Am the lone BJP aspirant: Lyngdoh

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, MAY 16: BJP vice president John Antonious Lyngdoh today claimed that he is the only aspiring candidate seeking party ticket to contest the 2018 state elections from 17-North Shillong Constituency while refuting making any false accusations against a rival candidate.

“I am the only person in the fray who have so far asked for the ticket and the decision on the matter will depend on the party,” Lyngdoh told reporters at a news conference held here a day after a youth, who also identified himself as a member of the BJP, lodged an FIR against the leader of the party.

The former minister also claimed that this was after four-five candidates, who had earlier approached the party for ticket from the constituency, decided to withdraw their applications in order to extend full support to him.

In an FIR lodged with the Sadar Police Station on Monday, Tony Marbaniang (25), who recently announced his decision to contest from North Shillong and is also eyeing for the BJP ticket, alleged that Lyngdoh had falsely accusing him that he is contesting the election just for the sake of money.

“He (JA Lyngdoh) had accused me of indirect extortion in a meeting held at Oakland community hall, Bivar Road on Sunday, May 14. He said if I am being offered with money, I would withdraw from contesting the election,” alleged Marbaniang, who also claimed to have video evidence.

Refuting the allegation, Lyngdoh said, “Do you mean that JA Lyngdoh will fall into such trap to call someone and offer them money. I am not so cheap; I’ve never done that in my entire political career because if somebody wants to contest elections let them.”

“In fact I don’t know who this person (Marbaniang) is also,” he added.

Stating that the BJP’s top agenda is to ensure a corruption free government, the BJP vice president said, “Some of the people at the meeting held at Oakland did come to me and suggested that to get the road free why not sit together with him (Marbaniang) so that he withdraw, which I rejected politely.”

Lyngdoh further admitted that the allegation against him could have been motivated by those from other rival political parties, who want to create disturbances within the BJP.

Asked, he however said that the matter related to the FIR will be taken up by the Legal Cell of the BJP, who would immediately go to the police station and ask for a copy of the complaint after which the party would sit and accordingly come up with suggestion.

Meanwhile, the president of the 17-North Shillong BJP Mandal Wallambok O Thangkhiew said that the Mandal is not aware whether Marbaniang is a member of the party.

“Since formation of the mandal in March 31, this year, we have not seen this person despite of holding many booth level meetings in different parts of the constituency. Therefore, we do not know whether he is a BJP member or not since ours is a big party,” Thangkhiew said.

He also clarified that the recent meeting called by Marbaniang in Oakland was not with the consent of the mandal. Accordingly to him, no official candidate of the party can convene any meeting on their own as they have to work hand in hand with the mandal concerned.