SHILLONG, Sep 7: The Meghalaya unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party seems to have turned into a party of confusion with Cabinet Minister and party MLA Sanbor Shullai on Wednesday making it clear that the saffron party will not withdraw support to the government and will complete its stipulated term.
The latest development comes within 24 hours of a statement made by BJP vice-president and Meghalaya in-charge M Chuba Ao that the party was on course for an exit from the MDA and even the two party MLAs – Shullai and AL Hek – have also come on board.
Even the BJP state executive committee had also endorsed the decision to pull out of the MDA.
However, Shullai’s comment has now renewed the confusion within the party.
Endorsing the view of the general secretary of South Shillong constituency that withdrawing from the coalition at this time will backfire, Shullai requested party leaders to consider the gravity of the situation and refrain from issuing public statements that could potentially hamper relations with the allies.
“We should rather focus on the wisdom shared by BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, who advised us to focus on winning more seats and increasing vote share,” Shullai said.
Claiming that the BJP is gaining momentum and is targeting to improve its tally to double digits in 2023, Shullai said the party is preparing to give a tough fight to its opponents.
“The BJP should not be taken lightly hereafter,” he added.
On Tuesday, Ao had maintained that the BJP will put out of the alliance within a month while claiming that both the MLAs have agreed to the idea.
The announcement had surprised everyone since the BJP had been issuing the threat, time and again, but without any action. The move is considered surprising since the Assembly elections in the state are due in less than six months.
However, the NPP and even the Congress have termed the BJP’s threat as a farce and nothing but a publicity stunt.
Clarifying on the this statement, Chief Minister and NPP national president Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said he was not willing to pay heed to personal remarks, until and unless the BJP leadership gives any suggestion or hint on pulling out of the coalition.
He recalled that the NPP and BJP had contested the 2018 polls separately and there was no pre-poll alliance.
According to Sangma, the MDA cannot stop the BJP from withdrawing support to the government but added that they respect the BJP and that they have to stick to the coalition dharma.
“BJP is a very big party and there could be individuals at certain positions who might have a personal opinion or feeling. They are free to take a personal stand but that particular personal stand of an individual cannot be termed as the stand of the party,” the CM said.
On Ao’s threat of using the ED and the CBI against the MDA Government, Sangma said everyone has been working together in the government and added: “If one is going to allege that the MDA is involved in all these irregularities then they are forgetting that three fingers are also pointed towards them. We are very clear on our stand; whatever we do is as per procedure and law and everything is being done in a clean and transparent manner.”
“Maybe he (Ao) has some personal agenda or grudge because we keep seeing him making a lot of statement which finally does not come out in a positive manner because own MLAs and party leaders do not agree with that particular stand,” Sangma added.
UDP welcomes BJP move to bring in ED, CBI to probe irregularities
The United Democratic Party (UDP), a major ally of the National People’s Party-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance has welcomed the move of the Bharatiya Janata Party to collect evidence on the alleged corruption and irregularities in the state.
Talking to a section of reporters here on Wednesday, UDP general secretary Jemino Mawthoh referred to the saffron party’s announcement of pulling out of the MDA and the assertion that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will pursue the corruption in the state after gathering substantive evidence and hoped that it was not a “political gimmick” ahead of the Assembly elections.
Mawthoh said the UDP wanted the inquiry to take place so that the people will know the truth once and for all.
“People of the state also want to know the truth about the alleged irregularities and corruption,” he said.
The UDP also asserted that the party has always maintained zero tolerance towards corruption. Elaborating further, Mawthoh recalled that the UDP was very vocal and had demanded the ouster of the then Power Minister James PK Sangma when irregularities were detected in the Power department, especially in the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited.
He also recalled that the party had supported the move to constitute an inquiry into the rice scam in the Social Welfare department even though the portfolio was being held by party MLA Kyrmen Shylla.
On the argument of the NPP that the BJP was known to use the ED and the CBI as political tools, Mawthoh said such an allegation should be backed by evidence.
Asked why the UDP was not pulling out of the MDA Government in spite of the series of allegations of wrongdoings and corruption, Mawthoh said, “The UDP has been laying emphasis on stability. We have seen how coalition government in the past failed to last leading to instability. It is for this reason that the UDP has decided to remain in the government.”
