Shillong, Sep 11: Mawsynram MLA Ollan Singh Suin publicly announced that eight United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs have been in talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party and are prepared to move forward and join the party if the BJP implements their demands.
“Anything can happen if they agree to our demands. Anything can happen, I am telling you,” Suin told reporters after the UDP central executive committee (CEC) meeting, giving an indication of what could happen next.
When asked whether this could be his last CEC meeting as a UDP MLA, Suin, rumoured to be one of those contemplating defection, smiled and said, “I cannot say, because anything can happen.”
He said the demands placed before the BJP leadership in Delhi include the inclusion of the Khasi language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, lifting the ban on coal mining, relocating the residents of Them Iewmawlong, Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act-related matters, and the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security Act (MRSSA).
“These are the main issues. Civil society organisations have also raised these issues, and the Assembly has passed a resolution on them. If the central government (run by the BJP) agrees to our demands, what difficulty would there be?” he said.
Emphasising that he is part of the mission involving the eight MLAs, Suin clarified that the number is eight, not nine.
“It is the mission of eight members. If the mission succeeds, anything can happen. This is politics. Politics can change within a single day,” he said.
Regarding his initial denial about the visit to Delhi where UDP members were said to have discussed matters with the BJP, Suin explained, “On that day, some members of the group were in Delhi. I was in my own constituency. We divided the responsibilities among ourselves. When they returned, we discussed the matter.”
Asked whether joining the BJP would be the final decision if their demands were implemented, he replied, “Yes, anything can happen on any day.”
Rejecting speculation that the discussions were about securing ministerial positions, Suin said, “There has been absolutely no discussion about ministerial posts. The NPP (National People’s Party) is the largest party, with as many as 33 MLAs. We have simply pressed our demands.”
Although he participated in the UDP CEC meeting, Suin said he had made his position clear during the meeting. “I clearly stated inside the meeting that the talks with the BJP are ongoing,” he said.
Citing the example of JJM Nichols Roy, Suin said that before he joined the Congress, people had strongly criticised him, saying that if he joined the Congress, Christians would lose their identity and that they would not be allowed to eat beef.
However, according to Suin, Nichols Roy had said, “Give me a chance to bring the best possible things for you.” He subsequently helped bring about the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which brought about the autonomous district councils.
“Similarly, in our case, if our demands are implemented, what is the difficulty with that? That is why anything can happen at any time,” he said.
