Shillong: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an ally of the National Peoaples’ Party in Meghalaya, has announced state party president and Tura MDC, Bernard N Marak, as its candidate for the forthcoming Gambegre Assembly constituency by-poll.
State BJP chief spokesperson, Mariahom Kharkrang, confirmed that Bernard was chosen from a list of three aspirants.
The by-poll was necessitated by Saleng A Sangma’s resignation after winning the Tura Lok Sabha constituency in the last parliamentary election.
Marak said that the BJP will fight Gambegre by-polls for good governance, to empower the rural folks and to end corruption.
With the candidate declared, the BJP will now intensify its campaign across the constituency by activating all party units and wings.
The ruling NPP has fielded Dr Mehtab Chandee A Sangma, wife of CM Conrad Sangma as the candidate, while the opposition TMC and Congress have fielded Jingjang M Marak and GHADC MDC Sadhiarani Sangma as the candidates.
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The by-election will be held on November 13, while the counting of votes will take place on November 23.
Kharkrang expressed confidence in Bernard’s popularity and the support the party has garnered over the years.
Notably, the Trinamool Congress recently filed a complaint with the Election Commission against the National People’s Party(NPP), accusing the party of violating the model code of conduct ahead of the by-election in the 56-Gambegre (ST) constituency in Meghalaya.
In a letter to the Returning Officer of West Garo Hills, dated October 16, AITC District Coordinator SN Sangma alleged that the NPP party workers have distributed CGI sheets (roofing materials) to villagers across the constituency in an attempt to influence voters, despite the Election Commission of India’s announcement of the polling date.
