Now, BJP gets star armour in Meghalaya

The BJP has won over the husband and wife duo of Sanbor Swell Lyngdoh and actress Sheba Diengdoh to add shine to its prospects in Meghalaya....

The BJP has won over the husband and wife duo of Sanbor Swell Lyngdoh and actress Sheba Diengdoh to add shine to its prospects in Meghalaya.

Son of late Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker G.G. Swell, Lyngdoh is also a former minister and general secretary of the Meghalaya Democratic Party (MDP). Last week, Diengdoh trooped to the state BJP office with 200 supporters and joined the party. Her husband didn’t follow her in enrolling himself immediately. ‘‘He is little preoccupied wrapping off the MDP work,’’ she said. He may join next week.

Lyngdoh was an aspirant for the regional parties’ ticket for Shillong Lok Sabha seat. But he was pipped to the ticket by former minister Loniak Marbaniang, a consensus candidate of UDP, MDP, Hills State People’s Democratic Party and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement.

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Lyngdoh, however, said he didn’t join BJP because he was hankering for ticket to contest the coming polls. He said if the party thinks he should be its candidate, he would accept it.

The BJP hasn’t finalised its candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat. It is likely to decide on coming Tuesday. The husband-wife duo joining a party that was looked upon with suspicion some years ago is a barometer of its ‘‘acceptability’’ among Christian population.