Himanta downplays BJP poll debacle

SHILLONG: BJP leader and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday downplayed the poll debacle of the party in Meghalaya.
The BJP secured only two seats though the party had fielded 47 candidates.
“Though the BJP secured only two seats, we have 10 per cent vote share and we came second in as many as seven constituencies besides at least in two constituencies in Garo Hills, the winning margin of the opponent was very less,” Sarma told reporters.
He, however, admitted that like in Kerala, it would take more time for the BJP to make inroads.
Sarma said the opponents campaigned on religious lines thereby affecting the prospects of party candidates. To a query, Sarma said he or his party was not a kingmaker as he was only a humble facilitator to form a new government.
Rahul mocked
Sarma said there was no maturity in Rahul Gandhi as he sent four AICC leaders to form government in Meghalaya without understanding the ground reality.
“Rahul Gandhi sent four senior leaders without making any calculation and hence I do not see any maturity in him as they had to go back,” Sarma said.
Outgoing chief minister Mukul Sangma said it was a normal process for party leaders from Delhi to come to Shillong to explore various possibilities and it was nothing new.
The attempt to form the government by AICC leaders Mukul Wasnik, Kamal Nath, Ahmed Patel and CP Joshi, who rushed to Shillong on Saturday evening, failed to materialise as regional parties were not ready to support the Congress.