No pre-poll alliance between NPP & BJP

Shillong: There will be no significant pre-poll alliance among constituents of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA)-2.0 except for a common candidate set up by two regional parties for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat.
The National People’s Party (NPP) and BJP, which share power as constituents of the NPP-led MDA-2.0 are not going into any pre-poll pact ahead of the coming Lok Sabha elections.
In fact, the NPP, which was the first political party to have announced the names of its candidates last month itself, had by its political move, categorically ruled out any pre-poll alliance by fielding its own candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats in the state.
While sitting MP from the Tura Lok Sabha constituency and chief minister Conrad K Sangma’s younger sister Agatha Sangma will seek re-election, the NPP has selected veteran legislator and former Congress member, Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh, who is now a state cabinet minister to contest for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat. The BJP, which is yet to announce the names of its candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats, has said it would not enter into any pre-poll understanding with the NPP.
“I don’t see any reason for a pre-poll alliance with NPP,” Meghalaya state BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkrang said to the media.
On the delay in announcement of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls by the party, he said the names may be finalised within this month.
Although several aspirants have applied for tickets, the party was yet to forward the applications to the central leadership as they have not yet asked for the same, the BJP spokesperson revealed.
The state unit of Congress has approved the names of MLA from Gambegre assembly constituency, Garo Hills, Saleng Sangma and sitting Lok Sabha member from Shillong, Vincent Pala as party candidates for the Tura and Shillong parliamentary seats respectively.
Pala would be seeking re-election from the prestigious Shillong Lok Sabha seat for the fourth consecutive term.
The regional United Democratic Party (UDP) and Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), which too are part of the MDA government, have set up a common candidate, Robert June Kharjahrin while the opposition Voice of People’s Party (VPP) has announced the name of Ricky AJ Syngkon for the Shillong parliamentary seat.