BJP fields Rikman G Momin for Tura Lok Sabha seat

A REPORTER

SHILLONG: The BJP central election committee on Sunday announced the name of Rikman G Momin as the party’s candidate for the Tura Lok Sabha seat.

It may be mentioned that on Saturday, the BJP had announced the name of Sanbor Shullai as the candidate from the Shillong Lok Sabha constituency.

Earlier, BJP State president Shibun Lyngdoh had informed that the party had sent the names of four leaders from the Garo Hills to the party’s Central Election Commission (CEC) to contest the LS polls from the Tura Lok Sabha seat. However, the party didn’t give permission for them to contest from Tura.

In this connection, BJP national spokesperson and Meghalaya in-charge Nalin Kohli told The Sentinel that he is not aware of the State president’s statement.

“He (Shibun) may have been expressing his point of view,” he said.

“In our party, only the party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) takes the final call on who would contest a seat or not and also when a seat is to be announced,” Kohli said.

He further said, “NEDA convenor Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that the BJP will do extremely well in the Northeast, and we are fighting for victory in every seat.”

It may be noted that the BJP candidate from the Shillong Parliamentary seat will have to contest the election against UDP candidate Jemino Mawthoh, Congress candidate Vincent H Pala, Independent candidate Samuel Hashah, and KHNAM candidate THS Bonney.

Meanwhile, in the Tura Parliamentary seat, the BJP will contest against former Chief Minister and Congress candidate Mukul Sangma, former Tura MP and NPP candidate Agatha Sangma as well as Trinamool candidate LR Sangma who will be filing his nomination papers on Monday.

Also read: Meghalaya news