Hek eyes state BJP prez post

SHILLONG, July 5: Health Minister, Alexander Laloo Hek has set his sights on the post of BJP state unit president.
He claimed that a section of BJP leaders feels the party will be in a better position to face the 2023 Assembly polls under him.
“This is the opinion of some of our leaders. I will not shy away from taking over as the new president if there is an offer from the central leadership,” Hek told reporters on Monday.
He said it is up to the Central leaders to decide whether or not to change the party’s state leadership.
He admitted that many party leaders resigned from various posts over a period of time as they were not happy with the style of functioning of incumbent state president, Ernest Mawrie.
“I personally feel the party’s state leaders should meet to resolve the internal rumblings. This needs to take place at the earliest since Assembly elections are not far away,” Hek said.
Asked to rate Mawrie’s performance, Hek said the former is doing good work since he always gets to read his statements in the media. He said certain issues that Mawrie raised need to be deliberated upon collectively.
“It is the prerogative of the state president to speak on some issues on behalf of the party,” Hek said.
The Minister believed the BJP’s poll prospects are high due to the good work being done by the party-led NDA government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The steps taken up by NDA government to resolve the interstate boundary dispute will strengthen the BJP in Meghalaya. There are several programmes initiated by the NDA which will help the party gain popularity,” Hek said.
He claimed that some MLAs and leaders from other political parties are willing to join the BJP. He said the BJP’s door is always open for anyone committed to work together to further strengthen the party.
“If not due to the COVID-19 situation, many of the leaders from other political parties would have joined us by now,” he asserted.