BJP targets 40 seats in 2018 polls

SHILLONG: The Bharatiya Janata Party has set its sight on winning atleast 40 seats in Meghalaya when the state goes to polls next year.
Talking to newsmen here on Thursday during his visit to Shillong, BJP Jharkhand president and Lok Sabha member Laxman Gilua said the party would ensure that Meghalaya becomes a “Congress mukt state” in 2018.
Stating that the BJP’s chief agenda is development, the party leader said the BJP is ready for an alliance with the local parties of the State to form the next government in Meghalaya but such alliances would be worked out only after discussions with the State president.
The statement from the BJP leader comes a day after BJP State president Shibun Lyngdoh revealed that as many as 20 sitting legislators in the State have sent feelers to join the party.
Gilua also said that the party is open to the idea of forming a coalition government in Meghalaya.
“Our people are already at work here and if they continue to put in more efforts we will definitely form the new government in Meghalaya,” he told reporters.
Commenting on the benefits the Goods and Service Tax (GST) would provide to the country, state and even the traders’ community, the BJP leader said the new system will bring the entire taxation under one regime.
On the BJP celebrating its 37th foundation year in 2017, the MP said the party in 1980 had started with two MPs and now has 282 parliamentarians. He added that the BJP has a target of having more than 300 MPs when the country goes for elections in 2019.
“Today we are the largest political party in the world and we have our own government alone in 13 states and we are in coalition in 16 states,” he said.Later, he also addressed party workers at the party office.