Shillong, May 12: The National People’s Party (NPP) today reacted strongly after North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) Chief Executive Member Debolal Gorlosa called the party the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) B-team.
Gorlosa himself is a member of the BJP, which makes his remark, which came at the NCHAC platinum jubilee celebrations yesterday, all the more damaging.
The NPP obviously recognised its potential impact and its national working president James PK Sangma issued a rebuke today, calling Gorlosa’s words “false, malicious and politically motivated.”
In a press release, Sangma said, “Debolal Gorlosa’s attempt to brand the National People’s Party as anyone’s ‘B-team’ is not only completely false, but also a revealing reflection of a deeply insecure and petty political mindset.”
“Let us state this in the clearest possible terms: The National People’s Party is not, has never been, and will never be anyone’s ‘B-team’,” he added.
Both the NPP and BJP are, in fact, allies, with both being members of the National Democratic Alliance, which runs the central government. The NPP and BJP are also in government together in Meghalaya. This alliance, however, does not usually extend to elections where the two compete against each other for seats.
The opposition Congress Party often accuses the NPP of being the BJP B-team or “BJP by the back door”.
Gorlosa did not appear to make the claim with malice but his opinion was that the NPP’s choice of candidate for the Haflong seat in the recent Assam Assembly election was intended to split the opposition vote in order to favour the BJP candidate, who won.
The NPP said its decision to field Daniel Langthasa in Haflong was taken “solely and independently” after internal consultations, based on its commitment to the aspirations of the people of Dima Hasao, protection of tribal rights and strengthening of constitutional safeguards under the Sixth Schedule.
“There was no discussion, no consultation, no understanding and no political arrangement whatsoever with the BJP or any other political formation regarding this decision,” he said, specifically referencing Gorlosa’s accusation that Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP president Conrad K Sangma had held discussions over the candidature.
Interestingly, both Gorlosa and Conrad Sangma were present at today’s swearing-in of the BJP-led government in Assam. It is not known whether they interacted at all during the function.
