Shillong, Feb 5: In a big boost to the National People’s Party’s (NPP) North Shillong unit, 18 BJP leaders from Jail Road and two prominent leaders of the Mahila Congress Shillong City – Meba Kharkongor and Niloufer Laloo joined the party on Saturday.

The newly joined members were welcomed by NPP leader Dr Don War and Eldora Lyngdoh, the Women’s Wing President of North Shillong, in a prayer meet held at Khasi Dorbar Hall, Mawkhar.

After being inducted into the NPP family, the new members accompanied the party candidate Ransom Sutnga to file his nomination papers at the office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC), East Khasi Hills on Saturday afternoon.

“It will boost my winning chances,” replied Sutnga on the joining of the leaders of the two parties to the NPP fold of North Shillong. Sutnga stressed on the “educated unemployment youths” under his constituency as the top priority if elected.

With a total number of 8 candidates set to fight for the seat in the upcoming election, Sutnga expressed optimism in having a “fair contest”. “I am happy. As we all know North Shillong is always considered to be the brain of the State, having the maximum number of contestants brings a fait contest,” he said.

The BJP secured second spot in the 2018 elections as the party Candidate JA Lyngdoh narrowly lost to the then MLA from KHNAM, Adelbert Nongrum.

It may be mentioned that BJP has chosen former IPS officer in Meghalaya Police Mariahom Kharkrang as its official nominee from the constituency. Earlier, there was a huge confusion in the constituency as two aspirants claimed to be the official candidate of the BJP – long existing member Michael Kharsyntiew and newly joined.