hek wanting to contest the MP elections. If the party decides so, Shullai said he will be up and ready like all the other members to canvas for Hek.