By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Though the central leadership of BJP has been claiming about the party having an understanding with Purno A Sangma’s National People’s Party (NPP) for February 23 Meghalaya Assembly polls, the state leadership of both the parties, however, is unaware of such development.
BJP national spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi recently informed reporters in New Delhi about BJP’s ‘understanding’ with NPP.
A state BJP source on Wednesday said it had no knowledge about such agreement though NPP has become a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
“BJP is contesting against NPP in several constituencies of Garo Hills,” the source said adding that the NPP could have left some seats for BJP in Garo Hills “if there is any such agreement.”
On the other hand, NPP’s state president WR Kharlukhi said, “Our party is a part of the NDA and the NPP does have a friendly relationship with BJP and other parties except Congress.”
BJP lodges poll code violation complaint: Meanwhile, the BJP has lodged a poll code violation complaint against Union Minister for Commerce, Industry & Textiles Anand Sharma before the Election Commission.
In a letter submitted to the Chief Election Officer, the BJP National Convener, Election Cell R. Ramakrishna said that Sharma recently announced a scheme on Usage of Agrotextiles in North East region with a five-year budget of Rs. 55 crore. According to BJP, the announcement of the scheme is a gross violation of para VII (vi)(a) and (c) of the Model Code of Conduct. “The announcement is a deliberate attempt to influence the electorate of Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, and to provide an unfair advantage to the party in power at the Centre (Congress Party),” the letter added.
It may be mentioned that the minister had also announced a special scheme for promotion of the Textiles industry, in the Northeastern region by allowing fiscal flexibility through relaxation of parameters to suit localized region specific requirements.
In this regard, the Election Commission has already registered a complaint lodged by the Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) against the Central Minister.