SHILLONG, June 21: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is often perceived as a force to reckon with in electoral politics, has not been able to work its magic in assembly elections in Meghalaya.
Even during the 2013-2014, when the BJP was continuing to politically rise across the country, the situation was quite the otherwise in the state — the saffron party had drawn a blank in 2013 Meghalaya assembly elections. Five years down the line, the situation of the saffron party in Meghalaya slightly ameliorated with the BJP securing two seats in 2018 assembly elections.
Needless to say, the sorry strength of the BJP in the state may be attributed to various factors, but according to Meghalaya BJP president Ernest Mawrie, it is the false propaganda, allegedly being spread by state political parties, that has been jinxing the party.
“During elections, political parties come up with propaganda that if we come to power, we will close down all churches and ban people from eating beef,” the state BJP president said.
He also maintained that ever since BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014, neither churches have been closed down nor has there been ban on beef consumption.
“We respect all religions and there is no such thing like caste and creed amongst us,” Mawrie said, arguing that people in the state, especially in rural areas, have now accepted BJP since many of the central schemes are now reaching the beneficiaries here.
