SHILLONG, Aug 19: At a time when political parties, particularly the partners of the ruling Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, are gearing up to fight the 2023 Assembly elections on their own, discarding the idea of any pre-poll understanding, the state Bharatiya Janata Party is confident that once the elections are over, all parties will line up to seek an alliance with the saffron party.
BJP legislator AL Hek on Friday exuded confidence that the party has to be taken on board once elections are over and it will play a decisive role in government formation.
Asked if his statement meant that the next government cannot be formed without the BJP, Hek said, “Formation of government is all about numbers and not party.”
He continued: “We will play an important role in government formation because BJP will again rule the country. We will need the central government’s help for all round development and hence BJP will be in the government in Meghalaya.”
“We will have to approach Delhi for any kind of developmental project and who will be sitting there? It will be the BJP,” he added.
Hek downplayed the internal rift in the State BJP and said, “We are one. Different statements do not mean there is a rift. There is a difference in the meaning of opinion and rift?” On State BJP president Ernest Mawrie rubbishing his statement of former and sitting MLAs joining the party, Hek said, “The BJP’s core principle is that the door is open and we welcome anyone and everybody to join the party.”
He was quick to add that the decision on whether sitting MLAs will get the party ticket or not will be made by the central leadership.
