Shillong, Feb 9: Fresh into the Congress camp after being denied ticket by BJP, Manas Chaudhuri,
journalist turned politician, who is fighting the election from the South
Shillong Constituency on Congress ticket now swears to the passage of the
saffron brigade in the tribal state of Meghalalya by uniting the Christians and
Muslims.
Contesting from one of the five general category seats in
ensuing Meghalaya polls on February 27, Mr Chaudhuri said 75 per cent of the
state population are Christian who are ready to stop the passage of BJP in the
state.
"BJP is going all out penetrate Meghalaya. They are bringing entire force to capture the state. This election is a fight by Christians and Muslims to stop the passage of BJP in the state," Mr Chaudhuri told UNI adding that the reports of attacks on Churches has not helped the cause of BJP to set up its base where 75 per cent population are Christians.
Notably, South Shillong constituency, has been on spotlight in this election for some party hopping.
First, sitting MLA and Meghalaya NCP chief Sanbor Shullai made a late entry into the saffron camp switching side from NCP in December.
After, Mr Chaudhuri who joined BJP in May 2017 moved over from Congress and will take on his arch rival Shullai on a Congress ticket.
Mr Chaudhuri was hoping for a BJP ticket but sitting MLA Shullai joining the party scuttled his plans. In the 2013 Assembly elections Shulai had defeated Chaudhuri with a margin of 1,145 votes.
" I have no doubt in my mind this time people have decided to stop the passage of BJP. Catholic Church, Christian Church are all against BJP and the present MLA faces huge anti incumbencey," Mr Chaudhuri said exuding confidence where in his constituency 67 per non tribal votes are the deciding factor.
Mr Chaudhuri in his political career spanning acorss a decade has openly talked about the issues related to non tribals in the tribal state.
A sizeable non-tribal population in the South Shillong constituency makes it a lucrative seat for the BJP. The South Shillong constituency was formed after the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies in 2009 and includes parts of the erstwhile Laban and Mawprem Assembly constituencies.
" Majority must protect the minority. In Meghalaya non tribals are minority so they should be protected. In our state non tribals have not asserted they have surrendered their rights. There were five seats for non tribals but only this seat is left for them. We need to create a cohesive model," Mr Chaudhuri added.
Mr Chaudhuri was the editor of the state's oldest English daily The Shillong Times for three decades and he started his political career as an independent candidate following his brother and NCP MLA Ardhendu Chaudhuri's death in a helicopter crash in 2004. He represented the Mawprem constituency as an MLA for two terms.
In the 2013 Assembly elections, BJP was the distant fourth in the newly created South Shillong seat, attracting only 13 per cent of the total votes polled.
All the 60 Assembly seats in Meghalaya go to the polls on February 27 and the results will be declared on March 3. UNI
"BJP is going all out penetrate Meghalaya. They are bringing entire force to capture the state. This election is a fight by Christians and Muslims to stop the passage of BJP in the state," Mr Chaudhuri told UNI adding that the reports of attacks on Churches has not helped the cause of BJP to set up its base where 75 per cent population are Christians.
Notably, South Shillong constituency, has been on spotlight in this election for some party hopping.
First, sitting MLA and Meghalaya NCP chief Sanbor Shullai made a late entry into the saffron camp switching side from NCP in December.
After, Mr Chaudhuri who joined BJP in May 2017 moved over from Congress and will take on his arch rival Shullai on a Congress ticket.
Mr Chaudhuri was hoping for a BJP ticket but sitting MLA Shullai joining the party scuttled his plans. In the 2013 Assembly elections Shulai had defeated Chaudhuri with a margin of 1,145 votes.
" I have no doubt in my mind this time people have decided to stop the passage of BJP. Catholic Church, Christian Church are all against BJP and the present MLA faces huge anti incumbencey," Mr Chaudhuri said exuding confidence where in his constituency 67 per non tribal votes are the deciding factor.
Mr Chaudhuri in his political career spanning acorss a decade has openly talked about the issues related to non tribals in the tribal state.
A sizeable non-tribal population in the South Shillong constituency makes it a lucrative seat for the BJP. The South Shillong constituency was formed after the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies in 2009 and includes parts of the erstwhile Laban and Mawprem Assembly constituencies.
" Majority must protect the minority. In Meghalaya non tribals are minority so they should be protected. In our state non tribals have not asserted they have surrendered their rights. There were five seats for non tribals but only this seat is left for them. We need to create a cohesive model," Mr Chaudhuri added.
Mr Chaudhuri was the editor of the state's oldest English daily The Shillong Times for three decades and he started his political career as an independent candidate following his brother and NCP MLA Ardhendu Chaudhuri's death in a helicopter crash in 2004. He represented the Mawprem constituency as an MLA for two terms.
In the 2013 Assembly elections, BJP was the distant fourth in the newly created South Shillong seat, attracting only 13 per cent of the total votes polled.
All the 60 Assembly seats in Meghalaya go to the polls on February 27 and the results will be declared on March 3. UNI
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