Shillong: Three heavyweights are fighting for the BJP nomination in West Shillong. The 2028 assembly elections are still two years out, but the scramble has already started. Former state president Ernest Mawrie, ex-MLA Mohendro Rapsang, and longtime RSS figure Homnath Gautam want the spot. The race is on.
The party has not picked a candidate yet. Leaders now face a tough balancing act between rewarding loyalists and finding a winner. They need to keep the peace. Past scrambles in North Shillong and Mawsynram ended with key members jumping ship, which tanked the party's results in those areas.
Each contender brings a different angle to the table. Mawrie took third in his last run. Rapsang offers experience as a local legislator. Gautam provides a deep history with the RSS. The local leadership remains quiet for now. As one report noted, "the leadership will eventually have to balance organisational loyalty with winnability in a seat where the party seeks to gain ground."
Official candidate vetting won't begin until the election draws closer. Managing these egos will define the BJP's strength in the region.
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