Shillong, July 6: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will soon take a call whether to support chief minister Conrad K Sangma as a consensus candidate in the upcoming bye-election to the South Tura Assembly seat.

On Friday, the Chief Minister had a discussion with BJP leaders which include its state president, Shibun Lyngdoh, Health Minister and BJP leader, A.L Hek, and BJP MLA from South Shillong, Sanbor Shullai.

“During our discussion, the chief minister had expressed that if it is possible, he would prefer to be a consensus candidate for the seat. However, we told the Chief Minister that the matter will be taken up at the party level before taking any decision,” Hek told reporters.

Hek also said the party will have to also discuss the matter with Billykid Sangma who was the party’s candidate in the Assembly polls before taking any decision in connection with the bye election to South Tura seat.

“We have suggested the party president to convene a meeting of the party soon to discuss the issue,” Hek said.

He said that the party would also like to get the views of Billykid as the party has to also take him into confidence.

The BJP is part of a six-party Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government led by the National People’s Party (NPP).

The BJP leader said that it would also support the candidature of Martin M Danggo who would contest on NPP ticket in the upcoming Ranikor bye-election.

Danggo resigned as Congress MLA on June 21.

Conrad will contest on NPP ticket in the bye election to South Tura seat, and he has to be elected as MLA to continue as Chief Minister.

The bye-election was necessitated after first time legislator Agatha K Sangma resigned as member of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to pave way for the chief minister to contest from South Tura.