Shillong, Oct 7: The National People’s Party (NPP) is not worried in the least about the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) growing strength in Meghalaya and the ruling party is “stronger than before,” Jowai MLA and cabinet minister Wailadmiki Shylla of the NPP said today.
Shylla said a meeting of NPP leaders held last night was part of the party’s regular practice and was not convened specifically in response to recent political developments.
The BJP – a junior partner in the ruling coalition that is led by the NPP – has become the second-largest party in the Assembly after luring eight United Democratic Party (UDP) legislators into its fold. There have also been rumours of possible defections from the NPP to the BJP.
Shylla said the once in three months meeting discussed governance and other issues concerning the party and the government.
On the recent political developments, Shylla said changes were part of politics and the NPP was not concerned as the shift had been from one ruling party to another, rather than from the government to the opposition.
“As we all know, in politics, it keeps on changing. It is dynamic,” he said. “Especially, you all notice the shift is from the government to the government. It was not from the government to the opposition or something like that.”
Asked if the NPP was having “sleepless nights” following the BJP’s increase in numbers, Shylla said, “I don’t think at all.”
He said all members were present at Tuesday’s meeting and maintained that the NPP was in a stronger position than before.
