BJP state president Ernest Mawrie on Friday inaugurated the office of the party’s North Shillong mandal at Jail Road.
Addressing the occasion, Mawrie said in the last 2018 elections, the party missed the bus by only a margin of few votes.
“This time we will make sure that we win this seat in the coming election,” he said.
The constituency has two aspirant candidates for BJP ticket – former IPS officer and party spokesperson M Kharkrang and party member Michael Kharsyntiew.
Mawrie said, “I request everybody to work together. We cannot stop anybody (from being aspiring candidates) but all party organization works have been completed under the leadership of the mandal president. The full-fledged mandal committee is approved by the state and now the rest will remain with the central leadership. The Central parliamentary committee headed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will allot the ticket to the right person.”
“So let us wait and let us work hard now. I know our candidates are also working day by day and let us wait for the declaration from the central office who will be the candidate. I do hope the central leadership will allot the ticket to the candidate with a winnability factor,” he added.
In his speech, Kharkrang said with the overwhelming support of the people, he is hundred percent sure that North Shillong will be a BJP seat in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Stating the need to assimilate the tribal and non-tribal people together, the former IPS officer said when the party inaugurated its office at Riatsamthiah, the people from Jail Road, Oakland and non-tribal areas came and supported us there. Similarly, people from Khasi areas are also coming to support the inauguration of the party office at Jail road today.
“I am telling you that this is going to be a BJP seat and I will tell you the difference between non-tribal and the tribal will be cut off. That is what we have to strive for. If we have to develop, we have to develop together; we cannot develop on our own.”
He further assured that the building will be a permanent office of the party and will continue to remain even after 2023.
“We have three months’ time to work. Please let us not be complacent. I assure every hard work and labour you put in will see the fruit in the month of February,” Kharkrang said.
Currently, the seat is being represented by lone KHNAM legislator Adelbert Nongrum.