TURA: The BJP list announced on Friday afternoon sprang a surprise for many and shock to others with senior functionaries and aspiring candidates failing to make the cut in the Garo Hills.
The biggest shock came about in Raksamgre constituency of West Garo Hills where the BJP’s state vice president Edmund K Sangma did not have his name figured in the party list. The BJP announced the name of Jonathan Rabha for Raksamgre.
Raksamgre is currently held by Congress’s Lemison D Sangma.
Another potential candidate and former legislator from Baghmara, Satto R Marak, who had left the NPP to join the BJP also did not make it.
“I don’t know what happened because a lot of support was being given to the BJP by the voters of Baghmara. People wanted the party to field a candidate and in areas like Kapasipara, Ramchenga, Chengkali, Rongchong and Mekadu they had openly announced their support for the BJP,” claim Satto Marak.
He asserted that the 5000 strong non-Garo voters in the constituency had rallied behind the BJP for a candidate in Baghmara.
There is apprehension that rebel candidates could play spoilsport in several constituencies during the elections.
A BJP candidate from North Tura, Chiang D Shira, whose name did not figure in the party list has indicated he will still contest the upcoming polls irrespective of the party denying him a ticket.
Interestingly, the BJP has left vacant six constituencies in Garo Hills, including Rangsakona where Congress chief minister Mukul Sangma’s younger brother Zenith M Sangma is locked in a fight with the NPP’s Subir Marak.
The BJP has stopped short of fielding candidates in the constituencies of North Tura currently held by Congress MLA Noverfield Marak, Gambegre where sitting legislator Saleng A Sangma is contesting on an NCP ticket, Chokpot which is held by Congress MLA Bluebell Sangma, Baghmara held by Independent Samuel M Sangma and Siju-Rongara constituency where Independent Rophul Marak is seeking a return to the state legislature.
