In yet another sign of division within the state Bharatiya Janata Party, the party’s South Shillong general secretary has said that the BJP should not leave the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance coalition government.
Yesterday, BJP national vice-president and Meghalaya in-charge, M Chuba Ao, told reporters that the saffron party could quit the government within a month as it builds a dossier of evidence of corruption and other illegal activities.
Speaking for South Shillong, one of only two constituencies that the BJP holds in the 60-seat Assembly, Bipen Pradhan said today that the party should not continually criticise the National People’s Party but, instead, learn from the NPP (the lead party in the MDA).
Pradhan is likely to have been speaking with the voice of local MLA and cabinet minister Sanbor Shullai. Indeed, he specifically mentioned that Shullai should be allowed to complete his term.
The local political figure noted that the NPP went from two seats in 2013 to 23 now and that the same could hold true for the BJP if the latter takes on board some of the lessons that the NPP will have learned in its years in the wilderness.
Pradhan was speaking at a meeting organised by the South Shillong mandal. He promised that the party will carry the constituency by an even bigger winning margin in 2023.
The meeting was attended by BJP national general secretary BL Santhosh. He discussed how to strengthen the party organisation and said that there will be no government in Meghalaya without the BJP a part of it.
Pynthorumkhrah MLA and former cabinet minister AL Hek spoke about the late TH Rangad, one of the BJP’s past legislators in Meghalaya. Hek spoke about Rangad’s personal bravery in leading Independence Day processions even at the height of militancy.
Shullai, meanwhile, said that South Shillong is a cosmopolitan constituency and peace and prosperity spreads from the constituency to the rest of the city and state.
