Despite the serious nature of the case against him, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will field Tura MDC Bernard Marak in the next state elections if innocent.
Police raided a farmhouse belonging to Marak last month on suspicion that it was being used as a brothel and for other immoral activities. Dozens of people present were arrested and several minors were taken into care. Marak was later arrested in Uttar Pradesh. He claimed that the property was partly being used as a guesthouse and partly as a hostel for underprivileged children and has denied the charges.
A frequent critic of the state government, Marak was gearing up to challenge South Tura MLA and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in the polls, which have to be called by March 2023, when he was arrested.
“The matter is subjudice,” BJP MLA and former cabinet minister AL Hek said. “If he is free from the cases, he will contest and we are waiting for the court to settle the matter.”
Given the seriousness of the charges and the slow pace of court cases in India generally, Marak’s case may not be concluded by the time of the election. If still not proven guilty, he would be free to contest an election.
The state BJP has so far backed the MDC, calling the charges against him politically motivated.
Hek, however, has been more nuanced, saying that the law must take its course.
Meanwhile, despite having to give up his cabinet berth for fellow BJP legislator Sanbor Shullai midway through the government’s five-year term, Hek said he will remain a loyal BJP member.
“TMC (Trinamool Congress) has approached me several times but I made it clear to them that I am only for the BJP,” he said.
However, while he predicted that the party would do better in 2023 than it did in 2018, it still has potential to win in only 10 to 15 seats. These are concentrated in Shillong, Garo Hills and Jaiñtia Hills, with the party known for its Hindu nationalism hoping that it is gaining greater acceptance in Christian majority Meghalaya.
