By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 3: The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has initiated preparations for the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, necessitated by the death of VPP MP Dr. Ricky AJ Syngkon, with seven aspirants already submitting applications for the party ticket.
According to state BJP general secretary Wankitbok Pohshna, the central leadership of the party has directed the state unit to begin ground preparations, though the final decision on the candidate will be made by the Central Parliamentary Board only after the election is formally notified.
Pohshna clarified that while seven applications have been received and more are expected, no shortlisting has taken place yet.
It may be recalled that the BJP, in the previous Lok Sabha elections, did not field a candidate for the Shillong seat, opting instead to support the common Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) nominee following instructions from the central leadership—a move that caused internal friction within the state unit at the time.
Regarding reports that South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai might be projected as a common MDA-II candidate for the seat, other coalition partners have dismissed such claims as mere speculation.
