Candidates to be announced soon, Gao, Rijiju for LS
Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Mar 13: As many as 200 aspirants have applied for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket for the coming assembly election in the 60-member state legislative assembly.
For the parliamentary elections, there are currently only two names- MoS Home Kiren Rijiju (West parliamentary constituency) and state’s BJP president Tapir Gao (East parliamentary constituency).
The names of candidates for both parliamentary and assembly elections are also expected to be declared on 16 or 17 March, Gao informed, adding that the candidates will be selected on their “discipline and winnability.”
In 2014, both Rijiju and Gao had contested in the 2014 parliamentary elections.
While Rijiju had won by over 40, 000 votes against his closest competitor and Congress chief Takam Sanjoy in the Arunachal west parliamentary constituency, Congress MP Ninong Ering had won by a little over 12, 000 votes against his closest competitor Gao in the Arunachal east parliamentary constituency.
Gao further informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national president Amit Shah and Home Minister Rajnath Singh are also expected to visit the state as star campaigners.
Even as he maintained that the BJP will not get into a pre-poll alliance as of now, he added, “…but politics is such, that an alliance can be formed any time.”
On whether the permanent resident certificate (PRC) matter would cause a hindrance to the party, he said that the PRC matter was a “made up” issue and “people have been made aware of the government’s take on the PRC and should no longer be made into an issue.”
Regarding the Congress’ charge sheet against the BJP-led government in the state, the BJP chief said “they (Congress) are the creators, they are the complainers and they will face the consequence; not the BJP.”
He said the BJP’s manifesto would focus on developing education, heath, communication, road, transport, horticulture, agriculture and tourism, besides other relevant sectors.
“Preparations of the manifesto are underway,” he said.
Later in the day, a mass-joining event was held for former Panchayat and Congress leaders of 10th Seppa assembly constituency.
