Sports Department of Meghalaya Denies Permission for BJP Rally

SHILLONG: The refusal of the state government of Meghalaya to grant permissions for a political rally in a stadium has triggered the supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. The prime minister is scheduled to visit the state to take part in election campaigning in Shillong and Tura on February 24.

According to reports from Meghalaya, the Bharatiya Janata Party had sought permission to organise a major political rally in the PA Sangma Stadium of the state. The stadium is located in South Tura, the home constituency of Conrad Sangma, the chief of the National People’s Party and he was the chief minister during the previous government in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to participate in this political campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party candidates in the upcoming assembly polls.

The sports department of the state cited ongoing construction work as the reason for the refusal of the permission. And this action sent the supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party fuming. They alleged that this National People’s Party’s aim to stall the Bharatiya Janata Party wave in the state along with the Trinamool Congress and the other opposition parties.

"The sports department has communicated that it will not be fit to host such a big gathering at the stadium as construction work is still going on and materials kept at the site may be of safety concerns. Therefore, an alternate venue, the Alotgre cricket stadium, is being considered," mentioned District Election Officer Swapnil Tembe.

Conrad Sangma had inaugurated this stadium built with an investment of Rs 127 cr on December 16, 2023. The Bharatiya Janata Party national secretary Rituraj Sinha questioned how can a stadium that was opened just two months back can be declared "incomplete and unavailable".

He went on to add that seeing the response of the public in the election rallies of Amit Shah and the other star campaigners of the state, he is confident of the BJP winning in the assembly elections. He also questioned if Conrad Sangma and Mukul Sangma are scared of the Bharatiya Janata Party for their growing support.

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