SHILLONG, July 19: The Meghalaya BJP on Sunday firmly dismissed speculations that it would stay away from the forthcoming Shillong Assembly by-election, asserting that the party will field its own candidate once the Election Commission formally announces the poll schedule.
State BJP general secretary Wankitbok Pohshna said reports suggesting that the party may once again refrain from contesting the seat under an arrangement with its MDA allies were incorrect.
“Not true. BJP will definitely contest the by-election. Among our alliance partners, two have already announced their candidates. BJP will do so once the official announcement is made,” he said.
The clarification comes amid unconfirmed reports claiming that the BJP, like in the previous bypoll, may choose not to field a candidate and instead extend support to one of its MDA partners.
Earlier, state BJP president Rikman G. Momin had also rejected the rumours, saying those spreading such speculation appeared to be portraying themselves as being above the party’s central leadership. He maintained that any official decision relating to the party would be communicated only through its authorised leadership.
Echoing the party president’s stand, Pohshna questioned the identity of those claiming to be party sources and alleged that half-baked information was being circulated in the public domain.
He said the BJP has received nine applications from aspirants seeking the party ticket and that consultations are under way to identify the most suitable candidate, with the final decision to be taken by the party’s Central Parliamentary Board.
