Shillong, Oct 10: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Tuesday said that it would issue party ticket only to winning candidates in the upcoming Assembly elections to be held early next year.

Speaking to reporters here , NCP national secretary in-charge North East, Narendra Verma said that distribution of application forms to ticket aspirants has started and would continue till November 30.

Verma, who held a review meeting on the party’s preparedness, said that a state party convention will be held on October 21, where NCP national general secretary, Praful Patel will address the state convention of the party at Tura, West Garo Hills District.

Other national leaders will also visit the state soon, he said.

NCP state president, Sanbor Shullai said that the party has decided to allot party ticket only to candidates who have winning chances.

“We will not allot ticket to any Tom, Dick or Harry like in the last elections where some candidates could secure only 200-300 votes,” he said.

He said that the application forms will be carefully scrutinized by the central election committee.

Shullai informed that the party has proposed to contest from all 60 seats and in case it cannot reach the target, it will put up candidates in 40 to 45 constituencies.

Reacting to a query, the NCP national secretary said that the people of Meghalaya will decide as to how many seats the NCP will get in 2018.

He also said that the NCP has decided not to go for pre-poll alliance after seeing the overwhelming response and enthusiasm of the people towards the party.

Claiming that many senior leaders of different political parties would join the party, Verma said, “There will be lots of happenings in the coming days.”

On the other hand, the NCP leader however said that his party was open for post-poll alliance with like-minded parties to form a new government in the state.