SHILLONG, Aug 16: BJP’s South Shillong MLA and Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai said state party president Ernest Mawrie should be allowed to complete his term.
A change of guard at this point in time would be suicidal for the party, he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Endorsing Mawrie’s view that the party ticket for the 2023 polls could be given only after close scrutiny of names, Shullai said: “There is nothing wrong with this. The need of the hour is to stand united and work collectively.”
He said he has spoken with BJP’s national vice president M Chuba Ao and would also tell other central leaders not to change the party president.
The minister said Mawrie has stood by the party during the recent crisis and that he has lifted the morale of party karyakartas in the Garo Hills.
He said he would speak with the party leadership to field Himalaya Shangpliang from the Mawsynram constituency if he formally joins the BJP.
He also said he is in touch with the MLAs and the MDCs from the Jaintia Hills and would ensure the BJP bags more than five seats from the Khasi and Jaintia Hills this time.
“BJP will cross the double-digit mark in the upcoming elections but the infighting and groupism within the party should end first. Anyone from the party with any form of grievance can meet me personally and we shall address the issue if it’s of genuine concern,” Shullai said.
He also appealed to all the leaders to work for the party and not push for a change of leadership that could affect the organisational set-up of the BJP.
“Anyone against the party ideology should not be entertained,” he said, exuding confidence that the BJP would lead the state government after the 2023 polls.
“Both at the Centre and in the state, the BJP has worked tirelessly for the people along with other coalition members. We have never resorted to divisive politics but rather provided stability and full support on all fronts,” Shullai said.
Earlier, Ao had asked Mawrie to ‘gracefully retire’.
Expressing strong resentment over Mawrie’s style of functioning, Ao had said: “Mawrie should understand that the BJP is not his private party. He has insulted all the elected members and aspiring candidates and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party national president JP Nadda.”
Ao also said Mawrie gave him enough reasons to believe he could be an “agent” of the National People’s Party.
