Shillong, April 26: The Meghalaya unit of the BJP today announced its support for NPP candidate and its national president Conrad Kongkal Sangma who is contesting the byelection from Tura Lok Sabha constituency slated for May 16.
Declaring the party's stand at the BJP office here, state party president Shibun Lyngdoh said their central leadership had conveyed to the Meghalaya unit its decision not to contest the bypoll and instead extend full support to Conrad.
The NPP, founded by Purno Agitok Sangma, is a constituent of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. The byelection has been necessitated following Sangma's death on March 4.
According to Lyngdoh, BJP workers in Meghalaya were initially of the opinion that the party should contest the Tura bypolls as that would benefit the BJP preparing for the 2018 Assembly elections.
Lyngdoh also said by contesting the byelection from Tura, the party would have to make its presence felt in Garo hills and attract more members to its fold.
"As we have a good base in Garo hills, initially we thought that we were ready to contest the byelection from Tura and had conveyed our opinion to the party's central leadership along with names of three probable candidates. But now, we are abiding by the central leadership's decision and we will work together for the NPP candidate in this byelection," Lyngdoh said.
Stating that the state BJP has no regret for not getting the chance to contest, #Lyngdoh had a word of caution. "Contesting the bypoll may not help, especially if both the BJP and the NPP lose by fighting against each other in Tura. Besides being an ally of the BJP at the Centre, we also respect the NPP for its tall leader Purno Agitok Sangma," Lyngdoh said.
He iterated the BJP's slogan of "Congress-free India" while vowing that the BJP would work hard to organise the party in the state and defeat the Congress.
Lyngdoh urged all BJP workers in the state, particularly in Garo hills, to work for the NPP candidate in the byelection. He said the BJP would soon convene a meeting and extend support to the NPP.
The Congress, the ruling party in Meghalaya, is fielding chief minister Mukul Sangma's wife Dikkanchi D. Shira as the candidate for the Tura byelection. Shira is also a Congress MLA from Mahendraganj Assembly constituency in Garo hills.
Rophul resigns
The Congress MLA of Siju-Rongara in South Garo Hills, Rophul S. Marak, today resigned as parliamentary secretary and is set to contest the Tura bypoll as an Independent. He will file his nomination papers within a few days. The last date of filing nominations is April 29.
"I have tendered my resignation from the post of parliamentary secretary to chief minister Mukul Sangma. I will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election. I am ready to take on both Conrad of the NPP and Congress candidate Shira. I hope that I will do well," said Rophul over phone.
Clarifying further, Rophul added: "I was unhappy to be a part of the Congress government in the state in an almost insignificant role. I now want to shoulder more responsibilities for the region and will definitely look to make my mark in Delhi."
Conrad and Shira are both expected to file their nominations in Tura tomorrow. Conrad is expected around 12.30pm while Shira is expected to come by 11am. Another candidate, Panseng B. Marak, (Panpan), has stated that he would file his nomination on April 29.
Additional reporting by Saidul Khan in Tura
