SHILLONG: In the first case of exodus of MLAs supporting the Congress-led MUA-II government, two independents Justine Dkhar and Robinus Syngkon have decided to join the saffron party.
The two independent MLAs, along with State BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh, national spokesperson, in charge of Meghalaya Nalin Kohli and Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, met BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi where the duo gave verbal assurance to the saffron party leadership about their entry.
“They have joined the BJP but the formalities of joining the party like filling of forms will be done at the state headquarters,” Kohli said.
Later Lyngdoh said both the independent MLAs would soon join the BJP formally in a function to be organised in Shillong.
Earlier, Kohli had said the two MLAs told him and other senior BJP leaders Himanta Biswa Sarma and Lyngdoh about their willingness to join the party. “They certainly did not meet party president Amit Shah for a cup of tea,” he added.
When The Shillong Times contacted Dkhar, he confirmed his joining BJP. “We have told Amit Shah that we will join the party but not now as we have not resigned from the government,” he said.
Dkhar represents Khliehriat constituency and Syngkon is MLA from Mowkaiaw.
When asked about the sudden decision to join BJP, Dkhar said they are representatives from coal mining areas and they have been fighting against the NGT ban but without any result.
“We met them (BJP leaders) and they assured us that they will help us in this issue. This made us anxious to join the party hoping that they will help us with all the requirements in the matter since they are in power at the Centre,” the Independent MLA added.
As on date, the ruling Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) has 44 members, including 30 MLAs from the Congress, two from NCP, 11 Independents and one MLA of the North East Socialist Democratic Party.
Once these two Independent MLAs snap ties with the MUA, its strength will be reduced to 42, which is still a comfortable figure in a 60-member House.
Another MLA, Stephanson Mukhim, who was also present on the occasion, handed over a memorandum to Shah on behalf of the Coordination of Coal Dealers’ and Miners’ Association regarding Section 12 (A-B) of the Sixth Schedule for Presidential notification to exempt Meghalaya from the purview of central mining laws.
BJP state vice president JA Lyngdoh later said the induction of these two leaders into the party will definitely give a huge boost to the party in the ensuing general elections in 2018 not only in Jaintia Hills but also in the State.
He also said the last Assembly elections in many States showed people favouring BJP and the same would happen in Meghalaya.
“The general public have already made up their minds that BJP is the only option in this coming election and this will happen because of the main slogan of our Prime Minister ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’,” he said and added that the State would develop if BJP comes to power and a corruption-free government is formed.
