Shillong, May 18: The state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has shortlisted four ticket aspirants for the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha byelection, with a final decision expected after a party meeting on May 20.
Informing this on Monday, senior BJP leader and Pynthorumkhrah legislator AL Hek said, “Four names have already been discussed for the Shillong Lok Sabha byelection.
“We are having a meeting on May 20. After the meeting we can decide or zero down to any potential candidate of the party.”
He declined to disclose the names, citing internal party procedure. “Until we announce it, we have got four names but we will not mention their names,” he said. “We have four candidates who are aspiring to contest the Shillong Lok Sabha seat.”
Asked if the names of Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai and former IPS officer M Kharkrang were among the aspirants, Hek said, “I will not mention any names but there are already four names there. Until and unless officially we discuss, I will not be able to tell you because this is an internal matter of the party for the time being. Once we officially zero down to a candidate we will announce accordingly.”
Hek confirmed that the BJP would field its own candidate.
“All political parties are fielding their own candidates and BJP too is fielding its own candidate,” he said.
On the NPP and VPP putting up candidates, he said, “They have their own agenda. Every political party has their own agenda. BJP also has a very strong one, and you will know when the time has come once we announce the candidate.”
Expressing confidence about the party’s prospects, Hek said, “Yes, we have a hundred percent chance to win the Shillong seat.”
He claimed growing support for the party across the state. “People are coming from all over the state to join the BJP. Even sitting MLAs and ex-MLAs have met me personally and expressed that they want to join the BJP,” he said.
“Therefore, the acceptability of the BJP in Meghalaya is very high.”
When asked to name the legislators, Hek declined, citing the anti-defection law. “Until and unless they join, it is not good to mention anybody’s name,” he said.
On whether former Chief Minister Mukul Sangma’s name was among those keen to join, Hek said, “I will not mention any names but I am telling you many of them. Not only from Khasi-Jaintia Hills but even from Garo Hills also they have approached me personally as they want to join the BJP. We welcome them but at the right time they join us.”
The date for the Shillong Lok Sabha byelection is yet to be announced by the Election Commission of India.
