Saffron confidence remains unexplained

SHILLONG, Sep 4: ‘No government can be formed without BJP in Meghalaya’ — call it a threat or show of strength, but this has become the punch line of any BJP leader, whether at the Centre or state-level. However, these leaders add no further explanation as to how that would be possible.
The first to utter these words was senior BJP leader AL Hek, who said it around half a month ago; the second was BJP national vice president and party’s Meghalaya in-charge Chuba Ao; and now it is the BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, who said it during the meeting of the BJP South Shillong mandal on Sunday.
At the mandal meeting, Santhosh assured the gathering that without BJP, government cannot be formed in Meghalaya in the assembly elections next year.
During the meeting, Santhosh spoke about strengthening the organisation and asked the party karyakartas to ensure that the vote share in all polling booths of 19 South Shillong should be highest.
Speaking at gathering, senior party leader AL Hek recalled BJP leader TH Rangad, who was the only MLA who during the peak militancy period took people from Laban on August 15, 1998, with the Tricolour in their hand till Polo Grounds without fearing for his life.
On the other hand, local MLA and Cabinet Minister Sanbor Shullai called South Shillong a cosmopolitan constituency.
General secretary of BJP South Shillong and party’s state executive member, Bipen Pradhan said that the party is working to ensure more than 80% vote share and break all records in the state.
With a different perspective on the political changes coming into effect of late, Pradhan said BJP Minister Sanbor Shullai should be allowed to complete his term, while telling state BJP leaders to respect the coalition and learn from NPP instead of criticising them.
If NPP can grow from 2 to 23 seats, then why not BJP, he asked.
Pradhan also opined that withdrawing support at this point will backfire on BJP as the saffron party was very much part of the coalition.
The party must focus more on winning seats rather than always threatening coalition partners, he suggested.