SHILLONG, OCT 22: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has officially declared sitting Tura MDC and state vice president, Bernard N Marak, as its candidate for the upcoming Gambegre bye-election.
BJP leader and cabinet minister, AL Hek, confirmed that the party high command communicated the decision to field Marak, the lone aspirant for the ticket. “Marak will be filing his nomination papers the day after tomorrow,” Hek informed reporters.
When asked about the election prospects, Hek responded, “Election is election. Every candidate enters the race with the confidence to win. Nobody would invest their time, energy, and resources without aiming for victory. This applies to all candidates, not just those from the BJP.”
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Hek emphasized the party’s focus on development as the core agenda for Gambegre. “There has been a lack of development in Gambegre, and the BJP aims to bridge that gap. We want to ensure Gambegre progresses alongside other constituencies,” he said.
Hek further praised the developmental efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government, noting that their achievements have been widely appreciated across the country, including in Meghalaya.
The minister also confirmed that both national and state leaders would actively campaign to bolster Marak’s chances of victory in the bye-election.
When questioned about the involvement of the CM’s wife in the election campaign, Hek said, “Why focus only on the CM’s wife? Other candidates and their supporters are also campaigning. We are concentrating on our own candidate.”
Regarding allegations by the TMC against the NPP for violating the Model Code of Conduct by distributing roofing sheets to voters, Hek commented, “Such allegations are not new. They surface in every election. However, until proven, blame cannot be assigned.”