Shillong, Dec 21: BJP leader and cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai on Wednesday said the BJP will emerge as the dark horse in the 2023 polls. He said that BJP will perform beyond expectation specially in Garo hills, with the joining of many MLAs and former MDCs.

“We will ensure that there will be a serious contest in most seats after which we will form government with like-minded parties and will take the state to a higher pedestal of good governance in line with vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

Urging the people to give “one chance” to the BJP as they have tried all other parties and seen the results for themselves, Shullai said, “If the people of state can give other parties an opportunity, then why not BJP.”

“Our people should not wait for long years to accept BJP as good opportunities are slipping away every single day that the BJP is being kept out of power… We should realize that the elected MLAs of BJP are all sons of the soil and represent the sentiments, hopes and aspirations of the people of the State before our BJP-led central government,” he added.

Stating that majority of the office bearers of the BJP are from the Christian faith, Shullai further said, “Our state president Ernest Mawrie and MLA Alexander Hek are both Catholics and I being from indigenous faith represent our Seng Khasi & Sein Raid communities. Hek has been constantly pursuing the allotment of land for construction of KJP Synod building in Delhi. Bah Mawrie has been vocal in airing the concerns of the Catholic Church before the central leadership.”

He said this time elections should be on development agenda and not on divisive propaganda which people have seen as the biggest bluff propagated against the BJP by vested interests last time around.

“Such falsities will again be brought up; but I’m sure the wise electorate will disregard all the rumour mongers… This election let us talk on how to resolve the teacher’s and District Council plight, on how to ensure all Government vacancies are filled, how to ensure peace, how to resolve border troubles, how to create more jobs in private sector to fulfil aspirations of the youth,” he said while assuring the electorate that BJP is the only solution for protecting the rights of the Tribal people, better economic and infrastructure development and ever lasting peace and prosperity.