SHILLONG, APR 26: BJP leader and cabinet minister AL Hek has expressed confidence that the National People’s Party (NPP) will win from both Shillong and Tura parliamentary constituencies, elections of which were held on April 19.

Speaking to reporters, Hek said that the 18th Lok Sabha elections in Meghalaya have witnessed a triangular fight between the NPP, Congress and the Voice of the People Party (VPP).

Counting of votes will be on June 4.

“Whoever wins will win with a very thin margin,” the BJP leader predicted even as he exuded confidence that “NPP will win from both Shillong and Tura parliamentary constituencies.”

Rubbishing the allegation that BJP was playing a “spoilsport” for the NPP in the elections, Hek said, “The BJP has given a very clear instruction and also a message to all Meghalaya karyakartas to support the NPP and accordingly we have worked according to the message and directions given by the national leaders of the BJP to support the NPP.”

“How can you say we cannot convince our own karyakartas (to vote for NPP)? In fact, we have held meetings (for campaigning for the NPP). I have held five meetings in my Mandal and in other constituencies also I saw every day every Mandal of the BJP was holding party meetings and campaigning for the NPP, then how do you say they (voters) are not convinced?” he asked.

Asked, Hek said, “I don’t have any opinion against other political parties. You are saying that the BJP and NPP are not confident of winning but we have worked very hard and we are confident (of winning). The whole country scenario itself, the voter turnout is very less but Meghalaya’s voter turnout was better compared to other states. I am talking about the overall percentage of voting, Meghalaya is far better compared to other states.”

Further, the BJP leader said that the party in the future will be fielding its own candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Meghalaya.

“I said it is only for this MP election 2024 (we are supporting NPP). This has to be the last time. After that they (voters) will have to vote for BJP only as when you have your own candidate, how will you vote for other political parties tell me? We don’t have BJP candidates this time,” he said while admitting that “If we don’t set up our own candidate, it will be a setback for the party. Few of our karyakartas are not happy as we have not set up our own candidates (this time).”

Terming the allegations of corruption against the MDA government as political gimmicks during elections, Hek said, “How are you asking me this question that the MDA government is corrupt? Can you prove this? Until and unless you prove it I cannot say you have to prove before you say any allegation has to be substantiated with proof.”

Meanwhile, Hek expressed concern over the hate politics during the elections.

“I have witnessed so many Lok Sabha elections in my political career but this is for the first time that I have seen that elections have become hatred, hate speeches by one political party against another political party, which I don’t like happening in politics,” he said.

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