Shillong, Oct 28: Lok Janshakti Party is targeting to put up candidates from atleast 30 Assembly constituencies in the upcoming Assembly election, and would not support the BJP, despite being an ally of the NDA government at the Centre.
The LJP which is supporting the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, however will not go along with the BJP in Meghalaya.
LJP Meghalaya unit president, Jamil Ahmed told reporters on Saturday that the party would field only suitable and clean candidates in the upcoming Assembly poll in Meghalaya to be held early next year.
Ahmed said that his party did not want to keep old wine in new bottle like other parties.
“We want suitable and clean candidates. We do not want prominent politicians who are used to corruption. We have already had prominent people who were in the government in the past 45 years who did not do anything for Meghalaya which still needs development and people in rural areas are being neglected,” Ahmed said.
He also cited example that even the newly floated party, People’s Democratic Front (PDF), have kept the same people (old wine in new bottle) who were with other parties.
Ahmed said that the LJP since 2008 has contested Assembly elections in Meghalaya and its presence has been felt across the state.
“Though the LJP is working with the BJP at the Centre, in Meghalaya we are not joining hands with the BJP and we are contesting the Assembly election in 2018 separately. We are not in line with the BJP on many issues be it beef ban and others,” Ahmed said.
He also alleged that the present Congress-led government under the leadership of chief minister Mukul Sangma has totally failed to deliver as most of the programmes were not also implemented in the way it should be.
The LJP had fielded only four candidates in the 2013 Assembly election and did not win a single seat.
“In the upcoming election in 2018, our target is to field candidates in 30 Assembly seats,” Ahmed while announcing two candidates – Denis Tynsiar from Pynursla Assembly constituency, and Arelitha K. Sangma from Selsella Assembly constituency.