BJP faces ‘Shibun’ problems

SHILLONG: The State unit of BJP is virtually heading for a split following the ‘arbitrary’ selection of Shibun Lyngdoh as its new president. Crying foul over the latest development, the state council members of the party have petitioned the central leadership demanding revocation of Lyngdoh’s nomination to the top post. A resolution adopted on Sunday and subsequently sent to various national leaders of BJP, termed Lyngdoh’s nomination as “a dictatorial act and unfair practice carried out by Nalin Kohli, incharge BJP Meghalaya with Mahesh Giri MP as observer and Ranjit Mazumdar, the BJP co-coordinator of Meghalaya.” A statement issued by Ranjit Mazumdar on Saturday had said that Lyngdoh was unanimously elected whereas the party sources said that appointment of the new president was forced upon the 44 state council members who were present at the party office. According to the affected state party leaders, proper election process was not followed before zeroing in on Lyngdoh, who replaced Khlur Singh Lyngdoh. Sources said that the state council members gathered late night on January 2 at the party office to protest the decision. The state council members demanded holding of a fresh election to the post of state party president. “We resolve to convey our grievances to the National President and General Secretary, and the Election Monitoring Committee (Central Team) BJP Head Office, New Delhi. Further we request our party central leaders to please revoke the nomination which is undemocratic and arbitrarily act and therefore in order to avoid the controversial situation or ill effect for the party structures/organization in the state, fresh and fair election should be conducted”, the council members added.