BJP to contest 2028 Assembly polls in Meghalaya alone
Shillong, July 8
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and MLA Alexander Laloo Hek on Wednesday asserted that the party would contest the 2028 Meghalaya Assembly elections independently, expressing confidence that the party would be in a position to lead the next state government.
Addressing mediapersons here, Hek said the BJP has already begun strengthening its organisational network across the state and is working to expand its grassroots presence ahead of the next Assembly elections.
He said they will contest the 2028 Assembly elections on their own and are confident that the BJP will emerge stronger and lead the next government in Meghalaya.
The senior BJP MLA said the party is focused on building its support base and preparing for the electoral battle over the next two years.
Hek also spoke about the forthcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election, revealing that the party leadership had initially approached him to contest the seat. However, he declined the proposal, citing his existing responsibilities as a legislator and minister.
He said they had asked him to contest the by-election, but he informed the leadership that he still has several responsibilities to fulfil and therefore is not contesting.
The BJP leader said he has instead recommended the name of fellow BJP MLA Sanbor Shullai as the party's candidate for the parliamentary bypoll.
He said he has proposed Shullai's name, and the final decision rests with the party's national leadership. He added that whoever is chosen, they will fully support the candidate and fight the election with full strength.
Expressing confidence over the party's prospects, Hek said there is adequate time to prepare for the by-election once the BJP announces its nominee.
The BJP is currently a partner in the National People's Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government headed by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
Hek's remarks indicating the BJP's intention to contest the next Assembly elections independently are being viewed as a significant political signal ahead of the 2028 electoral contest in the hill state.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm not from Meghalaya but follow Indian politics closely. This feels like BJP trying to expand beyond their traditional strongholds. The NPP alliance has worked but they must see an opportunity here. But Meghalaya's voters are fiercely proud of their local identity - will they embrace a national party? 🤔
As someone from Shillong, I can tell you that BJP's presence here is still limited. While they have made inroads in some areas, the local parties like NPP and UDP have deep roots. Hek is a seasoned politician but going alone in 2028 is a high-risk strategy. Let's see if they can build a credible local leadership by then.
Watching from the UK, I find this interesting. BJP's ambition to lead Meghalaya shows their pan-India aspirations. But Meghalaya has a unique political culture that doesn't always align with national trends. The NPP government under Conrad Sangma has done well - why risk rupturing that alliance? Unnecessary drama in my opinion.
BJP's Northeast push is commendable but they need to understand local sentiments better. In Meghalaya, the Inner Line Permit and land rights issues are very sensitive. Just imposing a national agenda won't work. Hope they focus on genuine development rather than just political posturing. 🙏
Bold move by Hek. But let's be honest - BJP in Meghalaya without allies? Even in 2023 they won only 2 seats out of 60. With all due respect to their organizational efforts, this
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