Shillong: Senior BJP leader and MLA AL Hek warned Saturday that the party risks a massive internal revolt in Meghalaya. He believes skipping the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election will kill worker morale. The seat became vacant after the death of Ricky AJ Syngkon from the Voice of the People Party. The Election Commission has yet to set a date for the vote.
Nine party hopefuls already submitted applications for the ticket. Local leaders finished vetting those candidates and sent the list to the central party office. Hek maintains that the party must fight for the seat to prove its relevance. He noted: "Irrespective of the BJP’s political position or prevailing circumstances, the party should contest the by-poll to maintain the confidence of its workers and supporters."
This stance stems from the fallout of the 2024 Lok Sabha cycle. The BJP sat out the general election to support the National People’s Party, but the move backfired. The NPP lost both the Shillong and Tura seats anyway. Eleven hopefuls lost their chance to run last time, causing deep bitterness within the ranks. State vice-president Dipul R Marak quit the party in protest. Meanwhile, state president Rikman G Momin faced intense heat from members who felt their groundwork went to waste. Hek wants to avoid a repeat of that frustration.
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