BJP has announced its intention to field candidates for both Lok Sabha seats in Meghalaya. M Chuba Ao, the party’s national vice president, revealed this decision after a conversation with BJP national president JP Nadda.
“I spoke with JP Nadda regarding Meghalaya, and he confirmed that the BJP will contest the Shillong and Tura parliamentary constituencies,” Ao stated.
The announcement comes amidst speculation that the BJP might opt out of contesting both Lok Sabha seats, particularly after the National People’s Party (NPP) leader and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma declared his party’s support for BJP candidates in Arunachal Pradesh, foregoing fielding candidates in two Lok Sabha seats there.
However, Chuba Ao clarified that there are no seat-sharing arrangements between the BJP and the NPP in Meghalaya.
“We have no such agreements with the NPP in Meghalaya or any other northeastern state. In Arunachal Pradesh, the NPP is supporting us due to the lack of viable candidates for the Lok Sabha elections,” Ao explained.
The BJP has already named union minister for earth sciences Kiren Rijiju as its candidate for the Arunachal West Lok Sabha seat, with Tapir Gao contesting for the Arunachal East Lok Sabha seat.
Meanwhile, the NPP has put forward cabinet minister Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh as its candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat, and Agatha K Sangma, the incumbent Lok Sabha member, has been renominated for the Tura seat.
The race for BJP tickets in Meghalaya is heating up, with notable figures vying for the opportunity. Alexander Laloo Hek, a veteran BJP leader and cabinet minister in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government, along with former state president Ernest Mawrie, BJYM president Mewaker Lyngdoh, national executive member Sumitra Laloo, and Advocate Fenela Lyngdoh Nonglait, have all submitted their applications for the Shillong parliamentary seat.
For the prestigious Tura Lok Sabha seat, contenders include former excise minister KC Boro, former Trinamool Congress MLA Winnerson D. Sangma, Bernard Marak, the sole BJP member of the Garo Hill Autonomous District Council (GHADC), former GHADC Chief Executive Member Boston Marak, as well as Riya Sangma and Thomas Marak.
