Senior Meghalaya BJP legislator and National Executive member AL Hek on Tuesday said the party has so far received applications for 19 seats, even as efforts are under way to field candidates in all 29 constituencies for the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council scheduled to be held on April 10.
Describing the nomination exercise as a work in progress, Hek termed the present announcement as the first list of 19 candidates, with the possibility of a second list to follow.
The Bharatiya Janata Party formally unveiled its first list comprising 19 candidates out of the total 29 seats.
Hek said the party was seeking to widen its electoral footprint beyond the current slate and was working towards fielding candidates in at least 25 to 26 constituencies. He said this is the first list of candidates for the GHADC elections.
Talking to Media persons, the BJP Legislator said, “We are looking for maybe 25 -26 candidates but now declared 19 seats we are confident that we will do well in the upcoming District Council elections of Garo Hills. We are trying to get candidates in all the 29 seats but so far we have got applicants for only 19 seats. This is the first list.”
The first list includes the party’s vice president and sitting MDC from Tura, Bernard N. Marak, along with Mark Pantora M. Sangma from Siju and Akki A. Sangma from Barengapara.
The nominations were cleared by the State Election Committee, State general secretary Er Wankitbok Pohshna said, indicating adherence to the party’s internal ratification process.
The other candidates named in the first list are Wilnath T. Sangma (Amongpara), Repsin M. Sangma (Dengnakpara), Drojil D. Sangma (Boldamgre), Salibirth M. Sangma (Nogorpara), Bhupandra Hajong (Zikzak), Hiralal Koch (Betasing), Jeberth M. Sangma (Rochonpara), Rikse K. Marak (Balachanda), Clement Marak (Batabari), John Keats Sangma (Shyamnagar), Rahinath Barchung (Naguapara), Barning Marak (Rongrong), Sengpan K. Marak (Bolsong), Bikash G. Momin (Damas), Sengsrang R. Marak (Kharkutta) and Charles T. Sangma (Samandagre).
