SHILLONG, Jan 31: With less than a month left before the state goes to polls on February 27, the BJP is still struggling to declare its list of candidates.
While party leaders have explained that the “BJP’s system was different from other parties”, sources from Delhi informed The Shillong Times that the party’s central and state leaders were at loggerheads over finalisation of candidates in certain constituencies.
The sources revealed that the central leaders were keen to allot tickets to Garo candidates in certain constituencies in Khasi Hills which is being objected to by the state leaders.
The sources also revealed that the party’s election committee met in New Delhi on Tuesday where central leaders like Rituraj Sinha, BL Santhosh and M Chuba Ao expressed their intent to field Garo candidates in seats like Jirang, Rambrai-Jyrngam and Mawshynrut.
However, the state leaders have objected to the same, saying such a decision would negatively affect the party’s elections prospects since issuing tickets to Garo candidates in constituencies dominated by Khasis would hurt the sentiments of the local voters.
The state leaders recalled that recently, pressure groups in Ri-Bhoi district had opposed self-styled Garo headman in areas with Khasi population.
It may be added here that BJP Meghalaya in-charge M Chuba Ao had recently stated that the party would declare its lift of candidates on February 2 after the names are cleared by the central leaders.
