BJP not to field candidates in Tura by-poll

The Central Election Committee of the BJP today rejected a proposal by the state leaders to contest in the Tura by-poll in Meghalaya in view of the National People's Party being an ally of the NDA government.
The state BJP had forwarded the names of three candidates to the Central leadership for consideration and approval but the central committee refused to field any contestant, state BJP President Shibun Lyngdoh said.
He said the central leadership asked the party leaders to drop the idea of contesting in the by-elections in view of the NPP being an ally of the NDA government at the Centre.

The by-poll for Tura MP constituency was necessitated following the death of former Lok Sabha Speaker and founding President of the NPP, Purno A Sangma.
Lyngdoh said the party is supporting the NPP candidate Conrad K Sangma, the youngest son of P A Sangma.
"The BJP had in 2012 supported P A Sangma when he contested the Presidential elections and the party will support his son this time," Lyngdoh said.

The Opposition United Democratic Party today met Conrad K Sangma and senior party leaders at Baksalpara in the Garo Hills expressing their open support to the NPP.
UDP President and Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy besides other senior leaders of the party campaigned for Conrad.

Both the NPP candidate, Conrad K Sangma and the Congress nominee, Chief Minister's wife Dikkanchi D Shira, are likely to file their papers tomorrow.