Resignation spree in BJP continues in Garo Hills as senior leader and state vice president Edmund K Sangma resigned on Wednesday from the party to file his nomination as an independent candidate from Raksamgre constituency of West Garo Hills.
BJP has fielded Jonathon Rabha as the party nominee for Raksamgre constituency.
“Why did the BJP ignore potential winners and put up weak candidates when all along they were claiming winnability to be the factor in the selection of party candidates. They are trying to propagate the NPP agenda because on their own they cannot take on the Congress in this election,” Edmund, state vice president of BJP said after quitting the party.
Following the footsteps of Edmund Sangma another rebel BJP candidate Chiang D Shira resigned from the party and filed his nomination as an independent candidate for North Tura constituency.
“I worked hard to strengthen the BJP base in North Tura constituency but the party refused to acknowledge my contribution. I am confident that as an independent candidate I will be able to raise issues relating to my constituency which has faced discrimination when it comes to development matters,” Chiang D Shira said.
He also accused the current Congress legislator, Noverfield R Marak, of trying to woo voters by distributing MLA schemes before the elections after having remained silent for five years.
Besides Sangma and Shira, another rebel, Rahinath Barchung, is fighting against the official BJP candidate, K C Boro, after being denied a party ticket in Tikrikilla.
Although the BJP has lost several of its aspiring candidates and leaders due to the ticket controversy, those remaining in the party say otherwise. Former MLA and party candidate K C Boro claimed a BJP surge is sweeping Meghalaya and Prime Minister Modi’s expected visit to Garo Hills will erase what little hold the Congress has in the region.