Shillong, Sep 13: The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) doors are open for eight United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs who are reportedly in talks to defect but any demand for additional cabinet berths will be decided by the saffron party’s central leadership and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
State BJP president Rikman Momin said yesterday that he would welcome the legislators joining without conditions. He described their possible entry as a “very great achievement” for the BJP, especially if senior leaders from important constituencies come into the party.
The BJP currently has only two MLAs in the 60-member Assembly. If eight UDP legislators switch over, its strength would rise to 10, making it the second-largest in the house and prompting speculation over whether the party would seek a larger share in the cabinet. The party currently has one seat in cabinet, occupied by South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai.
Momin declined to speculate on the issue. He suggested the MLAs could be in contact with the BJP’s central leadership, though he did not provide details about the status of those discussions.
State BJP general secretary Wankitbok Pohshna echoed the stand, saying the party would be more than happy if the move materialises and that it would boost the morale of the entire organisation.
“There is little to discuss at the present stage on cabinet berths,” Pohshna said, adding that the matter would arise only after the MLAs actually join and would then be taken up for discussion.
The remarks came after a UDP MLA, Ollan Singh Suin, publicly stated that eight of the party’s MLAs were in talks with the BJP and could switch over if their proposal was accepted.
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).
