Row over Shibun’s selection
SHILLONG: The BJP national spokesperson and in-charge Meghalaya Nalin S Kohli, who is under fire from the state council members of BJP for selecting Shibun Lyngdoh as the party’s new president replacing Khlur S. Lyngdoh, on Tuesday ruled out fresh election to the post of state party president as demanded by the disgruntled state BJP members.
Speaking to The Shillong Times over phone on Tuesday, Kohli said, “For something that is done correctly and legally, there is no question of re-opening”.
On January 2 after Shibun Lyngdoh (47) from East Jaintia Hills was selected as the new president of the party at the party office here, there was protest and criticism from the state council members of the party who were present at the meeting.
The grievances of the state party members were that no proper procedure was followed during the meeting held on January 2 as they felt that the name of Lyngdoh was forced upon them. They had also petitioned the BJP national leaders seeking fresh election by stating sufficient time was not given for conducting elections.
However, Kohli, who was present here during the appointment of Lyngdoh, said that those who are opposing the election process are resorting to the incorrect reading of the Constitution of the party.
Kohli also denied that the election was forced upon the state party leaders even as he said that no complaints came from the central party leaders to him about the grievances of the state party members The BJP leader also said that he is yet to receive any complaints directly from the state party members.
Asked about the hurry in carrying out the election process as alleged by the state council members, Kohli said, “They had been asked to do it since November”,
The state BJP leaders had alleged that they were summoned at the eleventh hour and informed about the election process.
It was Ranjit Mazumdar, the BJP co-coordinator for Meghalaya and Mizoram who issued a statement on January 2 to the media that Lyngdoh was unanimously elected as the state president of the party.
The statement of Mazumdar mentioned that Maheish Girri, National Secretary and MP from Delhi conducted the election while, Kohli, national spokesperson, BJP and in charge Meghalaya, H. S. Syemlieh State Election Officer were also present.
According to Mazumdar, all the state council members, state office bearers, district presidents have attended the meeting.
However, the next day, a resolution adopted by the state council members wanted the intervention of National President, General Secretary, and the Election Monitoring Committee (Central Team) BJP Head office, Delhi to hold fresh election to the post of state party president.