SHILLONG, MAR 3: BJP legislator A. L. Hek on Tuesday expressed confidence that his party will put up a strong performance in the upcoming elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), scheduled for April 10.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to do well in the upcoming GHADC elections,” Hek told reporters.

He said the party is aiming to contest all 29 seats in the council, but so far has received applications for 19 constituencies.

“We are trying to contest all 29 seats, but so far we have got applications for 19 seats. This is the first list,” he added.

On demands to bar non-tribals from contesting or voting in the GHADC elections, BJP chief spokesperson M. Kharkrang said the party has not yet taken a position on the recent notification issued in this regard.

“You should ask this question to them because earlier they allowed it because of this notification… right now from the party side, we have not decided. This notification has just come up. It is too early to comment on this,” Kharkrang said.

Hek said the matter remains under discussion within the party.

“That is why it is under discussion. We will have a meeting and after the meeting we will decide,” he added.

Asked about the upcoming elections in Assam, Hek said party leaders from Meghalaya are ready to campaign wherever required by the Bharatiya Janata Party – Assam.

“That will depend on the leadership of the Assam BJP. Whichever constituency they engage us, we are ready to go,” he said.

He also noted that no official notification has been issued yet as the elections in Assam have not been formally declared.