TURA: BJP national general secretary and in charge Meghalaya, Nalin Kohli, has expressed optimism that the party will do well in the GHADC elections even as it prepares the ground work for the 2018 assembly polls.
Speaking to The Shillong Times in Tura on Friday night after a gruelling tour of some remote areas where the party is contesting, the BJP national general secretary said, “The reports we are getting indicate a good response from people. In 2-3 seats we will end up being the main player.”
The party has put up candidates in six constituencies this time.
He took part in election rallies at Zikzak and Betasing and also visited Tikrikilla region.
Exuding confidence that the BJP could bag the Shyamnagar seat in Phulbari region, Kohli claimed that rival Congress was not even in the picture of contention.
“The BJP and NPP are the main contenders in Shyamnagar. Congress is not even in the main fight,” boasted the senior national leader.
He claimed that the GHADC results would be a good indicative of the future strategy for the Garo Hills.
“Our target is 2018 and Garo Hills is important area with 24 assembly seats.”
Seeking to end the controversy over the beef ban in some states, Kohli stated that moving towards having law on cow slaughter is part of Article 48 of the Constitution of India and barring ten states all the rest have some law on it.
“These laws cannot be imposed by the Centre. These laws have to be enacted by the states,” he clarified adding that it is done by states, and not the centre, based on their local population, their eating habits and other factors.
“In the North East beef is consumed and that is the reason why the North East does not have laws on cow slaughter. You can’t impose it and that’s not the agenda of the government to impose any law which it can’t in any case constitutionally,” revealed Kohli. On allegations that the party was playing to the tune of the NPP by having desisted from fielding candidates in more potential constituencies to allow its ally to gain more ground, Kohli clarified that there is no alliance with the NPP for the GHADC elections and the alliance was only for the last Lok Sabha elections when its NDA alliance partner candidate P.A. Sangma emerged victorious.
“We are contesting against whoever it is, including the NPP,” he stated.
‘No excuse for Mukul Govt when it comes
to performance’
Kohli has also been critical of the Mukul Sangma government for failing to provide development to the people of Meghalaya.
He expressed dismay that there was lack of development in terms of infrastructure and roads, telephone connectivity, inadequate supply of drinking water to the villages and towns, poor health and education scenario.
“There can be no excuse for Mukul Sangma when it comes to performance. They (Congress) have a clear majority, politically they are strong having won a second election, yet it is not translating into the development of the people of Meghalaya,” lamented Kohli.
He said that people of the State would now be looking at choices that go beyond the traditional choices they have.
