SHILLONG, June 25: Amid growing rumours within the party that the BJP may skip the forthcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election due to the lack of a strong candidate, the Meghalaya unit on Thursday firmly dismissed the speculation and asserted that it will contest the bypoll.
The party said no final decision on the candidate has been taken yet and the name will be announced only after the Election Commission notifies the poll schedule.
State BJP president Rikman G. Momin rubbished the rumours, saying those spreading such speculations appear to be projecting themselves as being above the party’s central leadership. “If there is any official development concerning the party’s affairs, it would be communicated through the authorised leadership,” he said.
Momin reiterated that the BJP has consistently maintained its candidate for the bypoll would be announced only after the Election Commission notifies the schedule, and the party would strictly adhere to the established organisational procedure.
Echoing the party president’s stand, BJP state general secretary Wankitbok Pohshna questioned the identity of those claiming to be party sources and alleged that half-baked information was being circulated in the public domain.
Pohshna said the party has received nine applications from aspirants seeking the BJP ticket. Consultations are currently underway to identify the most suitable candidate but the final decision rests with the party’s Central Parliamentary Board.
