Meghalaya: BJP announces first list of 45 candidates for ensuing Assembly Polls; Final list to come in day or two

By Our Reporter, TNT News | Shillong, Feb 02, 2018: 

After a long wait, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has finally released the first list of candidates who will be contesting the ensuing Assembly polls in the state.

The first list contained the names of 45 candidates including former congress legislator AL Hek who will be contesting from Pynthorumkhrah constituency and former NCP state party chief Sanbor Shullai who will contesting from South Shillong.

Other prominent candidates in the list include former Power Minister Riang Lenon Tariang, former Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Billykid Sangma, former Food and Civil Supplies Minister John Antonius Lyngdoh, former Congress legislator P.W.Khongjee and former Excise Minister K.C.Boro.

The BJP has fielded a retired director of Weaving and Sericulture, Bakul Hajong and Thomas Marak in Ampatigiri and Songsak assembly constituency against Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.

Sangma, who has been winning for five consecutive terms from Ampatigiri constituency since 1993, will be contesting from two assembly seats – Ampatigiri and Songsak under Tura parliamentary constituency.

Former Independent MLAs — Justine Dkhar and Robinus Syngkon who withdrew support from the MUA-II government last year to join the BJP will be contesting from the party ticket from Khliehriat and Mookaiaw constituencies respectively.

According to BJP Meghalaya President, Shibun Lyngdoh, After a threadbare discussion and collecting information from all corner, the CEC feels that 45 names should be released immediately. "We expect that these candidates will be doing good in the days of campaigning…  We expect the central leaders from region and centre will join us in campaigns. We hope that we will get good number of seats to led the government after election."

When asked in how many seats the party is contesting, Lyngdoh said "Right now, I can't say… We expect some more names will come out in a day or two."

When asked about less number of women candidates, the state party president said "We have quota for women but looking at the candidature we feel, that the two –Marian Maring (Nongpoh) and Pelcy Snaitang (Ranikor) who have been cleared, are capable. We expect that some more names will be cleared by the CEC."

It may be mentioned that the BJP is yet to announce the names of candidates for the 15 remaining seats — 9 in Khasi-Jaintia Hills and 6 in Garo Hills.

Here is a list of 45 candidates:

ALSO READ: AICC releases 1st list of candidates for Meghalaya Assembly Poll

With inputs from Agencies

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