By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 20: The delay in announcing the names of the party candidates for the Shillong and Tura parliamentary seats has upset many state BJP leaders.
They resented their inability to canvass for the party when the candidates of other political parties had already started campaigning for the April 19 elections.
“How can we go to the people and seek votes when we do not know who the candidates for the two seats will be,” a BJP leader said, declining to be quoted.
Another party leader defended the delay by pointing out that the BJP is yet to announce the names of candidates for about 200 seats across the country. “The leadership cannot decide for Meghalaya alone,” he said.
The BJP’s state president, Rikman Momin said the party will field candidates for both Shillong and Tura, burying speculations that the NPP does not want its alliance partner to contest the Tura seat. He also justified the delay, saying the party is always ready to face an election even if there is a bit of delay in the announcement of candidates.
The BJP has five ticket aspirants in Shillong — Cabinet Minister AL Hek, former state president Ernest Mawrie, advocates Fenela L. Nonglait and Mewanker Lyngdoh, and Sumitra Laloo.
For the Tura seat, the ticket aspirants are Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak, former GHADC chief executive member Boston Marak, Riya Sangma, KC Boro, Thomas Marak, and Winnerson D. Sangma.