SHILLONG: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), an ally in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will contest the upcoming 2018 Assembly elections in the state though it is yet to decide on the total number of seats it is going to contest.
Addressing the media on Friday, state LJP president, Jamil Ahmed said, “It is too early to decide now on the number seats we are going to contest in the state Assembly polls. We will discuss the matter with the national party probably three to four months before polls.”
He informed that the party fielded 18 candidates in 2008 and four candidates in 2013 elections. “The votes received in these two elections were satisfactory though none of the candidates could make it to the Assembly.”
When asked whether the state LJP will ally with the BJP party before the 2018 polls, Ahmed said, “It is not necessary to ally with the BJP but the decision will be taken by the high command.”
He said that primary members of the Dalit-based LJP were above 1 lakh and they were spread everywhere and claimed that the party had received good response from the people.
On the ban on sale of cattle for slaughter, which has been a contentious issue, he said defended the NDA government asserting that it was not the agenda of the NDA and blamed the “sister organisations of the BJP” like Bajrang Dal.
He added that state LJP petitioned to the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to roll back the ban imposed on sale of cattle for slaughtering purposes “as the ban directly affects the people of the North East where beef is a staple food for a larger section of people.”
Criticizing the Congress-led State government for failing in rural development front, Ahmed pointed that the poor condition of villages showed the failure of the state government in the field of development.
He demanded the state government to review the state of affairs in the rural areas and take remedial measures immediately.
Ahmed stated that the LJP unanimously supported the Village Administration Bill and demanded that the Central and state governments to protect, preserve the indigenous customs, culture and tradition in the state.
Commenting on the contentious issue of railway projects, he said, “Railway projects are good for development but before giving the green signal, the government should take into consideration to tackle the influx issue.”