SHILLONG: State BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said defection to other parties is nothing new in Indian politics and added that it is normal to join the party which is ruling the country.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, he said politicians will find a way to get through and join the ruling party, either the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP at the Centre or the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) in the state led by the NPP.
According to him, the merit of joining the ruling party is that public representatives will get the desired benefits especially on the development front.
“Obviously they (politicians) will join and find some way out to get through and join the party. It is nothing new in political arena, it is a practice,” he said.
“You will have to be with the party in power. Otherwise, how will you take care of the people especially in our state which depends on the development schemes from the Centre?” he added.
Lyngdoh said NPP MP Agatha Sangma can approach the union ministers and bring in development.
NPP is an ally in the NDA government.
BJP door is open
On the other hand, Lyngdoh said the door of the BJP is open and politicians can come in or go out anytime, referring to politicians who joined the saffron party before the 2018 Assembly elections but defected to other parties following their defeat.
Asked if there are politicians who will join the BJP in the state after the saffron party retained power at the Centre, he said, “Until and unless they join us, we cannot say anything. But we are having good links with all the political parties in the state.”
With regard to the response of the people towards the BJP, he said acceptance depends on the understanding of the people and not on the basis of ideas propagated by other parties such as the party being termed as pro-Hindu.
Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wisely ruled the country for five years, he said, “The entire country has accepted BJP and why not our state? Our state will accept the BJP and there is no doubt about it.”