GUWAHATI: Former BJP candidate, Bakul Chandra Hajong is determined to contest the May 28 by poll to Ampati Legislative Assembly constituency, claiming that a ticket from the saffron party is “almost a certainty” and that a clear picture will emerge in a day or two.
“I am determined to contest again. Even if I do not happen to get a ticket from BJP, which is unlikely, I will fight as an Independent as my supporters insist that I should be in the fray again,” Hajong, who lost to former Meghalaya chief minister, Mukul Sangma in the February 27 election, told The Shillong Times on Saturday.
Sangma, who had also won from Songsak, had vacated Ampati a few days after the results were announced, making way for his daughter Miani D Shira to contest the by-election.
National spokesperson and Meghalaya in-charge, Nalin Kohli had on Friday hinted of putting up a candidate from the party in Ampati.
“I spoke to Nalin Kohli last night and day before yesterday. He said that discussions were on to put up a candidate and that there was an intention to consider my candidature,” Hajong said.
He however added, “But from my sources, I’m almost certain of getting a BJP ticket. We will know by tomorrow or day after.”
Asked what went wrong in the February poll, he said most of his supporters were diverted to the Congress owing to a number of factors.
“The ticket from the party came just three days before filing of nomination papers, which affected my campaign. The other aspirants of the party too did not help as they were spreading false propaganda, claiming that I would not get the ticket,” Hajong, a retired sericulture director, alleged.
He also attributed the “lack of planning” on the part of programme scheduled for the star campaigner, who was from the minority community. “He was taken to areas which did not have a Muslim majority, which was a mistake,” Hajong said.
He further said the people of Ampati were anticipating Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the constituency in February, which eventually did not happen.
“Besides, Mukul Sangma had used money power to divert voters to the Congress,” he alleged.
Hajong said this time also, from the day Mukul Sangma announced that he would vacate the seat, his party began preparations for his daughter. “It’s been almost two months now, and the BJP ticket till yesterday has not been finalised,” he said.
