SHILLONG, June 20: Unlike its political rivals that have stepped up their outreach ahead of the by-election to the Shillong Lok Sabha seat, the Bharatiya Janata Party indicated on Friday that it is in no hurry to announce its candidate.
The party said it will make a decision only after the Election Commission notifies the poll schedule. The sudden demise of the Voice of the People Party MP Ricky A.J. Syngkon necessitated the by-election.
State BJP general secretary Wankitbok Pohshna said the party has initiated its internal selection process and received applications from nine aspirants seeking the party ticket. However, he said the final decision will rest with the BJP’s Central Parliamentary Board.
Pohshna dismissed suggestions that the party risks losing ground by delaying the announcement of its candidate while other parties have already begun campaigning across the constituency.
According to him, the BJP does not expect the by-election to be announced immediately and believes there is still sufficient time before the electoral contest formally begins.He pointed to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, saying that there is a general understanding that the exercise may be completed before the Election Commission announces the by-poll schedule.
“From what we know, elections will not be held till the SIR is complete,” Pohshna said, while clarifying that no official announcement has yet been made on the matter.
He said several rounds of consultations have already taken place regarding the party’s candidate, but declined to disclose the names under consideration. He confirmed that the party received nine applications and that the state leadership is trying to narrow down the field before forwarding recommendations to the central leadership.
Pohshna maintained that the BJP traditionally announces its candidates after the election schedule is notified and said the party would continue to follow that approach for the Shillong Lok Sabha by-election.
